Fast and Hard describes our unique collection of Native New Mexico Oaks. There are several varieties of fast-growing hardwood oaks ideally suited as shade and specimen trees. Fast growing natives include: Gray Oak, Chisos Red Oak, Chinquapin Oak, and the New Mexico Live Oak. Under ideal conditions they can grow up to 4 feet per year but after establishment can be grown with much less water than other shade trees like cottonwoods, ash, and sycamores. The Gray Oak and New Mexico Live Oak are evergreen, meaning they hold their leaves through the winter. The Chisos Red Oak has brilliant red-maroon fall leaf color. Oaks have deep root systems so can be planted closer to structures than most other shade trees. Contact Trees That Please Nursery and ask for a copy of the oak trees we propagate.
The Shantung Maple ( Acer truncatum ) is also known as the Purple Blow Maple due to the color of its newly emerging leaves which are red-purple (see photo below). These young expanding red-purple leaves change to green as they mature. Leaves are small, about the size of Japanese Red Maple leaves, perhaps 3’-4’ wide at maturity. The Shantung Maple grows 1′-2′ annually reaching 25″ tall and wide. This is our tree for all planting situations. This Maple does well in heavy clay, sandy soils, full sun, or part shade. It can be planted in a lawn or next to a hot asphalt street (see photo below). It seemingly is a happy tree enjoying life wherever it is placed. One place we would not recommend planting this tree is in a rockscape which is just too hot and inhospitable to support this beautiful tree. A smaller tree, the Shantung Ma...
Comments
Seriously, great tree suggestions. I'm looking forward to seeing how fast your Gray Oak plants grow near Old Town in a design.