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Trees for our Area

Yolo and eastern Solano counties

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GENUS	SPECIES	VARIETY	COMMON NAME	EVERGREEN?
Acacias
Acacia	baileyana	‘Purpurea’	Purpleleaf acacia	Evergreen
	Yellow blooms in Jan.-Feb. Common in Bay Area. Brittle wood, so tends to break apart in high winds. Not recommended.
Acacia	longifolia		Sydney golden wattle	Evergreen
	Fast-growing, quick screen. Tolerates bad soil. Yellow flowers in late winter. Sends up suckers from roots. Short-lived. Not recommended.
Acacia	melanoxylon		Blackwood acacia	Evergreen
	Fast-growing, upright, evergreen. Recovered from hard freezes in ‘90 and ‘98, unlike most other Acacias. Suckers somewhat.
Alders
Alnus	cordata and rhomifolia		Italian alder and White alder	Deciduous
	White alder is attacked by a clearwing borer, and there is no control for this pest. Not recommended. Italian alder appears to be resistant, but produces huge amounts of catkins and cones, so it is messy.
Ash trees
Fraxinus	species		Ash trees	Deciduous
	Most Ash varieties have problems. ‘Raywood’ gets borers, ‘Modesto and ‘Moraine’ get anthracnose blight, and all get mistletoe. Not recommended.
Aspen--see Poplars
Bay trees
Laurus	nobilis		Grecian Bay laurel	Evergreen
	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.
Laurus	X	'Saratoga'	hybrid Bay laurel	Evergreen
	Selected form of bay that has wider leaves, larger flowers (almost showy), and is fruitless. Leaf smells more pungent than L. nobilis--more like our native bay (Umbellularia). Highly recommended.
Umbellularia	californica		California bay	Evergreen
	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.
Beech
Fagus	species		Beech	Deciduous
	Beech trees do not grow here, as they are sensitive to salts in soil and water: the leaves turn brown and the growth is stunted. Not recommended.
Beefwood
Casuarina	species		Beefwood, She-oak	Evergreen
	Fast-growing evergreens that resemble pines and can take incredibly tough conditions: poor drainage, drought, alkalinity, wind, etc. Upright growth. This is the street tree on L Street in East Davis. Very messy: lots of pollen, and lots of litter.
Birches
Betula	alba		European white birch	Deciduous
	Fast-growing with soft green leaves. Creates dappled shade. Never drought-tolerant. Resists borers if kept well-watered. Prune as little as possible, and never prune when borers are active (Mar. - May).
Betula	platyphylla japonica		Japanese birch	Deciduous
	Fast-growing with soft green leaves. Less weeping habit than European white birch. Creates dappled shade. Never drought-tolerant. Resistant to bronze birch borer--but that isn't the borer that we have here!
Buckeye
Aesculus	californica		California buckeye	Deciduous
	California native. Suitable for dry, native landscapes. Drops leaves in late summer, which makes it kind of odd-looking.
Camphor
Cinnamomum	camphora		Camphor tree	Evergreen
	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	Evergreen
	Pro: Very drought tolerant, with dark green shiny foliage and a very dense crown. Con: male trees smell odd; female trees produce copious amounts of pods. Somewhat surface-rooting.
Catalpa/Chitalpa
Catalpa	bignonioides		Catalpa	Deciduous
	Fast growing with tropical looking leaves, showy flowers. Subject to limb-breakage in windy areas. Very drought tolerant. Availability limited.
Chilopsis	linearis		Desert willow	Deciduous
	Moderate grower with very narrow, grey-green leaves, upright habit. Flowers all summer; very attractive to hummingbirds. Very drought tolerant. Availability very limited.
Chitalpa	tashkentensis		Chitalpa flowers; Chitalpa tree	Deciduous
	Catalpa/Chilopsis hybrid. Drought-tolerant trees with showy flowers that attract hummingbirds (and bees). Subject to a blight disease in spring.
Cedars
Calocedrus	class="it"decurrens		Incense cedar	Evergreen
	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	Evergreen
	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.
Cedrus	deodara		Deodar cedar	Evergreen
	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	Evergreen
	New introduction with lustrous green foliage. Grows fairly slowly to 15 - 20’. Likes regular watering. Good narrow screen.
Chaste tree
Vitex	agnus-castus		Chaste tree	Deciduous
	Light blue flowers; white form also available. Fast-growing large shrub or small tree with light green palmate leaves. Tolerates heat, drought; will grow in partial shade.
Cherries--flowering
Prunus	serrulata		Japanese flowering cherry	Deciduous
	There are many varieties of flowering cherries. ‘Kwanzan’ is especially showy, with large double pink flowers and a vase-shaped habit. ‘Mt. Fuji’ white. Paint the trunk with interior white latex paint when young to prevent sunburn. All need excellent drainage.
Prunus	subhirtella	‘Pendula’	Weeping cherry	Deciduous
	Very graceful weeping flowering cherry with pale pink flowers in great profusion. Give it room--20’ across. Paint the trunk with interior white latex paint when young to prevent sunburn. There is a double-flowered form. Needs excellent drainage.
Prunus	yedoensis	'Akebono'	Daybreak weeping cherry	Deciduous
	Dramatic flowering cherry with a spreading and slightly weeping habit. Billows of soft pink, double flowers. Give it room to spread--about 15’ across. Paint the trunk with interior white latex paint when young to prevent sunburn. Needs excellent drainage.
China berry, Texas umbrella tree
Melia	azedarach	'Umbraculiformis'	Texas umbrella tree	Deciduous
	Incredibly tough trees with attractive, shiny, divided leaves. Flowers are tiny, pretty, teal-blue (I happen to be violently allergic to them). Fruit will make you throw up. The species has an open habit; this cultivar has a very dense, umbrella-like form. Street tree on Belmont off of Loyola in East Davis.
Citrus
Citrus	varieties		Citrus	Evergreen
	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. See our separate list about Citrus trees!
Cottonwoods--see Poplars
Crabapples
Malus	X		Crabapples	Deciduous
	Many varieties of crabapples are available: some are upright, some spreading, some very weeping. All can take heavy soil, lawn watering, or some drought. Flowers are red, pink, white. Look for fireblight resistance.
Crape myrtles
	There are hundreds of varieties! The new hybrids between L. indica and L. fauriei have much greater mildew resistance than the old L. indica varieties. I wouldn't bother with any listed as 'fair' resistance. Flower color--especially 'red'-- varies by the temperature, stage of bloom, and your perception--if you want a particular color, buy it in bloom! See our Separate list of the popular varieties of Crape myrtles!
Cypresses
Cupressocyparis	leylandii		Leylandi cypress	Evergreen
	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	Evergreen
	This is the open conifer you see around many farms. Too big, messy for small yards. ‘Taylor’s Silver’ is a selected form with nice color, more compact habit when young.
Cupressus	sempervirens	'Glauca'	Italian cypress	Evergreen
	The classic Mediterranean formal column. Tolerant of heat, wind, poor soil, drought. Grows 3’ a year.
Taxodium	distichum			Deciduous
	Bald cypresses--the classic swamp trees--do grow here. Deciduous conifers (quick! name the other three types!* of deciduous conifers!) which grow quickly with drooping branches. Needs plenty of moisture. Very rare in the nursery trade.
Dogwoods
Cornus	species		Dogwoods	Deciduous
	These beautiful little flowering trees (C. florida, C. kousa) just don't grow here: the soil and water pH are high and the groundwater is high in dissolved salts. The leaves burn and the new growth is chlorotic. C. stolonifera, a shrub, thrives here--even in heavy soil, but doesn't have showy flowers.
Elderberry
Sambucus	nigra		Elderberry	Deciduous
	Multitrunk large shrub or small tree. Very fast-growing. Prune hard in winter to keep short. Fruit attracts birds. ‘Laciniata’ has divided leaves, ‘Purpurea’ has purple-tinged leaves. ‘Aurea’ has golden-green leaves.
Elms
Ulmus	parvifolia	‘Drake’	Chinese elm	Deciduous
	Grows 4’ - 5’ a year, with rapid spread, becoming a beautiful semi-weeping tree. Shiny green leaves, beautiful mottled bark. Leaf litter begins in June and continues all summer, so they are very, very messy. Needs careful training and pruning to select good branch structure. Some hybrid elms have been introduced to replace the old elms that were killed by Dutch elm disease. Very fast growing and huge. The elm leaf beetle may be a problem, and it is a real nuisance.
Empress Tree
Paulownia	tomentosa		Empress tree	Deciduous
	Fast-growing tree with tropical-looking leaves and very showy purple flowers. We always get questions about this tree when the few specimens around town bloom (there is a prominent one on Loyola Dr. in East Davis). Weak wood causes limbs to break in the wind, and the surface roots are a nuisance. Not recommended.
Eucalyptus (gum) trees
	Eucalyptus trees have become practically unavailable in recent years. Several pests have been attacking them. Some species are crowding out native trees in the Bay Area. Sudden limb drop, flammability, and high litter are other problems. Most growers find they outgrow their pots faster than they sell.
Eucalyptus	camaldulensis		Red gum	Evergreen
	Reliably cold-hardy. Medium-green leaves, mottled tan trunk. Huge, very widely planted species--way too big for most yards.
Eucalyptus	globulus	'Compacta'	dwarf Blue gum	Evergreen
	Reliably cold hardy. Huge tree. Young leaves silver; older leaves dark green. Very messy. ‘Compacta’ is bushier when young.
Eucalyptus	gunnii		Cider gum	Evergreen
	Reliably cold-hardy. Green leaves, smooth green-and-tan bark. Tall and upright; not messy.
Eucalyptus	nicholi		Peppermint or Willow gum	Evergreen
	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.
Eucalyptus	polyanthemos		Silver dollar eucalyptus	Evergreen
	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.
Eucalyptus	saligna		Sydney Blue Gum	Evergreen
	Reliably cold-hardy. Medium green leaves. Relatively clean (bark sheds), very graceful. “Fastest gum in the west.” Availability limited.
Eucalyptus	sideroxylon	‘Rosea’	Red ironbark	Evergreen
	Reliably cold-hardy. Relatively clean. One of the best-mannered gums. Rough, red bark, slim blue-green leaves. Tolerant of heat, drought, wind.
Eucalyptus	viminalis		Red gum	Evergreen
	Reliably cold-hardy. Huge, very widely planted species--way too big for most yards. Messy.
Flame trees, Goldenrain tree
Koelreuteria	bipinnata		Chinese flame tree	Deciduous
	Grows 3’ - 4’ per year, with divided leaves. Very tough, drought-tolerant. Yellow flowers are showy, followed by pink pods in fall. Reseeds very little. Unfortunately, availability is very limited.
Koelreuteria	elegans		Chinese flame tree	Deciduous
	Grows 3’ - 4’ per year, with divided leaves. Very tough, drought-tolerant. Yellow flowers are showy, followed by bright pink pods in fall. Reseeds very little. This is the showy tree at the corner of Eighth and L Streets in Davis. Unfortunately, no wholesaler is presently growing this species. It is sometimes available at the UC Davis Arboretum plant sales.
Koelreuteria	paniculata		Goldenrain tree	Deciduous
	Grows 3’ - 4’ per year, with divided leaves. Very tough, drought-tolerant. Yellow flowers are showy, followed by orange-red pods, then zillions of little seedling trees all over your yard! Box-elder bugs love them and soon you have zillions of them, too! Not recommended. See K. bipinnata.
Fringe tree
Chionanthus	retusus		Chinese fringe tree	Deciduous
	Like a giant white lilac! Blooms with masses of small white flowers in June and July. Not common in the trade.
Geijera (Australian willow)
Geijera	parvifolia		Australian willow	Evergreen
	Very graceful small evergreen tree with a willow-like habit. Grows 3 - 4’ a year. Deep-rooted. Killed by freezing weather in 1990 and 1998, so Northern California growers discontinued it. Not available.
Ginkgo (Maidenhair tree)
Ginkgo	biloba	'Autumn Gold'	Ginkgo fall color	Deciduous
	Plant selected male clones only! Female fruit smells like dog manure. ‘Autumn Gold’ one of the best, with a nice pyramidal form. Beautiful fall color. No pests or diseases. There are some other varieties available: ‘Canopy’, ‘Saratoga’, etc. Grow 18” a year. Ask about availability, as only a few growers produce these. Actually a deciduous conifer; the 'leaves' are flattened needles. (quick! name the other three types!* of deciduous conifers!);
Guava, Pineapple guava
Feijoa	sellowiana		Pineapple guava	Evergreen
	A large shrub sometimes grown as a tree. Not a true guava, but fruit tastes similar. 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.
Psidium	cattleianum		Strawberry guava	Evergreen
	Slow-growing tree with beautiful bark, shiny leaves, and tasty fruit. Vulnerable to freeze damage in severe weather events such as 1990 and 1998. P. cattleianum lucidum is the lemon guava.
Hackberries
Celtis	australis		European hackberry	Deciduous
	Grows 5 - 7’ a year, both up and out. Nice fast-growing, spreading shade tree. More open than C. sinensis. Availability limited.
Celtis	sinensis		Chinese hackberry	Deciduous
	Grows 5 - 7’ a year, both up and out. One of the best very fast-growing shade trees. Red berries are pretty, but do litter (though they are dry, not squishy), and seedlings will pop up here and there. Deep-rooted. Asian woolly hackberry aphid arrived in 2001, and is a nuisance; systemic insecticides can be used to manage it.
Hawthorns
Crataegus	laevigatum		English hawthorn	Deciduous
	‘Paul’s Scarlet’ has very showy rose pink flowers, very little fruit. ‘Crimson Cloud’ has bright red flowers, showy red fruit. These are very pretty trees, but availability is very limited. Prone to fireblight.
Crataegus	phaenopyrum		Washington thorn	Deciduous
	Masses of white flowers in spring. Shiny red fruit hangs on through fall and winter. Good in lawns. Fireblight resistant. Availability very limited.
Hornbeams
Carpinus	species		European and American hornbeams	Deciduous
	Very tough, slow-growing, low-maintenance, and well-behaved, but not particularly interesting trees. We don't get fall color here, and the leaves hang on well into the winter so they're kind of ugly.
Ironwood
Lyonothamnus	floribundus	asplenifolius	Catalina ironwood	Evergreen
	Beautiful shiny divided green foliage, mahogany bark. Now considered frost-hardy here. Nice group in the UCD Arboretum. Slow to moderate, upright grower.
Jacaranda
Jacaranda	mimosifolia		Jacaranda	Evergreen (not here!)
	Sorry, it's too tender here to be reliable as a tree, but it will resprout from the trunk after severe cold weather.
Larch
Larix	species		European and Japanese larch	Deciduous
	Deciduous conifers (quick! name the other three types!* of deciduous conifers). Although listed in SWG book for this climate zone, I have not seen them here. I suspect that the needles will look burnt during our hot, dry summers.
Laurels (see also Bay Trees)
Prunus	caroliniana		Carolina laurel cherry	Evergreen
	Used as a large shrub or moderate-sized tree. Shiny leaves, upright habit. Small, fragrant white flowers in spring. Small fruit attracts birds, but litter can be substantial. Subject to chlorosis (yellowing leaves), leaf spot fungus, and borers. Generally not successful here.
Prunus	ilicifolia	lyonii	Catalina cherry laurel	Evergreen
	Used as a large shrub or moderate-sized tree. Shiny leaves, upright habit. Masses of white flowers in spring. Cherry-sized fruit are edible but bland; birds like them, but litter can be substantial. Very drought-tolerant. Limited availability.
Prunus	laurocerasus, lusitanica		English and Portugal laurel	Evergreen
	P. laurocerasus is used as a large shrub or moderate-sized trees. Shiny leaves, upright habit. Clusters of white flowers in spring are showy. Small black fruit attract birds. English laurel is fast-growing to 15'+; Portugal laurel grows much more slowly and is usually used as a shrub.
Lilac, Wild or Mountain
Ceanothus		'Ray Hartman'	Wild lilac	Evergreen
	Most Ceanothus are shrubs or ground covers, but a few species and varieties grow upright and tall enough to use as small trees. 15' + with medium blue, honey-scented flowers in spring. Great bird cover. Deep, infrequent watering in summer.
Linden
Tilia	cordata	'Greenspire'	Littleleaf linden	Deciduous
	Grows 3 - 4’ a year, with a formal pyramidal growth habit, rich green foliage. Very tidy. Pretty yellow flowers in July (bees like the flowers); nice yellow fall color. Should be used more, but availability is limited.
Locusts, Honeylocust
Gleditsia	triacanthos inermis		Honey locust	Deciduous
	Gall midge defoliates these trees from May through August, and then it drops its leaves in late September, so it’s not very ornamental.
Robinia	pseudoacacia	'Purple Robe'	Black locust	Deciduous
	Beautiful clusters of purple flowers like Wisteria in April. Branches split in windy areas. Sends up suckers, often many feet from the main plant. Good in rural areas, not close to the house. Not recommended.
Loquat, Bronze loquat
Eriobotrya	japonica, deflexa		Loquat	Evergreen
	Subtropicals with dramatic leaves. Grow slowly to 15' (E. deflexa) or 20'+. E. japonica has very tasty fruit (only reliable if you plant grafted varieties, which aren't readily available in Northern California). Very susceptible to fireblight.
Magnolias
	The traditional evergreen Magnolia (M. grandiflora) gets unsightly in this area due to the salts in our water. Some of the older species and varieties of deciduous Magnolias are listed below. New hybrid Magnolias have been introduced, some with huge flowers and some extending the color range to pale yellow and almost red. See our separate list of Magnolia varieties, and check out the web site of Monterey Bay Nursery. All Magnolias like rich soil, moisture, and acid-type fertilizer.
Magnolia	denudata			Deciduous
	Like rich soil, moisture, acid-type fertilizer. Fragrant white flowers are tinged purple; early spring.
Magnolia	loebneri	‘Dr. Merrill’	Magnolia	Deciduous
	Like rich soil, moisture, acid-type fertilizer. White flowers in great profusion in early spring. ‘Leonard Messel’ is pink.
Magnolia	soulangeana		Magnolia soulangeana in Capitol Park	Deciduous
	Sometimes called Tulip tree; see also Liriodendron. Like rich soil, moisture, acid-type fertilizer. Very showy blooms in February. Grows 3’ a year, upright when young, and then round-headed. Many varieties available: white, pink, purple; full-sized and dwarf. Availability is often limited to the bloom period!
Maples
Acer	buergeranum		Trident maple	Deciduous
	Bushy small tree to about 25’, usually lower. Soft green foliage; bright red or orange fall color. Nice for small courtyards or patios. Prefers regular watering.
Acer	macrophyllum		Bigleaf maple	Deciduous
	California native maple; grows near streams and in moist canyons. Huge tree. Looks pretty ugly in late summer. Availability limited.
Acer	palmatum	many varieties available	Japanese maple	Deciduous
	Fussy about soil, water quality, wind, heat....See Acer truncatum for a possible substitute. Can be grown in the right microclimate if the soil is amended heavily (as for Camellias and Azaleas) and it is fertilized monthly with an acid-type fertilizer. Hundreds of varieties. We avoid the thread-leaf ('Dissectum') types because the leaf burn is even worse on those. 'Bloodgood' is one of the best red-leaf types for this area.
Acer	saccharinum		Silver maple	Deciduous
	Very fast-growing, huge tree. Aggressive roots, brittle branches, and tendency to get aphids in summer (leads to sticky drip all over everything) make it unsuitable for most residential situations. Not recommended.
Acer	truncatum		Chinese or Purpleblow Maple	Deciduous
	Good substitute for Japanese maple! Small tree with attractive, shiny leaves, spreading “planar” growth habit. Tolerant of heat, sun, wind. Highly recommended, but availability is limited.
Acer	X	several varieties available	Hybrid maples	Deciduous
	A number of new hybrid maples have been introduced in recent years that are performing well in this area. Most grow moderately fast to 30’ or more, and have vibrant fall color. Prefer regular irrigation; good in lawns. ‘October Glory’, ‘Autumn Blaze’ ‘Red Sunset’ are among the best.
Mayten tree
Maytenus	boaria	'Green Showers'	Chilean mayten	Evergreen
	Clean shiny foliage, very graceful weeping habit, like a miniature weeping willow. Suckers and very slow growth are drawbacks. An unidentified disease is causing some limb dieback on Maytens, mostly on trees that are stressed. Getting rare in the trade because it takes forever to get a saleable tree.
Mulberries
Morus	alba		Fruitless mulberry	Deciduous
	The poster child for incorrect pruning! Very fast, providing deep shade in just a few years. Aggressive roots, dense shade make it very difficult to grow anything underneath them. Often stubbed (“pollarded”), which ruins the shape. Can be very attractive when pruned correctly. Mostly suitable for rural areas. For some of the fruiting mulberries, see our fruit tree list.
Morus	alba	‘Chaparral’	Weeping fruitless mulberry	Deciduous
	Dramatic weeping form with attractive, dark green leaves. Mounds up slowly to 8’ - 10’. Great focal point or accent. Available in bareroot season (Jan. - Mar.).
Morus	alba	‘Teas’	Weeping fruiting mulberry	Deciduous
	Dramatic weeping form with attractive, dark green leaves. Mounds up slowly to 8’ - 10’. Produces large quantities of mild-flavored, juicy fruit (stains clothing!). Birds love the fruit. Great focal point or accent. Available in bareroot season (Jan. - Mar.).
Myoporum
Myoporum	laetum		Myoporum	Evergreen
	Common in coastal areas and occasionally planted here, but they froze in 1990 and 1998, and are often damaged in moderately cold winters. Resprouts, but plan on having a shrub, not a tree. Availability limited.
Oaks
Quercus	agrifolia		Coast Live oak	Evergreen
	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.
Quercus	chrysolepis		Canyon Live oak	Evergreen
	One of our native live oaks. Grows 2’ - 3’ per year with shiny oval leaves and a round habit. Smooth, white bark. Drought tolerant.
Quercus	coccinea		Scarlet oak	Deciduous
	Grows 3’ - 4’ per year. Subject to salt burn and iron chlorosis in Davis and Woodland, which make it unsightly. Not recommended.
Quercus	dumosa		California scrub oak	Evergreen
	Grows 1’ - 2’ per year with a shrubby growth habit. Not really attractive enough for use except in a native landscape.
Quercus	durata		Leather oak	Evergreen
	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.
Quercus	ilex		Holly oak	Evergreen
	Grows 3’ - 4’ per year, with very attractive, rich green, holly-like leaves; round-headed tree. Heavy leaf drop in spring can be annoying.
Quercus	kelloggi		Ca Black oak	Deciduous
	Grows 3’ - 4’ per year with large, shiny green, classic oak leaves and attractive dark bark. New growth soft pink.
Quercus	lobata		Valley oak	Deciduous
	Also called California White oak. Our big native oak. Grows 3’ per year, initially upright, then massively spreading. Very tolerant of drought, heat, wind. Young trees can be irrigated; don’t water mature trees. Oak galls are a curiosity but harmless; the 'hopping' ones especially excite people in late summer. Highly recommended.
Quercus	palustris		Pin oak	Deciduous
	Grows 3’ - 4’ a year. Very upright at first, then round-headed and somewhat open. Sharply lobed leaves are attractive, dark green and glossy. May have nice fall color, but unfortunately leaves then turn brown and hang on well into the winter.
Quercus	rubra		Red oak	Deciduous
	Grows 3’ - 4’ a year, with a spreading growth habit. New growth is red. Fall color dark red, not always reliable here. Unfortunately leaves then turn brown and hang on well into the winter. This is surprisingly ugly, or this tree would be used more. Better than Q. coccinea in Davis and Woodland. Likes good drainage, pleny of water.
Quercus	suber		Cork oak	Evergreen
	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.
Quercus	virginiana		Southern live oak	Deciduous
	Grows 3’ - 5’ per year, eventually very broad-spreading. Smooth leaves are very long, shiny green with white reverse. Loves water; good in lawns.
Quercus	wislizenii		Interior live oak	Deciduous
	One of our native live oaks. Grows 3’ per year, eventually broader than tall. Glossy leaves. Gawky when young, but ultimately dense and attractive.
Olives
	Interest in growing olives for oil and curing has taken off in recent years. Think about it before you plant, though--are you really going to press all that fruit? Do the multiple soaks in lye required to make olives edible? If so, Peaceful Valley Farm Supply may be able to help you.
Olea	europea	'Bonita'	Olive	Evergreen
	Olives take heat, wind, drought, and have a unique structure. This variety has very tiny fruit. Common allergy plant.
Olea	europea	'Swan Hill'		Evergreen
	Olives take heat, wind, drought, and have a unique structure. This variety is totally fruitless, with sterile pollen. Formerly patented with limited availability, this is becoming more common in the trade.
Olea	europea	'Wilsoni'		Evergreen
	This variety is nearly fruitless. Common allergy plant.
Palms and similar trees
Brahea	species		Mexican blue palm & others	Evergreen
	Slow-growing fan palms. B. armata has striking blue-grey leaves. Three species are hardy enough to grow here. Available from specialists only.
Butia	capitata		Pindo palm	Evergreen
	Slow-growing palm with grey-green feathery leaves and edible fruit. Available from specialists only.
Phoenix	species		Date palms	Evergreen
	P. canariensis, Canary Island palm, is the very large, dramatic, dark green palm seen around old farmhouses. Head can spread 20', and it takes 10+ years for the trunk to get tall enough that the fronds won't be in your way. P. dactylifera, the Date palm, is just hardy enough to grow here but is rare. P. roebelenii, the Pygmy date palm, is an attractive dwarf palm that needs protection from the coldest weather; bring it in during freezing weather or put in a sheltered location.
Trachycarpus	fortunei		Windmill palm	Evergreen
	Small fan palm that grows 2’ a year, straight up, to about 20’. Very tolerant of sun, heat, drought, wind, poor soil. Excellent palm for smaller yards, around pools.
Cordyline	australis		Also called Dracaena australis	Evergreen
	Agave family. Striking accent plant which makes a dramatic silhouette. Small, fragrant flowers in late spring. Very drought tolerant.
Livistona	species			Evergreen
	Slow-growing palms that resemble Washingtonias and are hardy enough to grow here. Available from specialists only.
Washingtonia	spp.		California and Mexican fan palms	Evergreen
	Grow 2 - 3’ a year to 40’+. The classic California palms with tall, tall trunks and a crown of fronds way up high. Very heat, sun, wind, and drought tolerant (grows faster with regular watering and feeding).
Pears
Pyrus	calleryana	'Aristocrat'	Aristocrat pear	Deciduous
	No longer recommended due to messy fruit and mistletoe. Fast-growing, upright shade trees with shiny green foliage. Moderately drought-tolerant, but also tolerate heavy soil and lawn watering.
Pyrus	calleryana	'Bradford'	Bradford pear in bloom	Deciduous
	The original Callery pear. Fast-growing, upright shade trees with shiny green foliage. Moderately drought-tolerant, but also tolerate heavy soil and lawn watering. White flowers in spring, wine red fall color. Newer forms have better branch angles, and are less prone to splitting.
Pyrus	calleryana	'Capital'	Callery pear	Deciduous
	Callery pear with very upright growth habit; excellent in narrow areas for shade and privacy. White flowers in spring, wine red fall color.Fast-growing, upright shade trees with shiny green foliage. Moderately drought-tolerant, but also tolerate heavy soil and lawn watering.
Pyrus	calleryana	'Chanticleer'	Callery pear	Deciduous
	Fast-growing, upright shade trees with shiny green foliage. Moderately drought-tolerant, but also tolerate heavy soil and lawn watering. New form with better branch structure than Bradford; less prone to splitting.
Pyrus	calleryana	'Cleveland Select'	Callery pear	Deciduous
	Fast-growing, upright shade trees with shiny green foliage. Moderately drought-tolerant, but also tolerate heavy soil and lawn watering. New form with better branch structure than Bradford; less prone to splitting. White flowers in spring, wine red fall color. Other new varieties include ‘Redspire’, ‘Trinity’, ‘Glen’s Form’. White flowers in spring, wine red fall color.
Pyrus	kawakami		Evergreen pear	Deciduous
	Grows 2’ - 3’ a year, with equal spread to height. White flowers in late winter; one of the first trees to bloom in Northern California. Very prone to fireblight and leaf-spot fungus! Not recommended. Nearly evergreen here.
Pepper tree
Schinus	molle		California pepper	Evergreen
	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.
Pines
Pinus	canariensis		Canary Island pine	Evergreen
	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.
Pinus	contorta		Shore pine	Evergreen
	Doesn’t like extreme heat; give afternoon shade here. Pyramidal shape when young, then spreading and asymmetric. This is the windswept-looking pine on Northern California coast. Nice in Asian-style gardens.
Pinus	densiflora	'Tanyosho'	Japanese red pine	Evergreen
	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.
Pinus	halepensis		Aleppo pine	Evergreen
	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. Nursery specimens tend to be very rootbound.
Pinus	mugo	mugo	Mugho pine	Evergreen
	These pines are shrubs. ‘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.
Pinus	nigra		Austrian Black pine	Evergreen
	Grows 2’ - 3’ per year, with a strong pyramidal shape. Size and shape can be controlled by pruning out the central 'candles' in the early spring. Stiff, dark green needles. Tolerates heat, wind, drought; also good in lawns. Excellent for living Christmas tree.
Pinus	pinea		Italian Stone pine	Evergreen
	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.
Pinus	roxburghi		Chir pine	Evergreen
	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.
Pinus	sabiniana		Gray, Foothill, Digger pine	Evergreen
	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.
Pinus	sylvestris		Scotch pine	Evergreen
	Grows 3’ a year, with a perfect pyramidal shape for many years. Dense, short needles are dark blue-green. Very attractive garden plant. Size and shape can be controlled by pruning out the central 'candles' in the early spring. Tolerant of heat, wind, drought, but also good in lawns. Excellent living Christmas tree.
Pinus	thunbergiana		Japanese black pine	Evergreen
	Grows 3’ - 5’ per year. Starts as a pyramid, with almost equal spread to height. Eventually rather broad. Size and shape can be controlled by pruning out the central 'candles' in the early spring-- 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.
Pistache
Pistacia	chinensis		Chinese pistache--fall color	Deciduous
	Beautiful fall color! One of our best shade trees. Grows 3 - 4’ a year, with lush green foliage. Drought-tolerant, but also takes lawn watering. Female trees have showy berries which attract birds, but some people object to the litter (they are dry, not squishy). Selected male form ‘Keith Davey’ is occasionally available. P. atlantica, Mt. Atlas pistache, is used as a rootstock for Chinese pistache and Pistachio nut trees. There is a notable specimen across the driveway from our nursery entrance. No fall color and heavy seed litter make this less desirable.
Plums--flowering
Prunus	blireiana		Blirieana plum	Deciduous
	Plum with red leaves in spring, turning dark green in summer. Very little or no fruit. Earliest tree to bloom in spring, with pale pink flowers in February. Grows 3 - 4’ a year to about 25’. Upright when young, eventually spreading.
Prunus	cerasifera	'Krauter Vesuvius'	'Krauter Vesuvius' foliage color	Deciduous
	Plum with red leaves that stay burgundy through the summer. Usually very light fruit production. Grows 2 - 3’ a year to about 15’ with equal spread.
Prunus	cistena		dwarf Red-leaf plum	Deciduous
	Leaves come out bright red in spring, turning to burgundy in summer. Nice white flowers in March. Naturally grows as large shrub, but some growers train it up as a single-trunked tree.
Pomegranates
Punica	granatum	'Calif. Sunset'	flowering Pomegranate	Deciduous
	All pomegranates are large shrubs which can be trained as trees. They tolerate heat, wind, drought, poor soil. Great choice for west exposure. This one has large double cream-and-coral striped flowers, no fruit.
Punica	granatum	'Nochi Shibari'	flowering Pomegranate	Deciduous
	Large, dark red double flowers, no fruit.
Punica	granatum	'Toyosho'	flowering Pomegranate	Deciduous
	Large, double apricot flowers, no fruit.
Punica	granatum	'Wonderful'	Pomegranate	Deciduous
	This is the standard commercial variety. ‘Grenada’ is a sport which ripens a month earlier. ‘Sweet’ has pink, sweet fruit that isn’t tart (or very flavorful). Several new varieties have come on the market. See our fruit tree list.
Poplars, Cottonwoods, Aspen
Populus	species			Deciduous
	Very fast-growing trees with numerous drawbacks. Weak wood splits in the wind. All are subject to borers and various leaf diseases. Most have very aggressive roots. Poplars and cottonwoods are only suitable in rural locations, far from irrigation and leach lines. Aspens are short-lived here.
Privets
Ligustrum	species		Japanese and Glossy privets	Evergreen
	Fast growing small trees with shiny leaves that were widely planted in Davis in the '60's and '70's, much to the delight of countless birds that have distributed the seeds freely! Messy fruit and loads of pollen make these undesirable.
Redbuds
Cercis	canadensis		Eastern redbud	Deciduous
	Beautiful magenta flowers in March. Prefers summer watering; o.k. in lawns. Burns if it gets hot afternoon sun. ‘Forest Pansy’ has unusual purple foliage. ‘Oklahoma’ has thicker leaves that are more heat-resistant.
Cercis	occidentalis		Western redbud--foliage; flowers	Deciduous
	Grows as large shrub or small multitrunked tree. Beautiful magenta flowers in March, and distinctive grey-green foliage. Nice plantings in the UC Davis Arboretum. Very drought-tolerant and prefers limited summer irrigation.
Redwoods and relatives
Metasequoia	glyptostroboides		Dawn Redwood (shown in spring)	Deciduous
	Unique deciduous conifer (quick! name the other three types!* of deciduous conifers!); very graceful, narrow tree shaped like a coast redwood. Not drought-tolerant. Makes a light shade. Good in groves. Should be used more, but availability is limited.
Sequoia	sempervirens	'Aptos Blue'	Coast redwood	Evergreen
	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. This variety has blue-green foliage, dense growth.
Sequoia	sempervirens	'Los Altos'	Coast redwood	Evergreen
	Dark green, dense growth.
Sequoia	sempervirens	‘Santa Cruz’	Coast redwood	Evergreen
	Bright green, ferny foliage on this variety burns in dry winds; choose other varieties here.
Sequoia	sempervirens	‘Simpson’s Silver’	Coast redwood	Evergreen
	Silver-blue foliage, somewhat open growth habit.
Sequoia	sempervirens	'Soquel'	Coast redwood; older grove	Evergreen
	Medium green, dense growth. The most widely planted form.
Sequoia	sempervirens	'Woodside'	Coast redwood	Evergreen
	Silver-green foliage.
Sequoiadendron	giganteum		Giant Sequoia	Evergreen
	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.
Rose of Sharon
Hibiscus	syriacus	many var’s available	Rose of Sharon	Deciduous
	Large shrub or small tree with showy Hibiscus-like flowers all summer. Very tough, easy to grow. Can take light shade or full sun, drought, poor soil. May reseed. Gets aphids, but also a common nesting site for green lacewings which eat the aphids.
Silk oak
Grevillea	robusta		Silk oak	Evergreen
	Fast-growing, upright tree with shiny leaves and pretty orange flowers in early spring. Heavy leaf drop in spring. Easily damaged by wind. Ok for a quick screen in rural areas.
Silk tree
Albizia	julibrissin		Silk tree	Deciduous
	Grows 3’ - 4’ per year, with fern-like, finely divided leaves. Graceful, spreading growth habit. Very tough, drought- tolerant. Pink fluffy flowers are showy, then litter all over everything. Reseeds profusely. Hard to recommend.
Smoke tree
Cotinus	coggygria	'Royal Purple'	purple Smoke tree	Deciduous
	Purple leaves and purple flowers make a striking contrast with grey or glossy-leaved plants. Very tolerant of drought and heat. Gets iron chlorosis if irrigated heavily. Very slow grower when unirrigated, can grow 2 - 3' a year if watered.
Snowbell tree
Styrax	japonicus		Japanese snowbell	Deciduous
	Small flowering tree with profusion of white flowers in June. Strong horizontal branches create a unique look. Likes plenty of water and good drainage. Availability very limited.
Spruces
Picea	abies	several varieties	Norway spruce	Evergreen
	Don’t like heavy soil, hard water, extreme dry heat; can look pretty stressed here.
Picea	glauca conica		Dwarf Alberta spruce	Evergreen
	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.
Picea	pungens	‘Glauca’	Blue spruce	Evergreen
	Give good drainage, plenty of water, some afternoon shade if possible. Grow 1’ a year to 20 - 30’, with formal pyramidal growth habit. Silvery-blue needles. Good in lawn.
Strawberry trees
Arbutus	unedo	‘Compacta’	Strawberry tree	Evergreen
	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.
Arbutus	X	‘Marina’	Strawberry tree	Evergreen
	Showy flowers and fruit, beautiful bark like madrone. Heat and drought tolerant. Grows 2 - 3’ a year.
Sumacs
Rhus	lancea		African sumac	Evergreen
	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.
Rhus	glabra, typhina		Smooth and Staghorn sumacs	Deciduous
	Big divided leaves make a tropical effect. Spectacular fall color. Pretty berries attract birds. However, these trees sucker and spread like crazy, forming thickets! Only for rural areas. Great bird cover.
Sweet gum
Liquidambar	styraciflua		Sweet gum	Deciduous
	Very subject to iron chlorosis and salt burn when irrigated regularly. Established trees with limited summer irrigation sometimes look acceptable in better-drained soils in South and East Davis and parts of Woodland. Otherwise, not recommended. Surface roots and spiky seed balls complete the 'thumbs down'. Great fall color, though!
Sycamores and Plane trees
Platanus	X	'Bloodgood'	'Bloodgood' sycamore--young	Deciduous
	Very fast growing shade tree. Resistant (not immune!) to anthracnose blight. ‘Yarwood’, sold in coastal areas, is resistant to powdery mildew. Nice dappled shade, usually deep rooted. Fairly high litter when mature, but one of the few very fast trees without significant drawbacks. 'Columbia' is a new variety which resists both diseases and is slowly becoming more available. Meanwhile, choose 'Bloodgood' in this area.
Tallow tree
Sapium	sebiferum		Chinese tallow tree	Deciduous
	Aggressive surface roots when planted in lawns. Ok in dry areas (many good examples in Village Homes in West Davis). Male trees produce lots of pollen; females reseed. Please don’t plant near riparian areas, as it is invasive there. We are no longer recommending this tree in most situations--too many drawbacks. Nice fall color!
Tulip tree
Liriodendron	tulipifera		Tulip tree	Deciduous
	Grows 3 - 4’ a year, with an upright habit. Foliage is yellow-green. Flowers are odd greenish yellow with orange base, look sort of like tulips. Good in lawns. Yellow fall color. Leaves may show some salt-burn, but not unsightly. Good substitute for Liquidambar in Davis, Woodland.
Tupelo, Sour gum
Nyssa	sylvatica		Sour gum, Tupelo	Deciduous
	Popular in Sacramento because of upright growth habit and beautiful fall color. Unfortunately, hard water causes severe leaf burn, iron chlorosis in Davis and Woodland, so they aren’t recommended here.
Willows
Salix	matsudana	'Tortuosa'	Curly willow	Deciduous
	Huge, fast-growing tree. Twisted branches and leaves on a weeping tree. Very striking silhouette. Many drawbacks, but very graceful in its place. Branches break readily in wind, prone to borers. Sometimes sold with aquatic plants to grow near a pond. Hack it back severely in these situations for size control.
Salix	species		Weeping willows	Deciduous
	Huge, fast-growing trees with moderately to strongly weeping habits. Very striking silhouette. Many drawbacks, but very graceful. Branches brittle; prone to borers, roots are aggressive. S. babylonica is most weeping. S. babylonica 'Crispa' is the Weeping corkscrew willow. S. alba tristis has golden branches. S. blanda is blue-green. It's hard to recommend willow trees due to the serious drawbacks.
Zelkova
Zelkova	serrata	‘Village Green’	Sawleaf zelkova	Deciduous
	Grows 4’ - 5’ a year, with rapid spread, eventually making a tall, spreading tree.Shiny green leaves resemble elms. Nice clean, high-branched tree. Needs careful training and pruning to select good branch structure. Good examples are on Elmwood Drive in Davis.

	*The four genera of deciduous conifers are: Larix (larch), Ginkgo (Maidenhair tree), Metasequoia (Dawn redwood), and Taxodium (Bald cypress).

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