Last week I cut down my 18 years old English Plane tree due to my chocking cough reaction while cutting grass (allergic reaction to the seeds or what not of that tree). I have looked at some trees in my neighborhood nursery. Could someone give me some suggestions for a medium size (12-25 ft.) tree that can withstand south facing direction with full sun? I have looked at the followings: Princeton Gold Maple, Festival Maple, ginkgo Biloba, Blue Spruce, Full Moon Maple, Japaneses Maple and a type of Spruce with the name of Christina something. I am particularly interested in trees with distinct colors. It seems to me that some Maples are not suitable for full sun; some trees are difficult to take care of and the Blue Spruce is not suitable for the Vancouver weather. Thanks in advance for the help.
The Ginkgo isn't unusually coloured (except in fall, when it's golden), but the leaf shape is fantastic and it will absolutely do full sun. Over time it will become a very large tree. It's fairly easy care, and it bears edible nuts. I'm also a big fan of Black Walnut, Juglans nigra, which will take full sun, however these are slow growers, and you won't see nuts from them in your lifetime (although your kids or grandkids might.) Walnuts are slightly allelopathic, meaning that they will inhibit the growth of some other plants under their canopy. Grass is exempt, but dandilions are not, which is a nice side-effect if you ask me. The leaves of walnut trees in the summer are an astoundingly dark green, and they go red-gold in the fall. The Maples won't necessarily thrive in the full sun condition - ask you local arborist if you want a maple, or post a question about it for the maple society in their forum near the bottom of the main page (in the section of plants by Family or Genus, post it in the Acer forum). They will know better than I; Maples don't grow in Ecuador, and my Canadian experience with them begins and ends with sugarbushes. Don't go conifer, spruce or otherwise, if you still want to have a lawn. The needle drop creates such a high-acid condition that very little will grow around these trees. I'm sad for your plane tree, because that's as close as I can get to a maple here in Ecuador, but I hope that these suggestions help.
Thanks. Lorax. My daughter likes the "Silk tree" but it also causes allergic reaction too. We are thinking about Japanese Snowbell (Styrax japonicus) and would probably get that. Then, it might be messy when the blooms fall.
I was not aware Plane trees did this till my son found out I was gathering seeds to grow one. He was adamant about not growing one because they set his asthma off. Are birch trees of any use. We have a small forest of them just down behind us and they do very well in our summer sun (hot) and are a lovely golden show in the autumn. Liz
Ack! Talk about pollen issues. Birch trees are one of the worst offenders in Canada. Good luck with the Styrax - in the spring before the end of the frosts, you can gently bleed it for inscence as well. Remember - all trees are messy in the autumn!
How about Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia' -- a variety of black locust with leaves that vary from neon yellow to bright pale yellowish green, depending on growing conditions. It doesn't have quite the same vigor as the species and won't grow as tall. I have one paired with a deep purple-leaved Cotinus ('Velvet Cloak' if I'm remembering right) and the effect, while lacking in subtlety, is totally kickass.
Sorry for replying so late. Thanks everyone for the info. I had a heat stroke while laying sods on the bare spots where the English Plane stump was removed. It was 31 degree. I bought a Japanese Snowbell today and thanks again for the help.
The main benefits of that one are the branching structure in winter and the profuse pendent flowers lining the undersides of the branches in early summer. No fall color. Quantities of pellet-like fruits are produced. Plant with the lawn several feet away from the trunk and mulch the bare area around it with wood chips or similar material, leaving an additional small bare area around the trunk so it does not get buried by the mulch. Water liberally during summer, this east Asian tree comes from a monsoon climate. If you are watering the lawn enough to keep it green throughout, all summer, the styrax will love the same irrigation regime.
Hi Gary: If you want a maple tree, which provides really dense shade try this one. As you can see, it is surrounded by pavement in full sun in Penticton. You cannot find any more intense heat and sun anywhere in the Lower Mainland. The tree was identified to me by Ron B. as Acer platanoides 'Globosum' and it is grafted on a base of a Norway maple. These trees also come with yellow or reddish leaves and should never be pruned, otherwise they will lose their compact shape. Good luck, Olaf
Hey, I have a Japanese Snowbell and still need to get it in the ground. The flowers are pink. Got it a year ago at a super price. 75% off the regular price. I definitely scored on that one. IF I've read it right, the pink ones don't have a fragrance like the white ones.