Beeches and slipped in, one Elm

In a message dated 4/3/02 9:02:11 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
Cersgarden@aol.com writes:

<< Claire, I am surprised you find Tricolored Beech in your zone 4.  This is 
a 
 rare tree to find around here. I knew of only one mature but it was lost in 
a 
 storm last year. >>

I live where the mountains surrounding me push us into zone 4 gardening, high 
altitude.  The area around Albany, NY is zone 5 on the USDA map but plantings 
are quite different depending on your location within the zone. For example, 
along the Hudson River, basically a valley for many miles, all kinds of 
things will grow that will not do well twenty miles away as the altitude 
increases.

Native beech, Fagus grandifolia is the hardiest one.  It is said to grow more 
quickly than the European beech.  I am surpised that one book I have, a 
Canadian book, advises that it can also be used as beech hedging which is 
done in Europe.  This tree grow on our farm and has great form and beautiful 
smooth grey bark.  It drops a lot of nuts attracting turkeys.  I can't say 
that I think it grows quickly, it is for the next generation when you plant 
it but tis a spreading, dignified and magnificent tree.

The beeches with the color in the leaves is Fagus sylvatica or European 
Beech.  Many of these sold in past years as the "copper beech" both upright 
and weeping form grow in zone 5 across New York State.  Albany, NY has an old 
park, sadly not replanted when a loss takes place, that has a number of these 
trees. All are stately and desirable though slow growing.  I am going to 
guess that most of them were originally grafts.  I would love to have one of 
these sitting out on the slopes to gaze at out the windows.

The tri-colored form is planted in the Albany, zone 5, area with what looks 
like success.  My nephew who sold around 100 of these in the past years 
recommends that the tree be protected by older taller trees for the first 
years and later the protective trees can be removed.  They are for sale in 
nurseries here all exceeding 200.00 in cost delivered.   I think a less 
expensive tree may be found in years to come as we are now seeing better 
selections in nurseries in our area.  This family business of nieces and 
nephews sell and plant the trees.  They have not been giving them away to the 
rest of us,  I should add.  We only get the broken and damaged plants if we 
should like to try to nurse them to health.

Another tree now apearing locally and at fair prices in Mass. is the Ulmas 
'Camperdown'.  There is some disagreement about this tree succumbing to Dutch 
Elm disease but there are a number in the college botanics in Central Mass 
which have been growing there for many years.  This is another gem a very 
fine gardener (all of us on this list) would want when tree shopping.  It 
does not take much space and is grand woody to watch growing.

Sorry Chris for all this woody talk, the woody people are not as gabby as 
this list.

Claire Peplowski
NYS z4  

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