Tree Possibilities

I've been pondering what tree or trees to plant in my front bed, where I took the two trees out, which I wrote about in my previous blog post.

I don't know enough about trees. I'm not even sure if I really have enough room for two, even though I took two out. The bed is about 10 feet wide, and the area where I took the two trees out measures about 45 feet long. I suppose it would depend on whether they were big trees, or understory trees. And, even if I CAN fit two in the bed, do I want to? Or would I rather have one really cool specimen tree, underplanted with perennials and smaller shrubs? Whatever tree I choose, it has to have lots of interest -- not just flowers, but leaves and bark and multi-season interest and a nice form. The soil there is very sandy and not moisture-retentive -- good in the rainy season, because it doesn't get water-logged. But in our dry summers, do I want to water? I know I'll need to water for the first couple of years, till everything is well-established. But I need to really think about whether my choice will continue to need water during the summer to look its best. And one final consideration: Can I find good-size specimens of these at local nurseries? I don't want to plant starts that will take 10 years to get some size on them, I want to plant good size trees to begin with. Anyway, I started researching trees using the website Plant Lust (which is where a lot of the info in this post came from).

Here are my possibilities:

1. Golden Catalpa/Catalpa x bignonioides Aurea, also called Indian bean tree. I've seen beautiful examples of this tree in a couple of spots. One was at Dragonfly Farms nursery in Kingston, seen last year during the Garden Bloggers Fling. I don't remember seeing it when I was there recently, so Heidi may have removed it. I did see a couple of fair-sized ones for sale there. I saw a second golden Catalpa at the garden of Judy Montoure and Dorian Sanchez, both last year and this year at the Garden Conservancy's Open Days tour.

There is a lovely example of golden Catalpa on the right

There used to be a beautiful specimen of golden Catalpa at Dragonfly Farms nursery, but I'm not sure if it's there any longer.

As you can see in these photos, this deciduous tree has gorgeous big golden leaves. It flowers in late summer with big panicles of bell-shaped flowers, that turn into long, slender bean-shaped pods. Here's a little more info about it.

Growing conditions

Soil Needs: rich

Water Needs: regular, drought tolerant

Sun Exposure: Full sun 

Size: 25-30 feet tall, 25-30 feet spread

Zones: 5a - 10b

2. Arbutus 'Marina' This is a broad-leafed evergreen tree, with interesting bark that peels away to reveal the shiny red new bark underneath. It has hanging clusters of pinkish-white flowers that produce red edible fruit, similar to Arbutus unedo, aka strawberry tree. I haven't seen a specimen of this tree in person, but I often see our native Arbutus menziesii/Madrona when I take walks or drive, and I get the impression this may be similar in looks, but easier to grow. The native Madrona is notoriously finicky, but it's a beautiful, though somewhat gnarly tree with exfoliating bark. I haven't seen Arbutus 'Marina' for sale at any nursery nearby, but I'm told they have some large ones for sale at Valley Nursery in Poulsbo. A longish drive to pick up a 6+ foot tall tree in a little car could be problematic. I'm going to keep looking closer to home, because this tree has a lot to commend it -- bark, size and evergreen-ness. But... I'm not sold on its hardiness. I've heard there are some thriving in Seattle, but it's a bit warmer there. Technically, they say we are Zone 8a now, but I'm dubious of that.

Growing Conditions Soil Needs: well-drained Water Needs: regular, drought tolerant Sun Exposure: Full sun

Size: 25' - 50' tall, 20' - 40' wide Zones: 8b-10b 3. Eastern Redbud/Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' This understory deciduous tree is a cultivar of an Eastern native with large, reddish heart-shaped leaves. It produces purple flowers in spring before it leafs out. I saw a lovely specimen of this tree at  Joyce Hawkins' garden on the recent Garden Conservancy tour, and I've seen it for sale at Windmill Gardens in nearby Sumner. They also have it in their online inventory at Big Trees, Inc. in Snohomish, and they not only deliver it, but will also install it.  Growing Conditions Soil Needs: well-drained, rich Water Needs: regular Sun Exposure: sun, part sun, part shade Size: 15' tall, 15' wide Zones: 5a-9b Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' growing in the garden of Joyce Hawkins 4. Bigleaf Magnolia/Magnolia macrophylla I don't know much about this tree other than that Loree of danger garden grows it and loves it! (I'm always lusting after what I see on other blogs!) Read about it here and in this post you can see pictures of its flowers. It has lots of features to commend it. It has big leaves! And enormous, fragrant flowers! There might be too much sun in that bed for it, which runs along the southwestern boundary of our garden. Another problem might be that we get a lot of wind up here on the ridge south of Seattle, which could shred those big leaves. Growing Conditions Soil Needs: acid, well-drained, rich Water Needs: even moisture, regular Sun Exposure: part sun, light/bright shade, part shade Size: 50' tall, 30' wide Zones: 4a-8b 5. Stewartia pseudocamellia This is another deciduous tree with flaky bark. I've seen it in a couple of places, but I don't think I have any photos. It produces white camellia-like flowers in the spring, and bright fall color. Finding one for sale could be a problem. It also might not like our wet winters, but with the well-drained soil in that bed, that might not be a problem. Growing Conditions Soil Needs: acid, well-drained, rich Water Needs: even moisture, regular, dry in winter Sun Exposure: sun, part sun, dappled shade, part shade, shade Size: 20' - 40' tall, 15' - 25' wide Zones: 5a-8b 6. Paperbark maple/Acer griseum  I've seen this deciduous tree a few times lately, at both Heronswood, and at the garden of Steve and Michelle Campbell, during the Garden Conservancy tour. It's another wonderful exfoliating tree. Its paper-like bark peels away to reveal coppery bark underneath, and the leaves turn red in fall. I've seen it for sale at Windmill Gardens, and I bet I can find it at others. I know they have it on their inventory list at Big Trees, Inc. Growing Conditions Soil Needs: adaptable, well-drained Water Needs: even moisture, regular, drought tolerant Sun Exposure: sun, part sun, part shade Size: 20' - 30' tall, 15' - 25' wide Zones: 5a-9b

In the garden of Steve and Michelle Campbell Isn't it pretty?

What to do?