There are trees we do not like.
These are trees to take a hike.
One is called the Bradford Pear.
Please don’t plant it anywhere. -RA
[sent via an e-mail, she's a real beauty!]
The other day I added some quotes from past lectures including a quote about the nasty Bradford Pear. I then received a comment from Bill over at the Giant Duck Institute, about the Bradford pear and one of Bill’s favorite’s the Norway Maple, which got me to thinking.
What are the nasty trees that no one wants or should have in the landscape? So far we got 3, because I’m adding the good ‘ole sugar maple. So, so far:
- Pyrus c. ‘Bradford’ the Bradford pear
- Acer saccharinum L. the
SugarSilver(0000ps! my bad) Maple-is my pick, though I also have no love for the B. pear. - Acer platanoides L. the Norway maple-Bill from the Giant Duck Institute.
So let’s hear it! What are your picks and why. Just click on the comments link and add your choice. When we get up to 10 . . . if we get to 10 I’ll put up a page. That way they’ll be posted.
Here’s the Squidoo page where the list resides.
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Addendum on November 8th, 2007
This has become the number one post on this blog, my guess you are here because of a search engine hit on trees. here are a few more post that might interest you.
- This post talks about voting for the worst tree, and a link to the Squidoo page where the link is.
- “The Seven-Son Flower”(SSF), or Heptacodium miconiodes.
- Talking about the World of Arborculture.
- Looking to help an organization with reforestation, contact Trees for the Future, this post will fill you in on the organization.
My hope is to use this site to spread some info about the art and practice of Landscape Design. It is a very misunderstood profession; I do not cut grass like the next door neighbor's cousin who carries 3 mowers and a blower in the back of his truck.
I will also pass along comments on industry happenings, events, etc., and any maybe a few other adventures going on in my world-after all this is "my" blog. Thanks for stopping by and taking a look. Questions? Drop me an e-mail.
rick (at) whisperingcraneinstitute (dot) com
150 comments
Comments feed for this article
November 14, 2008 at 4:52 pm
The Other Hand
I’ve never commented on a blog post before, but I just had to thank you for hosting this particular thread.
It is the number one image result when searching for “tree pictures” on Google. Congrats!
I got several nice laughs out of responses from commentors who either didn’t take time to read the post, or didn’t understand it if they did.
Here’s what I found MOST fascinating and funny: just about every tree listed as “worst” for landscaping purposes is among the BEST domestic trees for woodturning purposes. I’m a woodturner in Caliornia (mainly bowls, hollowforms etc.) and I often pay for turning blanks from many of the trees listed here. Ahh, the irony…
I can understand, from the comments, the reasons these trees are undesirable in a landscape. It’s just too bad there’s no way to come cart the wood away when people take down what, to them, are trash trees. (One tip for those who do take down trees in their landscapes: if you don’t want to pay to have the trees chipped and hauled away, contact your local woodworking group(s) and offer the wood)
One tree I didn’t see listed, about which MANY web pages exist is the Buckthorn. Again, an invasive, much-disliked tree which also happens to produce incredibly beautiful wood with nice colors and grain.
Just because it’s interesting (to me, at least–lol) and humorous, here’s my quick take on the wood from some of the listed trees:
Bradford Pear: one of my very favorite turning woods. Very dense and heavy. Smells like canned pears when turned. Incredible pink color and fine grain. Takes an incredible polish and works like a dream. A lot of movement when it dries, but I like the warping in hand-made bowls…
Black Walnut: so ironic it would be an undesirable landscape tree, because it is probably the most desirable domestic wood for woodwork. Not one of my favorites because it is such a “bland” color, but dense strong and stable.
Monkey Puzzle: never turned it myself, but sure is expensive when offered as turning blanks…
Sweet Gum/Red Gum: one of the best. Not as dense as the fruit woods, but much more colorful. Reds, purples, blacks, greens all swirled together in a fine-grained wood with little degrade in drying. Polishes nicely.
Elder: haven’t used it myself but I’ve seen incredible bowls and hollow forms turned from this wood.
Olive: fine-grained, heavy wood with often interesting striping. Nice luster. EXTREME movement in curing. If warping is acceptable in a project, this is otherwise a great wood.
Mulberry/Hackberry: very heavy woods. Light, even color makes them unusual for a domestic hardwood. Super dense and stable when dry. Polish nicely. Grain nice but not spectacular. Prone to staining from fungus if not milled immediately after felling.
Ok, that’s my two cents. Hope someone else finds it interesting.
I’ll end by saying if anyone in the SF Bay Area has a Bradford Pear that falls or that you want to take down, I understand. And I’d be happy to come cart it away for you!
thanks for the interesting trivia and the chuckles!
November 25, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Chris
Hi, (Raymond) I would like to contact you re use of the “Dancin Tree” picture.
In searching for a picture of a tree to use in this project, I came across your “Dancin Tree” photo.
I notice you received it in an email, so you may not know where it came from I guess. If this is the case, I could perhaps put your website details on the back or base of the picture as a circuitous way of giving credit to your source. I suppose I could do that anyway, but I would prefer to contact you first at least!
Anyway, would appreciate if you could drop a note re my use of the photo.You can probably access my email address from this. I did try sending one to you, but it got returned.
Thanks in advance. (I’m In Australia)
Chris
November 29, 2008 at 2:37 pm
!Jimmy!
I actually really like that ‘Bradford Pear’. I think that it looks like a ballerina, or a gymnast, poised on her toes with her arms in the air, head tilted back. It is quite stunning
December 8, 2008 at 11:41 am
Catie
I thought the picture of the pear tree was beautiful, it looks as though there is a figure or a dancer growing out of it…I guess that’s what a weak crotch gets you
December 11, 2008 at 11:11 am
Rut Woods-Marks
Bad trees because they are short lived and most are invasive and some now have disease suspetibility.
Lombardy Poplar
Aspen
The Birches
Amur Maples
Russian Olive
Siberian Elm
Bradford Pear
Callory Pear
Crab Apple
Mulberry
Willow
In most areas except the upper midwest – Cottonwood
Elm – disease prone.
Box elder.
Ash – Emerald Ash borer.
January 8, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Carsten
Thank you all. I read the years posts and managed to enjoy them all. It came when I needed a chuckel.
and I got one here.
none theless I love trees all of them, where ever they are
even thouge we don’t always know where to plant them.
keep on breathing
January 12, 2009 at 4:59 pm
!Jimmy!
Well if you’re having a go at the Bradford pear why would you use a picture of a honeylocust????
January 18, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Michael
Can you believe that guy??!!
It´s amazing… I have not seen a tree like that before.
I can´t believe it!!!!
January 19, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Lana
Love all trees just the landscapers need to sell and plant the right tree in the right place and in the woods well your in the woods just enjoy. all trees have pros, and cons just be thankful you have trees there might be a day when they will be in short supply if we are not careful PLANT MORE TREES!!!!!! GREEN PEACE
January 26, 2009 at 4:25 am
Jim
A real beautiful tree picture! I love it! I love all trees. I plant alot of trees in a semi arid area to the south-east of Nairobi, Kenya. The climate is very harsh and many of the trees dry in time. Can anyone help with names of trees that remain green and are easy to grow in a dry environment? We have tried planting Acacia and eucaryptus spp. Acacia drops leaves and is very thorny. Eucaryptus take/need too much water.
I’m afraid we need someone familiar with that part of the world to respond. Thanks for posting and I hope you come back!
February 5, 2009 at 9:47 pm
M. D. Vaden of Oregon
The photos is interesting.
Looks like Arborsculpture.
Wikipedia has a page on that art.
My main interest is forest stuff though.
Cheers,
MDV
February 20, 2009 at 12:44 pm
vicky
how did it grow like that???? haaaaaaaaaa.
its very “pretty” though.
March 2, 2009 at 7:27 am
Linda sue
I was searching for a tree image and re-creat this image into a abstract to drawing on canvas. I am inspired by trees. When I saw the image of the pear tree, it blew my mind to see how beautiful it looked. The form, the leaves, the dancing of the tree. It is simply beautiful!
March 3, 2009 at 2:43 am
Rick Anderson
Thanks for the comment, the tree is a Locust sp. not a Bradford Pear . . . which we do NOT like!
June 1, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Becky
The image of this tree is gorgeous!!! It looks like a ballet dancer holding asian fans in her hands with a cloud of green mist surrounding her as she spins…
June 11, 2009 at 9:38 pm
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June 30, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Lisa
I don’t know the name of the tree, but it lines all the streets of downtown Montevideo (Uruguay). Apparently they were planted there because they are the same as ones in Paris (I’ve never been there so I can’t verify). They are messy trees – in the spring they give off this flaky wooden pollen-like stuff that the wind blows up and it gets everywhere — eyes, clothes, house, etc. Nasty stuff. Anyone have any idea of the name?
July 11, 2009 at 2:29 am
Syed Shazli Azher
Dear Tree lovers,
I am in need of planting trees on a LINKS GOLF COURSE, which trees would you recommend?
Regards
Shazli
October 28, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Tirzah
I Would Do Bambo Tree’s
September 25, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Elvira
I love this piture..I would like to know the name and originally of this beautiful tree. I’m in Canada.
October 24, 2009 at 1:42 pm
breanna thomas
can your website put drawing leafs on there and i can draw the best leaf ever
October 28, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Tirzah
This Tree Look’s Like A Lady!… But It’s Pretty Sweet! I’ll Tell You That Much!
October 31, 2009 at 11:20 pm
kat
Is there a way to buy this picture?
November 3, 2009 at 3:03 am
Nichole
Hi, yeah I just happened by your websites looking for pictures of trees. And anyway I came across this one. I think this is a facinating tree. It reminds me of a spirt woman dancing. Absolutly wonderful. I noticed it’s in a trees of dislike but I’m not sure why?
November 5, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Claudia
Curious where you got the tree photo. I took this photo from a painting of a tree in a Korean museum…odd.