Help Me Pick a Tree & Some Plants!

[Ro_Laren]

My city is having a free tree / plant giveaway and I need help choosing what to pick out. My goal is to pick a tree that will grow the quickest and will offer the most shade coverage. In the past, my city has also given away “plants” that also get really big and bushy: I’d like to pick one or two of those again. I’m hoping to find a way to block out my view of the road behind my house.

Please look at the list below and give me your suggestions (labelling your first to last choice in case my first choice is unavailable):

Trees:

Wild Tamarind
Silver Buttonwood
Willow Bustic
Mango
Purple Tabebuia
Lancepod
Paradise Tree
Mulberry Tree

Plants:

Beautyberry
Butterfly Bush
Firebush
Simpson’s Stopper
Bahama Cassia
Yellow Elder
Pentas
Milkweed
Dune Sunflower
Coreopsis

Thanks for your help!!

 

[bbailey861]

Go for whatever tree you like aesthetically. For the bush, I'd say go with milkweed. Monarch butterflies need all the help they can get. We'll be planting some in our garden this year. They were considered a 'noxious weed' until recently. That due, I believe, mainly because of the Monarch problem. Good luck.

 

[Ro_Laren]

Go for whatever tree you like aesthetically. For the bush, I'd say go with milkweed. Monarch butterflies need all the help they can get. We'll be planting some in our garden this year. They were considered a 'noxious weed' until recently. That due, I believe, mainly because of the Monarch problem. Good luck.

To be honest, aesthetics are only a secondary concern for me. I really just want some free trees and plants to block my view of the road behind my house!

 

[selina]

I would pick the mango or mulberry tree. Those trees can get pretty big and bushy. You might even be able to harvest some fruits.

 

[Ro_Laren]

I would pick the mango or mulberry tree. Those trees can get pretty big and bushy. You might even be able to harvest some fruits.

Thanks! Do those trees grow well in partial shade?

What plants do you recommend? I've gotten some plants in the past that ended up growing big and bushy. Do you know if any of the plants on my list can grow that big?

 

[Venardhi]

All but the last few on your list will get pretty big if you let them. Do a quick image search to get an idea of how big and what they look like once they fill out. It is a pretty nice set of options actually.

 

[selina]

I only know the dune sunflower, coreopsis and the yellow elder plants from your list. While the sunflowers and the coreopsis' have nice blossoms and look really pretty, they don't grow that high. However, the yellow elder one is a trumpetbush, which can grow up to 6 meters (= 19 feet, if I converted it right). My mother had one of those. It attracts butterflys, too.

You might also consider the milkweed plant. Personally, I don't have experience with it, but I just googled it and it might be suitable for your purpose.

EDIT: I found some links about the mulberry and mango trees that migt be helpful.

http://www.readersdigest.com.au/how-to-grow-mulberries

http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-mangoes.html

 

[Ro_Laren]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions! I had forgot to mention earlier that I might end up planting the tree and bushes in areas that are partially shady. I'll have to do more research on these trees / plants.