The Riverbirch
Now the River Birch doesn't offer
flowers, but it does offer one advantage over many trees, it can grow
2-3 feet a year. If you purchase a River Birch that is already 5 feet
or taller you may end up with a nice shade tree of 15 feet in no
time. The River Birch is an interesting specimen in your yard for
other reasons as well with its distinctive peeling bark. It adapts
well to many soil types and is wind and ice resistant. This is good
news even for those in zone 8, as there is the odd ice storm on
occasion and windy months as well. Also beneficial to the homeowner,
this tree is drought tolerant which is always an issue in zones 8 and
warmer.
Sweetbay Magnolia also known as
Magnolia Virginiana
Can be found growing in many forests
throughout the south. Unlike the large Magnolia Grandiflora, Sweetbay
Magnolia offers you all of the lovely benefits without the long wait.
Sweetbay Magnolia grows in stalks from the ground up and offer quick
shade. One benefit in addition to their fast growing, and lovely
scented blossoms is that you can easily take this plant and create
many plants from its base.
These lovely trees/shrubs like an
acidic soil, full sun to part shade and are extremely disease and
pest resistant. They can grow up to 20' in height and 20' feet wide
if you don't thin and separate the new shoots that come up. These
shoots make new trees when transplanted which makes this a great
investment for your zone 8 or warmer garden. The scent of the
smaller blossoms is intoxicating in the evening especially. For those
living in zones 5-9 the Sweetbay offers exotic and lush privacy.
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| Lombardy Poplars (Photo credit: wallygrom) |
These trees are fast growing, up to 5
feet a year, tall and column shaped. They reach a mature height of up
to 60 feet and can be a great way to create a soft barrier between
properties, or used to block unpleasant views like a busy road. They
thrive in zones 4 through 8. Lombardy Poplars also are a great
windbreak as well and are relatively inexpensive. They prefer a loamy
soil with good drainage and a location that has full sun to do their
very best growth wise.
