Tell me about acer griseum - paparbark maple...?
Question:I live outside of Chicago and I'd like to buy this tree for our backyard. What kind of price should I expect to pay for a decent sized (at least 10 feet) tree? Any experience with this tree? Thank you!
Answers:
Paperbark Maples are not 100% hardy in this area. You will experience some tip dieback after cold winters. They need to be protected from our cold NW winter winds. My tree ID college professor had one planted at his yard in Bull Valley. Beautiful tree, but he would lose branches every year. If you can site them correctly, they can reach their full potential in the Chicago area.
It's going to be hard to find a 10' specimen at a reasonable price in the Chicago area. They are slow growers (6-12" per year). An 8' B&B tree(not a bare root whip) can be found for as little as $350.00 before taxes, delivery and planting. A 10' B&B could cost upwards of $1,000.00 (there are not many suppliers offering 10' specimens in the Chicago area). Don't take the risk on a container grown Paperbark. Sure they may be cheaper, but you can lose the tree in a few years due to circling/girdling roots.
Nothing can beat the beauty of a paperbark maple, but a Three Flower Maple is hardy in the Chicago area and has an interesting exfoliating bark as well. This could be a more economical choice. Here are a couple of picts of a Three Flower Maple: http://www.awelllitgarden.com/buerk.htm...
If you have your heart set on a paperbark maple (I can understand that because this is my favorite tree) and you can provide a good site for this tree, let me know because I can help you locate a quality specimen.
Last spring I bought a 24" bare root tree on eBay for $3, it grew 4ft last year and survived a North Dakota Z3 winter. I saw 10ft. three gallon, three clump one at a nursery for $30.
a beautiful specimen tree. not inexpensive but worth the expenditure. leaves-trifoliate. size-20-30'. habit-upright, oval,rounded. rate-slow,6-12" per year. bark-red/brown,exfoliates,orna... asset. leaf color-flat dark to bluish green in summer,red in fall. culture-adaptable,well-drained and moist soil,full sun to partial shade. pests-none serious. landscape value-aesthetic.
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