Tree ID question

11 years ago

Looking for an ID of the trees in the photo below. The location is East Lansing Michigan. I know, that's not much to go on. This is an older mature neighborhood as you can probably tell, and there are several properties with similar/same trees. I like the tall narrow form and am looking to plant a few similar at a new property. Thanks.

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

11 years ago

moo you ... MSU has an incredible display garden about a hour to 1.5 hours south of lansing. in tipton mi ... hidden lakes gardens ...

also .. it is the state agricultural school ... i would not be surprised if they had more local display gardens ..

also.. in stockbridge MI is the gee tree farm 10 acres display garden .. and they sell most of what is in the arboretum ....

any of those options would be better than trying to help you, with pix taken from a quarter mile away ...

fall is the next planting season for conifers in MI ... so i suggest a couple very pleasnats drive thru teh MI countryside... if you really want to be enabled ...

tell them jim harbaugh sent you ... rotflmbo ....

ken

http://hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu/garden_highlights/the_harper_collection_of_dwarf_rare_conifers

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Comments (6)

wisconsitom
11 years ago
Look like one or another variant of Colorado spruce-Picea pungens. Slight chance they could also be Englemann spruce-Picea englemannii.

+oM
Mario Q
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for the feedback. The one second looks cool, but sounds like a mountainous variety that would not work at Elevation 850'? Some more pics below of others in the neighborhood, if that helps. Or if you know of other trees of similar form I could consider for planting, I'd appreciate the suggestions. Thanks.

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Garen Rees
11 years ago
Hi Mario Q,

Looks like Picea pungens for sure.

If you like the weeping form then Picea pungens 'Pendula' is nice. Another weeper is Picea pungens 'The Blues'. 'The Blues' can require a little more encouragement with staking to get it to grow more upright. It likes to weep a little stronger.

Picea pungens 'Hoopsii' is the easier to find of the brightest blue forms.

Then there are the many kinds that get bright gold or cream colored new growth that fades back to the standard green or blue. 'Spring Blast' or 'Niemetz' to name a few.

If you like gold foliage there are those too. 'Straw' is one I like.

Picea engelmanii does fantastic for me in Indiana. I think it would do well for you too. Picea engelmanii 'Bush's Lace' is a great one.
Mario Q
Original Author
11 years ago
Garen - thank you for the suggestions. I'm checking them all out now.

Ken,

Great suggestions. But, I am lazy as you can tell which is why I am posting my questions instead of getting off my butt and finding the answers :-)

I am kicking myself, because I just took my family to Hidden Lake this spring. I did not have any interest in growing conifers until I visited. Amazing place. I can probably sell my wife on a fall trip.

MSU does have several landscape demonstration gardens on campus that we visit regularly. But, there's not much for conifers there.

Gee Farms is a good one. I have been there several times. It's about a 40 min drive from Spartan country. I did not realize they have an arboretum there. I'm usually in the nursery or the store buying ice cream for my kids. That's actually where I was planning on purchasing whatever I settle on. I'll email the staff there to see what they have to say on the pics.

Oh, and I can't wait to see harbaugh walk across water for all those UM fans this fall.

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Liz Gallardo
11 years ago
At about a mile east of the exit/intersection of I-69 and Lake Lansing Rd, there is a nursery with nice trees and decent prices, and a name that escapes me. It is about a mile down the service road, back toward Flint (east). Give them a visit and check out what they can help you with!