I don't grow it, but there are a few around. Our Arboretum research station at the courner of Hwys 5 & 13 has a nice one. I don't know if they do it here, but they seem to be known for geting a foliar disease, an anthracnose I think, that defoliates them in the summer. Then they releaf again. Just think, you get to rake leaves twice a year! Yippee.

BTW, do you know about the big sweet birch (Betula lenta) in the cemetery in Winona? Very nice. And there use to be a couple tulip trees too. I think only one is left, and doesn't look that good at that. And then on Queen's Bluff there is . . .

Rick

Hi Rick,

Yeah, Sycamore is probably one of those trees best admired from a distance. No, I'm not aware of the Sweet Birch or Tulip Trees in Winona, but I'd sure appreciate more details on their location. Now you'll set me off on a wild goose chase scouring the cemetaries of Winona. I'm convinced the La Crosse-Winona area is a full zone warmer than where I'm at, even though it's only about 65 miles as the crow flies. You have to admire a city (Winona) that puts in Kentucky Coffee Tree for boulevard plantings.

Bob

Well you got me there. I didn't know there was more than one cemetery in Winona. But really, you should be taking a hard look at any older cemetery that you come across, wherever it is. Why I don't know, but they seem to have an inordinate amount of unusual plant materials (usually trees).

As for Winona, the cemetery I speak of must be the largest, and banks up the bluff to the west of the city. The sweet birch is in its valley, right in the middle. Look for the black bark and symetrical shape, as it stands alone. The tulip tree that is left is up the hill to the north near a small old stone building.

I like Kentucky coffee trees too. Have two in my yard, and as it turned out, one male and one female. They are part of my "landscaping for energy efficiency" on the south and west sides of my house, because they drop foliage early in the fall and leaf out late in the spring. Thus I can make use of passive solar radiation for longer periods in the spring and fall to heat my house. In addition, shade from the sparse leafless branches in the winter is the least of any tree, so passive solar radiation is greatest then too.

Hi Bob,
There is a large sycamore growing in front of the Cub grocery store located at 60th and Nicollet (just slightly west of 35W) in Minneapolis. The tree was "saved" when they tore all of the houses and business down to put the Cub store in at that location. The roots were damaged due to the construction and the tree had some significant branch dieback, but now the tree appears to be making a recovery. The tree is very late to leaf out every spring.

The Home Depot store in Bloomington (between Lyndale and Nicollet) on American Blvd. has some 6' sycamore trees for less than $20.00. They also have a 6' Metasequoia for $29.95, which surprised me.
Mike

Another nice sycamore can be seen near the northeast side of Thompson Ave overpass on HWY 52 in West St. Paul. If you ever get to Prairie du Chien, Old Fort Crawford has an excellent specimen growing there.

Thanks to everyone for the tree location tips...I will save this and make a point to search for these when I'm in the area (with my job I eventually will be). At that price, Mike, I just may give Dawn Redwood a try. Anyone going to the arb plant sale next weekend? I've been searching high and low for Magnolia 'Sunsation'. Do you think there's any chance of finding it there?

Bob

Someone here probably has a listing of stuff offered at the Arb. Maybe a seperate posting will snuff 'em out.

Hi Bob,
I have provided a link to the list of plants being sold at the Arboretum next weekend. Unfortunately, there is no Magnolia 'Sunsation'.

I purchased 'Sunsation' from Fairweather Gardens last year and the tree didn't survive the summer. I don't know what happened? The plant was VERY pot bound and I did try to untangle the root ball and maybe that's what killed the plant? At $50.00, plus shipping, it was a loss that was hard to take. I, too, want the plant, but I'm not willing to order the plant again from Fairweather.

I will be at the sale next weekend, bright and early. Get there early for the best selection.
Mike

Here is a link that might be useful: Arboretum Plant List Link