I need a great columnar / fastigate tree for SW Chicagoland

Hi - I live in a zone 5a / 5b area of Chicagoland. I don't have a huge lot - leaving me with my best choice for trees being columnar / narrow varieties.
I'm not a fan of evergreens. I like higher branching.
I have an Armstrong Maple - it's doing great. I have a pear tree - I don't want more.
Now I want another narrow tree (or two) that can grow fairly tall.
I'm currently thinking about an oak called Crimison Spire AKA: Crimschmidt.
I'm also looking at a few Sweetgums that are columnar. I know I can get an Emerald AKA:Clydesform from a nursery near me.
Any other ideas or thoughts on the trees I mentioned?
Thanks for any advice or oppinions.
Jim

I know I'm gonna be jumped on for mentioning this but it rarely, if ever flowers - Koelreuteria paniculata Fastigiata. I recently uploaded some pics of it. I also like the winter look of a Fagus sylvatica - one of the fastigiated ones.

My suggestion for a columnear tree is Sorbus alnifolia, Korean Mtn. Ash . I have a couple of them, 9 and 11 years old. Both are quite narrow, and are loaded with small fruits and are around 20 feet tall and maybe 4 foot spread.

I also have a Scarlet Spire Oak that is 11 years old. Of course my soil is very alkaline, I add sulfur pellets and it is mulched with pine needles. It is only about 4 feet tall and same width, so for me is not in the least columnar, and also very slow growing.

Donna

Have you located a retail source for Crimson Spire here in Illinois? Mine died and I'd like to replace it, but I need a fairly small one because I can't dig a big hole where it's going.

There are several fastigiate beech, like the Dawyck cultivar group, and other fastigiate oaks too, like Regal Prince, Windcandle, Heritage, Chimney Fire, and our new release Birthday Candle (not yet on the market) as well as the original Q.robur 'Fastigiata'. You can see photos of most of them via the links on our web site, but some might not be available where you shop.

Guy S.

Gardenvisionnursery (has web site with the same name) will be placing a large order for Spring trees from Schmidt in the near future and they seemed like they could get this tree and others for me as long as I get it on the order in time. No idea what price or size yet.
I didn't commit so I don't know for sure until I tell them and they make the call for their order (They said I had a couple weeks to get back them). It's possible Schmidt may not have them - but I doubt that.
I'll probably visit them next Friday with my order. I'm also leaning a bit toward the fastigate Tulip tree.
Beavercreeknursery.com says they carry them - near Rockford.

Why did your oak die? Why would you want the same tree that died on you?
Jim

It died from transplant shock during the drought last year. And the replacement has to be inserted into a planting bed that I don't want to disturb any more than necessary, thus the small size requirement. I don't know if they do containers, but a 5-gallon or less would work for me. If so, could we combine on an order?
Guy S.

Donna,

I've got to believe that at some point your Korean Mtn Ash will start to spread out. Mine is about 12' x 4', and they definitely upright and narrow when young. However, most referances list width at 20'-30', and the few mature specimens I've seen were probably 15'-20' wide. Has yours flowered yet?

Bob

Ginkgo 'Tremonia'
Ginkgo 'Fastigiata'
Metasequoia 'Waasland'
Metasequoia 'Sheridan Spire'
Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata'

I was surprised by the form mentioned for Sorbus alnifolia also. I've only seen one (relatively) mature plant. It is pictured here. As you can see it is rather upright but not especially columnar. I wonder if it is a juvenile thing, or if the species is highly variable in form.

Scott

This message was edited Aug 27, 2006 7:15 PM

Here is a photo of one of my two fastigate Sorbus alnifolia trees. They both bloomed at an early age and have lots of fruits, which the birds don't care for, but the berries are quite small. They will probably grow wider as they age, but now as you can see tall and narrow.

Donna

Ours (seed grown) could be a larger twin of Decrepit's -- I've never seen the fastigiate form before. Where did you find it? Cultivar name?

Guy S.

Donna,

I can see why you mentioned S. alnifolia as a columnar/fastigiate tree. Here's a pic of mine, which has yet to flower.

I remember seeing an old one at Ridge Road Nursery--It was not in the least bit fastigiate, and it was covered in rather large fruit(1/2" at least). There is an upright form, but I can't recall seeing it for sale.

I got both of my Sorbus alnifolia, Korean Mtn. Ash, from Forest Farm, several years ago. One is 9 years and the other 11 years. They have lots of small 1/4 inch or so fruits, that turn color in late fall.

Here is another photo, of the 2nd Sorbus.

Donna

If you want large there is the Lombardy poplar
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PONI

Smaller there is the Yew Taxus 'Beanpole' and the Holly Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil'. They grow to 9' x 1'.