Arbor Day Applause: Iconic Los Angeles Trees
Step aside, palm trees. California's native trees offer landscapes a huge variety of styles, personas and foliage
The trees that line our streets and shade our outdoor living spaces serve as a subtle but defining feature of our communities. As arborists and tree lovers everywhere celebrate the significant contributions of trees on this last 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 stars. The palm trees lining the streets of Beverly Hills are, perhaps, most famously associated with the Southland. Local reporters write poetic pieces about the blooming of purple Jacaranda each year, and 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 native fauna thrive in our difficult soils. These lovelies have that X factor.
The trees of Los Angeles are seen in enough shows to have earned their own stars. The palm trees lining the streets of Beverly Hills are, perhaps, most famously associated with the Southland. Local reporters write poetic pieces about the blooming of purple Jacaranda each year, and 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 native fauna thrive in our difficult soils. These lovelies have that X factor.
The rambling architecture of the Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) defines the city of Pasadena. Its dense canopy can span more than 100 feet — a great benefit in hotter climates. The Coast Live Oak's root structure will match its expansive canopy. It is slow growing, and its happiness will depend on your recognition that it needs plenty of space.
If you need a little shade and fast, California's white oaks (Quercus lobata) are a wonderful choice. They are among the fastest-growing 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.
One of the rewards of a happy Coast Live Oak: the outrageously beautiful male catkins.
California's state tree, the Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), has very wide-spreading roots. They add a stately beauty to park spaces and large estates.
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.
Incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) can reach 30 feet. Its clean and fragrant foliage adds a crispness to any landscape. It's hardy and handles varied soils and moisture levels. With its dense needles, it makes for an effective windbreak.
The California bay (Umbellularia californica) has a fantastic fragrance. Native to both California and Oregon, the bay does like more water than some of the other trees shown here.
If you love the California bay, as I do, but live in an area without the 30 inches a year of rain it needs, planting in shade where the roots will stay cool all year can help. It will also perform well in a container, where you can provide the added hydration it needs.
If you need a tree suitable for a small garden or even a tight space, Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) is ideal. Not only does it provide an amazing array of color transitions throughout the year, but its delicate stem structure is lovely when it's bare.
Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), otherwise known as Christmas berry, adds a splash of color to landscapes as well. It likes full sun and usually grows 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 needs 4 to 5 feet of space at its base. The colorful berries can be used to create 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
Great design trees:
Bald Cypress | Chinese Witch Hazel | Dove Tree | Japanese Maple | Manzanita | Persian Ironwood | Smoke Tree | Texas Mountain Laurel | Tree Aloe