
A: Some of the most common trees native to Northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. Spanning the state's northernmost 48 counties, its main population centers include the San Francisco Bay Area, the Greater Sacramento area, and the Metropolitan Fresno area. Northern California also contains re…
What is the best time to plant a tree in Northern California?
In Northern California, winter is an excellent time to plant trees. The rain moistens the soil, making digging easier, and then waters the tree after planting. All deciduous fruit and nut trees - including apples, plums, peaches, cherries, nectarines, pears, apricots, quinces and walnuts - are available in bare-root form in January.
Are there palm trees in Northern California?
You will find the best personal service, highest-quality and widest variety of palms in the Northern Bay Area at All Tropical Palms. Call (408) 898-6339 or email our palm nursery today! All Tropical Palms Nursery is the largest dedicated palm nursery in northern California that was established in 2001.
What trees are there in California?
The sequoia groves in the region are home to the largest trees in the world, some of which have been growing for more than 3,000 years, but they are being devastated by drought and recent wildfires. Long Meadow Grove is home to the Trail of 100 Giants; at least 125 giant sequoias with a diameter of at least 10 feet live there.
Do tarantulas live in Northern California?
Tarantulas live in twelve U.S. states, including New Mexico, California, Arizona, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. Where are tarantula hawks located? Tarantula hawks are found in every continent except Europe and Antartica. In the United States, they are found in the deserts of the southwest.

What is the most common tree found in California?
The 5 Most Common Trees in CaliforniaJacaranda. The Jacaranda tree is native to Central and South America as well as the Caribbean. ... Catalina Cherry Tree. This medium-sized tree is native to California. ... Velvet Ash. The Velvet Ash is a medium sized tree. ... Box Elder. ... Western Redbud.
What types of trees are in California?
California Native TreesCalifornia buckeye (Aesculus californica)Refugio manzanita (Arctostaphylos refugioensis)Island Ceanothus (Ceanothus arboreus)Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis)Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis)Mexican palo verde (Parkinsonia aculeata)Yellow bells (Tecoma stans)
What kind of trees are in the Santa Cruz Mountains?
Associated species of the Santa Cruz population include knobcone pine (P. attenuata), Douglas fir (P. menziesii), coast redwood (S. sempervirens), tan oak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus), Arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis), coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), Shreve oak (Quercus parvula var.
What trees are common in the Pacific Northwest?
The Big Three–the most common in the Pacific Northwest:Douglas Fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii.Western Red Cedar, Thuja plicata.Western Hemlock, Tsuga heterophylla.The Pine Family, Pinaceae.Western Hemlock, Tsuga heterophylla.Mountain Hemlock, Tsuga mertensiana.Grand Fir, Abies grandis.Noble Fir, Abies procera.More items...
What are the large trees in Northern California?
Giant sequoias and California redwoods (also called coast redwoods) are nature's skyscrapers. These enormous trees exist primarily in Northern California, Oregon and Washington and though they have a number of common characteristics, including distinctive cinnamon-red bark, they are different species.
What are the tall skinny trees called in California?
Due to its tall, narrow growth habit, these junipers are also called pencil junipers. These skinny columnar conifers grow in a wide variety of climates. They are very drought-resistant plants that grow in full sun and up to 25 ft. (7.5 m) tall.
What are the trees in Monterey called?
Hesperocyparis macrocarpa is a coniferous tree. It is commonly known as the Monterey cypress and is one of several species of cypress trees endemic to California....Cupressus macrocarpa.Monterey cypressFamily:CupressaceaeGenus:HesperocyparisSpecies:H. macrocarpaBinomial name17 more rows
Are there Sequoias in Santa Cruz?
The redwood (officially, sequoia sempervirens) has a favorite place to live, too: Santa Cruz County.
What are the large trees in Stanley park?
Major tree species of Stanley ParkWestern hemlock (natural regeneration and population control)Western red cedar (planted and natural regeneration)Douglas fir (planted and natural regeneration)Sitka spruce (predominantly planted)Grand fir (planted)
What are the biggest trees in the Pacific Northwest?
In fact, the northernmost naturally-growing redwoods — the tallest trees on earth — are in southwest Oregon's Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, just across the border from California, while lofty Douglas firs and western red cedars dominate western Washington's big tree landscape.
Are the redwoods in the Pacific Northwest?
About Redwood Forest Habitat Redwood forests stretch along a thin belt on the Pacific coast of northern California and southern Oregon, occupying the southern end of the temperate rainforest zone of the Pacific Northwest.
What is the fastest growing tree in the Pacific Northwest?
The weeping willow is an iconic giant that, when mature, reaches heights between 30 and 40 feet. This species grows best in places where the water table is high (like the Pacific Northwest) and has been clocked at an average growth of three to eight feet-per-year....Hours of Operations.Monday24/7Sunday24/75 more rows
Are California redwoods and sequoias the same?
Sequoias and giant redwoods are often referred to interchangeably, though they are two very different, though equally remarkable, species of tree. Both naturally occurring only in California, these two species share a distinctive cinnamon-colored bark and the proclivity for growing to overwhelming heights.
What is the most popular forest in California?
Best national forests in CaliforniaInyo National Forest. ... Tahoe National Forest. ... Six Rivers National Forest. ... Los Padres National Forest. ... Modoc National Forest. ... Klamath National Forest. ... Angeles National Forest. ... Plumas National Forest.More items...•
What are the 3 types of redwoods?
All in the Subfamily North Coast as “redwoods,” there are in fact three distinct redwood species: dawn redwood, giant sequoia, and coast redwood.
What is the most common tree type?
Red Maple or (Acer rubrum) Red maple is the most common tree in North America and lives in diverse climates and habitats, mainly in the eastern United States.
Where does Canby oak grow?
The Canby oak is native to northern Mexico and Texas. It grows rapidly with an upright habit to reach 30 to 50 feet. The thick leathery leaves are semi-evergreen and resemble red oak. Acorns are small and narrow.
Where is the Desert Willow native to?
The Desert Willow is native to California and the Southwest. It is a small flowering desert tree that can reach a height of 15 feet. The cultivar Bubba is upright in form and has profuse, long-lasting blooms. Leaves are linear blue green and turn golden in the fall. The showy flowers are pink and white.
How tall does a shoering acacia grow?
The canopy is open with weeping, linear leaves. Shoestring acacia reaches a height of 20 to 30 feet. Fragrant and showy yellow flowers grow in clusters from fall to spring. The tree is drought tolerant and prefers well-drained soil. May require staking initially and sometimes sprouts from roots. First photo credit: Mountain States Wholesale Nursery.
How tall is a rosewood tree?
It reaches a height of 30 to 50 feet with a 40 foot canopy spread. Rosewood tolerates periods of drought and can grow in sandy, clay and loam soil types. Its roots host nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The flowers are inconspicuous.
Where does ghost gum grow?
The Ghost Gum is native to Australia and is a smaller eucalyptus, reaching 66 feet. The trunk is smooth and snow white. It has gray green evergreen leaves that are tinged purple by frost. White flowers bloom in the summer. It tolerates drought but can be used in well-irrigated landscapes.
Where is Texas Ebony native to?
The Texas Ebony is native to Texas and Northern Mexico, where it is evergreen. It tolerates modest frost but goes deciduous. The tree can reach a height of 30 feet, but is slow growing. Once established it is very drought tolerant.
How tall is a hackberry tree?
A deciduous tree, it reaches heights of 25 to 35 feet with spreading or weeping canopy. The ovate leaves are medium green and turn yellow in the fall. The flowers mature into red drupes that attract birds. The Netleaf Hackberry is drought tolerant and able to thrive in variety of soil types.
1. Blue Oak
Blue oak is a hardy, slow-growing tree found primarily on wooded hills in California, from Los Angeles to the north of San Francisco. They don’t require much water and grow best in dry soil, allowing them to thrive in the state’s climate. The oak’s blue-green leaves don’t change color in autumn but do fall off.
2. Valley Oak
This tree is the largest oak species found in North America. The valley oak grows quickly in a range of different soils. It is drought-tolerant and produces intricate tangled branch patterns, making it one of the most lovely trees in California. The leaves turn yellow in the fall before dropping.
3. California Buckeye
This medium-sized tree produces sweet-smelling white flowers, which attract local California pollinator species. It is the only buckeye species native to the state. The California buckeye has low water needs and loses its leaves early in the summer, allowing it to use even less liquid.
4. California Sycamore
The California sycamore is found primarily in wetland and river areas, and it’s a tall tree that can grow as much as 3 feet each year. Sycamores are well-known for their gray and white peeling bark. The trees are most common from the Mexican border to the north of Sacramento.
5. Western Redbud
The Western redbud is a gorgeous ornamental tree featuring beautiful pink-purple flowers that are among the earliest spring bloomers. This tree is easy to grow, with low water needs. In the wild, it prefers sloping elevations in the hills and mountains.
6. California White Alder
The California white alder is found throughout the state, from San Diego up past the northern border. It can grow at various altitudes but prefers moist soils such as creek beds or river banks. The tree produces green and white flowers, which mature into a fruit that looks like small pine cones.
7. Box Elder
The box elder is known by several other names, including maple ash and boxelder maple. In California, the tree is found in coastal mountain ranges from San Diego to Sacramento. This species prefers moist planting locations, such as near streams. Older trees are more drought-tolerant because their roots can typically reach underground water sources.
What is the botanical term for giant redwoods?
Sequoioideae is the botanical term for those giant redwoods that grow in northern California. If you’re not from out of state, chances are you already knew that (if you know how to say it, please shoot me an email). Or perhaps you’re new to the area and want to know more about the trees that grow there. If this happens to be the case, you’re in luck, because today we’ll be discussing the best trees to plant in northern California.
How tall does Canby's Oak grow?
Canby’s Oak. This rather handsome specimen will reach heights of 40 feet or more . Its leaves are dense, its acorns small. The Canby’s Oak is easy to grow in several different soils and climates. It has been known to withstand temperatures from 20 degrees Fahrenheit all the way up to over 100.
How tall does a shoering Acacia tree grow?
Shoestring Acacia. This beautiful tree grows to 30 feet high with a full, shady canopy that whispers on the wind. Yellow flowers burgeon brightly from fall to spring. This is another tree that does well against droughts, and even better in well-drained soil.
What kind of soil does a rosewood tree grow in?
It grows in sandy, clay, and loam soil without complaint while maintaining a reasonably firm resolve against droughts. Many enthusiasts adore the rosewood tree for its deep, vibrant color, along with the pleasant odor of roses that tends to hover about its branches.
How big does a rosewood tree grow?
Rosewood. This northern India native tree can grow to be quite large—50 feet for the most healthy specimens. But you’ll love its full canopy, and its ability to make quick comebacks from frost damage. It grows in sandy, clay, and loam soil without complaint while maintaining a reasonably firm resolve against droughts.
What color are the leaves in the fall?
Deciduous in nature, you’ll get green leaves in the summer and yellow in the fall. Red drupe flowers will set the area to music with singing birds.
Do cypress trees have flowers?
Diseases and pests tend to leave this tree alone, making it even more desirable. No flowers, but the leaves take on a lovely yellow shade in the fall.
1. Catalina Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii) – Southern California
The Catalina Cherry is mainly native to the Channel Islands region, with some specimens on the mainland in Southern California. The Catalina Cherry has an upright form and is fast-growing once established.
2. Island Ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus) – Southern California
The Island Ironwood is a native of Southern and Central California, primarily in the Channel Islands. In this area, it can be found on rocky slopes at elevations between 100 and 1600 ft in the oak woodlands and chaparral of the rocky coastal canyons.
3. California Nutmeg (Torreya californica) – North California
The California Nutmeg is a small evergreen tree that looks somewhat like a small Yew or Glossy Leaved Redwood. It has spreading and drooping branches and can be found in the Pacific Coast Ranges and the Foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
4. Baja California Birdbush (Ornithostaphylos oppositifolia) – Southern California
The Baja Californian Birdbush is a member of the Heath family and shares many characteristics with other members of the family, including the Manzanitas and Summer Holly.
5. Northern California Walnut (Juglans hindsii) – Northern and Southern California
The Northern Californian Walnut is native to disparate spots throughout the state and was likely spread by the original inhabitants of the land.
6. California Box Elder (Acer negundo californicum) – Northern California
The California Box Elder is native to the mountains of Central and Northern California. It’s a fantastic shade tree, provides good fall color, and is useful as a soil stabilizer and as a windbreak.
7. Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides) – Northern and Southern California
The Mountain Mahogany is native to dry areas, usually in foothills throughout the state of California, often in chaparrals. The foliage is said to resemble Birch, hence the Betula in the name. They are distinct in that they have smooth edges from the base to mid-way up, and then become wavy to toothed towards the end.
What is the color of California lilac?
The deep cobalt-blue to delicate powder-blue flowers of California lilac dance with pollinators in the early spring, while the dark foliage stays evergreen throughout the year. There are a number of species, cultivars and hybrids of California lilac to choose from, including ground covers, medium-size shrubs, large shrubs and extra-large shrubs. My personal favorites are ‘Dark Star’ and ‘Julia Phelps’, which are large shrubs with tiny textured leaves; the robust ground cover ‘Yankee Point’; and the tree-like ‘Ray Hartman’, which quickly grows to 10 to 20 feet tall. Ceanothus requires excellent drainage, and most species want no summer water once established.
Where are redbuds native to?
Native to various regions of California, and Northern California in particular, these plants are all climate-appropriate in moderate inland areas of Northern California. Others will work in coastal areas too. From majestic manzanita to colorful Oregon grape and striking western redbud, all of these plants add beauty and seasonal interest ...
What is the best plant for a garden?
Yarrow is another workhorse in the garden, attracting lots of good bugs while also repelling bad bugs; it’s an excellent plant for habitat and vegetable gardens. Its long-blooming umbels of fresh white flowers — and ones in a variety of other colors — call to mind a wildflower meadow.
Where do dogwoods grow?
Native in many plant communities throughout California, except deserts, on stream banks and in moist places. As a classic woodland plant in full sun or shade, dogwoods are best known for their elegant creamy-white flower clusters on outstretched branches with bright green leaves. Redtwig dogwood adds a twist.
How tall is Oregon grape?
Use Oregon grape in a hedge or as a specimen or an accent. It g rows to 3 to 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide, spreading slowly.
What is the color of redbud?
Western redbud’s showstopper pink to magenta flowers sprout from deciduous branches after a long winter’s sleep; its heart-shaped leaves follow. Add these lovely attributes to western redbud’s vase-like shape, large cinnamon seedpods and gray winter bark, and you have an expressive shrub to small tree through all four seasons.
Where is Blue Elderberry native to?
Blue Elderberry. (Sambucus nigra ssp caerulea) Native through much of California to New Mexico in canyons, valleys and open places in many plant communities; prefers moist riparian habitats. Extremely fast growing and easy, blue elderberry is one of the best shrubs for songbirds.
1. Olive (Olea europaea) – Northern & Southern CA
Olives are extremely long-lived trees suited to a Mediterranean climate. The silvery/dark green/grey leaves and gnarled trunks add architectural interest to any garden. If you want to add some Mediterranean flavor to your landscape, then consider planting an olive tree.
2. Bay Tree (Laurus nobilis) – Northern & Southern CA
The Bay Tree is another Mediterranean native that’s also suitable for many California climates. It’ll grow in the North, Central, and South Coast, Central Valley, the desert as well as the Sierra and Coastal Mountains. Bay trees have naturally compact forms and are often multi-stemmed.
3. Primrose Tree (Lagunaria pattersonii) – Northern & Southern CA
The Primrose tree is a flowering broadleaf evergreen tree, native to Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, parts of coastal Queensland, and parts of northeastern New South Wales in Australia. They have a slender, pyramidal habit and are cultivated as street and park trees in parts of CA.
4. California Pepper Tree (Schinus molle) – Northern & Southern CA
The California Pepper is a fast-growing shade tree that boasts attractive pendulous branches and an exfoliating trunk. The leaves are compound and pinnate and are composed of fine-textured leathery leaflets. The leaves are aromatic and measure up to 12” long whilst the leaflets can measure 2 ½ inches.
5. Canyon Live Oak (Quercus chrysolepis) – Northern & Southern CA
The Canyon Live Oak is a large tree native to Baja California to Southwest Oregon. In CA, it’s mainly native to foothills and desert mountains and is the most widespread oak in the state. Canyon Live Oaks have spreading, near-horizontal branches typical of all oak species.
5. Sweet Shade (Hymenosporum flavum) – Northern & Southern CA
The Sweet Shade is a slender evergreen that’s native to New South Wales in Australia. It has a light grey bark and glossy leaves that form clusters at the branch ends. Fragrant flowers appear from late spring to early summer.
7. Cajeput Tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia) – Southern California
The Cajeput Tree is a medium to large evergreen with a tall and upright habit. The pale green lanceolate leaves are leathery and 2-3” long with a pointed tip. Creamy white flowers appear in large brush-like clusters at the end of the branches from late summer into the fall.
Arbequina Olive Tree – USDA Organic
There is a possibility of producing 20 pounds of olive oil per olive tree. Snacks, salads, and more can be made from these olives every year.
Maurino Olive Tree
originating from Tuscany, but being grown in the Golden State in a compact, manageable silhouette, the Maurino Olive Tree is well-suited to windy areas, tight spaces, and even the most remote regions on earth.
Koroneiki Greek Olive Tree – USDA Organic
The olive tree is an elegant and classic tree with all the attributes of an olive tree including glossy, pointed evergreen leaves, and is certified US Organic.
Manzanillo Olive
In case you don’t know what an olive is or if you love olives, but you’re looking for something Mediterranean to complement your home, then the Manzanillo Olive (Olea europaea ‘Manzanillo’) will be your best friend.
Frantoio Olive Tree
Summer is the time to witness Frantoio Olives blooming with pure white blooms.
Mission Olive Tree
I expect that this useful tree will be considered your most treasured specimen in your garden.
How Tall Are California Redwoods?
If you have ever been to a big city such as New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago you know what it feels like to tweak your neck back to view a high-rise building.
Where Are The Giant Redwoods Located?
The giant California coastal redwoods are found only in Northern California and along the coastline.
What Is The Difference Between A Redwood And A Sequoia Tree?
Many people even Californians get confused as to the difference between Coastal Redwoods and Sequoias.
How Old Are Giant Redwoods?
The giant redwoods command respect as they have truly stood the test of time…
Where Can I Camp Among The Redwoods?
There are three options for camping in Richardson Grove, with campsites at Huckleberry, Madrone, and Oak Flat campgrounds.
Top 10 Drought Tolerant Trees for California
Let’s have a look at the 10 best drought-tolerant trees for California homeowners.
Taking Care of Drought-Tolerant Trees
If you live in an arid or semi-arid climate, you know how important it is to choose drought-tolerant trees for your landscape. Here are some tips that will help you take care of drought-tolerant trees –
Get a Customized Landscaping Plan From Atlas Tree!
We hope our selection of drought-tolerant evergreen trees will help you! Need help with a drought-tolerant evergreen tree to add to your landscape? Consult with our professional certified tree arborist.
Final Words
When you are living in California and want to decorate your lawn, yard, or walkway with beautiful and aesthetically pleasing trees, it’s important that you go for trees that are also drought-tolerant.
