REAL GREEN TREE SELECTION GUIDE

REAL GREEN TREE SELECTION GUIDE FRUIT TREES: Dwarf Varieties (Availability will vary) Apple The ornamental apple tree with its branching character and long life is an excellent choice for your garden. You will be delighted with spring blooms and tasty fruit in autumn. Trees may be grown as espaliers tied to frames, fences or other supports. Height: 10 Yellow Nectarine This very popular stone fruit has been an all-time favorite of many home gardeners. Early fruit harvest is firm-ripe and tangy. Later harvest is sweet with a rich flavor scoring high in the taste tests. The lovely pink spring blossoms are delightful. Height: 10 to 14 at maturity. White Nectarine The nectarine is native to China and resembles the peach in appearance except that it has a smooth skin. This delicious, super-sweet nectarine rates very high in taste tests with rich flavor and crunchy texture when ripe. The fruit ripens in mid to late July and is very well adapted to our Valley. Height: 6 to 10 at maturity. White Peach Peaches are native to China and have a pit or stone in the middle. The flavorful white meat peach is a favorite of many. The slightly fuzzy skin ripens in June and July after lovely white spring blossoms. The San Joaquin Valley has excellent growing conditions for this fruit tree. Trees can be trained to espalier against a fence or metal form for an ornamental touch. Height: 10 to 15 and slightly wider. Yellow Peach The yellow-fleshed peach is a standard for many peach lovers: great tasting, a fine texture, a lovely yellow skin with a pink blush, and spring blooms. This peach ripens in mid-july. Tree may also be espaliered to your fence for a decorative touch to your garden. Height: 10 to 15 and slightly wider

CITRUS TREES: Improved Meyer Lemon If you are into cooking or just like the ability to pick lemons from your own tree, then you need this lemon in your back yard! The fruit is slightly rounded, thin skinned and orange yellow in color. It has a tangy aroma and is the variety of choice of many culinary experts. The word improved refers to the fact that it is a disease-free variety. Height: 10 to 12 tall and wide. Lime There s nothing better than picking your own limes to use in beverages and cooking. The tree is quite angular and open when young, but forms a dense crown when mature. It is thorny and does tend to drop leaves in the winter. Harvest this seedless lime in late winter until late spring. It can be grown in the ground or in a container. Growing in a container does allow you to move to a protected area in extreme cold. Height: 7 to 10 Mandarin This great looking and fairly compact tree would be a wonderful addition planted in your yard or container. The fruit is smaller than an orange, seedless, very flavorful and easy to peel. It blooms in the Spring and bears fruit in the Fall and winter depending on variety. Height: 8 to 10 and the same width. Navel Orange Citrus offers a year-round attractive tree for your yard with glossy deep green leaves, very fragrant white blossoms in April with decorative, delicious and seedless fruit. Our Valley is the perfect growing medium for this heat loving tree. This tree may be grown in a container. Harvest is from late Fall into winter. Height: 8 to 10

SMALL SHADE TREES: Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) The San Joaquin Valley would not be complete without the profuse color of the summer blossoms of this tree. In addition, the leaves turn dark red and orange in the fall. Your yard cannot have too many Crape Myrtles for summer show! This small deciduous tree has a moderate growth rate averaging 10 to 15 with good carbon storage and pollution filtering and medium allergen potential. Japanese Maple (Acer ) This is a picturesque, fine textured and delicately branched deciduous tree. You will want to plant it where you can see it readily. Growth rate is slow. The fall color display is wonderful. Select a planting location with sun to partial shade to protect from sun burn resulting in leaf burn and curl. This tree will grow nicely in a container on your patio. Height is 5 to 15 with fair carbon storage and pollution filtering and medium allergen potential. Flowering Plum (Prunus) The Flowering Plum is grown for its beautiful floral displays in mid-winter and spring before the tree leafs out. It produces a small bland fruit, so it is recommended to plant away from patios or driveways. The foliage is a lovely deep purple to give your yard contrasting color. This small deciduous tree has a moderate growth rate reaching a height of 10-12 with fair carbon storage and pollution filtering with low allergen potential. Photinia (Photinia) This small evergreen tree with a moderate to rapid growth rate has dense foliage with elliptical to oval leaves. New growth is brightred that matures to dark green. Small white clusters of flowers appear in the spring followed by berries that may last until winter. The berries will attract our feathered friends. These trees are great for screens and background plantings. This tree has a moderate to rapid growth rate to 10-15 in height and width. You may espalier this tree or have a single trunk. There is fair carbon storage and pollution filtering with low allergen potential.

SMALL SHADE TREES Continued: Redbud (Cercis) This tree is valued for its flowers and foliage. Clusters of small rosy to purplish pink blossoms are borne in great profusion on bare twigs, branches, and sometimes even the main trunk. Blossoms are followed by seed pods. The beautiful leaves are heart-shaped and give you lovely fall color. This small, decorative tree puts on quite a show in the spring and fall so you won t want to miss having one in your yard. Height averages 15 with good carbon storage, pollution filtering and medium allergen potential. Chaste Tree (Vitex) A native of the Mediterranean region to central Asia is a very showy tree with flowers from summer into fall. The blossoms are small, fragrant lavender-blue flowers in 6-12 spikes at branch ends and in leaf joints. It may be grown as a multi or single trunk tree. No fall color. This moderate to fast growing tree reaches a height of 25 with fair to good carbon storage and pollution filtering. There is medium allergen potential. MEDIUM SHADE TREES: (Trees over 25 feet tall are not power line friendly) Carolina Cherry (Prunus) This attractive evergreen tree is native to North Carolina and Texas and may be grown as a single or multi-trunked tree. It is a great shade tree or will provide a dense screen with its heavy 2-4 long, smoothed edge, glossy green foliage. Small fragrant creamy white flowers bloom in 1 spikes from late winter to mid-spring. Blossoms are followed by black fruit that is inconspicuous among the leaves. Flower and fruit litter can be a problem in paved areas. There is moderate growth rate to a height of 20-30 with fair to good carbon storage and pollution filtering with medium allergen potential. Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) This magnificent evergreen oak tree is native to the coastal plains of the southeastern U.S. and is the most attractive of all evergreen oaks. The heavy branching produces bark that is interesting, dark and ridged with shiny dark green leaves. It produces oval acorns up to 1 long. This long-lived tree is a great oak tree to plant near a lawn. The height will reach 40-80 at maturity. It has very good carbon storage and pollution filtering with high allergen potential.

MEDIUM SHADE TREES Continued: Chinese Fringe (Chionanthus) The Chinese Fringe tree is a beautiful showy tree that is native to desert areas of California and Texas and as you might suspect, very drought tolerant. This deciduous tree grows to a height ranging between 15 25 tall, not quite as wide, with a beautiful rounded shape. Handsome gray-brown bark provides winter interest. It flowers in May June. The flower clusters have a very fine texture, which along with the snow white color, yields a beautiful accent tree in your garden. In full bloom the trees are completely covered with flowers which are contrasted by leaves that are dark green. The Chinese Fringe tree (female variety) produces a dark blue fruit that birds love after the blossoms. Broad leaves turn bright yellow in fall. This is an excellent choice for a tree that will add interest to a landscape most of the year. It needs good drainage and prefers acid soils, but is highly adaptable to our valley. It has fair carbon storage and pollution filtering with medium allergen potential. Little Gem Magnolia (Magnolia) Just as it name indicates, this would be a special tree for your home. This magnolia is evergreen, bearing magnificent fragrant white flowers from spring until late summer with large glossy leaves (prized by florists). It is heat resistant and tolerant of damp soil. It is messy, shedding its large hard leaves and other litter from spring into autumn. Do not plant near pavement. Grass will not grow under its branches in your lawn, so choose your planting site carefully. You may plant in a container or espaliered on a fence or wall. This slow growing tree matures to a height of 20-25 with a spread of 10-15. Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo biloba) An ancient survivor from prehistoric times (200 million years ago) when it grew worldwide. Now it is native to only two small areas of China. This lovely, graceful tree is attractive in any season but especially in the fall when the light green fan-shaped leaves turn brilliant gold. The leaves hang on the tree for awhile and then cleanly drop creating a golden carpet where they fall. Average height is 35 to 50 with a slow to moderate growth rate, good carbon storage and pollution filtering. Male trees have medium allergen potential and females have low potential.

MEDIUM SHADE TREES Continued: Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica ) This deciduous tree is native to eastern U.S. and would make an excellent specimen or shade tree for your large garden. The pyramidal shape when young spreads to an irregular and rugged shape at maturity. Crooked branches make a dramatic picture against the winter sky. Glossy green leaves appear in late spring with inconspicuous flowers and small bluish-black fruit follows. The fruit will attract birds to your garden. A brilliant display of color follows in the fall with the leaves turning yellow and orange and then bright red before dropping. The average height is 30-50 and 15-25 wide with very good carbon storage and pollution filtration. Allergen potential is high with male trees and low with female trees. Japanese Blueberry (Elaeocarpus decipiens) This New Zealand native can range anywhere from thirty to fifty feet in height and be as wide as forty feet. When first producing foliage, it appears extremely hairy; however, as soon as the leaves mature they turn into the brighter green that one would expect. The blueberry tree is actually an evergreen, making it a beautiful addition to your yard year around. Furthermore, this tree produces very small, but yet scented flowers during the summer months. These flowers tend to be in clusters and white in terms of color. After the flowers sprout, the bluishblack berries then come into view. Most people agree that the Japanese blueberry tree makes a great little hedge. Better yet, the fruit that the tree produces will not stain the sidewalk if used near the driveway or walk area. Strawberry Tree (Arbutus) Native to southern Europe and Ireland this tree has many attractive features. It is one of the best lawn or raised-bed trees. The ornamental bark sheds and becomes gnarly with age. It has clusters of little urn-shaped flowers, decorative edible fruit (small, red strawberry shaped) and handsome dark green foliage. The tree has slow to moderate growth to a height of 8 to 35 with good carbon storage and pollution filtering with low allergen potential. LARGE SHADE TREES: ( Large Shade Trees are NOT Power Line Friendly. ) October Glory Maple - (Acer rubrum ) A rapid growing Red Maple cultivar. This ever-popular maple should be considered as a beautiful shade tree addition to any yard. Glistening dark green leaves in spring, summer turn radiant red late fall and last several weeks. Tiny, conspicuous red flowers bloom in spring. Showy red fruit attract many birds and other wildlife. Grows 40'-50' high with a 25'-35' spread. Tolerant of many soils, but prefers slightly acid and moist conditions. Plant in partial shade to full sun.

LARGE TREES Continued: Chinese Elm (Ulmus) Originating from China, Korea, and Japan, this is a highly prized shade tree. The arching branches have long weeping branchlets. The bark on the trunk of older trees sheds in patches creating a beautiful mottling effect. This evergreen variety has foliage with small dark green and evenly toothed leaves. This is a great patio tree, sun screen or street tree. Average height is 40-60 tall and width with very good carbon and pollution filtering with high allergen potential Camphor Tree (Cinnamomum) This magnificent evergreen tree is native to China and Japan. The Camphor tree is a strongly structured tree with heavy trunk and heavy upright spreading limbs with a life span of approximately 120 years. It is aromatic with 2.5 to 5 leaves that smell like camphor when crushed. New foliage appears in the spring as pink, red or bronze colors that mature to shiny yellow-green leaves. Inconspicuous yellow flowers bloom profusely in late spring followed by small blackish fruits. Leaves will drop in the early spring followed by the flowers, fruits and twigs. Plant in an area where the litter will not be a problem or where paved areas or sewer lines are not a concern. Height can reach 50 with good carbon storage and pollution filtering with medium allergen potential. New Bradford Pear (Pyrus) This Chinese native is a deciduous tree that is prized for its profuse late-winter or early-spring show of white blossoms. The foliage is glossy dark green with brilliant fall colors of yellow to dark red. This pyramidal shaped tree will reach 40 and 20 wide with low to moderate carbon storage and pollution filtering with medium allergen potential. Pistacia (Chinese pistache) If great fall color is a priority for you, this is a fabulous deciduous canopy tree. Foliage turns from luminous orange to red and sometimes shades of yellow depending on colder weather temperatures. Foliage is on narrow leaflets. This tree has a slow to moderate growth rate reaching a height of 35 with good carbon storage and pollution filtering. Allergen potential is high with male and low with female varieties.

LARGE TREES Continued: Summer Red Maple - (Acer Rubrum) This fast-growing shade tree is considered one of the best trees for early fall color. Outstanding burgundy red new foliage matures to dark purplish green. In autumn, older leaves turn yellow while younger leaves become orange or purple before falling. Forms a dense, broad tree providing welcome summer shade. Deciduous. Trident Maple - (Acer buergerianum) An excellent evergreen with graceful pendulous branches. Pyramidal form when young, widespreading and flat-topped in old age Coastal Redwood - (Sequoia sempervirens) Coast redwoods range from southern Oregon to central California, extending not more than fifty miles inlandonly as far as the coastal climate has its influence. Fog plays a vital role in the survival of these trees, protecting them from the summer drought conditions typical of this area. They also need abundant winter rain and moderate year round temperatures. In ideal conditions a coast redwood can grow 2-3 feet in height annually, but when the trees are stressed from lack of moisture and sunlight they may grow as little as one inch per year Cedar, Deodar - (Cedrus deodara) The majestic deodar cedar, affectionately known as "California Christmas tree," has charm with its sensuous, weeping branchlets and soft, touchable foliage. Native to the Himalayas, this pine family member is just as comfortable planted in moderately mild American climates. Its display includes fragrant wood, downy twigs, and graceful, spreading branches, which are among the most elegant of evergreens. It has longer leaves than other cedars and grows up to 70 feet in cultivation, but much more in the wild.

Tree availability will vary. In the event that your tree choice is not available due to seasonal availability, or low nursery stock; you will be contacted to choose a replacement tree, or you may choose a rain check. If you choose a rain check, the tree will be delivered when it becomes available. All of the trees in this guide like FULL SUN With the exception of the Japanese Maple, which likes PARTIAL SUN Need help choosing your trees? Call FAR at 559-490-6400 Further information about the care, harvest, and nutritional needs of trees may be found by visiting the following websites: http://www.lecooke.com/cms/contact-le-cooke.html http://www.fourwindsgrowers.com/ http://selectree.calpoly.edu