Any recommendations for a small pyramidal conifer, Wisconsin Zone 4b?
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Help! Need a small to medium tree zone 5
Comments (16)Do you intend to continue using the fire pit? If so, I would discourage you planting any tree that would overhang it. However, disregarding that, I would say that one of your best choices in a deciduous tree would be a Yellowwood (Cladrastis lutea aka Cladrastis kentukea). Hardy to Zone 4. It would fit the space without overwhelming the house as it got older. Good fall color and shade. It is also a great flowering tree. The flowers look like white wisteria flowers. The seeds are in small pea pods and do not require much cleanup. This is a deep rooted tree that will not give you sidewalk or foundation problems. They are native to the Ohio valley area. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/a270/cladrastis-kentukea.aspx For an evergreen choice I would recommend a fir. In my area the Whit Fir (Abies concolor) would be our go to fir but in Michigan there may be others that are better for the area. The fir is a nice conical tree that would give you the same shape as the blue spruce you lost but is a better behaved tree. Blue spruce tend to get scraggy and sparse as they age. Firs do not. White firs will want to branch low to the ground like the spruce but will not spread a far wide as the spruce. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/c201/abies-concolor.aspx Because the tree would be close to your house, I would be worried about the shallow roots that most evergreen have. They tend to raise sidewalks and damage foundations. You can encourage a deeper root system by keeping the root zone moist but this is not going to overcome the nature of the tree to have shallow roots. There is a relatively deep rooted evergreen that you might consider. That would be the Incense Cedar (Libocedrus decurrens aka Calocedrus decurrens). This is a native of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. They have fronds like Arborvita rather than needles like other evergreens. This tree has deep roots and would not be a problem for sidewalks and foundations. It can get quite tall, 50 feet our so, but does not spread more that 10 or 15 feet in cultivation. It is very drought tolerant and can handle large snow loads. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/a156/calocedrus-decurrens.aspx I hope this helps....See MoreHeat Tolerant Conifers 2
Comments (44)cannot speak to heat tolerant conifers sad to say but i thought i would speak up for the surprising adaptability of Mexican conifers (Mexican oaks as well) to seemingly very different climates and localities. i have had gratifying success growing a number of species (likely mostly from areas with a summer rainfall maximum) here in the summer cool and dry (winter very wet) pacific north west (oregon coast)---including pinus montizumae, p. patula, p. pseudostrobus, p. estevezii,, cupressus montana, c. guadalupensis, and podocarpus matudae---.wonderful trees that once established seem to do well with little or no additional care....See MoreTall narrow conifer
Comments (10)It will be difficult for you to find T. o. 'Malonyana'. I don't know of any vendors that are currently offering this plant. You might try emailing Bob Fincham at Coenosium Gardens to see if he has any for sale. Use Google to search for Coenosium Gardens. Porterhowse Farms is no longer selling plants via mail order and that would have been your best bet for obtaining this cultivar. While the Junipers will be the most similar in appearance to an Italian Cypress, once they get larger, snow loads and any site except full, all-day sun will prevent them from looking similar for very long. Mike...See Morefragrant plants for wisconsin climate
Comments (27)I love growing HERBS, if for no other reason that just to have them around, so that when others visit my gardens, & they touch or brush up against them, they are enticed by the wonderful scents, while they view of all the other flowers & plants, etc.. [*FAVORITES*= ROSEMARY, DILL, FENNEL, CILANTRO, LEMON BALM, SAGE, MARJORAM, BASIL/S= Sweet, Lemon, Lime, Licorice, Cinnamon, Thai, etc., MINT/S= Peppermint, English Tea Mint, Apple Mint, Grapefruit Mint, Chocolate Mint, etc., GARLIC CHIVES, AGASTACHE, MONARDA, EPAZOTE, etc., etc.] DAMES ROCKET (Wild Phlox) is a very appreciated re-seeder here, with its' lovely lilac scented early blooms, & it has never been invasive for me ever. Also, I love growing DATURAs for their wonderful scents & huge blooms, especially at night! (Poisonous!) In addition, I adore growing BRUGMANSIAS as well, although they are not winter hardy in WI, so each fall I remove all the remaining flowers & leaves, & trim all the branches down to approximately 4' or so, & then belt together all the 'trunks', then have my 'muscle-men' bring the plants indoors, & store them in a cool, but not freezing basement, for winter, & then bring them out again in the spring, after all frosts have past. They do get HUGE & HEAVY after a few years of this, & they take a LOT of fertilizers to get them to the fantastic 10'x10' 50+ bloom bushes/trees (& to maintain them = Nitrogen + Phosphorous + Potassium + Magnesium + Lime + Sulfur). (Poisonous!) Here is a link that might be useful: Brugmansia...See MoreB
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2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoK Flowerdot (zone 4b)
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2 years agoK Flowerdot (zone 4b)
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2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoK Flowerdot (zone 4b)
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