Sunday, November 21, 2010

Prince Rupert's environment is great for the native Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata), Silver Fir (Abies amabilis), Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis), and Red Alder (Alnus rubra) plus several Eurasian species with Norway and Sycamore Maples (Acer platanoides, A. pseudoplatanus) among the most prominent, but it can be challenging for other non-native trees despite its mild winters. The growing season is fairly long, but dull and cool with July means struggling to reach 13C/55F. Exotics from bright or warm-summer areas are exceedingly scarce but there are a few successful plantings as shown below.

Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum).

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Red Maple (Acer rubrum).

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English Oak (Quercus robur).

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Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), slow to leaf out in this climate. At its leafy best in late summer and early fall -- see September 2009.

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Deodar (Cedrus deodara). Looks healthy in the 2009 picture but not in 2012. Succeeds in Ushuaia, Argentina, which is cooler and probably windier but not as wet. The sharpest possible drainage may be necessary for this species in P.R.

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Monkey Puzzle (Araucaria araucana).
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Common Horsechestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum).
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