Well due to all the excitement I have posted a Trees we do Not Like page over at Squidoo. Right now there are fifteen trees on the list, and the possibility of more to come.
I have it set up so the list can be voted on, sort of the worst of the worst.
What does this list mean? Absolutely nothing, but it’s fun to talk about and look at, and just maybe it will save someone some time, trouble, and money someday.
So if you got a second take a look, click a arrow. Or add a tree.
In the mean time: here are some of the candidates . . .
[Monkey Puzzle tree]
[courtesy Hugh Robertson]
[Liquidambar styraciflua Sweetgum tree]
[courtesy Michigan State]
[Prunus cisterna Purpleleaf Sand Cherry]
[photo courtesy of Waynesboro Nurseries]
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
14 comments
Comments feed for this article
July 13, 2007 at 5:27 am
Jirrus
Hi there,
That Monkey Puzzle tree picture (courtesy Hugh Robertson) – I think it looks more like a Bunya Pine? (Araucaria bidwillii) Very similar though.
Have a good one!
Cheers,
Jirrus.
November 9, 2007 at 12:08 am
Trees We Do Not Like « The Whispering Crane Institute
[...] post talks about voting for the worst tree, and a link to the Squidoo page where the link [...]
December 12, 2007 at 7:22 am
GREG
You guys are nuts. That Araucaria is great and Liquidambar is a fine tree!
February 22, 2008 at 3:37 am
Cheryl
I want to vote for a fourth tree: Ailanthus altissima, or Tree of Heaven. It stinks, it sends up suckers, it seeds all over the place–it’s a horrible weedy tree.
Araucarias and Liquidambars have their place (preferably not over sidewalks, for several reasons!). I don’t think the same could be said for Ailanthus.
April 2, 2008 at 3:41 am
Are There the “Worst of the Worst Landscapes”? « The Whispering Crane Institute
[...] may be onto something here, I don’t think it will evoke the “passion” of “worst of the worst tree“-folks are really taking it serious when it comes to trees they really dislike, I mean [...]
April 17, 2008 at 6:29 pm
T.A.
Trees I don’t like… a bunch of botanical snobbery at it’s best. How many of you are reading this in a coffee house sipping your earl grey
May 31, 2008 at 11:19 am
Greg
I am actually getting ready to plant 3 bradford pear trees in my yard. I saw that it made this list – can you tell me why you dislike it so much? Thanks.
June 1, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Greg
Thanks for your input on the Bradford pear. I agree I would like to plant trees that my kids and grandkids will enjoy! Have any in mind that I could plant instead? I plan to plant 3 along the west edge of my driveway. I realize I will not find a tree with all of these – but here are some considerations: The strip where they will be planted is 10-15 ft wide (my driveway on one side and neighbors open front yard on the other). If i could find 3 trees that will act as a windbreak, w/o blocking the view too badly ( I know – cake and eat it too!). Fall color would be a great plus also! zone 6. Thank you for any input!
June 1, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Greg
Thank You -
I’ll check them out!
September 5, 2008 at 12:14 pm
LATRELL
Uh so uh listen, i like trees and everythang about them.
December 4, 2008 at 1:37 am
hags
u
December 11, 2008 at 10:54 am
Rut Woods-Marks
I will add to this list the Russian Olive. It is a a horrible invasive that is a close competitor of the Bradford Pear because it reproduces itself. It damages river habitats and makes a general nuisance of itself. It quickly ages and becomes ugly. Then it sits around for years and looks tatty before having the good grace to expire.
My neighbor has a Bradford Pear. The thing smells like Play Doh in the spring. It has a great mat of roots that chokes out anything else I try to plant. I have told my neighbor that the tree will probably self destruct in the next fifteen years. I recommend that she replace it with a politer tree.
February 17, 2009 at 10:51 am
Lisa Sparhawk
What are the best trees? I need a small (15 ft. ish) for my front yard where a very large tree came down after a winter ice storm. My yard is sooo bare now. I want something interesting and easy to grow in zone 5.
June 19, 2009 at 9:46 pm
mike
You all must remember….all trees have thier purpose. It might not be in the urban or suburban landscape but it might be a a pioneering species that is part of the evolutionalry cycle of succession that takes place in most fields where the silver maples and other fast growing NATIVE species begin the process of transforming an open filed into a mature forest.
That being said in defense of trees…..Don’t EVER plant a Siberian Elm tree in an urban or suburban yard. Fast growing, weak wooded, just as it matures, large 6 to 12 inch plus branches will be breaking off in the wind. Leave it to the successional meadows.