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Evergreen Trees for our Area!

Yolo and eastern Solano counties

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Common name group	GENUS	SPECIES	VARIETY	COMMON NAME	Comments
Acacia	Acacia	baileyana	‘Purpurea’	Purpleleaf acacia	Yellow blooms in Jan.-Feb. Common in Bay Area. Brittle wood, so tends to break apart in high winds.
		longifolia		Sydney golden wattle	Fast-growing, quick screen. Tolerates bad soil. Yellow flowers in late winter. Short-lived.
		melanoxylon		Blackwood acacia	Fast-growing, upright, evergreen. Recovered from hard freezes in ‘90 and ‘98, unlike most other Acacias. Suckers somewhat.
Arbutus	Arbutus	unedo	‘Compacta’	Strawberry tree	Showy flowers and fruit, beautiful bark like madrone. Heat and drought tolerant. Grows 1 - 2’ a year. Easily kept at 6’ with one annual pruning.
		X	'Marina'	Strawberry tree	Showy flowers and fruit, beautiful bark like madrone. Heat and drought tolerant. Grows 2 - 3’ a year. Availability limited. Arbutus andrachne, the Turkish madrone, grows nicely here and is similar, developing the same mahogany colored trunk. One wholesale grower (Suncrest) has it occasionally.
Camphor	Cinnamomum	camphora		Camphor tree	Slow-growing but eventually huge. New growth is bronze-colored, older leaves are light yellow-green. Bark looks black in winter. Foliage is fragrant (camphor!). Heat-tolerant. Mature trees are hard to garden under.
Carob	Ceratonia	siliqua		Carob	Pro: Very drought tolerant, with dark green shiny foliage and a very dense crown. Con: male trees smell awful and bloom for weeks, from late summer through fall; female trees produce copious amounts of pods. Somewhat surface-rooting.
Cedar	Calocedrus	decurrens		Incense cedar	Also sold as Libocedrus. Western native. Grows 2’ a year, eventually very large. Tolerant of heat, sun, shade, poor soil. Grows as narrow column for first 10 years or so, then slowly spreads.
	Cedrus	atlantica	'Glauca'	Atlas cedar	Bluish-green needles. Grows 2 - 3’ a year with unusual angular growth habit. Striking skyline tree. Many nice specimens in Stonegate in West Davis. Deep-rooted and tolerant of heat, drought, wind.
		deodara		Deodar cedar	Fast growing tree, up to 5’ a year. Very upright when young, then spreading at the base. Soft, feathery texture with bright green needles. Eventually very large. Very tolerant of heat, drought, wind.
	Thuja	plicata	‘Emerald Cone’	Western red cedar	New introduction with lustrous green foliage. Grows fairly slowly to 15 - 20’. Likes regular watering. Good narrow screen.
Citrus	Citrus	varieties		Citrus	Citrus trees are easy to grow in full sun. Lemons and limes can take light shade. Water deeply every 1 - 2 weeks, fertilize every month or so. Most are available on dwarfing rootstocks, so they can be kept as large shrubs or small trees. Highly recommended.
Cypress	Cupressocyparis	leylandii		Leylandi cypress	Grows fast for 8 - 10 years, gets bacterial canker disease, then borers, and then dies. We don’t recommend this plant. ‘Castlewellan’ is a golden-foliaged variety that does the same thing.
	Cupressus	arizonica glabra		Arizona cypress	Too big, messy for small yards. ‘Taylor’s Silver’ is a selected form with nice color, more compact habit when young.
		sempervirens	'Glauca'	Italian cypress	The classic Mediterranean formal column. Tolerant of heat, wind, poor soil, drought. Grows 3’ a year.
Guava	Feijoa	sellowiana		Pineapple guava	Plant named varieties for reliable fruit production. Edible flowers! Very drought tolerant. Fuzzy grey-green leaves make a nice contrast with red-leaved or shiny-leaved shrubs. Highly recommended.
Gums (Eucalyptus)	Eucalyptus	camaldulensis		Red gum	Reliably cold-hardy. Medium-green leaves, mottled tan trunk. Huge, very widely planted species--way too big for most yards.
		globulus	'Compacta'	dwarf Blue gum	Reliably cold hardy. Huge tree. Young leaves silver; older leaves dark green. Very messy. ‘Compacta’ is bushier when young.
		gunnii		Cider gum	Reliably cold-hardy. Green leaves, smooth green-and-tan bark. Tall and upright; not messy.
		nicholi		Peppermint or Willow gum	Reliably cold-hardy. Very clean. Narrow blue-green leaves smell like mint. Form like a willow. Good example at the corner of Adrian and Loyola in East Davis.
		polyanthemos		Silver dollar eucalyptus	Grown for round, silver leaves used in flower arrangements. These are juvenile foliage; if it isn’t pruned, it will become 60’ tree, and leaves change shape. Doesn’t like soggy soil.
		saligna		Sydney Blue Gum	Reliably cold-hardy. Medium green leaves. Relatively clean (bark sheds), very graceful. “Fastest gum in the west.” Availability limited.
		sideroxylon	‘Rosea’	Red Ironbark	Reliably cold-hardy. Relatively clean. One of the best-mannered gums. Rough, red bark, slim blue-green leaves. Tolerant of heat, drought, wind.
		viminalis		Red gum	Reliably cold-hardy. Huge, very widely planted species--way too big for most yards. Messy.
Ironwood	Lyonothamnus	floribundus	asplenifolius	Catalina ironwood;	Beautiful shiny divided green foliage, mahogany bark. Now considered frost-hardy here. Nice group in the UCD Arboretum. Slow to moderate, upright grower.
Laurel	Laurus	nobilis		Grecian Bay laurel	The bay leaf used in cooking. Very versatile garden plant. Large shrub, eventually growing to 30’+. Will grow in total shade, or in full sun. Drought tolerant. Very easy to keep in a pot for years. Highly recommended.
	Umbellularia	californica		California bay	Our native bay tree, grows slowly--1’/year--though eventually can get huge. Strongly aromatic leaves. Very tolerant of heat, drought. Can grow in shade. Very limited availability.
Laurels	Laurus	X	'Saratoga'	hybrid Bay laurel	Selected form of bay that has wider leaves, larger flowers (almost showy), and is fruitless (male clone). Leaf smells more pungent than L. nobilis--more like our native bay (Umbellularia). Highly recommended.
	Prunus spp.	caroliniana, ilicifolia, lyonii		Carolina cherry laurel, Hollyleaf cherry, Catalina cherry	Used as large shrubs or moderate-sized trees. Shiny leaves, upright habit. Masses of small white flowers in spring. Cherry-sized fruit are edible but bland; birds like them. Fruit litter can be substantial. Very drought-tolerant. Limited availability. P. caroliniana can get anemic in Davis; leaf fungus also a problem.
Myoporum	Myoporum	laetum		Myoporum	Common in coastal areas and occasionally planted here, but they froze in 1990 and 1998, and are often damaged in moderately cold winters. Availability limited.
Oaks	Quercus	agrifolia		Coast Live oak	One of our native live oaks. Grows 2’ - 3’ per year, with dense, hollylike foliage and a round habit. Attractive dark gray bark. Drawbacks include heavy leaf drop in spring and heavy network of fine surface roots, which make them hard to garden under. Very drought tolerant.
		chrysolepis		Canyon Live oak	One of our native live oaks. Grows 2’ - 3’ per year with shiny oval leaves and a round habit. Smooth, white bark. Drought tolerant.
		dumosa		California scrub oak	Grows 1’ - 2’ per year with a shrubby growth habit. Not really attractive enough for use except in a native landscape.
		durata		Leather oak	On the “recommended” list put out by Sac Municipal Utility District, but I haven’t seen it in Davis or Woodland. I’d appreciate any feedback on this species.
		ilex		Holly oak	Grows 3’ - 4’ per year, with very attractive, rich green, holly-like leaves; round-headed tree. Heavy leaf drop in spring can be annoying.
		suber		Cork oak	Grows 3’ - 4’ per year, with equal spread. Small leaves are dark green, gray beneath. Corky bark is very attractive. Very drought tolerant and doesn’t like lawn watering. Widely used on UC Davis campus, with good examples West of the Rec Hall.
Olive	Olea	europea	'Bonita'	Olive	Olives take heat, wind, drought, and have a unique structure. This variety has very tiny fruit. Common allergy plant.
			'Wilsoni'		Olives take heat, wind, drought, and have a unique structure. This variety is nearly fruitless. Common allergy plant.
Palm	Trachycarpus	fortunei		Windmill palm	Small fan palm that grows 2’ a year, straight up, to about 20’. Very tolerant of sun, heat, drought, wind, poor soil.
	Washingtonia	spp.		California and Mexican fan palms	Grow 2 - 3’ a year to 40’+. The classic California palms. Very heat, sun, wind, and drought tolerant (grows faster with regular watering and feeding).
Pines	Pinus	canariensis		Canary Island pine	Fast, upright grower with soft, drooping needles. New growth powdery blue. Tolerates drought, heat, wind, lawn watering. Damaged in 1990 (needles froze) but recovered. Narrow habit makes it one of the most useful pines.
		contorta		Shore pine	Doesn’t like extreme heat; give afternoon shade here. Pyramidal shape when young, then spreading and asymmetric. This is the windswept-looking pine on No. California coast. Nice in Asian-style gardens.
		densiflora	'Tanyosho'	Japanese red pine	Doesn’t like extreme heat; give afternoon shade here. Makes a unique, flat-topped tree. Bears cones early. Good for bonsai or as specimen plant in Asian-style gardens.
		halepensis		Aleppo pine	Fast-growing with soft needles, upright habit, brushy appearance. Tolerates heat, drought, wind. Unirrigated examples can be seen North of the Veterinary Hospital at U.C. Davis. Too big for most residential areas, but good windbreak for rural properties. Often very rootbound in containers, leading to circling roots. These trees often slowly fall over.
		mugo	mugo	Mugho pine	‘Pumilio’ is another reliably dwarf selection. Grows 3 - 6” per year, forming a little pine shrub. Can be thinned or shaped. To keep small, pinch out the central “candles” as they emerge in Feb. - March. Prefers regular but infrequent watering.
		nigra		Austrian Black pine	Grows 2’ - 3’ per year, with a strong pyramidal shape. Stiff, dark green needles. Tolerates heat, wind, drought; also good in lawns. Excellent for living Christmas tree.
		pinea		Italian Stone pine	Grows 3’ - 4’ per year, with unusual spreading habit. Eventually very broad, flat-topped. Tolerates heat, wind, drought. Way too big for most residential areas, and needs careful training to make sure limbs don’t collapse. Good examples South of Vet Hospital at UC Davis. There is a bizarrely fortified specimen in Capitol Park.
		roxburghi		Chir pine	Beautiful tree, with some specimens in the UC Davis Arboretum, but not common in the trade. Long, drooping needles are bright light green. Tolerates heat, drought, wind; also good in lawns. Rare. We planted the specimen in front of Birch Lane Elementary School (near the office) in the mid-1980’s.
		sabiniana		Gray, Foothill, Digger pine	Our native pine in the coast range and the lower foothills. Can grow 5’ - 6’ per year with an open, spreading habit. Very tolerant of heat, wind, drought. Not common in the nursery trade.
		sylvestris		Scotch pine	Grows 3’ a year, with a perfect pyramidal shape for many years. Dense, short needles are dark blue-green. Very attractive garden plant. Tolerant of heat, wind, drought, but also good in lawns. Excellent living Christmas tree.
		thunbergiana		Japanese black pine	Grows 3’ - 5’ per year. Starts as a pyramid, with almost equal spread to height. Eventually rather broad. Easily shaped or trained for asymmetric look used in Asian-style gardens. Classic for bonsai. Very tolerant of heat, wind, drought, but also good in lawns.
Redwoods	Sequoia	sempervirens	'Aptos Blue'	Coast redwood	Coast redwoods grow fast and upright; 3x height to spread. Can be pruned. Never drought-tolerant; like lawn watering but eventually shade out the lawn. Blue-green, dense growth.
			'Los Altos'	Coast redwood	Dark green, dense growth. Coast redwoods grow fast and upright; 3x height to spread. Can be pruned. Never drought-tolerant; like lawn watering but eventually shade out the lawn.
			‘Santa Cruz’	Coast redwood	Bright green, ferny foliage on this variety burns in dry winds; use other varieties. Coast redwoods grow fast and upright; 3x height to spread. Can be pruned. Never drought-tolerant; like lawn watering but eventually shade out the lawn.
			‘Simpson’s Silver’	Coast redwood	Silver-blue foliage, somewhat open growth habit. Coast redwoods grow fast and upright; 3x height to spread. Can be pruned. Never drought-tolerant; like lawn watering but eventually shade out the lawn.
			'Soquel'	Coast redwood; 20-year-old group	Medium green, dense growth. One of the best varieties. Coast redwoods grow fast and upright; 3x height to spread. Can be pruned. Never drought-tolerant; like lawn watering but eventually shade out the lawn.
			'Woodside'	Coast redwood	Silver-green foliage. Coast redwoods grow fast and upright; 3x height to spread. Can be pruned. Never drought-tolerant; like lawn watering but eventually shade out the lawn.
	Sequoiadendron	giganteum		Giant Sequoia	Grows fairly slowly with very upright habit. A disease causes dieback on this side of the valley, and there is no control for it, so we don’t recommend planting here.
Spruce	Picea	abies	several varieties	Norway spruce	Don’t like heavy soil, hard water, extreme dry heat, so they aren’t recommended here.
		glauca conica		Dwarf Alberta spruce	Grow very slowly: 3” a year. Give good drainage, plenty of water, some afternoon shade. Good living Christmas tree; excellent in container for many years.
		pungens	‘Glauca’	Blue spruce	Give good drainage, plenty of water, some afternoon shade. Grow 1’ a year to 20 - 30’, with formal pyramidal growth habit. Silvery-blue needles. Good in lawn.
Willow-like trees	Geijera	parvifolia		Australian willow	Very graceful small evergreen tree with a willow-like habit. Grows 3 - 4’ a year. Deep-rooted. Damaged by freezing weather in 1990 and 1998. Note: Has not been available from any of our suppliers in ‘01 or ‘02.
	Maytenus	boaria	'Green Showers'	Chilean mayten	Clean shiny foliage, very graceful weeping habit, like a miniature weeping willow. Suckers and very slow growth are drawbacks. A fungus causes branch dieback on stressed trees.
	Rhus	lancea		African sumac	Pros: graceful habit if trained properly, attractive shiny leaves and mahogany-colored trunk. Heat, drought-tolerant, but also good in lawns. Cons: lots of leaf litter; suckers profusely. Needs thinning to take wind. Blooms in winter; may be allergenic. Do NOT plant anywhere near pools!
	Schinus	molle		California pepper	Shiny fern-like green foliage is very pretty. Red berries useful in dried flower arrangements and wreaths. Incredibly drought-tolerant. Too messy for small yards.Tends to split in windy areas. Good in rural areas.

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© 2008 Don Shor, Redwood Barn Nursery, Inc., 1607 Fifth Street, Davis, Ca 95616
www.redwoodbarn.com
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