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Does anyone know of a eastern tree, suitable for zone 6, that has an interesting winter silhouette? Also, if you I’d pick the American sycamore over the London plane tree–this is a native plant forum after all. I also like beech in the winter, holding onto some of its leaves and backlit by the sun. I think that kind of look would require some intentional creative pruning to get branches to grow at odd angles but I don’t know what kind of trees that would work best on. I’m a fan of London Planetrees since native sycamores are apparently disease prone. I will check out the silhouettes of the shagbark Hickory and the mulberry.

Winter Silhouette

I like the look of a black gum a few streets over, but I want to make sure that I do’t over-look any other, possibly nicer ones, as this will probably be the last tree I ever plant. We have a Japanese Maple between our house and sidewalk that I’ve had to prune a lot to keep in bounds and it’s made the tree more interesting and very pretty. They have peeling bark but not the “craggy branched Halloween look” like you mentioned. They’re relatively fast growing but ours fared better than most of our other trees in the record ice storm that we had in 07. However, it suckers a lot and will form a grove, which you might not want. Not to mention, interesting shaped leaves, aromatic foliage and stems, nice fall color, and host plant to very cool caterpillars of the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly.

If you’re young, you may live to see the tree achieve a decent size, otherwise, you’re planting for future generations. What are the conditions (sun/type of soil/moisture level, pH…) the tree will be growing in? Does it matter if the bark is interesting? Are you looking for a tree that will get large?

Shagbark hickory would top my list for winter appeal. Both have stunning form (I prefer single-stem on both counts) and the Redbud has breath-taking tiny pink flowers along its branches in the Spring. Eastern Rebud and Pagoda Dogwood are two of my favorite trees.

• The ones I have are not native but there is a native mulberry, Morus rubra that I would expect to be shaped similarly as a mature tree.
• Now years later I’d call them mature.
• But it has an amazing and intriguing mature form, plus it has really cool, elephantine bark and the leaves are gorgeous Summer AND Fall.
• Great question…and a lot of great responses.
• The shrubby red osier dogwoods have color appeal in winter.
• Fatamorgana — I have 2 red osier and a ‘Winter King’ hawthorn.
• The shaggy bark does only come with age, however.

Winter Silhouette

• Also, if you I’d pick the American sycamore over the London plane tree–this is a native plant forum after all.
• Not to mention, interesting shaped leaves, aromatic foliage and stems, nice fall color, and host plant to very cool caterpillars of the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly.
• I like the look of a black gum a few streets over, but I want to make sure that I do’t over-look any other, possibly nicer ones, as this will probably be the last tree I ever plant.
• However, it suckers a lot and will form a grove, which you might not want.
• For a smaller tree, Sassafras albidum has a striking winter silhouette.
• Both have stunning form (I prefer single-stem on both counts) and the Redbud has breath-taking tiny pink flowers along its branches in the Spring.

They are not only beautiful in all seasons, they also provide berries for wildlife (at least the female ones do). Now years later I’d call them mature. I remember a picture of my sister beside the tree and in only about five years it was (relatively) huge. I just feel the need to “defend” the black gum. Great question…and a lot of great responses. That would help a lot for making species recommendations.

Winter Silhouette

Here’s a thread in the Bonsai forum that has links. Lol I know you’re wanting something larger but perhaps it will work with another tree. Maybe the Bonsai forum would have some suggestions. Do search for Carpinus caroliniana; somehow I always forget about this tree! (The Beech will be too wide.)Thanks, everyone.

Winter Silhouette

However the drawback of a large tree is that it will be years before it reaches a mature form. I agree that Cornus alternifolia, pagoda dogwood, has a beautiful form as it grows branches in horizontal layers. How about a nice form 1040ez definition little grouping of River or Paper Birch, which are beautiful in every season, especially against the snow in winter? Serviceberry and hawthorn (some species) are also native with pleasing shapes that flower and produce fruits. How do you define “interesting winter silhouette”?

Winter Silhouette

I like the idea of a craggy-branched, Halloween look.Terrene — I’ll check out the Yellowwood and Sassafras, too. Fatamorgana — I have 2 red osier and a ‘Winter King’ hawthorn. Mine bloomed and made fruits for the first time this year, and many birds enjoy the pretty blue berries. Windy, interesting trunks and branches. The shrubby red osier dogwoods have color appeal in winter. The shaggy bark does only come with age, however.

For a large tree, American Beech and Yellowwood both have beautiful smooth grey bark when mature, and even when large seem to have delicate branches. But it has an amazing and intriguing mature form, plus it has really cool, elephantine bark and the leaves are gorgeous Summer AND Fall. For a smaller tree, Sassafras albidum has a striking winter silhouette. The ones https://tax-tips.org/form-1040ez-definition/ I have are not native but there is a native mulberry, Morus rubra that I would expect to be shaped similarly as a mature tree. They are our “Halloween” trees with very craggy branches and shapes.