Trees We Do Not Like « The Whispering Crane Institute

Trees We Do Not Like

February 22, 2007 by Rick Anderson

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 ~~Sugar~~ Silver(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.

______________________________________________________________________________________

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.

Posted in nature, plant material | 103 Comments

103 Responses to “Trees We Do Not Like”

on February 22, 2007 at 4:26 pm1 Patrick McAfee

Well, speaking from the other side of the Atlantic, there is the Elder tree. I have it, just about everywhere. Apparently you can make wine from the berries. The pigeons like it very much; they digest it and then excrete it everywhere, especially on my car, purple in color, no not the car.

I’ve tried to eradicate the Elder but it just grows stronger. In recent years I think it has got smarter, the alternative I dont want to contemplate. It is now growing where I cant get at its roots. And it grows fast, maybe 6 feet or maybe 10 feet in Spring/Summer/Autumn. I cannot say I hate it, if truth be told I admire its stubborness.
What we dont want we have in abundance and what we dont want we have. Maybe its best to give in and just accept it, make wine and forget the whole thing.

You know me, I’m all for making the wine . . .
on February 22, 2007 at 9:29 pm2 Carol

Silver Maples (Acer saccharinum), isn’t Sugar Maple Acer sacharum? Because it grows fast, so has weak wood and no fall color.

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) Nothing else grows around it.

Any kind of Mulberry (Morus sp.) Seedlings everywhere!

Lombardy Poplar (Populus nigra.) Ugly, dies out, weak wood

Also Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) Who isn’t allergic to them, and they make a mess all over, plus weak wood.

I’ll stop there…

I’m okay with adding the Mulberry, Lombardy Poplar, and the Cottonwood. Not so much the Walnut tree(if others clamor to add-we will)By the way there is a list of plants that will work under the Black Walnut-another post.
on February 22, 2007 at 10:13 pm3 Sissy

I would like to second the pear tree. I moved 500 miles from the Bradford pear that would not die in Memphis TN. Every house on the block had this goofy tree in the middle of their lawn.
Guess which tree is growing in the middle of my Western Chicago Suburban lawn??
grrr….

Consider it 2nd’d . . . !!!
on February 23, 2007 at 12:35 pm4 Yolanda Elizabet

The tree I absolutely hate is the Monkey Puzzle. Why? Read all about it on my blog

http://blissyo-elgarden.blogspot.com/

archive: There’s a Dinosaur in the Garden.

Nuff said!

Ahhh nothing like a good ‘ole Araucaria araucana thankfully it will not tolerate much cold. There is one good respectable member of the family the Norfolk Island Pine A. heterophylla, a house plant favorite.
on February 23, 2007 at 12:52 pm5 Bill

Here’s a couple more for you.
Prunus cerasifera (Thundercloud Plum) and Prunus cistena (Purple leaf Sand Cherry). If red foliage trees were’nt obnoxious enough for you, I’d be delighted to list the many lovely insect and disease problems which affect this gem. Unfortunately the internet is not large enough to contain that information. Even if a client flew into my office on a broom and threatened to turn me into a toad if I did not plant these trees, it would not intimidate me sufficiently to make me acquiesce. Giant Duck out….

Yeah . . . I believe we are going to have to add these two to the list. These 2 would also make my list of most butchered, wow these two really get the shear job, and they do have a lot of problems, and they are short lived . . . add some gold potentilla and you got McDonalds.
Acquiesce . . . big fancy word, very impressive
on February 23, 2007 at 2:57 pm6 Pegy

I don’t like the liquid amber tree. Little seed balls dropping everywhere and the roots. They love to run along the surface. Uggh!

Liquid amber-I’m sure this is some shooter that I used to drink on a regular basis, I’m sure of it.

You threw me there for a moment then I realized you were talking about sweetgum trees; Liquidambar styraciflua, I really like this tree-usually the fall color is awesome,, it grows very nicely and looks great in a woodland setting. There is that problem with the seed pods however. More folks complain than praise . . . so it will get added to the list.
on February 23, 2007 at 3:53 pm7 wcicrane

Great awesome, keep it up. I’ll have m0re to say about this list you all are creating later.

I guess at some point before the weather turns and I get real busy we’ll have to talk about favorites
on February 23, 2007 at 5:23 pm8 Julie

hackberry!

By the time the birds’ plantings have sprouted in the garden, roots are deepdeep. ugh.

This is probably a good tree for the list. It belongs in the landscape, but probably not in the typical suburban yard.
on February 23, 2007 at 7:02 pm9 Kim

Can we add the weeping cherry trees? Not so much because I don’t like them, but more because nobody allows them to look good in their yard. The plantings around them… ugh. One house in my suburb has two 7-ft tall specimens flanking their front walkway, each planted about 2 ft. from the sidewalk. I give them 2 more years until they realize what a bad spot choice they made.

Kim:
You have a very solid point about the placement of this tree; after all what suburb in NEast Ohio doesn’t have a multitude of them immediately in front of the front door-so it can look good for 2 weeks out of 52. However: once again the boys at the Giant Duck are spot on . . . we cannot penalize the(a) tree because people/contractors do not know how/where to plant it.

Keep at it, I’m sure you’ll come up with something else.
on February 23, 2007 at 9:18 pm10 Bill Ross

Sorry Kim, although I am no defender of Prunus sp., poor plant selection or location does not a bad tree make.

Spot on:
Once again some solid info from the Giant Duck.
on February 24, 2007 at 4:15 am11 Yolanda Elizabet

Not tolerate much cold? YMMV of course but here in the Netherlands those Monkey Puzzles have survived minus 15 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately.

BTW here’s a better link to my rant about the MP tree.
http://blissyo-elgarden.blogspot.com/2007/02/monkey-puzzle-tree.html

I really don’t like those trees, could you tell?

And thank you for all the other nominees, I appreciate it! Now I know what to give a miss when I’m doing a spot of tree shopping.

After some strenuous ciphering I have determined -15C equals 5F which(I believe)means zone 6. This would put this nasty tree out of the reach of a lot of North America. Keep checking I’m sure we will come up with some more.
on February 24, 2007 at 10:54 am12 tai haku

Been thinking of blogging on this myself.

For me the absolute worst offender is Acer platanoides “drumondii”. Most of the faults of the parent but worse it gets big and then reverts meaning england has dozens of huge half variegated half green specimens that look awful.

Prunus spire - the fastigate shape almost always bends or fails in some way making it look ugly.

Eucalyptus gunnii - makes a mess, awkward shape and could have been replaced by any number of nicer eucalyptus if the nurseries sold them.

Atlantic blue cedar is another classic for putting in too small a space but a glorious tree

Can I put in a good word for liquidambar?

Welcome to the list. In an earlier comment the boys at the Giant Duck fired the 1st salvo at the Norway Maple but I have no problem adding a named cultivar to the ‘offenders’ list.

P. spire (fastigata?) I’ve no real good info on this, and looked through my suppliers catalog’s-no one carries this.
Eucalyptus gunnii, I got nothing, out of my climatic zone experience.
As for the Cedar we can’t add a tree because no one know how to plant it correctly see below
Liquidambar-noted to the positive!
on February 24, 2007 at 3:29 pm13 tai haku

I think Spire is a commonly used nursery synonym for a fastigate pink cherry more properly known as Amanagawa which might be what its known as stateside. If not they’re very similar ie equally hideous.

It probably is, I’ll take a look and find out.
on February 25, 2007 at 2:27 pm14 Kim

Rick, that’s pretty much what I figured… but it felt good to vent. *grin* I think that you guys have covered most of my other “most hated”s.

That’s cool, venting is a good thing
on February 25, 2007 at 7:40 pm15 Patrick McAfee

I must put in a good word for the Monkey Puzzle (Araucaria araucana) tree. I had two of them until three weeks ago when I had them cut down. They were maybe fifty years old but grown too big for their location. It was a sorry day to see them go as I’d grown attached to them, sharp leaves and all. Didnt Pablo Neruda the Chilean poet write about them some where, calling his wife or girlfriend his Auraucanian girl ? On the other hand I’ve heard of people being scared of their spider like appearance when blowing in the wind. Anyway, heres a vote for the monkey puzzle.

Pat:
I’d say that is a good argument to the positive for the Monkey Puzzle Tree. What I like is that all these opinions are coming from such diverse parts of the World, right here on this little ‘ole Blog of mine. I haven’t read a lot of Neruda, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see him call a woman by some sort of a botanical name-seeing’s as he was into all sorts of botanicals-if I remember correctly.
on March 5, 2007 at 10:43 pm16 Jenn

Poplar. Crappy trees, allergy-inducing fluff, twigs all over the yard, think they are giant shrubs, suckering everywhere…. Yuck!
on March 12, 2007 at 2:09 pm17 Hoover

Eucalyptus globulus. In California. Non-native, invasive, constantly dropping heavy litter, highly flammable. Local firefighters refer to it as “the gasoline tree”. In its native land I am sure it is fine, but it does not belong here.

Good choice, I’m slightly familiar with this tree, it is extremely messy, didn’t know about the “gasoline tree” business, sounds like something to keep out of the residential yard.
on May 7, 2007 at 11:19 pm18 Spirea x cineria 'Grefsheim' « The Whispering Crane Institute

[...] a Spirea? Well I am getting ready to do a post on the Shrubs we do not like. Since the Trees we do not like, and Worst of the worst Trees were big hits I thought I would delve into some shrubs we do not [...]
on May 20, 2007 at 11:08 am19 Shrubs We do Not Like: « The Whispering Crane Institute

[...] 20th, 2007 by Rick Anderson Based on the hugely popular “Trees we do not like“, and “Vote for the Worst of the Worst-Trees” it is now time to bring you . . [...]
on June 9, 2007 at 8:49 pm20 michell

the monkey tree is unfriendly looking, and produces nothing to redeem itself! If I found the most perfect house to buy, and it had a monkey tree on it, I’d cut it down. I DO love all growing things pretty much, but this ugly thing seems to sort of represent the people that seem to like them (not necessarily what the people LOOK like, but more often what the people ‘look’ like on the inside.
on August 30, 2007 at 7:41 pm21 liz ruork

“spire” is generally to be read as prunus hillieri “spire”
a much nicer little tree than prunus serrulata “amanogawa”

spiire is rather narrow to begin with but ends up a pleasant vase shape…amanogawa just goes straight up….justly nicknamed flagpole cherry
on September 3, 2007 at 12:45 am22 IHateYouAll

I can not believe how shallow minded so many of these people are. The world is not about you, no matter how much you wish it would be so. So a tree is not aesthetically pleasing to you, take a look in the mirror.
on September 6, 2007 at 10:39 pm23 TurtleGirl

Well I am no expert on trees, far from it, but I must say on the peninsula where I live (in Australia) Norfolk Pines are a huge problem because their root structures rip up the buildings and they’re nearly impossible to get rid of. Some of them are absolutely enormous, if one were ever to fall it would knock out about seven houses and likely any inhabitants in them. However we have had severe storms recently and no tree falls, so I suspect they are a mighty hardy plant.

We once had a cumquat tree in our courtyard, stupid placing, it was tearing up the foundations so badly the whole house was starting to tip!!
on September 20, 2007 at 2:11 pm24 Aaron

2 trees. Acer negundo (Boxelder) and Ulmus pumila (Siberian Elm). While both are relatively unavailable commercially (and for good reason), if you’re unfortunate enough have one, you’d be wise to eliminate it and replace it with something of quality.
on October 5, 2007 at 5:50 pm25 Rebecca Reed

I’m really shocked that people are so hostile towards trees. You would think they might have some respect no matter what variety it is. They have as much right to be where they are as you do.
on October 8, 2007 at 11:20 pm26 Anonymous

What is the matter with these particular types of trees? As we all know, they remove CO2 from the atmosphere and… somewhat indirectly… produce oxygen. If they had minds, they’d probably think we’re pretty ugly too, but you notice they neither chop us down or “eradicate” us.
on October 10, 2007 at 12:24 pm27 michell

oh alright! the monkey tree has rights too. I still don’t like them, but of course I wouldn’t chop it down. Not much humor on this site I don’t think. And, I’m not sure why responses sound as though the tree can read what i wrote. I don’t think I hurt the monkey trees’ feelings.

May all Monkey Trees live long and prickly !!! yahoooo

Michelle:
The folks do have a lot of “hard” opinions about trees-that’s for sure. Heck; Maybe even I do
on October 15, 2007 at 12:11 pm28 Bill

To Ms. Reed and IHateYou,
Clearly, neither of you are involved in Horticulture professionally or otherwise.
In the context of a discussion entitled “Trees We Do Not Like”, it should not be interpereted as an indictment of these plants rights to exist. It should indicate that people who work with plants have strong feelings about the ornamental characteristics and sustainability of certain species in a contrived “landscape” setting.
Although posters have expressed personal preferences it indicates a passion for plants. This is not a bad thing in my view. People are at least paying attention. It does not mean people are shallow because they have an opinion regardless of whether you agree or not.
I am not hostile toward trees, I am a protector and planter of them. I would certainly expect that I have planted and cared for far more trees than I have “cut down” for whatever reason.
If we apply the reasoning that they have as much right to be there as we do, where do we draw the line. Should we refrain from weeding a garden because nutsedge has a right to exist?
My guess is that this was supposed to be a light hearted expression of preferences for certain plants. Perhaps you should lighten up a bit.
When you develop a sense of humor, send up a flare.

It would have been so far from my thought process that there would be some sort of hostile back and forth, let alone hostile back and forth about trees. I hope this is the end of it.
on October 24, 2007 at 10:46 am29 megan

even thought this is not a favorite tree, has anyone noticed that the base of the tree looks like a dancing women?
on November 5, 2007 at 5:02 pm30 Tree . . . mendous « The Whispering Crane Institute

[...] 5th, 2007 by Rick Anderson I am just amazed at the amount of traffic this post is still [...]
on November 7, 2007 at 6:01 pm31 Rokkcos Action Front

Yes megan, everyone can see that tree looks like a women, that’s why it’s posted there.

as far as it goes i like most trees. i don’t have a least favorite.

i just wish the rain hadn’t obliterated my pecan trees this season.
on November 12, 2007 at 10:45 pm32 Leslie

Well, if you are still counting, I’d give a reprieve to the black walnut, and axe the tree of heaven in its place. I live and garden with a mature female black walnut, as well as a male. and lots of things grow under there. Some years you need to wear a hard-hat in September, tho. The one that bugs me most in my area is Ulmus pumila, chinese elm or siberian elm. People forget what a ‘real’ elm looks like.

Leslie;
you are welcome to follow the link to the Squidoo site and add a tree to the list, or just vote for what’s there, thanks for commenting.
on November 17, 2007 at 2:17 am33 Linda

I stumbled upon this picture and I fell in love with it. I’ve posted it on my blog. I wanted to let you know. I just started my site and I’m not sure how to give your site credit etc. Please reply back. Thanks so much.

Lindalatta.com

Linda;
You need to post a link back to my site or that page’s link and just mention where the link is from.
on November 21, 2007 at 4:21 pm34 Linda

I have added that info to my blog. It is an amazing picture - thanks again for sharing.

You are quite welcome, come back when you can, and good luck with your blog.
on December 6, 2007 at 12:55 am35 Hasatan

All this talk of tree hate and contrived “landscape” settings reminds me of another use for trees you consider worthless.
You could pulp all the offending wood and make it into paper then print religious books eventually starting wars and print science books to make the weapons needed for the wars and hopefully over time a dependance will grow for a ONE world system that can correct and remove all those worthless mistakes made by my master. I long for the day when the wind blows and the bow breaks and down will come baby CRADLE AND ALL.

The Wind is blowing

The East Angel Returns

Don’t forget your friends the ONEs that give you AIR

I Love The Tree she’s beautiful!

ps park your car somewhere else fukwit…
on December 9, 2007 at 11:32 pm36 b

Russian Olives aren’t very nice trees to have because they have very long thorns and aren’t fun to trim.

I understand they also cause problems for asthma sufferers, and this is another example of a non-native wreaking havoc to the native plant species.
on December 10, 2007 at 4:57 pm37 roo_rat

Tamarisk/salt cedar trees. They have destroyed many beautiful riparian areas in the southwest. Thirsty ugly beasts that kill off the majestic cottonwoods while invading…

Feel free to go to the Squidoo site and add that to the list there. Sad to hear about another non-native thriving in an area that affects the natives.
on January 5, 2008 at 11:01 am38 foul olron

i have been reading the replys to this question
which trees do you hate with great interest, yet nobody has mentioned the leylandii, a man made tree that therefore does not have a right to live anywhere in the world. it is not native to anywhere.
people plant it, believeing the advertizing, as a fast growing hedge, but in ten years or so, it is over twenty feet high and the branches for the first eight feet have died off. this means that the hedge is way up in the air and below is what looks like a series of telegraph poles.
rid the world of this vile growth, hunt it down and kill it.

the liver is evil
punish it with alcohol
on January 13, 2008 at 10:28 pm39 ben dover

the Bradford Pear in the picture looks like a danser :]]
on January 18, 2008 at 9:00 pm40 Destiny

I am a landscape artist, and from my perspesctive, that tree is simply gorgeouse in it’s own unique way. I mean, not all trees have to be birch or maple in our front yards( although they are quite nice), but having a different tree in the front, will make your whole yard stand out. Trust me, I know
on January 29, 2008 at 4:17 am41 Cynthia

The picture of that tree looks exactly like a ballerina dancer!! it’s amazing.
on January 29, 2008 at 10:21 pm42 holly

i have a question, is the tree in this picture real? cause if it is, that is a really cool coincidence!

The photo was sent to me with as part of a group of unusual images. It does not appear to be photo-shopped in any way/ As a long time pruner for health, “effect”, and aesthetics I think this is certainly possible. Someone with a lot of foresight and skills has done something remarkable.
on February 4, 2008 at 4:26 pm43 Meg

that is a beautiful image. the tree looks like a lady dancing!
on February 9, 2008 at 2:08 am44 Jessica

tree of heaven! I unfortunately have 4 in my yard.
on February 11, 2008 at 7:16 am45 andy t

is it me or does the tree above look like a dancer?
on February 11, 2008 at 10:46 am46 priss

aww, i’ve never seen a tree i didn’t like. asymmetry can be quite aesthetically pleasing, actually.
on February 11, 2008 at 12:48 pm47 drake

What’s wrong with a Bradford Pear? It’s shape is excellent and it is beautiful in the spring. Needs no grooming and grows relatively fast here in zone 8. ???????? Just a personal vendetta?

Advancing age causes those 45degreee branch angle to snap off in high winds and or ice. Also it it stating to be proven out that the tree is; on average, a short-lived tree.

Some folks do not care for it’s winter profile-which lacks interest.
on February 12, 2008 at 5:19 pm48 Anthony

All you guys sound like a bunch of geeks!! They’re just trees!! get a grip on your selves….your talking about them as if they we’re women! they’re TREES!! relax…all of you. Go invest your time on something useful! GO LISTEN TO SOME JUDAS PREIST AND GET LAID!!!!!!!!!
on February 21, 2008 at 6:15 pm49 Sorrow

alanthus? not sure on the spelling, What an ugly messy tree, And I give two thumbs up to the Bradford being the worst tree,when in bloom it smells like baby diapers! lol
on February 23, 2008 at 4:58 pm50 emmy

hey has anyone noticed that this picture you have posted of the tree is quite beautiful resembling a woman dancing why do you hate this tree ?

Thanks for stoppiung by, I don’t think anyone really hates this tree, it’s too beautiful.
on February 27, 2008 at 1:40 am51 Polar

**Non native trees**
Most trees I’m not fond of were brought here from somewhere very far away. Here, they become invasive and so degrade the local & regional vegetation types both urban and rural. Now before you all start screaming “Elitist” you might first consider a world with only one tree, Ailanthus altissima, & only one ground cover, Kudzu.
on March 1, 2008 at 10:28 am52 Brenda Warren

Greetings!

I simply love the image of the “dancing tree” on your page. I would like to put the image on my web page with acknowledgment of the artist of course. Please send to me the contact info.

Great Blessings,

Brenda

If you post the image on your website you would need to post a link to this website, and acknowledge you found it here. Thanks and good luck with your site.
on March 2, 2008 at 9:31 am53 vinod

natural Bueaty
on March 7, 2008 at 12:39 am54 Harla Jean

hi there, i am really curious about that Bradford Pear tree.. the one you have a picture of.. so, im curious.. is this tree been photoshoped or modified? cus its pretty amazing if its not! .. but still an amazing job if it is..
please if you have the time, e mail me and let me know.. and is this its name? a Bradford Pear?

harlajean@gmail.com

harla

Bradford Pear; no, I don’t think so. I believe it is some sort of Locust cultivar, it is not photoshopped, but it is one hell of a pruning project.
on March 9, 2008 at 4:23 pm55 Kenmonea

Its wonderous! I have a tree in my backyard that looks like someone doing a hand stand. Things like this in nature just take my breathe away.

Good for you to be so fortunate, I’d like to see a picture of that tree. Thanks for stopping by and commenting on the blog. Stop again anytime.
on March 15, 2008 at 10:22 am56 Stewart Darrah

On the top on my list would be the mimosa, aka silktree, Julibrissum albizzia. They are messy, spread all over, weak-wood, so prone to splitting, regrow from the roots even when you cut them down, and worst of all, my grandparents planted them all over the place in the 1950’s.
I would also add golden rain tree, eastern redbud, hackberry, silver maple, and red cedar, all of which spread way too easily.
on March 19, 2008 at 2:20 pm57 whyvonne

wow, but doesn’t it look like a woman in a lovely ballet pose?

sorry but i tihnk it’s just a little bit of lovely!
on March 23, 2008 at 11:28 am58 zooooooni

it’s lovelyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yup it looks like a women’s body. right???????? he he hee heeeeeeeee. it’s really wonderful. i mean superb!!!!!!
on March 23, 2008 at 11:30 am59 wow!!!!

wow!!!! could only say wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
on March 24, 2008 at 6:46 am60 Lina

i don’t know the name
- grows big trunks, about 3 ft diameter
- not too tall, just a little over 20 ft
- large (as large as a hand), heart-shaped leaves that get sick easily (bumpy cyst-like), favorite of insects
- wood is very brittle, give-take 5 years then the bark becomes flaky, and the wood crumbly.

i think it comes cheap here because subdivision developers use it to line side walks. unfortunately, its a real hazard. the tree limbs fall off easily when the tree grows old.

if you could give me names, i’ll research them and find the one i am posting about.

Sorry it’s not ringing a bell, I thought it might have been Sycamore until you mentioned lining sidewalks.
on March 28, 2008 at 12:00 pm61 wordless wednesday « Pink Pamplemousse

[...] http://whisperingcraneinstitute.wordpress.com/2007/02/22/trees-we-do-not-like/ [...]
on March 30, 2008 at 10:47 am62 John DeVore

What a riot! That’ll teach you to ask for opinions! I’ll keep mine to myself, and hope that some of these comments were meant to be humorous, otherwise, I’ buying my first gun for self protection. My best buddy is a botanist, doing studies for years on invasive exotic plants. He says that the true Bradford pear is practically sterile (we’ll let it’s inherent problems mentioned elsewhere be sufficient).

However, the cultivars, Cleveland select, et al, are not sterile and are invading our natural areas. Watch for them when they start blooming this spring, and when they turn color in fall. They are easy to spot when you’re driving. These lovely dudes are THORNY, fast growing, and fertile (kudzu anyone?) My friend tells me that the Nashville area is having quite a party with them, and there is a savanna in Arkansas (or Alabama, you know, down south, starts with A) that has become impenetrable with the thorny bugger. Yeah, I know, trees are people, too.

Pears, I have never liked them, and seem to find more ways to like them less and less. Go to the Squidoo page and vote ‘em down. Or add the tree if it isn’t there.
on April 1, 2008 at 3:01 am63 John Black

Could the mighty redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) be the worst tree ever? See:
http://tinyurl.com/37m3hb

Thanks for commenting, and the link-it was a good read!
on April 3, 2008 at 11:44 am64 Karima

I am amazed at how much hatred is written on this site about trees. Living breathing elements of our earth that provide us with oxygen.

I was seeking to find a beautiful tree for a business card to do thai yoga massage. It has been described as a mythical tree that burns yet does not die in the flames? Looks like a weeping will in shape however has branches and leaves that point up and out.

Any suggestions on beautiful trees. I love the Japanese cherry blossom.

If you can help that would be great.

Namaste,
Karima

Cherry blossom is good, the Gingko leaf is another good choice for logo work-and the
Gingko has much significance. I believe there are certain types of pines whose resin helps protect them in fire situations.

The Sassafras leaf is another that would make a good logo, and it’s really underused. Good luck, and thanks for stopping by and commenting.
on April 7, 2008 at 10:53 am65 Farter McFarter

Hey Stupid Thats Not a Bradford Pear its a mimosa Doo Doo Head.
on April 10, 2008 at 2:52 pm66 dawn

I understand how some trees can be a PITA, (cherries; they are beyond messy) but the one pictured above is absolutely beautiful. It looks like a sculpted ballet dancer.
on April 10, 2008 at 11:09 pm67 Sonny

doesnt the shape of this tree remind you of a dancer though?
thats why i clicked it on google
on April 14, 2008 at 3:37 pm68 The Green Picture: A Tree Of Natural Grace » GroovyGreen.com - Start Today :: Save Tomorrow

[...] Source SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “The Green Picture: A Tree Of Natural Grace”, url: “http://www.groovygreen.com/groove/?p=2965″ }); [...]
on April 15, 2008 at 8:10 pm69 annie

I am so sorry to see some of my favorites on the hate list. I love Mimosa!

Annie, the comment(s) have taken on a life of their own-folks sure have strong opinions about their likes and dislikes when it comes to trees.
on April 18, 2008 at 2:23 pm70 Wyn

I’m not really an authority of any kind on trees, at all… I know the kinds I like, but probably not by name. I’m always interested in learning about them, but I never can seem to find the time to study the different types.

However, I do have one question: what kind of tree is the one shown in this post? The dancing tree? It’s fantastically beautiful, though I’m sure it’s one of those magical flukes that happen. Sort of like seeing Elvis in a potato-chip format.
on April 19, 2008 at 7:34 pm71 andrew

i dont like th mesquite tree
they grow everywhere in my area and drive me crazy
though they make quite good wood for smoking and burning.
on April 19, 2008 at 10:03 pm72 Duane

The picture in this article makes me think of a
“Wood Nymph”.
on April 20, 2008 at 9:39 pm73 Tiana

wow it’s really beautiful, it looks like a dancing lady.
on April 21, 2008 at 4:04 am74 Sandy

I will definitely agree, most hated tree is Black Walnut!! You cannot plant anything within 50 feet of them, at least. They are everywhere in my yard, every flower bed and sometimes randomly growing in the grass. Once the new trees reach a height of 6 inches you cannot pull them out, they have such a horrific root system. We have two 80 year old trees in our yard and in the fall, we rake at least 2 wheel barrels of nuts.

You will not be the last person to mention this tree. But I love walnuts, and walnut can make some really beautiful furniture. So I’m hoping they stick around-just not in your yard.

Thanks for posting. Did you vote, ot post this tree on the Squidoo site?
on April 21, 2008 at 11:10 pm75 mikey

“ASPLUNDH”
these are trees planted under power lines that when they start to mature, guys in orange trucks from New Jersey come and cut the heck out the tops of the trees to clear the power lines, resulting in weird shaped trees.
Interesting “wood nymph” got my attention.
apple trees can be high maintenance, but the deer like the apples.
on April 23, 2008 at 6:46 pm76 ;;;;;;;;;;;

wow thats amazeing
its just 1 of the 1,000,000,000,000,0000,000,000,000 amazeing things God gave us
on April 24, 2008 at 10:53 am77 Grace

ALL THIS TREE HATE MUST END!
YOU SHOULD LOVE ALL TREES FOR THEIR BEAUTY AND ORGANIC SPIRTUALITY. PRAISE THE TREES!
how sweetly do they grow and bloom watching us from their rooted stance.
on May 1, 2008 at 5:46 pm78 edgar b

Wow that tree looks like a ballerina practicing
on May 7, 2008 at 11:44 pm79 rita

where ever did you find that tree?!
i must know!
please tell me, i want to take more pictures for myself.
i love it!

Sorry, the photo was sent to me by a friend.
on May 13, 2008 at 5:17 pm80 kimberly fathead

You sound like a bunch of fruitloops!!!!!!! I stumbled upon this while doing a project and couldn’t believe that wackjobs like you tree freaks really exist. I have to agree with anthony… please, do get laid… tree lovin’ doesn’t count
on May 17, 2008 at 11:37 pm81 minkfist

Box Elder

these guys clog up a gutter all year long……they drop stringy things that go thru the gutter screen

too hard to kill…..they grow everywhere you don’t need a tree…..you have to pull them out by the roots with a truck or tractor

they grow at odd angles to get to the sun….we have 10 trees growing around an old silo base …all at a 40 degree angle

they are weak…they are the first trees to blow over in a wind storm….we have a 25 foot tree blown over completely horizontal…it is now growing strait up from the 25 foot trunk

the wood is junk….it doesn’t burn well and smells like bad pancakes

box elder bugs…..even they don’t like the trees and have abandoned the trees for the side of our house
on May 19, 2008 at 11:36 pm82 kim fathead

what did i just say?!!!!! i can’t believe you are continuing with this tree nonsense. seriously, go get a life!!!! i am trying to help you people. now go out and meet some women… or men if you have been regected by women.. but please.. stop it with the trees for gods sake
on May 23, 2008 at 9:36 pm83 julie

Ha, this tree looks like a ballerina. I think it’s beautiful.
on May 30, 2008 at 12:29 pm84 Moriah

Wow! what type of tree is that?!?!? its soo cool! it looks like one of those mythical spirits that live in the trees! how freaky! i LOVE IT! can you please tell me what type of tree that is, and whats the matter with the bradford pear? it looks really cool1!

It’s a Locust, I can’t tell you with 100% certainty the cultivar.

The Bradford . . . see answer in next comment.
on June 1, 2008 at 2:43 pm85 stavros

where is it??? in europe where??
on June 4, 2008 at 4:55 pm86 angelawd » Should trees smell bad?

[...] I did find a site that helpfully lists Trees We Do Not Like, along with this clever [...]
on June 6, 2008 at 1:20 am87 Carrie

*sigh* I have to say, I really like maples - but it is more because they generally grow limbs at the prefect height for climbing. At least, I find that to be true for the maples that have green leaves which do not change colors in fall.

As for my least favorite: Black Poplar and other members of the cottonwood family. Now these trees are annoying. They produce sticky yellow winter buds, which wouldn’t be that bad, except they fall off and dye anything pale colored yellow and stick to everything. Not to mention, when they are cut down they smell terrible, almost as if they are taking a subtle sort of revenge. (These could be the type of tree one of the early posters was talking about… some varieties have heart/spade shaped leaves.)
on June 8, 2008 at 8:58 pm88 warrior0

Anthony, I see your point, but that comment was quite offensive nonetheless. I am aware that I am only fourteen, maybe not as experienced as some of you on here, but in my personal opinoin, trees are living creatures- maybe they can’t protest like we can at unfair treatment, but that doesn’t mean we can just cut them down without thought. What you just said came across as a statement with no other purpose than to force a reaction- and here you have it.

Becca Reed, I couldn’t agree any more with your post.
Grace, the comment was a little creepy, but I like it.
And to Kim fathead, I’m not supposed to “get laid” at my age.
on June 8, 2008 at 9:06 pm89 Warrior0

Rebecca Reed, I apologize for incorrectly posting your name.
on June 9, 2008 at 4:16 pm90 A Point

Well, Mr. Bill, if we were having a conversation of “people we do not like”, would it seem appropriate to sit and list others we think look bad?

Not to be rude, it’s just another way for you to look at it.
on June 12, 2008 at 8:50 pm91 soren

This tree looks like a lady dancing…going to the left and kicking up her right leg…see it?
on June 15, 2008 at 8:46 am92 Kelley

I was just about to say that!
on June 15, 2008 at 2:20 pm93 mackenzie

this is amzing
it looks like a ballet dancer!!!!
on June 19, 2008 at 6:10 pm94 erica

this tree looks like a woman dancing, it’s so beautiful!
on June 24, 2008 at 7:35 pm95 Angie

I realize that, more than likely, the tree in the picture above looks like a dancer to anyone who looks at her (I mean it). But I just had to make sure everyone else sees it too.
on June 26, 2008 at 2:42 pm96 TarotByArwen

The dancing tree is making the email rounds. You can probably expect more hits on this entry because it comes up in a google search.
on June 27, 2008 at 5:38 pm97 Wayne

I can’t believe some of the trees picked as the worst. I rather like my Sweet Gum with its interesting star shaped leaf and red color in the fall. Sand Cherries add rich red color to a predominantly green lanscape. As far as the worst, how about a Hawthorn with its 1 to 2 inch claws that look like something the devil would plant. It will pierce through even a hard soled shoe giving its victim a nasty infection. They actually sell this thing at some nurseries! What about a Manitoba Maple which is not even a Maple at all. It grows wild in ditches and begins rotting from birth, making it much worse for breaking than any Silver Maple. These trees grow so fast that we see new plants each year all over the Ontario countryside. I could go on but I’ll leave with this: A well planned landscape can make many species of trees seem tolerant and trouble free. Give yourself enough room to accomodate the type of tree your planting and you’ll enjoy it for years to come.
on July 12, 2008 at 10:21 am98 bridgette

how can anyone dislike cherry trees?! They are my absolute favorite! I must say that I’m not the biggest fan of apple trees however. There used to be one in my grandfathers backyard (in Brooklyn of all places) it would always leave all of these little apples about the size of golfballs. Ok, when we were kids, my cousins and I had a lot of fun trying to climb to the top and occasionally, when I was about 7 and my older cousin was being a jerk, I would throw an apple or nine in his direction and run away as fast as my little legs could go. We had so much fun and I can assure you that my cousin ALWAYS deserved it!!! But as we got older and apple fights were no longer accepted by the parents, the tree just kinda sit there until the wood rotted away so much where my grandfather had to either cut down the tree or risk having it fall into the house every time a breeze came along. I miss the tree but speaking as an adult I would absolutely hate having to clean up all of the apples, whaatever the pidgeons and stray cars left behind after they had enjoyed some apples, all the leaves left behind in the winter and constantly having to ice up an eye or two after a good apple war.
on July 12, 2008 at 10:26 am99 pewpew

hahaha!! A Tree Grows In Brooklyn!! That haas to be the cutest childhood story Bridgette!! I personally love apple trees!!
on July 13, 2008 at 7:01 am100 Oliver Castledine

This post is absolutley absurd.

Who are you lot, the Horticultural Police? Whats the next post; Lets get a vigilanty tree group out in the night to cut down ‘offending’ trees?

If this post was written by The Crane Institute founder, so called landscape designer, you should be ashamed of yourself.

One mans weed is anothers ornamental, but in anycase, this part of cyberspace should be promoting the merits of trees, not bashing specific genus or species.

When I began my career in Horticulture and design i fell for the trap of ’scoffing’ at certain plants. I thought that bedding plants were vulgar and vowed that shrubs like Elaeagnus would never feature in my designs.

Later, as my style relaxed and matured I realised that (although still not my taste) bedding stuffed into old pots, situated in a sunny cottage garden looked just perfect, and that the Elaeagnus was a superb backdrop shrub to a difficult site.

For sure, some plants are not welcome in certain places; they may be a nuisance aesthetically, or environmentally. But bashing the whole species over one plants misdemeanour is riciculous, get a grip.
on July 13, 2008 at 1:57 pm101 Bee Jay Harrison

Hello, I haven’t read all the postings yet but I had to add my most hated tree… it’s the SWEET GUM. Is there a bigger weed? I don’t think so. Not only does it take up all the spare room in the yard but it drops spiked seed pods (we call them sweet gum balls) that are a royal pain to keep cleaned up. Attention: DON’T step on one! They hurt bare feet and will twist the strongest ankle. The pods get caught in/on everything. My sheltie comes in with them matted in his hair, making him miserable. There is no way to get rid of them. The trees also spread by roots. To eradicate I would have to plow up my entire yard, replace all the soil and even then they would pop back up as if by magic. Boooooo to the sweet gum.
on July 22, 2008 at 2:00 pm102 Adam

Hello all, I think it´s a bit sad to say wich trees are not nice and wich are, ALL trees are nice, they all have their nice things and bad things, but without them we might not be here, in our world. Trees are like people or animals, they all have good things and bad ones too, maybe it would be good instead, to say wich trees not to plant in a garden or an area, because the problem IS THE people who plant them, the tree itself can´t help it to be in a place, and it can´t move!
I´m a gardener and love Nature, and I feel sad and cross with people like you who say, I don´t like this tree!
on July 22, 2008 at 2:21 pm103 Adam

Hello it´s me again, I forgot to say, that the photo of the tree looks like a Jacaranda, or a African Flame tree, but I read that it might be a Locust? I don´t think so.
Locusts have bigger leaflets.
adam the gardener.