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yixdelp

any suggest on a fast growing shade tree? (zone 9)

yixdelp
16 years ago

I need a comparatively fast growing shade tree in my big sunny front yard. preferably deciduous, easy maintainance, not invisave, ornimental and disease resistant. It sounds too good to be true :) I mean this tree doesn't have to be perfect just "comparatively perfect"

I am in Bay Area, CA

Thanks in advance for your help!

Comments (11)

  • quirkyquercus
    16 years ago

    Platanus racemosa

  • jakejones
    16 years ago

    Check your extension service.

  • gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
    16 years ago

    Platanus racemosa is plagued by anthracnose and by this time each season generally looks like crap. Not exactly at the top of the disease-resistant list :-)

    Recommended shade trees for your area include European hornbeam, Freeman maple cultivars, Chinese elm, Chinese pistache and Japanese zelkova. Quite a few oaks would work as well, although not exactly fast growing. Watch out for the natives, however, as they are too prone to SOD (Sudden Oak Death)

  • quirkyquercus
    16 years ago

    European hornbeam: Slow growing, OP said "fast"
    Freeman maple cultivars: Weak wooded, poor branch structure that requires a lot of pruning, surprisingly slow growing, short lived
    Chinese elm: Invasive
    Chinese pistache: Invasive
    Japanese zelkova: Slow growing not tolerant of wide range of conditions.

    I change my recommendation over to london plane then sweetgum.

  • pineresin
    16 years ago

    Juglans hindsii.

    Bay Area native, reasonably fast growth, rare species (so planting it helps preserve the species).

    Resin

  • quercus_macrocarpa
    16 years ago

    California White Oak, Oregon White Oak

  • gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
    16 years ago

    QQ, you are apparently more well-informed about tree growth and habits in the Bay area than is the local extension office. These are recommended species suggested by UCDavis, not my choices. FWIW, my experience with both the Carpinus and the Zelkova on the west coast is that the growth rate is moderate, not exactly what I'd term slow - Carpinus is widely planted here as a street tree and attains a resonable height in a reasonable period of time. Zelkovas can be downright rapid in their growth, esecially when young, and are very adaptable to a range of conditions including different soils, drought and urban pollution. And none of the listed species are considered invasive in California.

  • quirkyquercus
    16 years ago

    Is "moderate" fast? How about "reasonable". Is that a synonym for fast too?
    I figure we might as well critique each other choices. Where's the harm in that? Invasive species sometimes take a while to get on the list. Certain invasives just recently made it to our list here. Why use them when there's other things that can be used? Those Chinese Elms are popping up all over the place.

  • gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
    16 years ago

    First, these are not MY choices - they are recommended by the California extension service for the poster's area. Generally, these bodies take into account problematic species and are not inclined to suggest or recommend known invasives for a specific area. It is always appropriate to remember that invasive characteristics are typically determined by regional and climatic factors and are not universal in their application. As a major agricultural state and with a great deal of public and private undeveloped land, California is very aware of invasive species and rather proactive in their restrictions. And "fast" is a relative term and also carries with it the caveat that a fast growing tree often displays unfortunate charcteristics that have other, less desireable outcomes. Shade is not instantaneous and patience is a huge virtue when it comes to planting and gardening. If instant shade gratification is required, it often makes much better sense to select a more mature, larger sized tree that has a moderate or slower rate of growth than one that will rapidly achieve too great a size or exhibit weak wood or other drawbacks typically associated with rapid growth.

  • cacau
    16 years ago

    Try to get some input from a knowledgeable local nursery person as well, with respect to your exact location. The Bay Area is notorious for microclimates...most of it is reliably Zone 9, the designation based on annual lows, but there's a major difference in summer heat between for example SF and eastern Alameda/Contra Costa Counties...will affect what will do well for you.