Medium sized interesting tree needed?

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I have a spot opening up where up to a medium sized tree would fit nicely. Before I let another redbud pop up or grab this or that Cornus what else should I consider?

Zone 6 St Louis. The location is on a hill, good clay based soil. Sun is ample enough to grow grass easily probably 6-8 hours in the sun over the summer. things that grow nearby include: white ash, redbuds, white oak, scarlet oak, Native smoke tree, metasequoia ogon, silver maples......have some black walnuts about 50 feet away....black cherry....sugar maple....

If I had to pick tomorrow I'd probably pick a catalpa or nyssa. Maybe a Catalpa x erubescens 'Purpurea'.

Thanks for any help as always.

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User

8 years ago

Possibly Aesculus hippocastanum?

I remember them growing in the park where I grew up.

Of did you mean native trees?

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Comments (8)

Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi Bill, Native isn't a must but if it comes down to a near tie I'll let that be the deciding factor. Thanks for the suggestion. Aesculus hippocastanum isn't super popular here for some reason so it would be different.

As a side thought......My yard is starting to look like SE Asia with my Metasequoias, Cornus controversa, a couple Acer palmatums and Cornus kousa.
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laceyvail 6A, WV
8 years ago
I'm very fond of our native Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium). And for something non native and summer blooming, Heptacodium miconioides (Seven Son flower) will be coming into bloom soon.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
what about the variegated norway maple .... since you dont really garden under your trees ... ken

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=ACER+PLATANOIDES+DRUMMONDII&t=ffcm&iax=images&ia=images
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
8 years ago
I love Horse Chestnuts but I wouldn't call them 'medium sized'.

Maybe one of the red cultivars, which tend to be smaller, but still pretty big imo.
Smivies (Ontario - 5b)
8 years ago
Not sure what your idea of medium is? The trees suggested are either large (Horsechestnut) or small. Only the Red Horsechestnut is 'medium' in my books.

My thoughts...Yellowwood, Manchurian Striped Maple, Epaulette Tree (Pterostyrax hispida), Western Soapberry, Parrotia, or Davidia?
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
Original Author
8 years ago
Floral, a Really I was thinking 30-50 ft so yeah horse chestnuts have the potential to outdo that. I'm gonna have to dig around for a few examples here and see how they grow. My favorite example is the Southern Magnolia. They sure do grow 70 feet tall some places, just not regularly in St Louis MO.

Laceyvail, Viburnum prunifolium is one I forgot for another part of the yard! Thanks for mentioning it.

Ken, I guess you have been seeing pics of my yard on here for a decade! Thank you for remembering. I try to garden around my Metasequoia Ogon. It turns into a weed bed through. Just the other day I took the weedeater to it. Strategically mind you lol so this purple bean vine can take over again since it flowers late in the summer.
User
8 years ago
The ones in our park, were only about 35ft. trees. I'm sure they were installed by the park service of that city but I have no idea of their age.