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Franklinia in coastal areas?
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Posted by Claire z6b MA Coastal (My Page) on Thu, Nov 18, 04 at 9:01
| I've been longing for a Franklinia alatamaha for a while, but I'm not sure if my conditions are reasonable for it.
My main concern is the amount of water required. Everything I've read says that moist well-drained soil is necessary and some sites call for "extra watering".
"Well-drained" I have, good sandy soil, but unless I plant it right next to the leaching field, I can't give it the "moist" stream bank soil it seems to want. While I can give it extra water now, I would like it to be able to survive for future generations.
Does anyone with similar conditions have experience with the Franklinia? It seems to be a wonderful tree, and I really want one, but not if it doesn't have a reasonable chance to live a good life.
Claire |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Franklinia in coastal areas?
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| I love them too, and I've got 4 now. I wish I could say that they do well, but I've only had mine for a couple of years. I have killed one or two over the last 10 years, probably by underwatering. The tree forum has had some discussions on these, and I have not gotten the impression that they need tons of water. Some shade may be more important - it's an understory tree. |
RE: Franklinia in coastal areas?
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- Posted by Claire z6b MA Coastal (My Page) on
Fri, Nov 19, 04 at 19:08
| Except for the "moist" part, I have a good site for the Franklinia. Some relatives want to give me a "special tree" as a house-warming gift, and at first I thought the Franklinia would be great. On second thought though, I don't want to plant a tree that might not survive. There are little kids involved and I'd hate to have them come visit and find their gift dead or dying. I'm leaning toward a Sargent cherry for the gift, and I'll try a small Franklinia or some seeds in a test area. Claire |
RE: Franklinia in coastal areas?
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| Hmm, Sargent Cherry is a magnet for Japanese Beetles. How about a witch hazel, they'd be thrilled to see it blooming in February, or a Stewartia? This year I planted a liquidambar rotundiloba - a sweet gum (a variety without the gum balls) and it is just beautiful. So many great trees, it's awfully hard to pick one! |
RE: Franklinia in coastal areas?
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- Posted by Claire z6b MA Coastal (My Page) on
Sat, Nov 20, 04 at 8:35
| The tree is a replacement for an old (and failing) wild cherry my mother planted that we had to take out because of construction. The Sargent cherry would be an appropriate choice in one location. We've never had problems with Japanese beetles, which I've always attributed to the numerous skunks in the neighborhood. Bless the skunks. Otherwise, I wanted to get something native and a witch hazel is on the list, although you start to get the same "moist" soil issue. This is pine/oak country and the Pinus strobus Hillside Winter Gold sounds very interesting. A white pine that turns golden yellow in the fall and winter! Has anyone seen this one? Claire |
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