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accent tree recommendations??
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Posted by dan0 Canada 5b (My Page) on Thu, Jun 4, 09 at 18:49
| Hi,
I’m looking for an accent plant for the front of a light colored house in Canadian growing zone 5b. It must be wind and ice damage tolerant. Because of the light colored house I was thinking something with red / purple or yellow foliage. House is also two story so maybe a medium to large tree. Any recommendations?
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RE: accent tree recommendations??
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| Maybe some type of ornamental flowering crab with purple leaves? Sorry, I don't know any specific cultivar but I believe there are a few. Maybe a shubert chokecherry? They have pretty purple leaves as well. For golden trees maybe a golden catalpa 'aurea'. There are probably more but these are the few that I know of. Glen |
RE: accent tree recommendations??
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| Prunus cerasifera 'Newport' gets only 18' tall and 15-20' wide at maturity, and has purple foliage. 'Thundercloud' is about the same. Although not dark-colored in leaf, many of the deciduous saucer magnolias (Magnolia x soulangiana) look stunning in front or at the corner of white houses. Just make sure you choose a violet-pink blooming cultivar for most effect--such as 'Lennei' or 'Verbanica', 'Alexandrina' or 'Rustica Rubra'. Crabapples are grand, too. Do ask for a selection that is rust and scab resistant so your tree looks super in summer and fall. Even if you choose a non-purple leaved accent tree, you can have purple-leaved shrubs to anchor your planting beds around the white house's foundation--sand cherry, leuchothoe, fringeflowers may work, not sure this last one is hardy in zone 5 though. |
RE: accent tree recommendations??
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- Posted by marric Z5a Ontario (My Page) on
Wed, Jun 24, 09 at 8:20
| I have a 'Makamik' crab that I love. The foliage is dark and it has gorgeous deep pink flowers in spring, not to mention that the fragrance is awesome! It does have fruit but it really isn't a messy tree. I don't know how tall you want this tree to get but the Makamik grows to about 30-40'high and just as wide, according to Lois Holes book. We've had it 10 years now and it is still only about 15' and rounding out nicely. Marg |
RE: accent tree recommendations??
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| I agree about the Shubert cherry. They grow to about 15 ft. |
RE: accent tree recommendations??
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- Posted by ditas z4b-5 Iowa (My Page) on
Wed, Sep 9, 09 at 16:10
| Hi - I just found this thread as I've been thinking of a smaller growing tree similar to my *Royal Raindrops* Crab. Like your *Makamik* Marric ... has beautiful burgundy foliage, beautiful fragrant blossoms ... RR will produce pea-size-burgundy fruits for the birds in Winter & 20'- non-suckering tree! I just wish the blossoms could last a bit longer! Can you tell me a bit more about Makamik? Would Shubert Cherry, look as good as RR crab, blossoms are fragrant & last a bit longer than 7-10days? We took down an old Quacking Aspen over a year ago, I need to shade some smaller Hydrangeas, underplanted in the site w/ just a small tree. TIA for ideas, as well! |
Here is a link that might be useful: Royal Raindrops
RE: accent tree recommendations??
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- Posted by marric Z5a Ontario (My Page) on
Tue, Sep 15, 09 at 8:23
| Ditas - sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, garden work you know. I like the Makamik because it has awesome pink flowers in spring along with a very heavenly fragrance. It doesn't have a lot of crabs on it and its really not a 'dirty' tree. Birds love its, especially the blue jays and yellow finches. The only thing this tree does that I'm not crazy about is that it sends up suckers. When we bought it we were told it wasn't grafted but I think it is and that's where the suckers come from. I just prune them. When I prune them I 'scrape' at the small suckers til they're severed and it seems to be slowing down the growth of them. From what I've read, this tree has a wide canopy at maturity, 20-30'. I'm planning to underplant mine with hostas when it grows up. Marg |
RE: accent tree recommendations??
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- Posted by ditas z4b-5 Iowa (My Page) on
Thu, Sep 17, 09 at 23:12
| Marg - thanks for the input about your Makamik ... seems very similar to my Royal Raindrops ... Gold Finches do come & visit the area as well, I'm just not sure if they come for the pea-size plum-colored crab fruits or the P.Cone underplanted in the site. I'm not certain about the width of RR's canopy 20-30' is ideal for the replacement I'm looking for! Thanks again & Happy Fall! |
RE: accent tree recommendations??
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Check with your local garden club or nurseries for suggestions.Anticipate possible problems above and below ground.Any mature height restrictions? Double check distances for walls,walkways or driveways and any water, septic or gas lines anywhere near the root zone. Maple roots may well grow above the lawn's surface making mowing challenging.
Evergreens are much more varied than arbor vitae, blue spruce and taxus. Hollies can be found in tree form.Some magnolias are evergreen.
If your site permits decidious trees are ideal energysavers at the Southeast and Southwest corners.Shade in Summer and a living windbreak that allows more sunlight on the house during Winter.Many decidious trees bloom for just a week or two and aren't very dramatic the other 50 weeks.Consider specimens with unusual bark or long bloom seasons.Or be economical and look at dwarf or semi-dwarf fruit trees.Would any of the 3 smoke tree varieties work for your area? |
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