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Mon, Oct 22, 12 at 11:56
| Could anyone comment on the difference in root structures of these two trees? I'd like to plant one or the other about twelve feet away from the concrete block foundation of my garage.
Appreciate all comments. Thanks. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| I would not plant either of them that close to a bldg. because of branches and falling litter. Both will spread out wide. The Royal Empress will likely be sending up shoots from the roots which you will have to cut down. Somewhat familiar with both trees but have never seen them planted that close to a building. I'd go for Eastern Redbud or something on the smaller side. At 18-20' away I'd say ok. Is Royal Empress rated for Z4? |
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- Posted by greenthumbzdude (My Page) on Mon, Oct 22, 12 at 14:04
| I doubt a royal empress will survive in zone 4. But anyway it grows into a big tree that is really agressive. I have seen pictures of seedlings of these trees growing out of brick walls. SO no for the empress tree. The catalpa doesnt get very tall but it gets really fat. The truck would eventually grow into the walls of your house. Plus it has surface roots so your walls would slowly crumble at the roots grow around it. My advice would be to get a Eastern Redbud |
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| Some loss of Paulownia flower buds to winter cold here in USDA 8, so I too wonder about potential for success in USDA 4. |
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| Royal empress would be the better one, since in your climate it should be just a die back perennial/shrubby. |
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- Posted by jimbobfeeny 5a IN (My Page) on Mon, Oct 22, 12 at 20:30
| Royal empress tree is more of a royal pain around here. It never forms a respectable tree, getting killed to the ground whenever it drops below -20 or so. Even in our regular winters, there's some dieback. A friend of mine has one that he keeps chopping down, and it shoots back up to 15 or 20 feet by the end of summer - you can almost watch it grow! Definitely not a shrub or perennial. I've never seen it bloom around here. |
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| Twelve feet is not an adequate crown clearance for either tree. Catalpa's tend to have wide crotch angles and you'd be pruning before it ever got tall enough to shade the garage. Don't even go there with Paulownia. I am a five/six cusp. I have a few of them I got for the juvenile leaves and just let rip. I knew better, but did it anyway. Mine have bloomed numerous times in mild winters, but the last few winters have been mild enough they are seeding volunteers. Not supposed to here. The blooms are hard to see from the ground, only to be enjoyed from a distance. The pods shed and are a mess, and the first frost the leaves just drop in big sheets, no fall change. Branches weak. Weed tree. |
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