Any tree-experts in the house?
June 29, 2022 4:39 AM   Subscribe

We're replacing some lawn with native plantings, and we'd like redbud and shadblow trees that are smaller than the straight species, yet still native-friendly. Can you recommend cultivars or where to buy them?

The straight species are too big for our yard, but I've learned that cultivars of native species often can't benefit insects, especially in their larval stages when they're eating leaves, or when they're adapted to particular characteristics of native flowers. If the only change in a cultivar is the overall size of the plant, that's usually ok. So, I'd like to find redbud and shadblow trees that are smaller, but not otherwise modified. It's width that we're most constrained on, but since we prefer a spreading look to an upright one proportionally, our width constraint also ends up constraining height.

I keep finding redbuds that have different colors and shapes in the foliage, flower, and overall tree, which I fear makes them less suited to native creatures. Can you help me find ones that are:
- Smaller (ideally, much smaller) than the straight species, but otherwise as similar as possible.
- Canadensis, I think, because that's what's native and well-suited to thrive in partial shade/partial sun in Western Massachusetts (zone 5-6)? But please correct me if I'm wrong.

For the shadblow, the criteria are the same. I've had a little more success finding candidates -- specifically, Prince William -- though not sources for them.

I'd also like suggestions for a reputable place to buy these varieties where they're...
- Available for purchase, either now or likely within a year.
- Raised without neonicotinoids (but I can inquire).
- Reasonably priced, given all of the above. I'd rather get a less mature tree for less money if odds are good that it'll thrive over time.
posted by daisyace to Home & Garden (5 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
For smaller cultivars, try searching the term "dwarf" + the species you want. A quick search for dwarf Cercis canadensis (eastern redbud) gave me the cultivar "Ace of Hearts", so that may be a good one to look for. I think you're right that cultivars are most useful to wildlife if they don't have red foliage or messed up flowers.

You might like this native plant gardening guide for the Southeast, as they do discuss cultivars for many species.

More broadly, try to choose a tree (or shrub, which Amelanchier spp are) whose maximum height will fit the space you are planting. Everything about how a tree grows makes them grow upwards and towards light. If you try to restrict that upward growth by chopping it back repeatedly, you end up with weird tree structure that can break and the cut will be an upward-facing wound that will never really heal.
posted by Drosera at 5:34 AM on June 29, 2022 [4 favorites]


The thing is, you'll absolutely never know if your cultivar is providing 90% the ecosystem services of the wild type, 10%, or even maybe 110%! You may think only size has changed, but lots of other stuff changes too. And it takes many years and dollars and person-hours to have anything other than a guess (in my opinion as a plant ecologist).

Generally cultivars of native species are better than exotics overall, but even that depends on what exact features you are looking at.

On balance, I suggest buying a different wild type species that better suits your space, or buy whatever cultivar you like and don't sweat it.
posted by SaltySalticid at 6:11 AM on June 29, 2022 [3 favorites]


There are a lot of different Ameliencher spieces---would a shrub like running serviceberry work?

I'm also in western mass, also into native plants (let's be friends!), and I also have a smaller yard. Pussy willow, witch hazel, and silky dogwood have worked well for our space. They're more like large shrubs than trees, though.
posted by chaiminda at 8:58 AM on June 29, 2022 [2 favorites]


I'm in MA, though in eastern MA, and am all about native plants! If you're on Facebook, join the Native Plants of New England group, there is a ton of great info there.

Shads can be kept pruned, if size is the only concern. Call us Nasami Farm and ask what they have in stock! Redbuds are marginally hardy in zone 5 (I have some and cross my fingers every winter) and not technically native in MA but beneficial especially as an early source of pollen. I don't know if there's a dwarf nativar that might work.

Have you looked at dogwoods at all?
posted by lydhre at 7:56 AM on June 30, 2022


Response by poster: Thanks, all! I did see Ace of Hearts and other "dwarf" search results, but I don't know whether its changes (e.g., what one site calls its "very small unique stacked leaves," etc.) are too significant to keep it serving native creatures well. Per SaltySalticid, seems like that's not as knowable as I'd hoped. So as most of you said, I should probably look to naturally smaller alternatives instead -- pussy willow is a good possibility -- or I could resign myself to pruning, or to getting one tree instead of the three I'd imagined. There is already a dogwood and a witch hazel in other areas of the yard. I''ll join that Facebook group, and maybe take a field-trip up to Nasami Farm, which looks great. (And chaiminda, check your MeMail!)
posted by daisyace at 10:54 AM on June 30, 2022 [1 favorite]


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