This fall I made a difficult decision to cut down two trees that framed the view from the house into the back of the yard. Now I have an opportunity to plant in the space left behind by a crab apple, Malus ‘Donald Wyman,’ that I picked out soon after we moved into the house in 1985. It stood next to our tallest tree, a towering red oak. As you’d predict, that oak proved to be its greatest challenge.
The crab apple did bloom, more than I had a right to expect after planting it in part shade. It made lovely red buds that opened to white flowers with a delicate apple blossom scent. It produced small red fruits for the squirrels and birds. But over the years, reaching for the sun deformed its shape. Despite annual pruning efforts, it stretched its branches away from the oak. I couldn’t face another winter of being reproached by the misshapen leafless form of this tree.
Leaning redbud and twisted crab apple flank the path
The other tree we cut down was a lovely white-flowering redbud, Cercis canadensis f. alba planted under a tall white pine. It had the same malady as the crab apple. Its shape as it reached for sunlight was uncomfortable to view.
After a wrenching day when the two old friends were reduced to wood chips, I felt vindicated by the new vista. Instead of viewing the back of the yard through a small opening, we could now see all our trees and enjoy their contrasting textures.
The new view, November
We’re left to decide what to plant in the open space where the crab apple used to stand.
The goose marks the empty spot
There are numerous criteria. We want something that flowers in spring, so it needs to harmonize with the pink blooms of a nearby ornamental plum. I’d like to choose a New England native, or at least something that’ll be native here soon as the climate warms. I’m looking for a sizeable shrub or a multi-stemmed tree that I can prune myself, so it shouldn’t grow too tall. And it would be nice if it produced fruit to feed local wildlife. It’ll get morning sun but have to cope with the shade of the oak for the rest of the day. A lot of the native shrubs that appeal to me are happiest in a moist location, but they won’t get much moisture in the crab apple’s spot.
Here are some ideas:
• Red and black chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia or melanocarpa) produce small white flowers and attract birds with their red or black fruits
Red chokeberry 'Brilliantissima'
• American cranberrybush (Viburnum trilobum) has elegant white flowers and red fruit in fall
American cranberrybush
• Coastal serviceberry (Amelanchier obovalis) blooms early and attracts birds with its fruit
Coastal serviceberry
• Red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) has bright red stems that stand out in winter
Red osier dogwood
• Pink shell and roseshell azalea (Rhododendron vaseyi or pinophylllum) have early pink flowers
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| Pink shell azalea |
• Pussy willow (Salix discolor) produces pollen when it’s most needed in early spring
Pussy willow-photo Thomas Kent
Which will it be? There’s a long winter ahead for considering the choice.
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