During these dog days of summer, nothing beats a cool drink, and a great shade tree to escape under. If your garden is feeling the heat, consider one of these great trees to provide a cool spot for your family and pets.
Deciduous Trees (no leaves in winter):
Albizia julibrissen- Silk Tree, wide, but not tall canopy. Pink flowers in summer, low water requirements.
Morus alba- Fruitless Mulberry, wide, round topped canopy. No conspicuous flowers. Low water.
Pistacia chinensis- Chinese Pistache, round headed tree. Red fall color. Small flowers. Moderate to low water.
Semi Decidious Trees (partially bare in the winter):
Jacaranda mimosifoia- Tall broad tree with fine foliage and light purple flowers in May-June. Moderate water.
Prosopis chilensis-Chilean Mesquite- wide rounded canopy, fine foliage. Very heat and drought tolerant.
Tipuana tipu- Fast growing canopy tree, both tall and wide. Gold flowers in early summer. Moderate water.
Evergreen Trees:
Agonis flexuosa- This cousin to the Eucalyptus grows fairly fast, but instead of tall, it makes a nice wide weeping canopy, more like a willow tree. Tiny white flowers. Moderate to low water.
Schinus molle/ Schinus terebinthefolius- California and Brazilian Pepper trees, fast growing, wide spreading making for great shade, but prepare for some messiness too. Low water.
Olea europaea- Olive Trees are a great match for our climate, they grow a bit slowly, but make a nice long lived shade tree, with a rounded canopy, and low water requirements.
Albizia julibrissen- Silk Tree, wide, but not tall canopy. Pink flowers in summer, low water requirements.
Morus alba- Fruitless Mulberry, wide, round topped canopy. No conspicuous flowers. Low water.
Pistacia chinensis- Chinese Pistache, round headed tree. Red fall color. Small flowers. Moderate to low water.
Semi Decidious Trees (partially bare in the winter):
Jacaranda mimosifoia- Tall broad tree with fine foliage and light purple flowers in May-June. Moderate water.
Prosopis chilensis-Chilean Mesquite- wide rounded canopy, fine foliage. Very heat and drought tolerant.
Tipuana tipu- Fast growing canopy tree, both tall and wide. Gold flowers in early summer. Moderate water.
Evergreen Trees:
Agonis flexuosa- This cousin to the Eucalyptus grows fairly fast, but instead of tall, it makes a nice wide weeping canopy, more like a willow tree. Tiny white flowers. Moderate to low water.
Schinus molle/ Schinus terebinthefolius- California and Brazilian Pepper trees, fast growing, wide spreading making for great shade, but prepare for some messiness too. Low water.
Olea europaea- Olive Trees are a great match for our climate, they grow a bit slowly, but make a nice long lived shade tree, with a rounded canopy, and low water requirements.