| I can't vouch for it's size in your climate, because here in Michigan it grows only as a die-back perennial, our winters are too harsh for the wood to survive. It regrows rapidly in the spring from the stump, and gets about 6 to 8 feet tall every year. I really like the flavor of the tender new growth, tastes sort of like beef, soy sauce, and onions. I have to confess, I never actually picked any and put them in a stir fry, but I think they would be good. I just used to snatch leaves off of mine and graze on them as went by on the mower or while walking the dog. Unfortunately, I forgot to mulch mine last winter, which was colder than it's been for four or five years, and it didn't make it. The tree looks a lot like alianthus or certain sumacs, and probably has the same growth habit as an alianthus -- tall, open, fast growing and kind of weedy. If you are concerned about its size, I suspect you could grow it very nicely by planting it in your lawn, and once or twice a season buzz the top off with your mower, to in effect grow it not as a woody tree, but as an herbaceous perennial. This would have the added advantage of keeping a supply of fresh, tender new growth around should you decide you like the flavor in stir-fry. |
