Tuesday, October 11, 2011

I’ve got Styrax envy…

It’s true, I do. Why? We inherited two Styrax japonicus in our hell-strip. I’ve blogged about what mess makers they are dropping flowers in slippery drifts, fruit that performs like marbles on the sidewalk and a form that has people (on the sidewalk) and cars (trying to park) fighting with the branches. They would be fine trees….someplace else, not in a hell-strip! (do you hear that Friends of Trees?) But just around the corner from us are three attractive Styrax obassia (thank you Lauren for the proper i.d.). These appear to be destined to grow in a manner which doesn’t impede sidewalk traffic. Their leaves are bigger (= better in my book) And their fruit (Berries? Seeds?) hang in a most attractive grape like cluster! Not only are they gorgeous but if you wanted to save yourself the trouble of cleaning them up it would be so easy to just clip them off! Unlike the everywhere growth of the fruit (Berries? Seeds?) or our trees. So yes I’ve got Styrax envy…

11 comments:

  1. Cool tree! I love how the berries hang off the tree. It looks compact as well.

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  2. You do wonder what people were thinking when they plant trees in awkward places.

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  3. The city has a list of trees recommended as street trees. I always assumed that included research into the suitability of growth patterns, etc. Silly me.

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  4. Interesting how a species can make such a huge difference. Don't tell anybody this but I worked at a nursery years ago and the owner didn't understand the genus/species principle. Can you imagine? Your scenario is the reason we need a little bit of botanical Latin under our belts.

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  5. S. obassia flowers have a heavenly fragrance.

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  6. I'll tell you the story I always tell about the lady who went into an Austin nursery to by a Bird of Paradise bush. She wanted the Hawaiian one- she got the Texas one. Know your latin names before you buy.

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  7. Most city's street tree lists are created by city foresters, not all of whom are super-knowledgeable about all the tree options out there. They also need to work with the big nurseries that are growing the trees en masse, so you'll rarely find very adventurous plants on the list. They are getting better year by year, though!

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  8. I remember your post about it a few months ago. But that Styrax does look special with its big leaves (up my sleeve!). I'll have to look it up next time we're back in Cornwall as there's a nursery there that stocks different types of Styrax :)

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  9. Roherbot, I will enjoy watching to see how it grows, if it spreads out at all.

    Darla, yes! (don't look in my back garden, where a banana and loquat are both too close to the house).

    ricki, see Kate's comment below.

    Grace, seriously?! (I won't tell anyone)

    Les, actually so do mine (the styrax japonica), I won't complain about that.

    Lancashire Rose, couldn't she tell the difference just looking at it? Even not in bloom I mean...they look nothing alike! (and I prefer the Texas variety...assuming it's the same as the one in Arizona?)

    kate, progress is good.

    Mark and Gaz, big leaves rock!

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  10. OMG those are some gorgeous seeds. So, where are these located? That's "public" space I can "walk" by right? No one will EVER notice...

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  11. Thank you! I was googling Styrax berries specifically to see if my FoT selections would make a mess. You've saved this this block of North Portland from a Styrax mess!

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