Zone 8b/9a coastal BC, Canada. Typically mild, wet winters, sometimes a freeze or a bit of snow. Summers used to be mild too, but are getting hotter and
dryer thanks to climate change.
I have a small property (1/4 acre including house and everything else.) I am primarily interested in producing food. I have limited space for
trees, especially trees that get really big. However, some "big" trees produce food and are amendable to coppicing, so I have decided to include a coppice block. That way I can still grow them for food, while managing their size for my small lot (and so they don't shade my smaller fruit trees and garden beds out the way a 30'+ tree would) and for ease of harvesting.
I know I want Toona Sinensis (Chinese Toon), I am also considering Tilia Cordata (Little-Leaf Linden) and some type of Redbud (Cercis Canadensis or Siliquastrum maybe)... I would love to include say Aralia Elata (Japanese Angelica) but I haven't seen anywhere if it is okay to coppice it. It has a tendency to sucker, so maybe it could work? If not for the Aralias I might just stick to Aralia Cordata. If anyone has
experience with Aralia Elata (or Chinensis or Spinosa...) please let me know!
Does anyone have any other suggestions for edible trees that might suit a coppice block for me to consider?
1
