Need suggestion for small hardy ornamental trees

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mwhit Tiffin, OH(Zone 6a) Jan 21, 2011

In order to comply with flight safety rules the hospital where I work needs to cut down four full size deciduous trees on a boulevard that is near the heli-pad.
The head of maintenance/groundskeeping asked me to suggest something to replace them that wouldn't require a lot of upkeep. I'm thinking something bred to remain less than 15 feet tall (more or less), with some decorative features. Something that doesn't drop a lot of fruit or require a lot of pruning would be nice. We are located in zone5.
I know Eric Draper of OSU Extension has developed some really good crabapple trees that are not as prone to apple scab and other diseases that used to ruin the look of those older cultivars by mid-summer.
I am interested in hearing about your experiences with any small ornamental trees to meet these requirements. Thanks for any suggestions,MW

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ViburnumValley Scott County, KY(Zone 5b) Jan 21, 2011

Take a look at PlantFiles under crabapples. Your town is northern OH, I think, and the late Father John Fiala produced an incredible array of wonderful diminutive crabapples that are absolutely disease free and have the full range of flower colors and fruit colors - not to mention varying habits from upright through round, pendulous, and weeping.

You couldn't miss (with one of these) if you tried...

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Resin Northumberland, United Kingdom(Zone 9a) Jan 22, 2011

Or move the helipad ;-)

Resin

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duck_toller Middleton, WI(Zone 4b) Jan 23, 2011

Try these species. Hardy to zone 4 and they stay small. http://www.songsparrow.com/2011/plantlist.cfm?type=WOODY,&startrow=1&pageType=plantlist&subtype=junior,

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HoosierGreen Danville, IN Jan 24, 2011

The newer crabapples can't be beat for multi-season attractiveness, but the ornamental flowering cherries are a close second. 'Kwanzan' (Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan)') and the smaller cultivars of Yoshino Cherry are excellent, with a longer flowering display than crabapples and attractive form and bark. Also consider the burgundy-leafed cultivars of redbud.

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mwhit Tiffin, OH(Zone 6a) Jan 26, 2011

Thanks for the good ideas - I will present them to the groundskeeper. I hate to see trees cut down-but at least they are willing to look at replacements!!! MW

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