Knowledgebase
Columnar trees #862646
Asked March 27, 2024, 2:03 PM EDT
Oakland County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello George
To meet all these requirements, consider a columnar sweetgum such as Liquidambar styraciflua 'Slender Silhouette’
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/liquidambar-styraciflua-slender-silhouette/
Also, most white and English oaks are salt tolerant, and there are several columnar or fastigiate oaks. Some examples:
Quercus robur 'Fastigiata’
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/quercus-robur-fastigiata/
Quercus x warei ‘Regal Prince’ or Quercus macrocarpa ‘Urban Pinnacle’( scroll down to the oaks section)
https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/ndfs/documents/rec-trees-for-nd-2022-final.pdf
Finally, there are some ginkgo columnar forms. See ‘Princeton Sentry’ and ‘Sky Tower’ here- https://trees.umn.edu/ginkgo-ginkgo-biloba
Crimson Pointe Purple Leaf Plum Tree
KINDRED SPIRIT OAK
Ginkgo 'Goldspire'
Red Maple Walters Columnar
Parkland Pillar Birch Tree
Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2024 2:04:00 PM
To: GEORGE MAGRO <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Thank you for your Ask Extension question (#0132569)
Dear GEORGE,
Thank you for using Ask Extension. A request for support has been created and a representative will follow-up with you as soon as possible. Questions are usually answered within two business days. You can view this question's progress online.
YOUR QUESTION #0132569:
Columnar trees
Ask Extension offers one-to-one expert answers from Cooperative Extension/University staff and volunteers within participating Land-Grant institutions across the United States.
If you wish to provide additional comments or information regarding the issue, please login to your account for a complete archive of your prior questions and answers.
This message for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for personalized professional advice. For specific local information, contact your local county Cooperative Extension office or other qualified professionals. eXtension Foundation does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, professional services, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned. Reliance on any information provided by eXtension Foundation, employees, suppliers, member universities, or other third parties through eXtension is solely at the user's own risk. All eXtension content and communication is subject to the Terms of Use which may be revised at any time.
The oak, birch and the gingko are salt tolerant. The plum is not well researched, a couple references listed it as tolerant of salt spray, other references did not have any data. The red maple is not salt tolerant.
Here is one reference for you, to guide you on which species in general have tolerance.
https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/manual/tolerance-trees-shrubs-salts-soil/
Remember the sun amount, water amounts, soil pH and soil texture( clay, loam or sandy) are factors for successful culture, as well.
Have a soil test done if you haven’t in the last three years.
Also, here is a good guide to planting and care—
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5368392.pdf
regards,
Laura
