Fast growing shade tree for coastal bend

Discussion in 'Garden Design and Plant Suggestions' started by CorpusChristiPygmy, Jun 29, 2008.

  1. CorpusChristiPygmy

    CorpusChristiPygmy Member

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    I am looking for a fast growing shade tree for Corpus Christi, TX--zone 9. I learned about Fan-tex ash. Any other? ideas?
     
  2. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    I'd go for Baldcypress Taxodium distichum. Local native in Corpus Christi, and very hurricane-resistant, which I'd guess is an important consideration.
     
  3. CorpusChristiPygmy

    CorpusChristiPygmy Member

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    Thank you very much. The problem with Taxodium distichum is that it is very tall. Something around 40 ft woulld be great.
     
  4. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    That's inevitable if you want something that grows fast! Things that don't get tall, tend to grow slowly.
     
  5. M. D. Vaden

    M. D. Vaden Active Member 10 Years

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    That's exactly right.

    Any search for a fast growing tree that stays short, is fairly futile.

    Trees don't reach a certain height like - say - 30' and put on the brakes.

    This should be very evident culturally.

    Michael is absolutely right.

    Hey, Michael, if you're reading this...

    Can bald cypress be crown reduced (arborist's topping - LOL) like pines, to keep the height restrained a bit and encourage lateral increase?

    Like making a 2" cut across the stem when it reaches 30'.

    Is it feasible?
     
  6. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Used for bonsai.
     
  7. CorpusChristiPygmy

    CorpusChristiPygmy Member

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    Thank you very much for your replies. I guess I will stick with fan-Tex Ash; a moderate-to-fast growing 40 ft tree.
     
  8. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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  9. ToddTheLorax

    ToddTheLorax Active Member

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    prunus serotina var. exima (escarpment balck cherry) shouldn't get too much taller than that, if that.

    RE:Can bald cypress be crown reduced (arborist's topping - LOL) like pines, to keep the height restrained a bit and encourage lateral increase

    it will just sprout a new leader which will grow straight up. I think cutting the tops off of things makes shoots grow more vertical.
     
  10. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Yes: Like outright topping, where the all of the top of the tree above that point is lopped off at an arbitrary height drop-crotching (cutting the top off where there is an upward-angled side-branch, so the topping looks less disruptive) etc. needs to be kept up, once started or the tree grows out of the unnatural shape imposed upon it. And the tree is still being wounded and having large sections of foliage removed all at once.

    Some sites here are now sporting comparatively small but otherwise tall-growing redwoods and other kinds of conical trees pruned back to short little side branches with puffs of foliage that seem barely adequate to keep the tree alive, if that. Yet I have seen one or two previous examples appear to survive it and produce new growth. Somebody with good tall ladders or a cherry picker must be talking people into having this done. Annual shearing will be needed to maintain the effect.
     
  11. smivies

    smivies Active Member

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    Bracing myself for criticism.....what about Paulownia species. Awfully fast growing, tends to top out at 50'. Pretty mauve flowers but maybe a tad invasive.....
     

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