behaved little tree!" Lanny
Englund, manager of urban
forestry in Coquitlam, British
Columbia states, "This tree
has proven in our setting
to be incredibly resilient to
drought stress and pests.
With its versatility, hardiness,
interesting
bark, unique
growth form, and spectacular
fall colour, what more could
you ask for in a city tree?"
In Surrey, British Columbia,
'Vanessa' is being planted
as a street tree where there
are overhead lines in close
proximity to the planting
strips. Staff report that it
responds extremely well to
clearance pruning and has
fewer crossing branches than
either the straight species
or the cultivar 'Ruby Vase'.
Branch unions tend to be
very strong, and 'Vanessa'
doesn't seem to develop the
levels of included bark that
we have observed in other
species of columnar trees.
We have also noted that
in well-irrigated soils, young
'Vanessa' specimens don't
seem to develop fall colour
that is as vibrant as the
straight species, but only
time will tell if this trait continues as the trees mature.
Steve Cothrel, superintendent of parks & forestry in
the City of Upper Arlington,
Ohio reports that 'Vanessa'
has performed well in his city.
He says, "This cultivar was
used in a landscaped patio
area adjacent to a new facility where space was tight and Parrotia 'Vanessa' leaves and bark by Owen Croy
a tree with a limited crown
spread was needed. The trees In speaking to several munici- yards of our own homes, from
retained their dark green, pal arborists during the prep- the Deep South to the Pacific
glossy foliage, even during aration of this article, I found Northwest.
the 2012 severe drought, it interesting that 'Vanessa'
and have not suffered from is the tree that several of — Owen Croy, Manager of Parks, City of
us have chosen for the front Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
any pest problems."
www.urban-forestry.com
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