Alternative to Armstrong Maple?

15 years ago

Hi all,

I usually hang out on the Decorating side but our backyard project has brought me over here.

We removed a few dead pines from our backyard earlier this year and need to put shade trees in their place.

We would like a couple of columnar shade trees. A local nursery has a line of Armstrong Maples in the front of their property and my DH loves them. The issue is we already have a Maple on the property and are frustrated with the surface roots.

I've read Slim's list and think the Crimson Spire Oak or Regal Prince Oak might work but can't find much information about them. Can anyone tell me about these Oaks or good alternative for this Kansas space?

If you need more info I'll be happy to provide it!

Jennifer

Featured Answer

hortster

15 years ago

RP oak must be a cross between Q. robur 'fastigiata' (columnar English oak) and bur oak. I haven't actully grown either of the oaks you asked about, but my ("pure") bur oak was planted in '03 or '04 with a 2" caliper, 9-10' height. Today it is 20' plus. You can see from the topgrowth that it has put on at least 2' or more this year. Its durability is obvious from the turf (yes, that is my lawn after 50 plus days over one hundred). The soil is heavy red and black clay. The tree has been deep watered only once this year. Tough critter!
Oh, the retreiver has a squirrel treed.
hortster
{{gwi:333444}}

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Comments (11)

hortster
15 years ago
Royal Prince oak is a cross between English and bur oaks. For this reason it is good for alkaline (high pH) soils, and both its parents are quite tolerant of clay - making it good for Kansas. Both parents also made it through this incredible summer quite well here in KS. Mature size is 40-50' height and 15-20' width. Fall color is yellow. If I recall correctly the Crimson Spire oak is a "pure" English oak (might be wrong there) that is not only columnar but is said to have some reddish fall color.
hortster
arktrees
15 years ago
You might look at one of the columnar Ginkgo's. Princeton Sentry is probable the most common. Fastigata is another. There are several.

Arktrees
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jennifer_in_kansas
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the suggestion arktrees. I love the Gingko's leaves. Its really such a pretty tree. Unfortunately I see it's slow growing. We have a small yard and need the function of a shade tree sooner rather than later. I'd say we're looking for closer to "moderate" growth.

Horster, The RP & CS Oaks sound like the right fit but they're advertising them as moderate-to-fast growers. This sounds like a marketing ploy to me...if both parents are oaks, how can it grow quickly? Am I mistaken in that most oaks are slow growers?

Is there anything about oaks I should be concerned about? I do know they hold their leaves until the spring but that's okay with us.

Jennifer
j0nd03
15 years ago
I don't know about the oaks in particular hortster is referring to, but some oaks can do 3' per year especially oaks on the red oak side. Grow as fast as a red maple. Most oaks fit the moderate 1-2' per year once established. Some hit the fast growth 2-3+' per year. Don't underestimate the potential growth rate of an oak tree if it is provided proper site conditoins, moisture, and mulch ;-)

John
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
15 years ago
I've read Slim's list

We like you already!

The columnar oaks a couple hundred miles west of you can do 2' a year if they like where they are; I can't say their fall color is anything to write home about, though. The ginkgo are slow to start, then they go up. Some don't like them sitting there for several years, but the concern goes away when they get going. And the fall color...well. Nothing more need be said.

Dan
hortster
15 years ago
My daughter was born in 1977. That spring we planted a 6/8'BB ginkgo because she had blonde hair and the fall color of ginkgo is golden yellow. Dan, it did sit there for a bunch of years! Didn't grow hardly at all. I drove by that house recently and the tree is thin (admittedly, in competition with two siberian elms and a redbud) but is now about 30' tall (if that). Let's see, 34 years and 30'. Pretty slow. Yet a tree that has produced fossils...
hortster
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
15 years ago
The ginkgo growth curve, hortster, is odd that it has quite a long left tail. I think we were either in ATL or BAL several years ago and there were some fine 'Princeton Sentry' specimens not far from the hotel.

BTW, hortster, you should have a disclaimer on that foto: 'cool dog not included'. ;o)

Dan
hortster
15 years ago
Dan, a Humane Society adoptee. Absolutely the best animal with which we ever we ever shared our home. A mix between (are you ready?) "Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever" and (?) maybe German shephard. Super pet. Obedient, gentle. Squirrel and rabbit dog, actually has gotten two squirrels this year. Won't even friggin' look at a duck (had two mallards in the drainage ditch behind, dog could care). Go figure.
hortster
hortster
15 years ago
Dan, a Humane Society adoptee. Absolutely the best animal with which we ever we ever shared our home. A mix between (are you ready?) "Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever" and (?) maybe German shephard. Super pet. Obedient, gentle. Squirrel and rabbit dog, actually has gotten two squirrels this year. Won't even friggin' look at a duck (had two mallards in the drainage ditch behind, dog could care). Go figure.
hortster
jennifer_in_kansas
Original Author
15 years ago
horster, I've never heard of that breed but he/she is very handsome. Love the white front paws. It looks like you have a HUGE backyard for squirrel chasing! Oh, and I like your bur oak. Thanks for posting a picture of it and giving the growth background. I drove by the Armstrong Maples yesterday and really wasn't that impressed with their appearance. Sweet story about the Ginkgo tree - thanks for sharing!

Dan, I'd be crazy to live in KC and not use Slim's list! He really did a lot of research and it's been so helpful. The Princeton Sentry is still on my maybe list but has moved down a few notches due to initial growth rate. As for the columnar oaks color I understand the Crimson Spires offer some nice fall foliage.

I'm still surprised I can't find more personal experiences with these oaks. Is it because it's a fairly new variety?

Jennifer