RE: Robina Frisia or aurea

I've grown a fair number of these from liners I've purchased from west
coast growers.  All have been own root cutting propagated.  Personally,
I can't see any advantages to grafting this plant.  It certainly doesn't
lack for vigor:  I've seen 6 - 10' of growth per year on two year
liners. In fact, rank somewhat weak-wooded growth in youth is about the
only serious cultural problem I've seen with this tree.  It needs to be
carefully pruned annually for the first 5 years to develop good
structure.  By then it's typically 25-30' tall and starts to slow down
and fill out.  

I've planted thousands of trees over the last 20 years and have
attempted to grow just about every species/cultivar which is zone 5
hardy.  'Frisia' is my favorite tree.  There is something about the
color and the quality of the light which surrounds them which makes them
seem almost ethereal -- it's as though they are lighted from within.
Frequently when I'm walking around the farm I catch a glimpse of one of
these trees out of the corner of my eye and it just stops me in my
tracks.  No other hardy tree that I've seen has quite that effect.

-Ron

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-woodyplants@hort.net 
> [o*@hort.net] On Behalf Of Marge Talt
> Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2004 10:59 PM
> To: woodyplants@hort.net
> Subject: Re: Robina Frisia or aurea
> 
> 
> Most interesting, Glenn.  I was thinking about using R. 
> 'Frisia' on a project and was not finding it on the local 
> wholesalers lists and was wondering why since I have seen it 
> planted locally in streetscapes where it was incredibly 
> effective.  Wonder if this grafting with R. pseudoacacia root 
> sprouts may be why it is not more widely listed? 
> R. pseudoacacia is awful about forming sprouts from any damaged root
> - it's a weedy type tree here; I have many more than I really 
> want on my property.  Have been trying to do some research on 
> R. 'Frisia' and not finding time, to see just what negatives 
> there are about it...you have pointed out a biggie!
> 
> Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
> mtalt@hort.net
> Editor:  Gardening in Shade
> Shadyside Garden Designs
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----------
> From: Glenn Clark <gbclark@magma.ca>
> I agree that it is unlikely that the seedlings would come true from
seed.
> You have to be careful with root sprouts unless you are sure that
the tree
> is not grafted.  From what I have seen, Robinia 'Frisia' is often
grafted
> onto seedling Robinia pseudoacacia.  This should be obvious if the
root
> sprouts have green leaves. This is one of the most spectacular
yellow leafed
> trees, the colour actually intensifying as fall approaches.  It is
not 100%
> hardy in Zone 4b, but recovers quickly from any dieback.

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