Liriodendron tulipifera 'Fastigiatum' A very narrow, columnar form of the American tulip tree. The leaves color to butter-yellow in autumn and the tulip like flowers are borne on comparatively young specimens. A mature 25-30 ft. high tree will only be 4-5 ft. wide at head height. And it is fast growing and grows very tall. It can live over 400 years.

There is even the Theves popular (Populus nigra 'Thevestina') that is even faster than the tulip tree but it can be like a willow in branch strenth and also you would have to plant it 30 to 50 feet away from any walkways or houses because its roots spread far out. Also there is a chance it might sucker but it can live up to 80+ years.

List of Columnar Trees (some are slow and some fast):
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/ipmnet/99-3nnws2.htm

I have a couple of L. tulipifera 'Arnold'. I love them.

Thank you very much treeguy and quirkyquercus. I am looking up that type of tulip tree right now.

K.

Bingo - if you want a tall, column-like tree that will live a long time and reach an impressive size, the native Tulip Tree in any form is the way to go.

However, just watch the lower temperature limits on them. I think you'll be fine in Zone 6 in New York, but they are not as cold hardy as some trees (oaks, etc.) Still, they should do well for you.

just another question. I started another thread on Dawn Redwood. The pictures of it look quite narrow, if not exactly cylindrical, at least for the first 30 years. Do you think this one would work? And it grows pretty fast.

Thanks,

K.

You could grow this there if you wanted to because it is hardy to zone 4.
Dawn Redwood grows fast and in a Pyramidal Shape 60 to 90+ feet tall and about 15 to 30 feet wide, it is also deciduous.

While Liriodendron tulipifera ÂFastigiatum or ÂArnold grows fast in a more columnar form, 60 to 90+ high, and 15 to 25 feet wide and is hardy to zone 5 sometimes zone 4b if it is a northern seed source.

Both are nice fast growing trees but if you want one with broad leaves Tulip tree would be the pick.

treeguy, thanks again. I am having a hard time making the choice. It really boils down to how fast the tree will grow and how wide the canopy will be. If the canopy is only 5 feet then I don't get much blockage of the view I want. But if the canopy is 30 feet + then it will come close to the house.

I have to go out and find these trees.

I am still open to suggestions and any help making this decision!

K.

See if you can find some mature specimens. Species yellow poplar can grow very columnar is at is when planted against a building, other trees etc. If there isn't that much space it will grow narrower. Also you could take a few extra narrow growers like slender silouette sweetgums and make a nice grouping with them.

{{gwi:386479}}

Mine are about 3" and are a little wider than that. I'd say one of mine is about 3' wide and the other is 4' wide. There some at a nearby park that are about 10-12' wide and look like they were planted about 5-10 years ago.

The thing that I don't particularly like about them is while their fall color is superb, they unfortunately hang on to their leaves until they are all ready to drop so there is a lot of brown mixed in.

We have used Swedish aspen, populus tremula, for that effect for the last 25 years and have had very good results. So far no canker or other problems. There are I believe, 5 in the park system. Other areas of the country may not be as successful but we are certainly happy with them.

Can you post some photos of them?

By the way I may have underestimated the spread on my trees. Mine start branching at about 3' up so it looks a little wider maybe about 4-6' wide not the 3-4' original estimate. They seem to be growing reasonably quickly.

Yeah I've read about Swedish Columnar Aspen (Populus tremula ÂErectaÂ) before and they sound very nice as a columnar tree.

I'm going to try to find one of those on my trip to OH.

Thank you everyone for so much input. I really appreciate it. This got me looking into trees I had never considered. I had never heard of or have seen the columnar Aspen or Tulip Tree. I am looking for those around here to see how much I like them. The Dawn Redwood sounds goog for me too.

K.

Another excellent columnar is Acer saccharum 'Barret Cole' (aka apollo sugar maple). Unlike any other columnar maple. I didn't suggest it earlier because you said you wanted fast growing but what great performers these have been for me. If you can find these, I'd definitely try to work some into your garden also.