Crabapple, Magnolia or something else?

[2curlydogs]

So, a year ago our crab apple died. We're looking to replace it with another tree this year.

Original photo/space from, like, 2009



The mugo to the left and junipers below the crab are also gone, as is the birch in the background.

I was looking at the Prairifire or, possibly, Royal Raindrops as they have better disease resistance than our old one. Whatever one we get, I want one with persistent berries.

H suggested a magnolia. I don't know much about them. 

Or should we look at something else? I suggested pagoda dogwood, but H doesn't like it for that spot (we'll probably put it in the backyard behind the kids playset).

[mrs.jacinthe]

What zone are you? I think a tulip tree (which is related to magnolia) would be gorgeous there, but they're not good in dry climates or super cold ones.

[2curlydogs]

May 2, 2017 11:16:58 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

What zone are you? I think a tulip tree (which is related to magnolia) would be gorgeous there, but they're not good in dry climates or super cold ones.

Zone 5. WI. So... define super cold? Because sometimes winters are mild-ish (so, where we only get into the sub-zero temps for a stretch or two), and sometimes winters are like this:

[mrs.jacinthe]

I think 5 is at the bottom of tulip-tree zoning. I'm thinking super-cold as in Minnesota or North Dakota-ish. Where temps can get below zero and stay there for a while.

[cmeon]

Do you know what took your last crabapple- so sad, it was a pretty little guy! Are you worried that disease might still be present in the ground?

I love magnolias, love love love- but, the southern magnolias I'm most familiar with are definitely pushing it in zone 5, even the most hardy- Edith Bogue, Bracken's Brown Beauty (my fav of these), Under 24- maybe Little Gem? You can definitely find examples that have handled zone 5, but, I'm not sure if they just get by or actually thrive.

I imagine your DH is probably thinking a Chinese variety/hybrid, though- and there are some really pretty ones. Saucer and star are fairly popular here, but, should go to 4/5 easily.

[2curlydogs]

May 2, 2017 15:06:38 GMT -5 cmeon said:

Do you know what took your last crabapple- so sad, it was a pretty little guy! Are you worried that disease might still be present in the ground?

Apple Scab. Which in itself apparently shouldn't kill a tree, but then my H and sister deciding they were going to prune the already stressed tree. In late May. At least that's my best guess as to what the death knell was. It was an 'Indian Magic', which has "fair" resistance to scab. The other two I'm considering both have Excellent resistance.

But I think back when it happened @tree said I wouldn't necessarily need to worry? 

My concern with the magnolia is the soil might not be particularly correct. I think I have a yellow star magnolia but it has never, in the 10 years we've lived here, bloomed (and I haven't cared enough to figure out why because the tree otherwise seems healthy).

[Violet]

I'd go with a Magnolia. A lot of my neighbors have them and they seem to do fine.

(I'm in SE WI. They might not do well anywhere upstate.)

[cmeon]

May 2, 2017 16:25:56 GMT -5 2curlydogs said:

Apple Scab. Which in itself apparently shouldn't kill a tree, but then my H and sister deciding they were going to prune the already stressed tree. In late May. At least that's my best guess as to what the death knell was. It was an 'Indian Magic', which has "fair" resistance to scab. The other two I'm considering both have Excellent resistance.

But I think back when it happened @tree said I wouldn't necessarily need to worry? 

My concern with the magnolia is the soil might not be particularly correct. I think I have a yellow star magnolia but it has never, in the 10 years we've lived here, bloomed (and I haven't cared enough to figure out why because the tree otherwise seems healthy).

Okay, go for another crabapple- I'd go for the Prairifire, they are so pretty and sound pretty close to perfect for that spot.

I wonder if you're losing your star's blooms to frost- or if it's just a late bloomer (10 years is nothing for some Magnolias)!

[stephm0188]

It isn't one that you mentioned, but we have a kwanzan cherry tree and it's pretty much my favorite. The blossoms in the spring are gorgeous, and then the leaves are a pretty reddish bronze.

We have a magnolia as well but it doesn't seem to fare as well. It does okay, but its hit or miss on whether it'll bloom or not because of the winters we have.

I'm zone 6a.

[nicolewi]

I have no idea really what I'm talking about, but I'm responding b/c I am also in Wisconsin, and we have a Prairie Rose (which is fruitless, though) and a Royal Raindrops, both selected by a landscape designer. They are both doing well...they were planted in fall 2015 so this is our second spring with them.

I love magnolias, but they have such a short bloom time! I

[treedimensional]

Another crabapple, or a serviceberry, meet your criteria for size, hardiness, bloom, and berry.

[treedimensional]

Or Viburnum. A large one like V. dentatum or V. lentago.

[2curlydogs]

May 7, 2017 8:52:56 GMT -5 treedimensional said:

Another crabapple, or a serviceberry, meet your criteria for size, hardiness, bloom, and berry.

We were actually eyeing up a multi stem serviceberry at our local nursery today (while dropping $180 on perennials). I think we both like the idea of something with more visual weight at the bottom like that.