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Friday, May 30, 2014

Those in California Considering CA Native Trees for Urban Landscape Needs by Patrick P. Pizzo

This is the attempt of a CA Native Plant enthusiast to list CA Native Trees that should be considered by the California urban homeowners for use in their landscape and/or park-strips. Justification for their use is that they have adapted to the Mediterranean conditions unique to California: hot summers followed by moderately wet winters. Native trees provide habitat for wildlife, birds and insects. The following are only suggestions. For more comprehensive selection and detailed descriptions, the following source is recommended:

Trees and Shrubs of California by John D. Stuart and John O. Sawyer

One other caution: factor in the historically significant, dry-CA climate. It is a fact that weather conditions since European entry into our State (since about 1740) has been unusually wet. The long-term outlook is for a dry California (ref: Lynn Ingram and Frances Malamud-Roam, The West Without Water). We are currently aware of water restrictions and drought conditions, another reason for selecting CA native trees!

You may ask yourself ‘why doesn’t the author name the toyon, or the blue oak, as example?’ ‘Why no willow trees (except Desert Willow)?’ I will limit this list to trees I would generally recommend and not get into the reasons for one or other CA native trees not to be included on the list.

There is a photo album at the end of this document. The photos are all from the Internet and there is an URL reference for each.

Conifers

There are only two conifers I will include in this list and refer the reader to the Stuart and Sawyer reference, if junipers, pines and cypress are under consideration. The two conifers are:

a- The Redwood, Sequoia sempervirens

I list this because so many people do try this tree, often in inappropriate situations. It is just not a hot and dry loving tree! If you live in a coastal environment, where fog is not all that uncommon, it is a terrific tree. Seasonal rainfall of less than 16 inches is just not adequate. A redwood in this situation will need supplemental water and it may do okay, but may never be a fully happy tree.

As an example of inappropriate use, Redwood trees were planted along HWY 17 north of Los Gatos some 50 years ago and they do not receive supplemental water. They look pathetic! On the other hand, not too far from this location, in a public park (similar rainfall but turf irrigation), 30 year-old Redwoods prosper! So the bottom line is make sure the Redwood you plant will have adequate space and moisture.

b- California Nutmeg, Torreya californica

This tree is probably underused in California and one reason is limited availability. However, this is an outstanding tree. It will range in height from about 20 to 90 foot tall, a rather broad range. It is an evergreen, produces an olive shaped fruit and its growth form is erect and single trunk. The stiff, linear leaves have a sharp, sharp tip. The tree is slow growing and long lived! Similar to the madrone, these trees may start in the understory (shade) and work their way to ‘full sun”. If you have the patience, this is a native tree to consider.

Broadleaved Trees

c- Vine Maple, Acer circinatum

This is a multi-trunked, small tree that likes the shade. It is said that they grow to 35 foot; but I think, in urban settings, the mature height would be more like 25 foot. They will require landscape irrigation. The Vine Maple would like conditions similar to that of a Japanese maple; not nearly as pretty, more scrawny, but nevertheless, a small tree to consider.

d- Bigleaf Maple, Acer macrophyllum

This maple can grow to 100 foot; but more realistic, 65 foot and it will take a while to get there. Many are familiar with the London Plane Tree (Platanus occidentalis); kind of ubiquitous in California landscape? The Bigleaf Maple tree may be considered a CA native substitute for the Plane Tree. About the same growth form and habit. One must stake the tree well to get a good start and single trunk growth habit. These trees will do well in an irrigated turf situation, if there is a ‘circle of protection’ about the base of the tree. Deciduous as is the plane tree. Big leaves, easy to rake!

e- California Buckeye, Aesculus californica

Most Californians are familiar with this tree. It is deciduous and shuts down in early summer (sometimes late spring). However it is one of the first to sprout leaves. Provides a major inflorescence display in the spring. In the winter, the fruit, pear shaped, pendant, and about 1-1/2 inch in diameter, hang from the leafless branches like Christmas ornaments (or whatever is politically correct). The buckeye can be grown as a single trunk, but is most often, multi-trunk with branches emanating low, from the base of the tree. It has its place in urban landscapes and gardens. Water to establish (three years); but then, they may be left to their own. Don’t use the Buckeye in a park-strip situation. It is short too long and the canopy too broad.

f- White Alder, Alnus rhombifolia

Riparian loving tree so irrigation is a requirement. Fast growing and mature height around 50 foot. The Alder will have much leaf-drop, catkins and cones and the associated spring pollen-drift. Too, it is not long-lived. But if one wants light in the winter (the tree is deciduous) and good shade in the summer, this is not a bad choice. The tree does require routine maintenance though out the year.

g- Pacific Madrone, Arbutus menziesii

The Pacific Madrone is a lovely tree; but oh, what a difficult one to grow successfully in an urban, CA garden. It can be done. In the forest, it grows in the understory where temperatures are cool and there is filtered sun. With time, it will rise above the understory and thrive in full sun. It is recommended you use wooden lattice or careful selection of the planting site to simulate these conditions. Don’t mess with the roots when you remove the young tree from the nursery container. They like crowded roots. Go easy on the water. You will need to wean a madrone sapling form initial irrigation sooner than most trees. That is, do not continue to routine water after the first, full year in the ground. Water every 10 days or so the first full year; but every two weeks after mid-July.

Now I recommend something blasphemous: consider as an alternative planting an Arbutus ‘Marina’, a Marina Madrone! It is a cross between Arbutus unedo, the Strawberry Tree and the Arbutus menziesii, the CA Madrone. Don’t go planting this tree near the urban/wild interface; but in the middle of the urban jungle, no problem. It is so much more available in nurseries and it is easier to grow. Pretty drought tolerant once established.

h- Arctostaphylos 'Dr. Hurd', the Dr. Hurd Manzanita

The manzanita is a well loved and drought tolerant CA native shrub. But the Dr. Hurd manzanita happens to be the tallest of the manzanita and can grow to 15-foot height. It is multi-branched evergreen that will work well in the home garden, as long as there is neither turf nor irrigation in and around this small tree. It will take a while to grow to maturity. But this is an excellent selection for a choice spot in any California landscape. Keep it out of a park-strip however, as the canopy will grow too wide and this is, after all, more of a shrub than a tree!

i- Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’

Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’ can be grown as a small tree, single trunk or multi-trunk. Personally, I think the single trunk approach only works in special situations. After all, this tree will a-long-time be too short to have a walk-under canopy! Its application would much be the same as item ‘h’, the Arctostaphylos ‘Dr. Hurd’, above.

j- Western Redbud, Cercis occidentals

Every spring, there is a rush of people to the local nurseries asking about the beautiful, pink-blooming, deciduous tree down the street! Often, that tree is the Western Redbud. In late summer, people complain about the stick-tree that clings to its dead leaves and has seed pots draping from its branches! That too is the redbud. The Western Redbud is a small-stature tree, growing to about 25 foot tall. It has interesting, spade-shaped leaves. Properly positioned with a backdrop of other shrubs and trees, one can appreciate the spring-show and tolerate the straggly appearance of this tree. Routine pruning to open this tree/shrub to air and light does help.

And now, a second blasphemy! One may consider the Eastern Redbud as an alternative. The Eastern Redbud has slightly different leaf-form, is more open, is more easily trained as a single-trunk tree and has a more prolific, in my opinion, flower bloom. More development has gone into the Eastern Rebud for commercial landscape application; and this species is more readily available in even the California nurseries.

k- Desert Willow, Chilopsis linearis

Yes; this is a desert plant. But it has its place in the California garden. It is small stature, less than 20-foot tall. An element of form is gained when grown as a multi-trunk tree in that the bark and twist/turn nature of the branches is emphasized. The flowers bloom in late spring and the blooming period is long for a native tree. The hummingbirds love this tree! Burgundy-colored flowers are the more common; but mostly white to pink colored DW’s do exist. It would be well for nurseries to broaden the color-spectrum offered in commercial nurseries. It is my observation that these trees don’t mind every-ten-day water in the summer; they are usually found in washes in the desert where occasional moisture is available. The Desert Willow makes a wonderful potted specimen.

l- Coastal Silk Tassel, Garrya elliptica

The Coastal Silk Tassel tree is evergreen and can grow to 30 foot; but I would put a more common mature height in the urban garden at 20-25 foot. The catkins of the male tree [Garrya is dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants)] are spectacular in bloom, silver in color and draping down, almost a foot in length. It is quite a winter display! This is one, underused, CA native Tree!

m- Catalina Ironwood, Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp. Asplenifolius

This tall, erect tree can grow up to 50-foot height. It is evergreen, but it can become pretty sparse in leaf-coverage depending on winter temperatures. It is endemic to the Catalina Islands and is thus not fully low-temperature tolerant. It really has interesting, ‘fern-like’ leaves, shiny green. However the dead leaves cling to the branches and give the Ironwood a unique look. The leaf litter under the ironwood can become an issue. The bark is interesting, something like that of a redwood. If you have a Catalina Ironwood in your garden, this will be a point of high-interest to neighbors and friends.

n- Hollyleaf Cherry, Prunus ilicifolia

Careful to get the Prunus ilicifolia and not the Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii catalina cherry! The Prunus ilicifolia is endemic to much of coastal California and somewhat inland. The Catalina cherry is endemic to the islands off the coast of southern California. Interbreeding does cause issues. Prunus ilicifolia is slow growing, has a prickly leaf edge and is not as prolific a seed-starter as the Catalina cherry. The Catalina cherry is fast growing and almost every Catalina cherry that drops, sprouts!

This is an evergreen that can grow to 50-foot height, but the growth rate is so low that it will be a long, long time to realize even a 30-foot high tree! The leaf size is somewhat greater, but similarly shaped to the leaf of the Coast Live Oak. The Prunus ilicifolia does flower and the flower does turn to fruit, a somewhat tastless cherry; but not tasteless to the native birds! The birds love this tree. It is not an open tree by nature and forms a nice canopy. A row of Hollyleaf Cherry would make a terrific hedge or screen, if one were very, very patient!

o- Coast Live Oak, Quercus agrifolia

This tree is an evergreen and can grow to 40 foot, typically. It grows about 2 foot per year in a normal season. It has attractive grey-to dark-grey bark, but this bark is sun-sensitive when the tree is under 10-years old. It is easy to make a Coast Live Oak single trunk; but you will continually have to remove branches along the straight trunk. The fact is, the live oak likes low branching, and this low branching helps to protect the thin-cambium layer from sun-burn and damage. It is to the benefit of the tree to retain low branch growth until the tree begins to mature. Alternatively, one can apply a white, laytex paint, diluted in half by water, to keep the cambium layer cool in the summer.

It is said ‘don’t plant a coast live oak (chaparral-type tree) in the turf’; this can lead to root-rot, entry of boring insects and the like. But the fact is, Coast Live Oak are doing well in park-setting, in the turf, and with sprinkler irrigation. They may not live their full lives; they may die at 50 years instead of 250 years. So what? What a lovely shade tree, what wonderful wildlife habitat, and there to enjoy for 50 years! These trees require space. They begin from an acorn; but they grow to be wonderful heritage trees. Do not plant them in park-strips nor where concrete is close by the trunk! Their root systems mirror the canopy. Water to establish (2-3 years); but them limit or cut-off water! They will be fine.

Coast Live Oak can eventually form a wonderful canopy along a roadway; but it will take years of continual pruning to shape these trees and to raise the canopy accordingly, considering the once a month street-sweeper and its height and width, as example.

Unless you know what you are doing, have a professional prune and care for your coast live oak trees!

p- California Black Oak, Quercus kelloggii

This tree won’t do well for everyone or for every location. But, it is a beauty and does offer fall color, something rare in CA. You need to be elevated (maybe 400 foot and above); and you need a degree of frost each winter. This erect, triangle-profile tree is a medium sized, deciduous oak. Not likely that the black oak will get much taller than 30 foot in an urban environment.

q- Valley Oak, Quercus lobata

This is one of our tallest oak trees and is typically 60 foot or taller. It develops a broad, high canopy. It is deciduous and thus light in the winter and shade in the summer. It has the classic, lobed leaves of the deciduous oak and dark, uniformly striated bark. The acorns of the Valley Oak are large (not narrow and long like the Coast Live Oak). The Valley oak needs deep water; it tolerates more soil moisture than most of the other CA oak trees. It will find this deep water through it’s penetrating root system. Are you in a deep-water location? Your Valley Oak will tell you from its mature height. Where deep water exists, the mature Valley Oak will reach to 100 foot high. Considering this, don’t plant a Valley Oak close to other structures! Give it much space!

r- Blue Elderberry, Sambucus mexicana

I just like this tree! It will not grow too tall; typically 25 foot. It is almost exclusively a multi-trunk tree. It has creamy white flowers in the spring after the first leaves sprout; and they are one of the first to do so Sambucus is a deciduous tree but these leaves are held-on to well into autumn. The birds love the blue elderberries; and, I understand that the berries make memorable wine [Arsenic and Old Lace]! If there was one tree that the birds use as a restaurant and meeting place, it is the blue elderberry! Fast growing and low water requirement!

Friday, May 30, 2014

To: Those in California Considering CA Native Trees for thei Yard and/or Park Strip: Summary List



c- Vine Maple, Acer circinatum




g- Pacific Madrone, Arbutus menziesii












Photo Album


http://treesofsantacruzcounty.blogspot.com/2011/03/sequoia-sempervirens-coast-redwood.html




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torreya_californicac- Vine Maple, Acer circinatum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torreya_californica

http://www.theodorepayne.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Acer_circinatum


http://www.theodorepayne.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Acer_circinatum

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/article/443811

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/article/443811


http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/14483/



http://www.lowes.com/pd_21889-74100-NURSERY_0__?productId=3627358

http://www.lowes.com/pd_21889-74100-NURSERY_0__?productId=3627358

g1- Pacific Madrone, Arbutus menziesii

http://www.florafinder.com/Species/Arbutus_menziesii.php

http://www.florafinder.com/Species/Arbutus_menziesii.php

g2- Madrone ‘Marina’

http://www.fuf.net/tree/strawberry-tree/


http://www.santacruz.watersavingplants.com/eplant.php?plantnum=2528&return=l4_aD



http://www.fuf.net/tree/strawberry-tree/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/7111896707/


http://www.cabq.gov/culturalservices/biopark/garden/exhibits/plants-in-bloom

http://www.cabq.gov/culturalservices/biopark/garden/exhibits/plants-in-bloom

https://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/7111896707/


http://www.georgiavines.com/Seeds/shrubtreeseeds/shrubtreeseeds-c11-.html





http://www.georgiavines.com/Seeds/shrubtreeseeds/shrubtreeseeds-c11-.html

http://www.plantscomprehensive.com/socalislandnatives-blog?page=2

http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/lyonothamnus-floribundus-ssp-asplenifolius



http://www.plantscomprehensive.com/socalislandnatives-blog?page=2


http://www.srdc.tehama.k12.ca.us/nativeplantgarden.html

http://www.srdc.tehama.k12.ca.us/nativeplantgarden.html


http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=QUAG

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=QUAG


http://www.livingwild.org/fall/oak/

http://www.livingwild.org/fall/oak/



http://ci.glendale.ca.us/public_works/ITP_protectedTree_ValleyOak.aspx

http://ci.glendale.ca.us/public_works/ITP_protectedTree_ValleyOak.aspx



http://occnps.wordpress.com/category/meetings/oc-general-meetings/

http://tmousecmouse.blogspot.com/2013/09/is-this-california-native-garden.html

http://tmousecmouse.blogspot.com/2013/09/is-this-california-native-garden.html

http://occnps.wordpress.com/category/meetings/oc-general-meetings/

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