Gardening : What to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Tree : Weigh factors such as height, suitability to climate, ease of care and appearance.
Choosing the best tree for your yard is a bit more complicated than just going to the nursery and buying whatever looks healthy and attractive. That cute little tree that looked so good in the container at the nursery may grow into a huge monster in a couple of years.
You can avoid problems that homeowners most frequently encounter by asking the following questions: Is this tree suited to our climate? When mature, will this tree be too large for my yard? Does this tree have destructive or invasive roots? Is this tree messy, dropping leaves, flowers or fruit? Is this tree susceptible to any diseases or insects?
You will also have to decide if you would like an evergreen or a deciduous tree, which loses its leaves every autumn. One beautiful tree can increase the property value of your home significantly, as well as create a warmer, more inviting appearance. I always recommend choosing a tree you really like, rather than just purchasing whatever tree seems suitable for a particular area of your yard.
The 10 trees listed below have proven to be ideally suited to home landscapes in Southern California. They were chosen for their outstanding beauty, ease of care and freedom from the common tree problems.
RIVER TEA TREE: Melaleuca leucadendron . Usually multi-trunked, this evergreen grows to 25-30 feet tall. It is native to Australia and Papua New Guinea, has attractive white bark and soft foliage. A perfect-size tree, this Melaleuca doesn’t get too big, stays relatively narrow, yet is large enough to serve as a dominant tree in a landscape. It can also be used as a screen (plant trees 6-8 feet apart), or to create a woodsy backdrop in a small yard. It is drought tolerant.
PEPPERMINT TREE: Agonis flexuosa . Another Australian native, it grows to 25-35 feet tall and is hardy to 25 degrees. The leaves have a slight minty fragrance when crushed. Small, white flowers appear in spring to summer. With this tree you get the soft, delicate, weeping effect similar to a weeping willow, only the Agonis is evergreen, drought tolerant and stays small.
EUROPEAN WHITE BIRCH: Betula alba . A favorite because of its lovely white bark and graceful appearance, the Birch is deciduous and grows to about 50 feet. Both male and female trees bear small, cone-like catkins. It is tolerant of all soil types, including soggy soils.
QUEEN PALM: Arecastrum romanzoffianum . The Queen Palm is hard to resist with its elegant, feathery leaves. It is used in a wide array of landscape designs, and is particularly stunning with Spanish or Mediterranean style architecture. The Queen Palm is a rapid grower to about 50 feet tall.
SWEET GUM: Liquidambar styraciflua . This is the tree for spectacular full color. The Liqidambar has maple-like leaves and spiny, round fruit in winter, which will need to be raked occasionally. It is deciduous and grows to about 50 feet tall. Plant in front of a south window to help cool the house in the summer and to remind you what season it is when fall arrives. Suitable for planting in a lawn, Liquidambars will tolerate lots of water or can go for weeks between waterings. Liquidambars are used extensively as street trees.
EVERGREEN ELM: Ulmus parvifolia . This elm has a lovely weeping, arching form and grows to about 60 feet tall. A fine, large specimen tree, not overwhelming, which benefits from occasional pruning, especially when young.
MIMOSA OR SILK TREE: Albizia julibrissin . The mimosa is deciduous and fast growing to about 30 feet, with arching branches that form an umbrella-like canopy. It has light-green, fern-like foliage and beautiful, showy pink flowers in summer. The variety ‘Rosea’ is the hardiest and has the brightest flowers. The flowers will drop and make a pink carpet; if planted over a patio you will need to sweep occasionally. I think the flowers are worth it. Mimosas thrive on summer heat and require ample water.
STRAWBERRY TREE: Arbutus unedo . This handsome evergreen grows to about 30 feet tall, is drought tolerant and is ideal for small yards or as an accent tree. Compact forms make wonderful container trees in a patio or entry. ‘Compacta’ is a compact form. ‘Elfin King’ is even smaller, growing to a maximum of 5 feet. White flowers and red or yellow fruit appear in fall to winter. Fruit is edible but not very tasty.
SOUTHERN MAGNOLIA: Magnolia grandiflora . This glossy evergreen is native to the southern United States and is prized for its huge, fragrant, 8-10 inch white flowers. The Southern Magnolia is tolerant of all soil types and grows to about 80 feet tall.
The dwarf variety ‘St. Mary’s’ grows to only 20 feet and has the same spectacular flowers. Some people complain about the litter of fallen leaves and seed pods; the good news is they only fall a few at a time, are large, stiff (leaves are almost plastic-like) and are thus quick and easy to clean up.
JAPANESE BLACK PEAR: Pinus thunbergiana . A versatile pine, native to Japan, it grows to about 20 feet tall and is easily pruned to achieve different looks. It is often used for an Oriental effect, as a bonsai tree, or as a single specimen tree.
