Northern California Central Valley Trees

Climate Ready Trees Northern California Central Valley Project Handout

Mulga (Acacia aneura)

Mulga is native to arid Western Australia and tolerates hot and dry condition. It can grow in sandy, loam, or clay soil types. This versatile and hardy tree produces ascending thornless branches and grows 15 to 20 feet in height. The leaves are evergreen and the tree has yellow, showy flowers in the spring.

Netleaf Hackberry (Celtis reticulata)

The Netleaf Hackberry is native to riparian areas in the Southwest. 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. First photo credit: Benny J. Simpson and Texas A&M AgriLife Research.

Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis ‘Bubba’)

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. The Desert Willow is very drought and heat tolerant.

Texas Ebony (Ebenopsis ebano)

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. It has a distinctive branching pattern, thorns, and fragrant yellow flowers that mature into large woody pods.

Ghost Gum (Corymbia papuana)

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. First two photo credit: Mountain States Wholesale Nursery.

Shoestring Acacia (Acacia stenophylla)

This evergreen thornless acacia from Australia grows rapidly into an arresting specimen. 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.

White Shield Osage Orange (Maclura pomiera ‘White Shield’)

Osage orange is native to the western Great Plains. It grows quickly to a height of 30 to 50 feel. The deciduous foliage is glossy green. The White Shield cultivar is thornless and fruitless.

Rosewood (Dalbergia sissoo)
The Rosewood is native to Northern India and its evergreen foliage can be damaged by frost. The tree recovers quickly in the spring. 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.

Canby’s Oak (Quercus canbyi)
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. This deep rooted oak is heat tolerant.

Maverick Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Maverick )
The Honey Mesquite is native to the southwestern United States. Maverick is an upright-growing, thornless cultivar of the Honey Mesquite tree. It can quickly reach a height of 30 feet. The tree is cold hardy, drought tolerant and adaptable to a range of soil types. Third photo credit: Mountain States Wholesale Nursery.

Desert Museum Palo Verde (Parkinsonia x ‘Desert Museum’)
The Desert Museum is Palo Verde hybrid that exhibit qualities of the Blue Palo Verde, Foothills Verde, and Mexican Palo Verde. The tree has a strong upright branching structure and rapid growth. This hybrid is thornless and has little litter. First photo credit: Mountain States Wholesale Nursery.

Emerald Sunshine Elm (Ulmus propinqua)
The Emerald Sunshine Elm is a deciduous tree that reaches 35 feet in height with a 25 foot spread. It has a vase shaped growth habit. Emerald Sunshine is tolerant of hot and windy conditions.