City of Pasadena Canyon Live (Quercus chrysolepis) The May 2002 The Canyon Live amendment to the City Trees Oak is a variable tree adapted to and Tree Protection Ordinance the often dry, hot conditions in created protection measures for Southern . It can three types of trees on private grow in a shrub form in harsh hill- side conditions, or property — native, specimen, and to heights of 70 feet in open areas. landmark. Native trees are specified The average canopy spread is 20-60 feet. The leaves are bright, shiny green on top and bluish for protection because they help gray underneath; leaf edges can be spiny or smooth. The bark tends to be smooth while the maintain native populations of tree is young, but becomes rougher and grayish with age. Besides its exceptionally strong hard birds, insects, and other animals, wood, another feature is the large acorns that take two years to mature and can be between 2 and promote better environmental to 3 inches long. The scientific name “chrysolepis” means “gold scale” and comes from the tiny golden conditions. The 13 native trees hairs that cover the underside of the leaves and the bumpy scales of the acorn cups. that are protected in the amend-

California Black Walnut ment are illustrated and described ( californica) in this brochure. To qualify for pro- This native tree is 15-30 feet tall and tection, native trees must have a frequently has sev- eral trunks. Trunks of mature trees are trunk diameter of 8 or more inches dark brown. Many separate leaves, at chest height. In residential the same size and shape, grow along zones, the trees must be in a spec- a stalk up to 11 inches long; they ified setback. On non-residential turn from bright green to yellow properties, native trees are before falling off in the winter. The 1313 protected on the entire site. walnut is small, thick-shelled and when cracked open The brochure is intended as a general guide resembles the face NativeNative TreesTrees to identifying native trees. To determine the of an owl. Black walnuts, like acorns, were an Department of Public Works species on your property, please consult with important food for indigenous people of California Parks and Natural Resources Protected by the City Trees and Tree Protection a certified arborist. and remain important for wildlife. 100 North Garfield Ave., Pasadena, CA 91109 (626) 744-4321 Ordinance May 2002 Amendment www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/publicworks click on tree ordinance California Buckeye California Sycamore Western Cottonwood Engelmann Oak (Aesculus californica) (Platanus racemosa) () (Quercus engelmannii) Like other native trees, the California Buckeye, or Horse Sycamores are stream-loving This water-loving tree, also called Also known as the Chestnut, is adapted to Southern California’s dry climate. natives, reaching heights of 80 Fremont Cottonwood, grows to Pasadena Oak, this is a Its umbrella-like canopy spreads out to 30 feet, but it feet with a canopy spread of heights of 80 feet and has a large, wide-spreading only reaches heights 50 feet. The highly recogniza- broad, open canopy. The trunk is evergreen tree. The of 15-25 feet. The ble bark sloughs off as the tree gray with thick, rough bark. The canopy has an average palm-shaped leaves grows, displaying a patchwork triangular leaves are often wider height of 40-50 feet and include 5-7 leaves of light and dark colors. Leaves than long. They are shiny yellow- can be twice as wide. It that are oblong and are broad, deeply fingered and green during spring and summer, has smooth, wavy-edged pointed at the end. turn light brown/orange before but turn bright yellow in the fall before dropping. Fruits are leaves that are 2-3 inches in length and gray-blue in The large, light red dropping in late fall and winter. light brown, egg-shaped capsules that open in the spring to color. The bark is light gray and furrowed. Acorns are or white flower Fruits of this tree are bristly brown balls comprised of many release many cottony seeds. Early settlers planted Cottonwoods round-tipped and half enclosed in bumpy caps. These clusters are attractive small, narrow seeds connected to tufts of “hair.” In natural for shade and windbreaks. are adapted to Southern California’s dry climate and pungently settings, Sycamores survive dry periods by having deep roots but may lose some leaves during drought years. scented, producing that reach down to ground water. In landscape areas, they White Alder nectar that is deadly need supplemental water during droughts. (Alnus rhobifolia) to bees. In native Black Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) settings, this tree Coast Live Oak This is a fast-growing tree that loses its leaves in will reach heights of 50-70 feet, (Quercus agrifolia) This tree is named after midsummer; in with a canopy spread of 40 feet. the dark color of its bark. cultivated areas, it retains them until late fall. Once One of Pasadena’s most common It has one main trunk that is The tallest native the leaves fall, the large, pear-shaped seedpods are native trees, the Coast Live Oak usually very straight and light Cottonwood, it reaches silhouetted against the silvery trunk and bare branches. is highly recognizable by the gray, white or light brown in heights of 120 feet. Fast dense canopy of small, cupped, color. Branches that break off growing, Cottonwoods Arroyo Willow dark green leaves that have from the trunk leave scars that require moist soil that prickly points along the edges. resemble eyes. Alder leaves are (Salix lasiolepis) exists along streams and Trunk bark is gray; smooth and bright green, triangle shaped and in flood plains. Leaves are heart-shaped and have small This tree is native to light colored in youth, rough and darker when mature. The have small teeth on the edges. The seeds are contained in serrated-like edges. They are dark green on top and pale streams where there is acorns are dark brown, thin and pointed. Coast Live Oaks are tiny cones that are clustered on short stems. Alders need a green underneath, turning bright yellow before dropping plenty of water, which generally slow-growing trees that may reach 70 feet in height continuous water supply and grow naturally along streams in the fall. The fruit is a round, brown capsule that allows it to form a with a canopy of 100 feet or more and a root system about the in Pasadena’s canyons. splits open to release many cottony seeds that drift in dense root mass. It same size as the canopy. The trees drop some of their leaves in the breeze. Cottonwood leaves make a distinct rustling may look like a shrub the spring, while gradually gaining new leaves. Over 200 native California Laurel sound in the wind. bird species rely on Coast Live Oaks for food and shelter. in areas that have (Umbellularia californica) frequent scouring floods; otherwise it The Laurel is an evergreen tree Scrub Oak California White (Quercus berberidifolia) can reach heights of Oak/Valley Oak that can grow 90 feet tall and 50 feet wide. The dark green leaves 35-40 feet with a () This shrub-like Oak is a 45-foot spread. Arroyo are glossy on top, finely hairy dense growing, short, Willows frequently This majestic tree thrives in beneath, 3-5 inches long and wide tree that may reach have more than one deep, rich soil and can reach leathery. The bark is generally heights of 15 feet. This trunk that is smooth a height of 150 feet, with a smooth and reddish-brown. The species usually grows and gray-brown when spread of 75-100 feet. The round, 1/2 to 1-inch berry is like a shrub with many young, becoming name lobata denotes the leaf’s green when young, turning dark trunks. The bark is darker and rough with age. Leaves are oblong, dark shape with 7-11 lobes. Leaves purple when mature. Bay trees need steady access generally gray, smooth when young and rough when green on top and silvery-white underneath, turning are glossy green in spring and to water and grow naturally on canyon slopes and along older. The Scrub Oak has small, leathery leaves with yellow-brown in summer and falling off in the winter. summer, turning brown before falling in autumn. Valley Oak streams. When rubbed or crushed, the leaves and twigs are spines on the edges and small, oval acorns with knobby Large trees may look like they’re “weeping” because of acorns are 1-2 inches long and chestnut brown. The bark is distinctly aromatic and can cause itching in eyes. Leaves caps. This Oak is not common as a street tree in their hanging branches and long leaves. In spring, the gray, thick and cracked. Legend says that when rainy winters are not to be confused with the cultivated bay leaves that Pasadena, but is abundant in Pasadena’s foothills and cottony seeds can be seen blowing from the tree. are approaching, Valley Oaks drop more acorns than usual. are used in cooking. the Arroyo Seco.