Toba Hawthorne - Ask Extension
I live in Fort Collins and a Toba Hawthorne tree was suggested for a small yard.Is this a tree that will do well in Fort Collins?I was told this tree ...
Knowledgebase
Toba Hawthorne #120740
Asked April 08, 2013, 11:28 PM EDT
I live in Fort Collins and a Toba Hawthorne tree was suggested for a small yard.
Is this a tree that will do well in Fort Collins?
I was told this tree is thornless but am reading that it does indeed have thorns. What is correct?
My other recommendation was a Summercrisp Pear tree. I am not that concerned if it does not bear fruit every year, but I want a tree that will do well in my yard.
My other choice is an Ivory Silk Tree Lilac.
What are the pros and cons of each tree.
Which would you recommend?
Thank you!
Is this a tree that will do well in Fort Collins?
I was told this tree is thornless but am reading that it does indeed have thorns. What is correct?
My other recommendation was a Summercrisp Pear tree. I am not that concerned if it does not bear fruit every year, but I want a tree that will do well in my yard.
My other choice is an Ivory Silk Tree Lilac.
What are the pros and cons of each tree.
Which would you recommend?
Thank you!
Larimer County Colorado
Expert Response
Toba hawthorn is hardy in Ft Collins. It does have some thorns. Flowers are white fading pinkish, double, fragrant. Toba is very prone to juniper-hawthorn rust disease on leaves, especially where leaves get regularly wetted with overhead lawn sprinkling. It appears to be moderately prone to hawthorn mealybug.
Summercrisp fruiting pear is a pretty good choice for Ft Collins area. Another nearby (within 25 yards) fruiting pear variety is needed to pollinate Summercrisp. Best on N or E exposures, best out of lawn areas, where leaves might get wetted too often and where the tree may get too much nitrogen fertilizer from lawn fertilization
Ivory Silk Tree llac has attractive fragrant white flowers in June. Seedpods that follow are not ornamental and fall color is blah....so other than some shade, about all you get from this tree ornamentally is the two weeks of fragrant flowers. The bark is attractive, cherry-like.
Of these 3 choices, I would choose the Ivory Silk Tree Lilac.
If some other hawthorns are acceptable for you, consider 'Winter King' hawthorn (thorns sparse)
or Russian hawthorn (sparse small thorns). Russian hawthorn often develops a "free-form" growth habit. Both are less susceptible to hawthorn mealbug and less susceptible to leaf rusts....but you should still try to avoid wetting leaves regularly.
See also:
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/treereclist.pdf
Summercrisp fruiting pear is a pretty good choice for Ft Collins area. Another nearby (within 25 yards) fruiting pear variety is needed to pollinate Summercrisp. Best on N or E exposures, best out of lawn areas, where leaves might get wetted too often and where the tree may get too much nitrogen fertilizer from lawn fertilization
Ivory Silk Tree llac has attractive fragrant white flowers in June. Seedpods that follow are not ornamental and fall color is blah....so other than some shade, about all you get from this tree ornamentally is the two weeks of fragrant flowers. The bark is attractive, cherry-like.
Of these 3 choices, I would choose the Ivory Silk Tree Lilac.
If some other hawthorns are acceptable for you, consider 'Winter King' hawthorn (thorns sparse)
or Russian hawthorn (sparse small thorns). Russian hawthorn often develops a "free-form" growth habit. Both are less susceptible to hawthorn mealbug and less susceptible to leaf rusts....but you should still try to avoid wetting leaves regularly.
See also:
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/treereclist.pdf
PS - Winter King and Russian hawthorns both have very attractive fruit displays.
Thank you so much for your quick response. What tree would you recommend for our small yard in Fort Collins? Since it will be the only tree in our yard, we want something ornamental. Would you go with the ones we are considering, or is there something else you would suggest?
We just moved from Illinois and really need some suggestions.
We just moved from Illinois and really need some suggestions.
Several could work for you...it would help to know size and exposure of back yard (N, S, E, W), whether you want to shade windows and the house in summer, whether the tree will be planted in a lawn, new house or older established area, clayey soil, etc. - some ornamental trees better on N or E exposures where it's not as hot. Smaller ornamental trees in a lawn area may need to be "limbed up" to mow the lawn. Some may not thrive where given overhead/lawn irrigation and lawn fertilization. Some smaller ornamental trees prefer less alkaline soil that is not clayey.
Without having this info and without results of a soil test, could still recommend
Russian hawthorn
Winter King hawthorn
Cardinal Royal Mountain-ash (best on N or E exposures)
Spring Snow Crabapple (best out of lawn areas; may develop fireblight where given too much nitrogen fertilizer - see also http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07424.html
Coralburst, Indian Magic, David, SugarTyme or other crabapples
Ivory Silk Tree Lilac
Crimson Spire oak (leaves turn rusty red in fall, then turn brown and are retained thru winter)
Hot Wings Tatarian maple
Manzano Bigtooth maple
Yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolium)
Harvest Gold linden
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07418.html
Without having this info and without results of a soil test, could still recommend
Russian hawthorn
Winter King hawthorn
Cardinal Royal Mountain-ash (best on N or E exposures)
Spring Snow Crabapple (best out of lawn areas; may develop fireblight where given too much nitrogen fertilizer - see also http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07424.html
Coralburst, Indian Magic, David, SugarTyme or other crabapples
Ivory Silk Tree Lilac
Crimson Spire oak (leaves turn rusty red in fall, then turn brown and are retained thru winter)
Hot Wings Tatarian maple
Manzano Bigtooth maple
Yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolium)
Harvest Gold linden
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07418.html
