Exciting Evergreens for Southern California

evergreen plant are of the essence to achieving wide-ranging texture and form , as well as the samara to any successful four - season garden . Unfortunately , many gardeners would put a lot of evergreens in the “ necessary but boring ” category . They are a backcloth , the much - needed greenery during colder months , but never the garden lead that steals the show .

The industrial plant below might just change your mind about the humble evergreen . These foliage all - stars can be phone anything but tedious . From beautiful blush to coloured leafage and pops of bright berries , all of these evergreen have that little something supernumerary .

1. Toyon

Heteromeles arbutifolia

Zones:8–11

Size:6 to 20 feet tall and 5 to 15 feet wide

Conditions : Full Sunday to partial subtlety ; lean , well - run out soil

This California aborigine can be considered either a low tree or a large bush . Although toyon is actually a member of the rose family , its leathery leave of absence are more reminiscent of Charles Hardin Holley . The saw-toothed foliage along with shining crimson false fruit ( fruit ) invoice for its other vulgar names : Christmas berry and California holly . The ripe berries are adept for do hole , and groundless animals make out them . Though Christmasberry is tough and adaptable , it likes a bit more moisture than most other chaparral natives . passel of clustered , small white flowers make this tree hone for a pollinator garden or even a wildfire - resistant one .

2. Purple Baily’s Acacia

Acacia baileyana‘Purpurea’

Zones:8–10

Size:15 to 20 feet tall and 20 to 40 human foot wide-cut

precondition : Full Dominicus ; lean , average to dry out , well - run out soil

This tight - grow , small Australian tree or tall shrub is one of my favorites because it has decorative leaves as well as colorful prime . The amercement - cut , ticklish , lacy parting are tinged gray - green but blend to empurple with new growth . The foliage colouration serves as a focal point in the landscape , and as a bonus , purple Baily ’s acacia is smothered with fresh - scented , fuzzed , gold xanthous , clit - like flowers in early spring . Use it as a stand - alone accent or in a group or row to define space or mask unwanted views . Unlike many other acacias , this one is thornless .

3. Bottle Tree

Brachychiton populneus

Size:50 to 60 feet tall and 12 to 30 groundwork wide

Conditions : Full sunlight ; lean , moist to dry , well - drain soil

Another evergreen native to Australia , bottleful tree is a drought - resistant option that can fly high from coast to desolate in the Los Angeles surface area . It has a singular upright , conical cast that let it to fit in relatively narrow space . It can also stand on its own or join a small-scale group to create a sculptural statement . Glossy leaves play in the breeze , while the dim crown offers both deep shadiness and wind auspices . In the United States , nursing bottle tree draws its name from the somewhat bottle - shaped flare of the scurvy trunk , where it stores water . Aboriginal clans in Australia would tap the smooth trunk for urine in droughts , and the seeds could be roasted for intellectual nourishment or used as a coffee stand-in .

4. Australian Willow

Geijera parviflora

Zones:9–11

Size:20 to 30 feet tall and 20 feet wide

Conditions : Full Lord’s Day ; lean , well - drained grease

Australian willow is an extraordinarily well - behaved tree diagram . It blends the romance of slenderly weeping outgrowth and willow tree - form folio with a not bad , intermediate - size growth habit . Unlike so many other trees , this one would never weigh trip anyone with invasive theme . In spring , it clothe itself with soft , dangling , petite white flower that are delightfully fragrant . If you love the expression of a willow tree diagram , this is the perfect choice for a more modest - size garden . It does not have high pee demands , surface roots , or many of the pests and diseases of a true willow .

Jane Gates is a landscape designer from Los Angeles .

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Purple Bailys Acacia

Photo: millettephotomedia.com

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Toyon

Photo: millettephotomedia.com

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