QUICK! Need a recomendation for a tree which

will grow quickly, but the roots must grow down, and not crack the concrete as it will be planted next to a concrete patio. Hardy to zone 8, deciduous. Please help!

Need advice quickly as my friend has asked me for help. The contractor building her new patio damaged the mature birch tree sited next to where the patio is being installed. She is having an arborist come out and look the tree over tomorrow, but she fears he will pronounce it DOA. She thinks she will have to plant a replacement soooo....

What do y'all recommend? She lives in zone 8, near Tacoma Washington.

TIA for any help and suggestions!

Kim

Do y'all think the Katsura tree would meet these requirements?

I think the Katsura tree is perfect! There is a few trees just down the street from me that are in a 2' planter that is a about 40' long and they look great. It is an excellent tree in the Pacific Northwest - check out an earlier discussion: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/712798/

Concrete patios have a way of cracking, whatever trees you plant . . . or even no trees at all. It is one of the most brittle substances going. So don't be surprised when it does!

Resin

Thanks to everyone for the thoughtful input. Does anyone have experience with the Black Hawthorn (Crataegus douglasii) tree? Would you plant it right next to a concrete patio? Another requirement I forgot to mention--the tree can't be poisonous or have any fruits, leaves, etc., which are poisonous, because my friend has several cats who will be hanging out on the patio....

Kim

Black Hawthorn should be OK, no more or less liable to crack the concrete than any other small tree. The fruit is not poisonous. Looking at its distribution though ( http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CRDO2 ), it might not be well adapted to WV's climate, there are WV-native hawthorns that will do better, such as Washington Hawthorn ( http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CRPH ).

Resin

Edit: Ooops! Forgot this!

My experience with Hawthorn, while line the street I live on, is that they have quite a bit of debris - flower, seed, leaves and they aren't my favourite for a close setting like a patio.

Golden Raintree (Koelreuteria paniculata)--does anyone have any experience with this one? Would you recommend it for where my friends wants to plant it (next to a concrete patio)?

Again, debris - drops its seed pods all over the place and seedlings will pop up between the pavers.

How about this Cornus kousa 'Satomi' that I took a picture of the other day. This is in a patio area at the entrance to VanDusen Botanical Garden

a close-up.

Thank you everyone for all the responses. I've passed all the recommendations--pro and cons on each--along to my friend. She hasn't made a final decision yet, but she appreciates all the input. I think if it were me, I'd go for the Cornus kousa--but it's her choice. I may have to look up that Satomi and see if it will do well in my zone...I need a tree for my front yard (full sun) that I can keep low enough to avoid the power lines. Thanks everyone!

Kim