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Replacing a Robinia

CamberwellBeautyCamberwellBeauty Posts: 6
in Plants
My beautiful Robinia is now too large and drops far too many tiny leaves for our small town garden.  I'm thinking of replacing with something that won't grow much more that 20ft. Considering a Cornus Kousa Miss Satomi or similar, although something with larger leaves may be more practical. Would prune to be a tree but I'm not sure how fast it would reach tree height.  Any info would be helpful.  If anyone has other suggestions I'd be happy to hear.  

Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    edited August 2020
    Although I have never grown Cornus Kousa, I would not class this as tree fast growing, and I don't think it is a tree that responds too well with constant pruning. The other thing to consider is the type of leaf drop. I'm assuming you are fed up with constantly having to remove dropped leaves all year round over a deciduous shrub/tree which would happen all at once?
  • CamberwellBeautyCamberwellBeauty Posts: 6
    Thanks for your message.  Yes, the leaf drop is a nuisance - little leaves on the Robinia don't appear until May and start dropping from end of June, so not a good idea when the garden has a small pond close by (I didn't think that one out when I designed and planted the garden).  I'd only be pruning once a year to make a Cornus more upright than horizontal - as I've seen it in some photos - so not too worried about over-pruning.  I must admit I'd like something to gain a certain height fairly quickly e.g. over 5 years (but be a max of 20ft after 8-10 years), so any suggestions of an attractive tree will be welcome.  
  • purpletreaclepurpletreacle Posts: 50
    If you liked the yellow of your Robinia, how about a Catalpa bignonioides "Nana"?
    Large leaves, can cope with urban pollution, responds well to pruning in spring.


  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719

    It is only  Cornus controversa and Cornus alternifolia that have the horizontal branches, in tiers. Leading to the common name Wedding cake tree.

    https://www.google.com/search?q=cornus+controversa+tree&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiE486J5bbrAhWFYsAKHX17DToQ_AUoAXoECA4QAw&biw=1280&bih=579

    https://www.google.com/search?q=cornus+alternifolia+argentea&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiP65aL5rbrAhXIiFwKHXejCDwQ_AUoAXoECA0QAw&biw=1280&bih=579

    I would never consider pruning any Cornus tree.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • CamberwellBeautyCamberwellBeauty Posts: 6
    Thanks for this Silver Surfer - when I said horizontal I think I should have said "spreading" - there seem to be lots of "spready" Cornus shown on the net. Thay all look wonderful. I know the "Wedding Cake" Cornus - I wish I had space for that fabulous plant. It's really a Wow! I'd only be pruning out lower branches of a Cornus to be able to walk underneath (eventually). But the Catalpa "Nana" (that Purple Treacle suggested) may be more suitable to my tiny garden. Will still consider any other suggestions - perhaps a multi-stem. I already have a magnolia at the front of the house so not thinking of any of that genus. Thanks for the contributions.
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