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Choosing a Tree

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Clarissa

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Our municipal authorities tell us that if we want to plant a tree, they will pay for half of it. We had to tear a tree out when we moved in because it had died, so we are definitely planting a new one. Here is a list of trees we can choose from:

  1. Bald cypress
  2. Basswood
  3. Beech
  4. Black Gum
  5. Crabapple
  6. Zelkova
  7. Elm
  8. Gingko (male)
  9. Hackberry
  10. Kentucky Coffee (male)
  11. Magnolia
  12. Hickory
  13. Hornbeam
  14. Larch
  15. Linden
  16. Sugar maple
  17. Red maples
  18. Oak
  19. Pine
  20. Spruce

N is opposed to beech because he doesn’t want to be stereotypically Russian, and we already have a magnolia. N is also opposed to a maple tree because he doesn’t want us to be stereotypically Canadian. There is a lot of space so we want a tree that will grow a crown and not remain a sad naked stick forever. We are also not opposed to coniferous trees. Does anybody have any suggestions? We were thinking in the direction of a larch tree. What think you, fellow tree-huggers?

25 responses to “Choosing a Tree”

  1. David P. Bellamy Avatar
    David P. Bellamy

    I would choose black walnut, but it is not on the list. Hickory is nice. Bald cypress is beautiful, but will it really thrive there? I would have thought it needed a warmer climate.
    Oaks are magnificent, although slow-growing.

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    1. Clarissa Avatar
      Clarissa

      The bald cypress that grows in the area looks like this: http://tree-pictures.com/cypress33.jpg

      I would love an oak but I wonder if I will live long enough to see it grow big enough. There is a really enormous oak on a neighboring street. I’m so in love with it that I go there just to stare. But it’s obviously a very old one.

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  2. Bardiac Avatar
    Bardiac

    I LOVE Larch (aka Tamarack) trees! They’re beautiful, and drop their needles, but it’s WAY easier to clean up from them than leaves. They don’t grow super fast, though. But they’re beautiful! (They are sad and nekkid in winter, though.)

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    1. Clarissa Avatar
      Clarissa

      I thought larch was an evergreen. Gosh, I’m so useless at this stuff. I already killed 2 potted plants since August with two more to go.

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      1. Bardac Avatar
        Bardac

        Larch is a gymnosperm, but thy turn BRIGHT yellow in fall, and then the needles drop. They grow a whole new set of needles in spring, and they’re glorious. The needles are much softer than pine needles, and very cool.

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  3. Bardiac Avatar
    Bardiac

    Oh, Hackberry and Crabapple will probably bring in some good birds 🙂

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    1. anon Avatar
      anon

      If fruiting trees are too near the house/sidewalk you can get a really rotten smell as the fruit fall off and decompose (but it was worth the spring flowers imho). And depending on how troublesome any neighborhood kids are, they pick up the rotting apples and throw them against houses (or at least that’s the excuse the HOA had for removing all the pretty flowering crabapple trees from my neighborhood, the jerks).

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  4. Dreidel Avatar
    Dreidel

    Get a palm tree or a giant saguaro. They look beautiful in the snow 🙂

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  5. Ol. Avatar
    Ol.

    I would plant a native, non-invasive variety. The Kentucky one is intriguing.

    I planted a pine tree last spring, because I wanted an evergreen to get me through the depressing winters of southern Ontario.

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  6. n8chz Avatar
    n8chz

    I had no idea beech was stereotypically Russian. I’m guessing the explanation for that will prove at least somewhat entertaining. But what is a “Zelkova?” Surely that must be a Russian name.

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    1. n8chz Avatar
      n8chz

      Hm, seems it’s a Georgian name. Curiouser and curiouser.

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  7. Pen Avatar
    Pen

    I’d say shivering aspen, but that’s not an option. :\ Hm. Crabapple is okay, but anon was right–you’d have a lot of rotten fruit on your hands at some point, and it can get pretty mushy under your feet. I also don’t like those ones because I’m a bit allergic to their flowers. :p Depending on the type, spruce can be really pretty. Blue spruce are super hardy and their new growth grows in with blue needles. However, spruce and pine can also set off allergies, if either of you has them. I know spruce in particular can be an irritant if you handle the needles a lot.

    Larches are pretty. They’re coniferous, but lose their leaves in the winter. So pretty. They also grow up north, so they’re pretty hardy.

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    1. Clarissa Avatar
      Clarissa

      Crabapple will make me crabby. 🙂

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      1. David P. Bellamy Avatar
        David P. Bellamy

        You can make crabapple jelly!

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  8. Vic Crain Avatar
    Vic Crain

    One consideration not mentioned is the height that you want the tree to attain. Apple trees tend to be smaller, while in your climate, oaks and maples can soar.
    From your list, I would recommend a red maple (shape and fall colors) or an elm (Dutch Elm Disease wiped out most of these trees several decades ago, so this would be helping restoration of this population.
    Two trees I really like are not on your list: silver maple (relatively fast growth) and the river birch (distinctive with it’s white bark). There’s also an Alaskan weeping cedar that my wife loves, relatively short but generating unusual shapes.

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  9. Metal Thug Avatar
    Metal Thug

    Red Maples are money.

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  10. Stille (@aperfectbalance) Avatar
    Stille (@aperfectbalance)

    Gingkos are absolutely gorgeous in the autumn, and linden tree flowers smell awesome

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  11. musteryou Avatar
    musteryou

    msasa

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  12. K Avatar
    K

    Cherry! Blossom and fruit! (also wasps and droppage but we will gloss over that 🙂

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  13. Jones Avatar
    Jones

    Choose a magnolia tree — magnolia bark tea can be useful for relieving stress.

    You’ll also find the same thing in Relora, but if you prefer to grow your own, there you go.

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  14. Walsh Avatar
    Walsh

    I think I would research a bit. I think S. IL is at the extreme northern range for the cypress and gum (and others?). The American linden CAN produce flowers with the most seductive fragrance. We have a fair number of them around us and when they put on their show you can smell them a 1/2 block away. For some reason they don’t do it every year. We have a young one in front and in 4 years it hasn’t provided a nasal display. I’m waiting. Maples put on a great fall display. Crabapples don’t grow all that tall. Beautiful flowers in spring. Neighborhood animals and birds like the apples. Conifers grow quickly — softwood. Some don’t like them because their resiny droppings can kill the ground cover below. Dutch Elm disease about wiped out the old classic elm. They have developed a new variety resistant to the disease (crossing Asiatic and European elms?). I think it is quite a bit different that the old time elms. You had a dead tree removed. What caused its death. Fungus? Spores might still be around. That could be a consideration when you make a decision.

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    1. Clarissa Avatar
      Clarissa

      I am researching. Posting on the blog is one way to do that. 🙂

      The tree was already long dead when we moved in, so I have no idea. I just visited a tree nursery and now I’m even more confused than before. Maybe we can plant a linden tree and then make tea from these little fruit it grows.

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  15. David P. Bellamy Avatar
    David P. Bellamy

    Beech nuts are delicious, if one takes the time to harvest them.

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  16. Sugs Avatar
    Sugs

    I’m with K – cherry definitely. Cherry trees grow tall quite fast, the one I planted 14 years ago now dwarfs my house, the blossom is glorious and so are the cherries – when I can get any! The birds eat most of them so there’s less problem with fallen fruit than you might have from a crab apple. The third joy is the lovely red to golden leaves in September – October time. Cherry trees give you 3 reasons to be cheerful!

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    1. Clarissa Avatar
      Clarissa

      There is no cherry on the list, though. The tree has to be from the list. Pear isn’t on the list either which is a shame because I just saw a beautiful pear tree for sale.

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