Large Leaf Trees

Looking for some shade

For shade tree options beyond the standard live oak, Texas red oak and cedar elm, consider Mexican white oak, bur oak, chinquapin oak, Mexican sycamore, Montezuma cypress and Chinese pistache.

Some of the other trees you might consider have characteristics that make them less-than-desirable choices.

Pecans

Just a few years ago, pecans were generally viewed as one of the most desirable trees to plant as a lawn tree. After all, they grew fast, lasted a long time and produced a wonderful nut.

What we realize now is that pecans generally become too large for the typical lot. They become a neighborhood tree rather than a yard tree. Pecans also are susceptible to attacks by webworms and aphids. The webworms are mostly just ugly, but the aphids produce honeydew that is a sticky syrup that covers cars, sidewalks and anything else under the tree. It isn't practical to spray insecticides high into the trees in urban settings.

Pecans also are notorious droppers of large branches. A regular arborist visit and pruning helps reduce the problem, but it does require attention.

Pecans planted in deep streambed soils produce nuts pretty regularly, but it is not the norm for trees in the usual shallow, heavy soil of San Antonio. We would have to provide at least one irrigation per week when rains are lacking in a typical South Texas summer.

Sycamore

American sycamore, like hackberry, makes a desirable shade tree in some parts of the country. The colorful bark, large leaves and fast growth rate make it attractive for some situations. Unfortunately, it is susceptible to anthracnose, a fatal fungal disease.

If the sycamore is attractive to you, seek out the Mexican sycamore. The only difference is that the leaf underside of the Mexican sycamore is fuzzy rather than smooth, and it is not susceptible to anthracnose. Even if the label says Mexican sycamore, do not buy it unless the leaves have a fuzzy bottom.

Ash

Arizona or Mexican ash is another short-lived tree that is affected by anthracnose. Many Arizona ash trees will show the symptoms of brown-edged leaves and leaf drop during humid springs. The disease may not kill the species as quickly as it does American sycamore, but it contributes to a relative short life expectancy of 25 to 35 years for Arizona ash.

The species grows fast, with many stems emerging from the trunk. Trimming by an arborist every five years helps produce a more attractive configuration, and I believe the pruning contributes to a longer life.

BYGL July 21, 2011 - Home and Garden

Come to the Annual Gateway Garden Jubilee in Clark County!; 71st Ohio Plant Diagnostic Workshop at Secrest Arboretum; and 2012 Ohio Commercial Pesticide Applicator Recertification Conferences Set. BYGLOSOPHY.

APPENDIX – ADDITIONAL WEBSITE RESOURCES

Today's petunias are nothing like the one's grandma used to grow! Extensive breeding for flower color, size, and amount has resulted in numerous different cultivars of petunias with great features. The petunias on the market today don't require deadheading and continue on blooming all season, up until a hard frost. The plants vary in size and shape, depending upon the cultivar. The upright or multiflora varieties grow to around 12-15" tall and about as wide. The spreading varieties grow anywhere from 2-6' wide to around 4"-1 1/2' tall. Colors range from white to purple, pink to fuchsia, and red to burgundy. There are also picotee and striped flowers as well.

Petunias grow best in full sun but will take light shade. They are excellent in bedding displays as well as hanging baskets and containers. Select the right variety for containers as some can get quite large and take over. No deadheading is necessary as these plants keep blooming without it, right up until a hard freeze. Cultivars that tend to do well in the Gateway Learning Garden field trial plots in Springfield, Ohio include Surfinia, Wave, and Supertunia.

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Often considered the work horse of the garden, Coreopsis is well-adapted to Ohio's summer weather and blooms from early summer until late in the growing season. If it gets a little straggly, a simple haircut brings it back in shape!

The daisy-like flowers are usually yellow and about 2" in diameter. Numerous cultivars have been introduced with variations of yellow as well as pink, white, and shades of orange and red. Make sure the cultivar selected is hardy for the garden. Some of the introductions have not been reliably hardy. The foliage is also quite attractive, depending upon the cultivar. For instance, 'Threadleaf' has very fine, leafy foliage that adds nice contrast to the garden.

Big-leaf mahogany, genetics, ecology, and management

A Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs, Northeastern and North-Central United States and Southeastern and South-Central Canada

A field guide to eastern trees, eastern United States and Canada, including the Midwest

A field guide to eastern forests, North America

A Field Guide to Western Trees, Western United States and Canada