Small Trees for summer shade

[AndyC]

I would like a small tree for a sunny place where I would like it to provide dappled shade for under-story planting during the summer months. I love my Aralia elata but that is growing too tall to provide much shade. My soil is free draining which suits the Aralia so some other species of Aralia might be what I need. Is Aralia cachemirica worthy of garden space or can you recommend something more suitable. Thanks

[Paul S]

Aralia cachemirica is a herbaceous perennial, albeit a large one, so not ideal. How tall do you want?

One issue will be that something that is eventualy small will take a long time to get there and not do the job in the meanwhile. Maybe consider something large but that can be pollarded annually - especially if it is only to provide shade in summer, once growth is underway. That way you get full sun in early spring whilst the new growth is growing which would help the understorey. And from that point the world is at your feet as there are squillions of suitable plants from, say, Aesculus chinensis to Zanthoxylum ailanthoides. Added bonus is that generally (and especially these two) the new growth is vigorous and extra large. That just leaves you to choose the leaf shape you want. Off the top of my head that could include figs ('Ice Crystal' here makes 5ft of new growth a year, cut back to a framework), Catalpa, Toona sincensis, Paulownia, Alangium platanoides, Liriodendron, Carya, Buddleja that flower on current season's growth, Manihot grahamii should you be lucky enough to find one.

Or.

A deciduous or herbaceous climber trained over a framework made to the size you want. This is Charlie's territory.

[AndyC]

Doh! :oops:
I've got a Manihot grahamii and didn't think of using that.
Thanks for the suggestions
I already have a young Catalpa bignoniodes (that will be pollarded annually) and Paulownia tomentosa (that has been pollarded for the second time this year) elsewhere in the garden. I find that the Paulownia tends to suck all the available moisture out of the surrounding area, even winning competition from a bamboo.

[Chad]

Your garden is hotter than mine in summer, but I have trouble with a lack of summer heat on Catalpa and Albizia and I would guess Carya.

It is a pity, otherwise I would suggest Albizia 'Summer Chocolate'.

In the open garden Manihot never got tall enough to give shade. It does in the tunnel, so again I suspect it is summer heat that is needed.

Chad

[kGarden]

There are some Manihot grahamii on eBay (3 days left). I happened to stumble over them looking for a Wollemi Pine

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/grasstrees/m ... 3982974250

Description says its a teacher at a Primary School, so either raising funds ... or using slave/child labour!