New tree variety for Feilding

A NEW variety of tree to New Zealand will replace the 120 ageing claret ash’s removed from the median strip down Kimbolton Road, Feilding.

An American selection of ash (fraxinus pennsylvanica cimmzam cimmaron) has been imported from Victoria, Australia, and after being tended by Plantworks in Palmerston North is now ready for planting.

The newcomers are expected to bring the “wow” factor of autumnal colours back to Kimbolton Road after the 40 year-old claret ash trees began to falter during the past decade.

Plantworks’ owner, Laurie Currie, believed the new variety was the only one of its type in New Zealand and had spent a year in quarantine after being imported in 2007.

“It’s a robust, low maintenance tree with an excellent branch structure,” he said. “It makes a superb shade tree and is suited to commercial, residential, park and street planting.”

He said the trees grew to a height of 13 metres and its dark green leaves turned deep burgundy and fiery brick red in the autumn.

Parks and Reserves Manager, Albert James, said the new trees would certainly make a difference and once they had been removed from their pots would shoot away quickly and “do their thing”.

He was heartened by public reaction to the removal of the claret ash’s, with people realising that council had tried hard over the past 10 years to save the dying trees.

“The removal was done quickly and efficiently, with little disruption to motorists, and most of the wood has been recycled.”

Once contractors have finished the clean-up, including the stump grinding, a replanting programme involving the red ash will begin.