UC Marin Master Gardeners 1682 Novato Blvd Suite 150B Novato, CA 94947 415-473-4204 [email protected] UC Marin Master Gardeners - Small Trees for Backyards and Patios
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5/16/2020 Plant Briefs UC Marin Master Gardeners 1682 Novato Blvd Suite 150B Novato, CA 94947 415-473-4204 [email protected] UC Marin Master Gardeners - Small trees for backyards and patios Botanical Name: Acer circinatum Plant Height: 25-40' Common Name: Vine Maple Flower Color: Green, Red Plant Type: Tree, Shrub Attracts Wildlife: Birds, Wildlife Sun: Half, Shade Leaf Color: Light Green Water: Low, Medium Flower Season: Spring This plant is either a shrub or small tree that reaches 35' in height . It has light green leaves which turn orange-scarlet in the fall. It also has new spring foliage with a reddish hue. A. circinatum can be used as an espalier against a wall. To accent Vine Maple e˛ectively, plant it with the Douglas Fir, Western Sword Fern, as well as the Oregon-Grape. It has a color that is especially striking during the fall season. Botanical Name: Acer circinatum 'PaciÛc Fire' Plant Height: 12-25' Common Name: PaciÛc Fire Vine Maple Flower Color: n/a Plant Type: Tree, Shrub Attracts Wildlife: Birds, Wildlife Sun: Half, Shade Leaf Color: Light Green, Red Water: Low, Medium Flower Season: n/a PaciÛc Fire is my favorite cultivar of Acer circinatum. PaciÛc Fire has Ùaming red bark in the winter that dazzles in the landscape with color. The orange - red bark has a waxy sheen to it that really makes the bark shine. Nice bronzing of the leaves when placed in full sun. A multibranching shrub/tree like the species but slower growing. Fall color is bright yellows with some orange which really make a show against the Ûrery bark! 10 feet in 8 years. Holds up well in the sun and heat... tends to become even more beautiful in the full sun. Will burn in extreme heat (> 90°) Hardy to ... Botanical Name: Acer palmatum Plant Height: 12-25' Common Name: Japanese Maple Flower Color: n/a Plant Type: Tree, Shrub Attracts Wildlife: Birds, Wildlife Sun: Full, Half, Shade Leaf Color: Bronze, Green, Dark Green, Water: Medium, Extra in Summer Light Green, Yellow Green, Orange, Red, Yellow, Variegated This magniÛcient plant can used as a small tree or shrub. It is deciduous with graceful leaves which Flower Season: n/a have a scarlet color in spring as it leafs out. Leaves later turn orange or yellow in fall. It is slow growing to 20', and requires shelter from the hot sun. The leaves of this tree are small, light green in color, and deeply lobed. It should also be noted that this tree remains spectacular throughout all seasons. www.plantmaster.com/gardens/projects/reportbriefs.php 1/11 5/16/2020 Plant Briefs Botanical Name: Aesculus californica Plant Height: 12-25' Common Name: California Buckeye Flower Color: Pink, White Plant Type: Tree, Shrub Attracts Wildlife: Sun: Full, Half Leaf Color: Water: Very Low, Low Flower Season: Spring, Summer The Aesculus californica is a tree that is interesting year-round. Creamy pink or white fragrant Ùowers bloom in the spring. When late summer arrives, these leaves drop to unveil pear-shaped fruits. It should be noted that these Ùowers are poisonous. Buckeye has a decorative bark and branch structure. It slowly grows to 15' tall. It needs regular water for a few years and then will become drought tolerant. Botanical Name: Agonis Ùexuosa Plant Height: 12-25', 25-40' Common Name: Peppermint Tree Flower Color: White Plant Type: Tree Attracts Wildlife: n/a Sun: Full Leaf Color: Green Water: Low Flower Season: Spring This tree is known as the peppermint tree because of the scent of the leaves when they are crushed. It is an evergreen tree or large shrub. It has abundant, small white Ùowers in spring. It is a medium to fast grower to 25' or 35'. Also known as Willow Myrtle. Botanical Name: Arbutus 'Marina' Plant Height: 12-25', 25-40' Common Name: Strawberry Madrone Flower Color: Pink Plant Type: Tree Attracts Wildlife: Sun: Full Leaf Color: Water: Low Flower Season: Summer, Fall The 'Marina' has gorgeous bark, with leaves that are smaller and not as glossy as PaciÛc Madrone. Its Ùowers are pink, borne in pendant clusters in the summer. The fruit is large, red and quite ornamental. The plant should be grown in sun to part shade, with little or no summer watering when established. The 'Marina' prefers good drainage. www.plantmaster.com/gardens/projects/reportbriefs.php 2/11 5/16/2020 Plant Briefs Botanical Name: Arbutus unedo 'ElÛn King' Plant Height: 3-6' Common Name: ElÛn King Strawberry Tree Flower Color: White Plant Type: Shrub Attracts Wildlife: Birds, Wildlife Sun: Full, Half Leaf Color: Green, Dark Green Water: Low Flower Season: Winter, Fall ElÛn King is a a dwarf evergreen tree with ornamental reddish bark that becomes furrowed and gray over time. It has oblong, dark green, leathery foliage. White bell-shaped Ùowers are followed by bright orange-red fruit with a strawberry-like texture. It is either blooming or fruiting almost all year long. Botanical Name: Arctostaphylos den. 'Austin Plant Height: 6-12' Gri¸ths' Flower Color: White Common Name: Austin Gri¸ths Manzanita Attracts Wildlife: Birds, Hummingbirds, Plant Type: Shrub Wildlife Sun: Full, Half Leaf Color: Grey Green Water: Low Flower Season: Winter, Fall Glossy green leaves and dark maroon-brown bark form an attractive backdrop for large clusters of soft pink Ùowers. The blooms appear in early winter, providing a valuable nectar source for hummingbirds and bees. Over time, this upright manzanita can reach a height of up to 10 feet and a width of 6 ft. More garden tolerant than 'Dr. Hurd', 'Austin Gri¸ths' accepts occasional irrigation but can be drought tolerant once established. Botanical Name: Arctostaphylos spp. Plant Height: Under 1', 1-3', 3-6', 6-12', 12- Common Name: Manzanita 25' Plant Type: Shrub Flower Color: Pink Sun: Full, Half Attracts Wildlife: Hummingbirds, ButterÙies Water: Low Leaf Color: Green There are about 60 species of Arctostaphylos, ranging from ground-hugging arctic, coastal, and Flower Season: Winter, Spring mountain species to small trees up to 6 m tall. Most are evergreen (one species deciduous), with small oval leaves 1–7 cm long, arranged spirally on the stems. The Ùowers are bell-shaped, white or pale pink, and borne in small clusters of 2–20 together; Ùowering is in the spring. The fruit are small berries, ripening in the summer or autumn. The berries of some species are edible. www.plantmaster.com/gardens/projects/reportbriefs.php 3/11 5/16/2020 Plant Briefs Botanical Name: Ceanothus 'Ray Hartman' Plant Height: 12-25' Common Name: Ray Hartman California Lilac Flower Color: Blue Plant Type: Tree, Shrub Attracts Wildlife: Sun: Full, Half Leaf Color: Water: Low, Extra in Summer Flower Season: Winter, Spring Growing vigorously as either a large shrub or small tree, the Ray Hartman has big, round, dark green leaves and medium blue, delicate Ùowers in 3"-5" clusters that bloom in winter and spring. It grows to 12' high and 8'-10' wide. This cultivar has good tolerance for heat; it needs occasional deep watering with good drainage. It does well in coastal as well as inland valley gardens. Deer love new foliage. Plant in full to part sun; it is not fussy about soil, growing in clay as well as sandy soil. Botanical Name: Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' Plant Height: 6-12', 12-25' Common Name: Forest Pansy Redbud Flower Color: Pink, Purple Plant Type: Tree Attracts Wildlife: ButterÙies Sun: Full, Half Leaf Color: Dark Green, Purple Water: Medium, Extra in Summer Flower Season: Spring This small tree may reach 25' tall and it has dark green/purple leaves that are purple in the fall. Amazing pink Ùowers bloom in the spring and Ûll the tree. Botanical Name: Cercis occidentalis Plant Height: 12-25' Common Name: Western Redbud Flower Color: Pink Plant Type: Tree, Shrub Attracts Wildlife: Sun: Full, Half Leaf Color: Water: Very Low Flower Season: Spring This deciduous shrub or small tree reaches 15' tall and 10' wide. Beautiful magenta Ùowers appear in spring, before the leaves appear. Foliage is apple green, turning yellow to red in the fall. Seed pods dangle on this tree in winter. Western Redbud prefers full sun but will appreciate afternoon shade in desert areas. It needs well draining soil. It is drought tolerant once it's established. It attracts hummingbirds and butterÙies. A tree of varying interest all year round! www.plantmaster.com/gardens/projects/reportbriefs.php 4/11 5/16/2020 Plant Briefs Botanical Name: Chionanthus retusus Plant Height: 12-25' Common Name: Chinese Fringe Tree Flower Color: White Plant Type: Tree Attracts Wildlife: Birds, Wildlife Sun: Full, Half Leaf Color: Green Water: Medium, Extra in Summer Flower Season: Spring This small tree will slowly grow 15'-20' high and 20'-25' wide. It has deciduous, green, glossy leaves. During spring, clusters of fringe-like, white, fragrant Ùowers cover the tree, making a spectacular sight with the green leaves behind the Ùowers. After bloom period, olive-like fruit appear, maturing to blue/black in fall. Birds and critters love the fruit. Bark is gray/brown and exfoliates with age; it is attractive especially during winter. This tree tolerates full to part sun but will bloom more in full sun. It prefers well draining, moist, fertile, acidic soil. It is not a drought ... Botanical Name: Citrus X 'Improved Meyer' Plant Height: 3-6' Common Name: Improved Meyer Lemon Flower Color: White Plant Type: Tree Attracts Wildlife: n/a Sun: Full Leaf Color: Green Water: Low, Medium, Extra in Summer Flower Season: Spring, Intermittent Improved Meyer Lemon is an evergreen tree that grows 3'-6' tall and 3'-6' wide; it has year-around leaves that are glossy green.