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laurell_gw

Fast growing, nice fall color, wide flat canopy shade tree

laurell
14 years ago

Does this exist? I'd prefer at least a little drought tolerance too. Preferably doesn't get much over 35-40 feet in the next 20 years. I wouldn't mind flowers either.

I know, crazy huge list and I'm not expecting to be able to find the whole list. I was thinking maybe a dogwood of some sort? I have an area in the southeast corner of my lot that has a huge fir tree (on the neighbor's side of the fence) and I would like to put another tree to provide shade to the corner just north west of the fir to provide lots of shade to the area for a shade garden. Suggestions? It looks like sourwood might be a viable option, but I'd prefer smaller leaves.

Comments (10)

  • dottyinduncan
    14 years ago

    My favourite tree is the Silk Tree, Albizia julibrissin. It doesn't have the fall colour, but it is fast growing, has the right canopy for you, lovely pink flowers and an interesting habit. At night time, the leaves fold themselves up into a narrow strip. We have one that is just 5 years old and it is roof top height now and I love it. Very pretty, and pretty shade. It was winter damaged last year -- lots of little dead twigs, but it has come back well and is loaded with flowers right now. It blooms until late autumn. One bad habit: it drops a lot of stuff, dead flowers and leaves. They rot easily so are not difficult to remove but they look messy on my patio.

    Here is a link that might be useful:

  • gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
    14 years ago

    Nothing fast about the growth rate of dogwoods :-)

    Raywood ash (Fraxinus oxycarpa 'Raywood') might be a nice choice - rapid growth, excellent reddish purple fall foliage and great foliage texture. And relatively drought tolerant once established. May eventually grow somewhat larger than your intended height but that'll take time.

    Katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) is another great fall color shade tree with a moderately rapid growth rate but miminal drought tolerance (although there is a gorgeous mature one at my current location that gets NO supplemental irrigation and appears unscathed by both the current heat and dryness). Parrotia or oxydendrum have great fall color and good drought tolerance once established but are not fast growing. Parrotia will eventually present a flatter canopy than the others suggested. Paperbark maple is another possibility but doesn't meet either the rapid growth or drought tolerant requirements.

  • Embothrium
    14 years ago

    Named selection of Zelkova with known good fall color.

  • PRO
    George Three LLC
    14 years ago

    Nyssa sylvatica (tupelo) is drought tolerant and has amazing fall color. when they are mature, they have a nice wide canopy, but start out pyramidal.

  • laurell
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    Thanks for the input guys! I'll check out those trees!

  • muddydogs
    14 years ago

    I was gonna say Albizzia, too. Tiny leaves that you couldn't rake, drought tolerant with fluffy pink blooms and a wide canopy. They're fast growing but need training. Mine has been pristine so I guess I'm fortunate.
    How about Red Cascade Mt Ash? It's sterile. Doe's it look good? Better go take a look.
    I'd feel safe about planting it 6 feet from your house.
    It won't shade your house but it might shade your sitting area.

  • laurell
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    Dotty- is your tree tall enough to walk under? Ideally I'd like something that I don't have to bend down to walk under.

  • dottyinduncan
    14 years ago

    Yes, it would be easy to keep the canopy high enough to walk under. I just took a picture of it today -- it's in full bloom and lovely. I'm surprised it's doing so well given the twig die back it had last winter and the lack of water we have had all of this year. Very messy underneath but a grass catcher would pick it up just fine, or if you want plants under it, epimedium is wonderful. You can just brush the dead flowers under it -- sort of like sweeping the dust under the carpet.

    Here is a link that might be useful:

  • PRO
    George Three LLC
    14 years ago

    i guess its cause they are in bloom now, but i've been loving silk trees lately. most are WIDE FLAT CANOPY to a T.

    however, i really have them in my head as a summer tree. fall foliage has never really struck me.

  • Embothrium
    14 years ago

    That's because there isn't any.