Short-Lived Ornamental Trees
Q: I have an ornamental pear tree over 25 years old that is not doing well. About a year ago, when it was dormant, I had it trimmed, but the following spring there was very little growth. I have thre...
Category Archives: Flowering Trees
From Magnolias to Cherimoyas
Q: I want an evergreen tree without a wandering root system that produces shade but is clean since there is a pool to consider. I have been considering an Exoniensis magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora va...
Australians & South Africans in Los Angeles
Wherever you go, you are always running into them. They are imported from across the seas and, having seen so many of them over the years, in such a diverse array of shapes, colors and textures, you ...
Some Notable Flowering Trees
Several trees, owing to their brilliant flower displays, caught my eye during the past week. All of them were of modest stature. Nowadays, almost no one plants a tree that grows more than 30 feet hig...
From Gold Medallions to Angel Trumpets
Over time, shrubs and trees that bloom every year, but only briefly, are increasingly welcome, much like old friends, each time they flower. Your appreciation of them grows from year to year as you l...
Forest Pansy and Purple Smoke Tree
When you first encounter the eastern redbud known as Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy,’ you will find it impossible to resist. Deep burgundy foliage that is heart-shaped covers attractive gray bark an...
De Caussin’s Plumeria Paradise
“My question is about tropical plants growing, or trying to grow, in the San Fernando Valley. I have plumeria plants that are growing and flowering nicely, but have no leaves and are basically ...
Jacarandas: Growth Habits and Habitat
Q: Where would you suggest jacarandas be planted? They are beautiful when in bloom but messy. The petals track into the garage on the tires, and the sap is hard to remove. Will the roots cause proble...
Cockspur Coral Tree
Despite more than a quarter century of Valley plant watching, I had never seen a cockspur coral tree grow to more than four or five feet tall. I had seen a few reach that height but suddenly stop, lo...
Jacaranda and Other Mauve/Blue/Purple Blooms
In the Valley, no botanical event is more delightful and defining than the hazy mauve-blue bloom of jacaranda trees, a sure sign that summer has unofficially arrived. In the forests of Brazil, Argent...
