“Can you recommend a tree that is not messy?”
by José Fernández
“Can you recommend a tree that is not messy? One that will not drop fruit, or twigs, or stuff all over the place.” This is perhaps the request I run into the most when someone wants advice on what trees to plant. The first time I heard this one I had to fight the urge to smile and reply that yes, there are trees like that which also happen to be disease-free, not attacked by any pest, grow quickly (instantly, in fact) to the desired size, shape, and color you want them to be and never need to be pruned. The only maintenance required is a yearly power washing to make them as good as new. But I chose to leave that reply unspoken. Sometimes my attempt at harmless humor or a friendly jab in the ribs does not go over well. Of course, dear readers, now I am wondering how many of you are wondering what kind of tree I was thinking of, and where can one be acquired? I will leave that response for another day. In this installment I would like to highlight a different type of tree for you.
I realized this week that there is one shade tree that almost, just almost, fits the bill for being a non-messy tree, with a few caveats. For those who want to know immediately which tree I am thinking of, skip right down to somewhere near the bottom and find the answer. For those who want to test their ability to identify trees, see how many clues are needed before you figure it out… [Some of the following points may be trick statements, designed to point you the wrong way! Read carefully.]
In prehistory, this tree was native to North America. In more recent history, this tree is considered to be native to somewhere on the other side of the world.
Like most conifers, this tree is a gymnosperm.
Some consider the fruit to be edible, and other plant parts are touted to help with hearing disorders. (Is that right? I’m not sure… perhaps if I took more of this herbal remedy I would remember).
Fruit? Yes, if the tree is female. So definitely make sure you source a male cultivar to stay with the non-messy design requirement. Otherwise this tree will eventually produce loads and loads of fruit, and based on the odor of the fruit alone, you probably would not consider it to be edible in any way. (Actually, I think the nut inside is the edible part. I don’t know many people with the fortitude of character required to get to the nut. Most people downwind of the fallen fruit quickly walk the other way, or cross to the other side of the street).
As other trees who are the only members of their genus, this tree has no pests or diseases of any importance.
This tree has a beautiful bright yellow fall color, and is known for dropping all its leaves at once, making leaf cleanup a one-time event.
I recently read an article in Arborist News about these trees. There are very old individuals in China that are visited each year by crowds of people who want to witness the annual leaf fall. Apparently certain trees will drop their leaves on a predictable schedule and people like being a part of that. As I read the article I reflected that I have seen recently fallen leaves under this species, but have never witnessed the sudden leaf drop, nor did I know this happened. When the leaves do fall, there is a soft carpet of bright yellow completely under the tree – this I had seen several times.
This fall I was in a Columbus neighborhood to inspect a nice large Oak tree in the client’s back yard. As I pulled up, I noted a mature Ginkgo planted in the neighbor’s front yard. Lo and behold, it had started dropping leaves that morning of November 8, and was steadily raining leaves. There was a light breeze, so the yellow carpet was stretching into and down the street, and I found myself feeling as if I had received an unexpected gift. I watched the leaves falling for a minute or two, then carried on with my business. The entire time I was in my client’s back yard I could hear the steady soft murmur of falling leaves, and I would walk over to take a peek to see if the stream of leaves changed in any way. The rate of leaf fall remained steady, with increasing waves when the breeze picked up. As the breeze died down, the leaves continued to fall more slowly, making a sound like quiet rain, but with a more distinct, feathery quality. I could see how this would truly be a unique experience, to be somewhere in rural China under an ancient Maidenhair Tree (another name for Ginkgo) watching the leaves fall steadily until the tree remained bare for the winter.
I walked back to my truck and watched the tree some more. I wanted to stay to see if what I had read was true. Would the leaves really all fall off? Some toward the bottom still looked like they had not fully turned yellow yet and I wondered if they would come down too, or wait until later. The morning was beautiful, cold, crisp and clear like they rarely are in fall/winter in Ohio, and I wanted to soak it in. The leaves continued to fall. Thinking back now I am reminded of a poem called Spring Dreams by Li Po (if I recall correctly) that stuck with me after reading it years ago. Different season, but possibly the same sentiment:
In the spring I dream through dawn, but hear birds everywhere, singing.
Oh voice of all night wind and rain, do you count the petals that are falling?
Ginkgo biloba
This time I needed to move on, so after a few more moments I got back in my truck thinking I should drive by later to see if the tree had shed all its clothing, or if it would wait demurely until a bit later. I did not make it back that day, and haven’t yet, but I do want to return next year to see if it is on schedule.
As we head toward the end of the year, deeper into winter, I hope this fall memory and this tree will remind you all that the continuing cycle of seasons is assured to us. Maidenhair leaves turn a brilliant yellow, as if giving us one last memory of the summer sun, then are shed voluntarily at their proper time to make way for new growth next season. Life pulses steadily in rhythms that change in color, temperature, and tempo, but the measure carries on. We have much to be thankful for.
Wishing you the best as the end of the year approaches,
José Fernández | Regional Manager, Russell Tree Experts
José became an ISA Certified Arborist® in 2004, and a Board-Certified Master Arborist® in 2015. Currently he is enrolled at The Ohio State University pursuing a Master’s Degree in Plant Health Management. José likes working around trees because he is still filled with wonder every time he walks in the woods. José has worked at Russell Tree Experts since 2012.