The trees which line our roads and color our outdoor living spaces function as a subtle yet defining feature of our communities. As arborists and tree lovers everywhere celebrate the significant contributions of trees on this past Friday in April, I can’t help but focus my adoration on those native to my hometown of Los Angeles.
The trees of Los Angeles are seen in enough shows to have earned their own celebrities. The palm trees lining the streets of Beverly Hills are, perhaps, most famously associated with the Southland. Local colleagues compose poetic pieces concerning the flourishing of purple Jacaranda each calendar year, also Santa Monica has designated a Morton Bay Fig as a landmark. As much as I love this veritable arboretum of trees, those I find most lovely are our natives. It takes something special to help our indigenous fauna flourish in our difficult soils. All these lovelies have that X factor.
Las Pilitas Nursery
The rambling structure of the Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) defines the city of Pasadena. Its compact canopy can span more than 100 feet — a fantastic advantage in warmer climates. Its expansive duplex will be matched by the Coast Live Oak’s root structure. It is slow growing, and its delights will depend on your recognition that it requires lots of space.
Las Pilitas Nursery
Should you need a little color and quickly, California’s white oaks (Quercus lobata) really are a superb choice. They are among the shade trees. Their unique 1- to 2-inch-long, chestnut brown acorns tend to drop more than usual, making the tree a valuable habitat for birds and wildlife.
Las Pilitas Nursery
One of the rewards of a happy Coast Live Oak: the beautiful male catkins.
Las Pilitas Nursery
California’s state tree, the Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), has very wide-spreading roots. They add a stately beauty to park spaces and massive estates.
Las Pilitas Nursery
The Knobcone pine (Pinus attenuata) can grow to 20 feet tall. It thrives at higher elevations, but it isn’t the hardiest of our trees. It likes fertile soil and regular water.
Las Pilitas Nursery
Incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) can reach 30 feet. Its aromatic and clean foliage adds a crispness to any landscape. It’s hardy and manages diverse soils and moisture levels. With its compact needles, it makes for an effective windbreak.
Las Pilitas Nursery
The California bay (Umbellularia californica) includes a fantastic fragrance. Native to California and Oregon, the bay will like more water compared to some of the other trees shown here.
Las Pilitas Nursery
If you like the California bay, as I do, but reside in an area without the 30 inches a year of rain it requires, planting in color where the roots will stay cool all year can help. It is going to also work well in a container, where you can offer the extra hydration it needs.
Las Pilitas Nursery
Should you need a tree suitable for a small backyard or perhaps a tight area, Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) is best. Not only does this provide an wonderful array of colour transitions throughout the year, but its delicate stem construction is lovely when it is bare.
Las Pilitas Nursery
Obviously, the redbud’s lovely blossoms attract butterflies.
More blossoms that attract butterflies
Las Pilitas Nursery
Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), otherwise known as Christmas berry, provides a splash of colour to landscapes too. It likes full sun and usually increases to 6 to 8 feet high, although it can reach 20 feet under the right conditions. It thrives in California’s tough sandy- and – clay-based soils and only requires 4 to 5 feet of space at its base. The colorful berries may be used to make an earthy, lemony tea.
Great design trees:
Bald Cypress | Chinese Witch Hazel | Dove Tree | Japanese Maple | Manzanita | Persian Ironwood | Smoke Tree | Texas Mountain Laurel | Tree Aloe