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Trees with Minimal Problems
This list can be used as a guide to select trees suitable for your particular
situation. Not all trees available to us are on this list and there may be
other trees that could be considered, depending upon your growing conditions.
Some trees were left off this list because they may get very large, such as
Eucalyptus citridora, or they may have other problems like limbs dropping as
a Grevilla robusta is prone to do.
We included Lagerstromia on the list because
it is a beautiful tree inland, but along the coast you may
have mildew problems. There are many things to consider
when selecting the right tree for your yard. There may be other Palms, Sycamore,
Ficus and Coral trees you might want to consider.
Height
may vary according to water, fertilizer, soil conditions,
and seedling varieties. Most of these trees
will not pose a problem with sidewalks or driveways
if deeply watered and the water can soak down deep. Hard soil and shallow
watering habits can cause surface rooting on almost any tree,
which may be a problem.
Root pruning can help eliminate problems in these areas especially near sidewalks
and driveways. There are also “root barrier” systems if you have
concerns. If you have any other questions, most of these trees are listed in “Sunset
Western Garden Book” or ask one of our professionals. Most of these
trees can be kept smaller by pruning with the exception of palms.
| Tree |
Common
Name |
avg.
height |
Type |
color
bloom |
| Acacia
subperosa |
Weeping
Acacia |
20'-30' |
E |
n.a. |
| Acacia
baileana |
Bailey's
Acacia |
20'-35' |
E |
yellow |
| Agonis
flexuosa |
Peppermint
willow |
20'-25' |
E |
small
white |
| Albizzia
julibrissen |
Silk
Tree |
2'-30' |
D |
pink |
| Aconthophoenix
cunningharmania |
King
palm |
30'-40'+ |
Palm |
n.a. |
| Arecastrum/Cocos
plumosa |
Queen
palm |
40'
- 50'+ |
Palm |
n.a. |
| Bauhinia
blakeana |
Hong
Kong orchid tree |
20'-25' |
S-E |
purple/pink |
| Bauhinia
purpurea/variegata |
Orchid
tree |
25'-30' |
S-E |
pink |
| Betula
varieties |
Birch
tree |
25'-35' |
D |
n.a. |
| Bischoffia
javanica |
Bischoffia
trifoliata |
30'-40' |
E |
n.a.
* |
| Brachychiton
acerfolia |
Flame
tree |
30'-40' |
E |
red/orange |
| Brachychiton
populens |
Bottle
tree |
30'-40' |
E |
cream |
| Brahea
edulis |
Guadalupe
palm |
25'-35'+ |
E |
n.a. |
| Callistemon
citrinus |
Bottle
brush |
30'-40' |
E |
red |
| Callistemon
viminalis |
Weeping
bottle brush |
20'-30 |
E |
red |
| Calodendron
capense |
Cape
Chestnut |
25'-35' |
S-E |
pink |
| Cassia
leptophylla |
Gold
medallion tree |
20'-25' |
E |
yellow |
| Casurina
stricta |
Beefwood/She
oak |
30'-40' |
E |
n.a.
* |
| Cercis
occidentalis |
Redbud
tree |
15'-25' |
D |
pink |
| Cercis "Forrest
Pansy" |
Redbud "Forrest
Pansy" |
15'-25' |
D |
pink
* |
| Cinamomum
camphora |
Camphor
tree |
30'-40' |
E |
n.a. |
| Cupaniopsis
anacarduiudes |
Carrot
wood tree |
30'-40' |
E |
n.a. |
| Eriobotrya
deflexa |
Bronze
loquat |
20'-25' |
E |
white |
| Eucalyptus
erythrocorys |
Red
cap gum |
15'-20' |
E |
yellow/red
pod |
| Eucalyptus
nicholi |
Willow
leaf euchlyptus |
30'-40' |
E |
n.a. |
| Eucalyptus
sideroxlyn rosea |
Iron
bark |
30'-50' |
E |
n.a. |
| Eucalyptus
ficifolia |
Flowering
eucalyptus |
40'-50' |
E |
pink,
white, red |
| Eucalyptus
polyanthemos |
Silver
dollar eucalyptus |
50'-60' |
E |
n.a. |
| Eucalyptus
lehmani |
bushy
yate |
20' |
E |
n.a.
* |
| Eucalyptus
torquata |
Coral
gum |
20' |
E |
* |
| Geijera
parvifolia |
Australian
willow |
30'-35' |
E |
n.a. |
| Ginko
biloba |
Ginko
or Maiden Hair Tree |
40'-50' |
D |
n.a. |
| Jacaranda
mimosifolia |
Jacaranda |
30'-40' |
D |
blue |
| Koelreuteria
bipinata |
Chinese
flame tree |
40'-50' |
D |
yellow |
| Koelreuteria
paniculata |
Golden
rain tree |
20'-25' |
D |
yellow |
| Lagerstromia
indica |
Crepe
Myrtle |
20'-25' |
D |
varies |
| Liquidamber
stryaciflua |
Sweet
gum |
40'-50' |
D |
n.a. |
| Lirodendron
tulipifera |
Tulip
tree |
40'-60' |
D |
cream |
| Magnolia
grandiflora |
Southern
Magnolia |
40'-50' |
E |
white |
| Magnolia
g. "Majestic Beauty" |
Magestic
Beauty Magnolia |
40'-50' |
E |
white |
| Magnolia
g. "St. Mary's" |
St.
Mary magnolia |
30'-40' |
E |
white |
| Magnolia
g. "Little Gem" |
LIttle
Gem Dwarf Magnolia |
15'-20' |
E |
white |
| Meleluca
linerifolia |
Snow
in Summer |
40'-50' |
E |
white |
| Meleluca
quinquenerva |
Paper
bark tree/Cajput |
30'-40' |
E |
white |
| Metrosideros
excelsa |
New
Zealand Christmas tree |
30'-35' |
E |
red |
| Michelia
champacha |
Michelia |
20'-30' |
E |
cream |
| Michelia
doltsopa |
|
20'-25' |
E |
white |
| Morus
alba |
Mulberry |
40'-50' |
D |
n.a. |
| Myporum
latum |
Myoporum |
20'-30' |
E |
white |
| Nerium
oleander |
Oleander
tree |
15'-20' |
E |
many |
| Pinus
canarensis |
Canary
Island Pine |
50'-60' |
E |
n.a. |
| Pinus
halapensis |
Italian
stone pine |
30'-40' |
E |
n.a. |
| Pinus
roxburgii |
Chir
pine |
25'-35' |
E |
n.a.
* |
| Pinus
thunbergia |
Japanese
black pine |
30'-50' |
E |
n.a. |
| Pistachia
chinensis |
Chinese
Pistachio |
30'-35' |
D |
n.a. |
| Pittosporum
rhombifolium |
|
20'-30' |
E |
n.a.
* |
| Pittosporum
undulatum |
Mock
orange/victorian box |
25'-35' |
E |
white |
| Podocarpus
gracillior |
Fern
pine |
30'-40' |
E |
n.a. |
| Podocarpus
henkelii |
Long
leaf yellow wood |
30'-40' |
E |
n.a. |
| Pyrus
kawakami |
Evergreen
pear |
25'-35' |
D |
white |
| Quercus
ilex |
Holly
oak |
30'-40' |
E |
n.a. |
| Quercus
suber |
Cork
oak |
40'-50' |
E |
n.a. |
| Stenocarpus
sinuatus |
Fire
wheel tree |
20'-30' |
E |
red-orange |
| Tabeubia
avellandae (ipe) |
Pink
trumpet tree |
20'-25' |
D |
pink |
| Tabebuia
chrysotricha |
Golden
trumpet tree |
20'-25' |
D |
yellow |
| Tipuana
tipu |
Tipu
tree |
35'-50' |
E |
white |
| Tristania
conferta |
Brisbane
box |
40'-50' |
E |
cream |
| Tristania
laurina |
Swamp
Myrtle |
20'-30' |
E |
yellow |
| |
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| E
= evergreen |
|
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| D
= deciduous (loses its leaves in winter) |
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| S-E
= semi evergreen (loses some or most of its leaves
in winter) |
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| Colors
as noted n.a. - not applicable or so insignificant
it doesn't matter |
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| *
= sometimes difficult to find, not always available |
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