tree guide revised

REAL GREEN
TREE SELECTION GUIDE
FRUIT TREES: Dwarf Varieties
Apple –
(Availability will vary)
The ornamental apple tree with its branching character and long
life is an excellent choice for your garden. You will be delighted with spring blooms and
tasty fruit in autumn. Trees may be grown as espaliers tied to frames, fences or other
supports. Height: 10’
Yellow Nectarine –
This very popular stone fruit has been
an all-time favorite of many home gardeners. Early fruit harvest is firm-ripe and
tangy. Later harvest is sweet with a rich flavor scoring high in the taste tests. The
lovely pink spring blossoms are delightful. Height: 10’ to 14’ at maturity.
White Nectarine –
The nectarine is native to China and resembles the
peach in appearance except that it has a smooth skin. This delicious, super-sweet nectarine
rates very high in taste tests with rich flavor and crunchy texture when ripe. The fruit ripens
in mid to late July and is very well adapted to our Valley. Height: 6’ to 10’ at maturity.
White Peach –
Peaches are native to China and have a pit or stone in
the middle. The flavorful white meat peach is a favorite of many. The slightly “fuzzy”
skin ripens in June and July after lovely white spring blossoms. The San Joaquin Valley
has excellent growing conditions for this fruit tree. Trees can be trained to espalier against
a fence or metal form for an ornamental touch. Height: 10’ to 15’ and slightly wider.
The yellow-fleshed peach is a standard for many
Yellow Peach –
peach lovers: great tasting, a fine texture, a lovely yellow skin with a pink blush, and
spring blooms. This peach ripens in mid-July. Tree may also be espaliered to your fence
for a decorative touch to your garden. Height: 10’ to 15’ and slightly wider
Watering Need:
Moderate:
Low:
Very Little:
= Safe Under
Power Lines
CITRUS TREES:
Improved Meyer Lemon –
If you are into cooking or just like the
ability to pick lemons from your own tree, then you need this lemon in your back yard! The
fruit is slightly rounded, thin skinned and orange yellow in color. It has a tangy aroma and is the
variety of choice of many culinary experts. The word “improved” refers to the fact that it is a
disease-free variety. Height: 10’ to 12’ tall and wide.
Lime –
There’s nothing better than picking your own limes to use in beverages
and cooking. The tree is quite angular and open when young, but forms a dense crown when
mature. It is thorny and does tend to drop leaves in the winter. Harvest this seedless lime in late
winter until late spring. It can be grown in the ground or in a container. Growing in a container
does allow you to move to a protected area in extreme cold. Height: 7’ to 10’
Mandarin –
This great looking and fairly compact tree would be a wonder-
ful addition planted in your yard or container. The fruit is smaller than an orange, seedless,
very flavorful and easy to peel. It blooms in the Spring and bears fruit in the Fall and winter
depending on variety. Height: 8’ to 10’ and the same width.
Navel Orange –
Citrus offers a year-round attractive tree for your
yard with glossy deep green leaves, very fragrant white blossoms in April with decorative, delicious and seedless fruit. Our Valley is the perfect growing medium for this
heat loving tree. This tree may be grown in a container. Harvest is from late Fall into
winter. Height: 8’ to 10’
Watering Need:
Moderate:
Low:
Very Little:
= Safe Under
Power Lines
SMALL SHADE TREES:
Chaste Tree – (Vitex)
A native of the Mediterranean region to
central Asia is a very showy tree with flowers from summer into fall. The blossoms
are small, fragrant lavender-blue flowers in 6-12” spikes at branch ends and in leaf
joints. It may be grown as a multi or single trunk tree. No fall color. This moderate
to fast growing tree reaches a height of 25’ with fair to good carbon storage and pollution filtering. There is medium allergen potential.
Crape Myrtle – (Lagerstroemia)
The San Joaquin Valley
would not be complete without the profuse color of the summer blossoms of this tree.
In addition, the leaves turn dark red and orange in the fall. Your yard cannot have too
many Crape Myrtles for summer show! This small deciduous tree has a moderate
growth rate averaging 10’ to 15’ with good carbon storage and pollution filtering and
medium allergen potential.
This is a picturesque, fine textured
Japanese Maple – (Acer )
and delicately branched deciduous tree. You will want to plant it where you can see it
readily. Growth rate is slow. The fall color display is wonderful. Select a planting location with sun to partial shade to protect from sun burn resulting in leaf burn and curl. This
tree will grow nicely in a container on your patio. Height is 5’ to 15’ with fair carbon
storage and pollution filtering and medium allergen potential.
Flowering Plum –
The Flowering Plum is grown for
its beautiful floral displays in mid-winter and spring before the tree leafs out. It produces a small bland fruit, so it is recommended to plant away from patios or driveways.
The foliage is a lovely deep purple to give your yard contrasting color. This small deciduous tree has a moderate growth rate reaching a height of 10-12’ with fair carbon
storage and pollution filtering with low allergen potential.
Photinia – (Photinia)
(Prunus)
This small evergreen tree with a moderate to
rapid growth rate has dense foliage with elliptical to oval leaves. New growth is brightred that matures to dark green. Small white clusters of flowers appear in the spring followed by berries that may last until winter. The berries will attract our feathered friends.
These trees are great for screens and background plantings. This tree has a moderate to
rapid growth rate to 10-15’ in height and width. You may espalier this tree or have a single trunk. There is fair carbon storage and pollution filtering with low allergen potential.
Watering Need:
Moderate:
Low:
Very Little:
= Safe Under
Power Lines
SMALL SHADE TREES
Redbud – (Cercis)
Continued:
This tree is valued for its flowers and foliage.
Clusters of small rosy to purplish pink blossoms are borne in great profusion on bare
twigs, branches, and sometimes even the main trunk. Blossoms are followed by seed
pods. The beautiful leaves are heart-shaped and give you lovely fall color. This
small, decorative tree puts on quite a show in the spring and fall so you won’t want to
miss having one in your yard. Height averages 15’ with good carbon storage, pollution filtering and medium allergen potential.
This is among the showiest of flowering
Rose of Sharon –(Hibiscus)
trees that is seen in our Valley. This is a heat-loving deciduous small tree with a mature
height of 10-12’ and 6’ wide with a moderate growth rate. This tree is easily trained to a single trunk tree or as an espalier. The flowers vary in color from white to pink to red and arrive
in late spring and continue until frost. Foliage does not color in the fall. There is fair carbon
storage and pollution filtering with low allergen potential.
Smoke Tree –(Cotinus)
This unusual and colorful shrub-tree is
naturally multi-stemmed but can be easily trained to a single trunk tree. Leaves are purple to green in color. The common name is derived from dramatic puffs of “smoke”
from fading flowers: as the tiny greenish blooms wither, they send out elongated stalks
clothed in a profusion of fuzzy lavender-pink hairs. Plant in soil with fast drainage and
avoid overly wet conditions. This tree is great in rock gardens. Height is 12-15’ at a
moderate growth rate. There is medium carbon storage and pollution filtering with high
allergen potential.
MEDIUM SHADE
(Trees over 25 feet tall are not power line friendly)
Carolina Cherry – (Prunus)
This attractive evergreen tree is native to
North Carolina and Texas and may be grown as a single or multi-trunked tree. It is a great
shade tree or will provide a dense screen with its heavy 2-4” long, smoothed edge, glossy
green foliage. Small fragrant creamy white flowers bloom in 1” spikes from late winter to
mid-spring. Blossoms are followed by black fruit that is inconspicuous among the leaves.
Flower and fruit litter can be a problem in paved areas. There is moderate growth rate to a
height of 20’-30’ with fair to good carbon storage and pollution filtering with medium allergen potential.
Watering Need:
Moderate:
Low:
Very Little:
= Safe Under
Power Lines
MEDIUM SHADE TREES
Continued:
Chinese Fringe – (Chionanthus)
The Chinese Fringe tree is a
beautiful showy tree that is native to desert areas of California and Texas and as you
might suspect, very drought tolerant. This deciduous tree grows to a height ranging
between 15 – 25’ tall, not quite as wide, with a beautiful rounded shape. Handsome
gray-brown bark provides winter interest. It flowers in May – June. The flower clusters have a very fine texture, which along with the snow white color, yields a beautiful accent tree in your garden. In full bloom the trees are completely covered with
flowers which are contrasted by leaves that are dark green. The Chinese Fringe tree
(female variety) produces a dark blue fruit that birds love after the blossoms. Broad
leaves turn bright yellow in fall. This is an excellent choice for a tree that will add
interest to a landscape most of the year. It needs good drainage and prefers acid soils,
but is highly adaptable to our valley. It has fair carbon storage and pollution filtering
with medium allergen potential.
Hopseed Bush - (Dodonaea)
This tree is native to the warm areas
of Arizona and Hawaii. It is easy to grow as a shrub or small tree and can easily be shaped
as a single or multi-trunked tree or espaliered. Foliage is very interesting with strongly
tinted bronze 4” leaf that darkens into winter. It is best planted in full sun to retain its rich
color. Flowers are insignificant but the seedpods are often showy and long lasting. Height
at maturity is 10’-15’ and width is the same. Good carbon storage and pollution filtration
with medium allergen potential.
Little Gem Magnolia – (Magnolia)
Just as it name indicates, this
would be a special tree for your home. This magnolia is evergreen, bearing magnificent
fragrant white flowers from spring until late summer with large glossy leaves (prized by
florists). It is heat resistant and tolerant of damp soil. It is messy, shedding its large hard
leaves and other litter from spring into autumn. Do not plant near pavement. Grass will
not grow under its branches in your lawn, so choose your planting site carefully. You may
plant in a container or espaliered on a fence or wall. This slow growing tree matures to a
height of 20’-25’ with a spread of 10’-15’.
Maidenhair Tree – (Ginkgo biloba)
An ancient survivor from pre-
historic times (200 million years ago) when it grew worldwide. Now it is native to
only two small areas of China. This lovely, graceful tree is attractive in any season
but especially in the fall when the light green fan-shaped leaves turn brilliant gold.
The leaves hang on the tree for awhile and then cleanly drop creating a golden carpet
where they fall. Average height is 35’ to 50’ with a slow to moderate growth rate,
good carbon storage and pollution filtering. Male trees have medium allergen potential and females have low potential.
Watering Need:
Moderate:
Low:
Very Little:
= Safe Under
Power Lines
MEDIUM SHADE TREES
Pistacia –
(Chinese pistache)
Continued:
If great fall color is a priority for you,
this is a fabulous deciduous canopy tree. Foliage turns from luminous orange to red
and sometimes shades of yellow depending on colder weather temperatures. Foliage is on narrow leaflets. This tree has a slow to moderate growth rate reaching a
height of 35” with good carbon storage and pollution filtering. Allergen potential is
high with male and low with female varieties.
Strawberry Tree – (Arbutus) Native to southern Europe and Ireland this
tree has many attractive features. It is one of the best lawn or raised-bed trees. The
ornamental bark sheds and becomes gnarly with age. It has clusters of little urn-shaped
flowers, decorative edible fruit (small, red strawberry shaped) and handsome dark green
foliage. The tree has slow to moderate growth to a height of 8’ to 35’ with good carbon
storage and pollution filtering with low allergen potential.
Sweet Bay – (Laurus nobilis)
This Mediterranean native is best known for its
aromatic leaves that are used in cooking as bay leaves. The foliage is 2 to 4” long and dark
green in color. Clusters of small yellow spring flowers are followed by black fruit. Its
dense habit makes this tree a great background or screen for privacy. Tree may be easily
grown in a container. This tree reaches a height of 12 to 40’ with good carbon storage and
pollution filtering. Allergen potential is high with male and low with female varieties.
LARGE SHADE TREES:
( Large Shade Trees are NOT Power Line Friendly. )
Aleppo Pine – (Pinus)
This evergreen pine tree originated in the Eastern
Mediterranean, southern Russia and southern Italy. It has a fast to moderate growth rate
with a classic, beautiful, dense and erect pyramidal shape. Needles are dark green with
reddish-brown cones. Height will reach 30’ to 60’ and has good carbon storage and pollution filtering with low allergen potential with low allergen potential.
Watering Need:
Moderate:
Low:
Very Little:
= Safe Under
Power Lines
LARGE TREES
Continued:
Afghan Pine—(Pinus eldarica) The origin of this evergreen pine tree was in
Southern Russia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is one of the best suited pine trees for the
desert and therefore for our Valley. It has a rapid growth rate when young, maturing to
30’-80’ tall and 15’-25’ wide. This pine tree has the classic shape and is dense and erect in
shape. The needles are in 5” to 6” pairs and produces cones. Good carbon storage and pollution filtration.
Chinese Elm – (Ulmus)
Originating from China, Korea, and Ja-
pan, this is a highly prized shade tree. The arching branches have long weeping
branchlets. The bark on the trunk of older trees sheds in patches creating a beautiful mottling effect. This evergreen variety has foliage with small dark green and
evenly toothed leaves. This is a great patio tree, sun screen or street tree. Average height is 40’-60’ tall and width with very good carbon and pollution filtering
with high allergen potential
Camphor Tree – (Cinnamomum)
This magnificent evergreen
tree is native to China and Japan. The Camphor tree is a strongly structured tree
with heavy trunk and heavy upright spreading limbs with a life span of approximately 120 years. It is aromatic with 2.5 to 5” leaves that smell like camphor
when crushed. New foliage appears in the spring as pink, red or bronze colors
that mature to shiny yellow-green leaves. Inconspicuous yellow flowers bloom
profusely in late spring followed by small blackish fruits. Leaves will drop in the
early spring followed by the flowers, fruits and twigs. Plant in an area where the
litter will not be a problem or where paved areas or sewer lines are not a concern.
Height can reach 50’ with good carbon storage and pollution filtering with medium allergen potential.
Ornamental Pear – (Pyrus)
This Chinese native is a deciduous tree
that is prized for its profuse late-winter or early-spring show of white blossoms. The foliage is glossy dark green with brilliant fall colors of yellow to dark red. This pyramidal
shaped tree will reach 40’ and 20’ wide with low to moderate carbon storage and pollution filtering with medium allergen potential.
Watering Need:
Moderate:
Low:
Very Little:
= Safe Under
Power Lines
LARGE TREES
Continued:
London Plane Tree - (Platanus)
This is a spectacular deciduous
canopy tree in the Sycamore family. It has a heavy trunk and sculptural branches.
This fast growing tree will reach 40-80’ tall with 30-40’ spread. This tree can be pollarded to create a low dense canopy for smaller spaces. Creamy new bark weathers to
gray and looks very handsome in the winter. This is a great tree for streets or large
gardens. The London Plane stands up beautifully to smog, soot, dust and reflected
heat so there is very good carbon storage and pollution filtration with high allergen
potential.
Scarlet Oak – (Quercus coccinea)
A deciduous tree that is native to the eastern
U.S. It is pyramidal in shape when young and rounded top at maturity. Bright green leaves are
deeply cut lobes that turn scarlet in the fall. Rounded acorns are approximately 1” across with
a low cap. These are great street or lawn trees as the roots are deep. The average height is 6080’ tall and 40-60’ wide with good carbon storage and pollution filtration with high allergen
potential.
Southern Live Oak – (Quercus virginiana)
This magnificent evergreen
oak tree is native to the coastal plains of the southeastern U.S. and is the most attractive of
all evergreen oaks. The heavy branching produces bark that is interesting, dark and ridged
with shiny dark green leaves. It produces oval acorns up to 1” long. This long-lived tree
is a great oak tree to plant near a lawn. The height will reach 40-80’ at maturity. It has
very good carbon storage and pollution filtering with high allergen potential.
Tupelo – (Nyssa sylvatica )
This deciduous tree is native to eastern U.S. and
would make an excellent specimen or shade tree for your large garden. The pyramidal
shape when young spreads to an irregular and rugged shape at maturity. Crooked
branches make a dramatic picture against the winter sky. Glossy green leaves appear in
late spring with inconspicuous flowers and small bluish-black fruit follows. The fruit will
attract birds to your garden. A brilliant display of color follows in the fall with the leaves
turning yellow and orange and then bright red before dropping. The average height is
30’-50’ and 15’-25’ wide with very good carbon storage and pollution filtration. Allergen
potential is high with male trees and low with female trees.
Watering Need:
Moderate:
Low:
Very Little:
= Safe Under
Power Lines
LARGE SHADE TREES
Yew Pine – (Podocarpus)
Continued:
Native to eastern China and Japan, this versatile
evergreen tree has good-looking foliage and narrow upright form. These heat-loving
trees with a moderate growth rate are often used as a screen or hedge for privacy and
background planting. It is not a “pine” tree with needles but has bright green 4” long
leaves. This tree is great as a street or lawn tree and may be grown in a container and
espaliered or clipped as topiary. Height at maturity is 15’ to 50’ tall and 6’ to 15’ wide.
There is good carbon and pollution filtering with low allergen potential with female
trees and high potential with male trees.
Tree availability will vary.
In the event that your tree choice is not available due to seasonal availability, or low nursery stock; you will
be contacted to choose a replacement tree, or you may choose a rain check. If you choose a rain check, the
tree will be delivered when it becomes available.
All of the trees in this guide like FULL SUN
With the exception of the Japanese Maple, which likes PARTIAL SUN
Further information about the care, harvest, and nutritional needs of trees may be found
by visiting the following websites:
http://www.lecooke.com/cms/contact-le-cooke.html
http://www.fourwindsgrowers.com/
http://selectree.calpoly.edu
Watering Need:
Moderate:
Low:
Very Little:
= Safe Under
Power Lines