Four Fantastic Trees
What trees are small enough to mature in the typical yard space, have low water needs, and have full season
beauty? These suggestions are courtesy of Carol Lindsay, a professional landscape designer & garden coach. Find her at www.Design-in-a-Day.com. Sign up for Carol’s newsletter; she’s a great source for native, local landscape tips and planning. Thank you, Carol!
Acer Circinatum "Pacific Fire"
1. Native Vine Maple: (Acer Circinatum “Pacific Fire” Photo from Handy Nursery) Select a new variety of native vine maple like Pacific Fire with scarlet red winter twigs. It is attractive in partial shade to dappled sun but the best effects of color, both twig and fall leaf color occur in half day sun. It can be grown in full sun but this will probably spoil the foliage with leaf scorch. So plant it in full morning sun or dappled afternoon shade for best results.
Seven Son Heptocodium
2. Seven Son Flower: (Seven Son Heptocodium) Buy as a tree standard or as a low branching tree. The tree standard will fit in your parking strip nicely. The low branched form (pictured on right) is better for placement in the landscape. Full sun, less than great soil? This is your tree. Flowers in summer and holds the color of the flower into late fall so you don’t miss out on fall color either even if it isn’t the leaves that glow red. 20′ at maturity.
Acer Conspciuum Phoenix
3. Snake Bark Maple: (Acer Conspciuum Phoenix) Here is the newest darling Acer Conspciuum Phoenix. It needs regular watering, less after a few years have gone by but is not drought tolerant. Amazing twig color and the bark show just gets better and better as it matures. Like all maples, plant up on a mound if you have heavy clay soil. Good drainage is the key to longevity.
Crepe Myrtle
4. Crepe Myrtle: My favorite is Tuskeegee maturing at 15′. These trees need to planted in well drained soil or up on a mound. Not for Gresham or the gorge. Don’t plant this tree in Gresham in east wind exposure. Best in full sun and good drainage. Winter bark, wow fall color, hot red orange summer flowers, with low summer water needs.
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