West Sacramento
Plant Tour
Number One
Here is a map of the
area
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Farley: admin@californiarockhound.com
Find your
favorite tree: Scientific
name index -- Common name
index
Please
respect
tennant’s
privacy
and
property
rights
by
staying
on
sidewalks.
11th
Street
13th
Street
15th
Street
16th
Street
19th
Street
Alabama Avenue
Alameda Boulevard
Carolina Avenue
Circle Street
Delaware Avenue
Euclid St.
Jefferson Boulevard
Maryland Avenue
Maryland Court
Memorial Park
Pennsylvania
Avenue
Pennsylvania Court
Park Boulevard
Sam Combs Park
Stone
Boulevard
Stone Court
Vermont
Virginia Avenue
11th
Street
Goldenrain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) Near 216
11th Street. (On the left hand side of the property.) Note the
paper like flower capsules when in bloom. A much bigger example is at
2005 Stone Court.
13th Street
130
13th:
Large,
sprawling
pomegranate
(Punica
granatum). Too large for most yards. (Small image) (Large image) But dwarf forms
exist that display small ornamental fruit while being less than four
feet tall. Click here for a look at a dwarf. (Small image) (Large image)
116
13th:
The
plain
looking
clump
of
green
shoots
on
the
right
hand
side
of
the
property
is
a
Flowering
Quince
(Chaenomeles).
These
are
deciduous
flowering
shrubs
that
usually
blossom
in
pink,
although
white
is
also
seen.
A
quince
of
this
size
really
needs
at
least six feet of room. When you try to confine it to a small place you
end up cutting off all its flowering wood. Most have thorns but a
quince makes a very dependable, trouble free shrub.
15th Street
132
15th:
This
is
the
address
of
the
fire
station.
Across
the
street
are
some
nice
perennials.
This
one
is
Zauschneria
in bloom. (Small image) (Large image)
207
15th:
Short
but
nice
Escallonia
hedge
(Escallonia
'Fradesii').
400
15th:
A
beautiful
cut
leaf
Japanese
Maple
on
the
Delaware
Ave.
side.
Compare
to
a
more
common,
plain
leaf
maple
such
as
the
one
at
1582
Virginia.
16th Street
201
16th:
The
five
rather
open
looking
shrubs
with
violet
flowers
are
Solanum
(Solanum
rantonneti).
205
16th:
A
large
but
somewhat
faded
(needs
nitrogen)
Azalea
to
the
left
of
the
entry
walk.
Not
all
Azaleas
need
afternoon
shade.
Southern
indica
types
can
tolerate
more
sun
than
other
azaleas,
although
even
Southern
indicas
can
benefit
from
light
shade.
19th Street
16 19th: On the cyclone fence is a
perennial
morning
glory
or
Ipomoea. I do not know what
variety as there
are many. But this one has a splashy display each spring and summer.
Another similar Ipomoea is on
the side fence at
1925 Pennsylvania Avenue. The
tree in the yard at 16 is a Silk Tree (Albizia
julibrissin).
Towering over the
driveway is a common Oleander (Nerium
oleander). Although oleanders come in different colors: pink,
white, red, and salmon, white oleanders are always bigger and more
robust. (Small image) (Large image)
18
19th:
A
Douglas
fir
(Pseudotsuga menziesii).
22
19th:
A
rather
crowded
cutleaf
European
White
Birch
(Betula
pendula 'Dalecarlica'?).
106 19th: A
yard
overun by bamboo, probably Golden Bamboo, Phyllostachys
aurea.
Bamboos are
running types or clumpers. The clumpers stay put but are less common in
the trade and are generally more frost sensitive.
201 19th: The large
tree in the front yard with the flag is a Hackberry. Possibly Celtis occidentalils.
Near the driveway a variegated Schefflera (Small image) (Large image) normally a
house plant, survives
outdoors.
206
19th:
The pair of very tall trees are Blue Gum Eucalyptus,
(Eucalyptus globulus). In May
2010 the trees were extensively thinned to remove
potentially dangerous branches. These two trees are home to Swainson’s
hawks. The large tree next to the Eucalyptus is a Valley Oak (Quercus lobata).
215 19th:
The large tree is a Valley Oak (Quercus
lobata). Look high in the
canopy and you’ll see where two large branches are cabled together. The
shrub
at the base of the oak is a Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana). (Small image of flowers) (Large image of flowers) The hedge
is a
Japanese Boxwood (Buxus microphyllla
japonica.) The small tree in the front
lawn is a seedling Flowering Dogwood. (Cornus
florida). The tree by the mailbox
is a Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia
indica).
300 19th: Two
young pines. Probably Japanese Black Pines (Pinus thunbergiana).
301 19th:
Nice purple leaved plum. I don't know the variety but
possibly some form of Prunus
cerasifera.
Alabama
Avenue
1508 Alabama: The
twisted tree on the left side of the yard seems to be a Silver Mountain
Gum (Eucalyptus pulverulenta). Great
for cut foliage which many florists use. This tree might be
confused with Silver Dollar Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus polyanthemos) because the leaves
look alike, but E. polyanthemos is a much more upright
tree than the tree we see here. Again, I think the sprawling tree here
is Silver Mountain Gum. (Small
overall
image) (Large
overall image) (Small
image
of
foliage) (Large
image of foliage).
1523 Alabama: The
nice red plant is a Barberry (Berberis
sp.) Comes in all shapes and sizes but almost always with that
great red shade. Spiny.
1524 Alabama: The
lanky tree with the huge leaves is an Empress Tree (Paulownia tomentosa). Needs much
more room than the spot it is situated.
1528
Alabama:
A
Mayten
tree
(Maytenus boria).
Distinctive
light and feathery foliage. Subject to branches breaking
out of the crown, just as the tree assumes a nice rounded shape. I have
often wondered if this tree should be cabled while it is young to
prevent branch breakout.
1539
Alabama:
Nice
hedge
of
Heavenly
Bamboo.
(Nandina
domestica). Not a true Bamboo, Nandina stays in place and can be
pruned to show off its multiple trunks. This planting retains foliage
from top to bottom. But take a look at the photographs
to see what Nandina can be like when the trunks are highlighted. (Small
image) (Large image)
1557 Alabama: Short but nice Rosemary
hedge (Rosmarinus officinalis).
1560
Alabama:
Coast
Redwood
(Sequoia
sempervirens)
as topiary.
1561 Alabama:
An everyday flowering cherry, probably Prunus serrulata. In
identifying a cherry, note the somewhat glossy bark and the horizontal
striations on the trunk.
1571 Alabama: Nice
collection of small conifers in the front yard. The tree in the middle
of all this is a Sapium or Chinese Tallow Tree (Sapium sebiferum).
1574 Alabama: A shaggy barked Birch. Possibly Betula papyfera 'Commutata' or Betula luminifera.
Alabama at Regent: On
this corner of Memorial Park are three young Ginkgo trees (Ginkgo
biloba).
They provide excellent fall color, with the golden leaves dropping
almost at the same time. Ginkgos have few problems and make good lawn
or
street trees.
1605 Alabama: The tall tree on the right hand side is a Liquidamber (Liquidamber stryaciflua). Great
fall color but roots surface in lawns. And Its spiny seed balls are
also a
terrible nuisance; you can break your ankle tripping on the hundreds
that one tree produces. I once declined to bid maintenance work on an
apartment complex because the most common tree there was Liquidamber.
No thanks!
1619 Alabama: Good Wax Leaf Privet hedge. Probably Ligustrum japonicum.
1620 Alabama: The two large palms are possibly Queen Palms (Syagrus romanzoffiana).
1623 Alabama: Note the cactus hidden in between the Camphor tree and
the palm.
1705 Alabama: Some nice perennials.
1707 Alabama: Two troublesome Liquidambers. Too big for the yards here
and they produce too much litter. See the note for 1605 Alabama.
Liquidambers may look like Maples but they are not. The leaves look
similar but the tree is usually much more upright than Maples which
tend to spread.
1709 Alabama: London Plane tree (Platanus
acerifolia). Fine, very large shade tree.
1712 Alabama: A group
of European White Birches (Betula
pendula) with a single cutleaf birch thrown in. Possibly Betula pendula 'Dalecarlica'. Can you see the differences in the
leaves?
1717 Alabama: London Plane tree. (Platanus acerifolia). Another good
example of this stately tree.
1729 Alabama: Silver Maple (Acer
saccharum)?
1801 Alabama:
Coast redwood (Sequoia
sempervirens). Now that you know what they look like, can
you identify the the four Coast redwoods across the street in Memorial Park? (Hint, they are in the
middle of the park toward the bathrooms.)
1801 Alabama:
Directly across the street from this house are three inconspicuous
looking shrubs that are about seven feet high. These are Hibiscus syriacus or Rose of
Sharon.
They bloom
in early summer. Many colors. (Large
image) (Small image)
1801 Alabama: In
the backyard of this house is a large Acacia. It's the one with the
long narrow leaves. I am working on identifying it. Possibly A.
Melanoxylon. (Small
image of tree) (Large image of tree) (Small image of foliage) (Large image of foliage)
1807 Alabama:
Dracena. (Cordyline australis)
(Small image) (Large image)
1815 Alabama:
The tree is a
Catalpa, possibly C.
bignonioides Deciduous. Big and gawky flowering tree. The three
or so shrubs in the front yard underneath may look flecked with white.
These
plants are Euonymus and the condition is powdery mildew. Although
Euonymous can grow in most soils and with little water, they do get
powdery mildew frequently, especially in the shade. Plant appropriately.
1820
Alabama: Southern Magnolia
(Magnolia grandiflora),
produces heavy shade and big flowers but at the expense of constant
litter. Evergreen.
1825 Alabama:
Probably a Ponderosa pine. Cones have the same look and size as those
described on the net.
1827 Alabama: At
the back of this property is a galvanized fence along 19th
Street.
It has on it a fine stand of Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum
jasminoides). Star Jasmine does not need to be tied to a
support if it has something like this fence to twine into.
1828
Alabama:
The
two
dark
green
columnar
plants
that
book
end
the
right
hand
window
are
Taxus
(Taxus
baccata).
They are
slow growing but durable and usually trouble free in most areas. The
two
lighter green plants that book end the left hand window are Podocarpus.
Possibly P. macrophyllus.
These,
too, are columnar but faster growing than Taxus. Shear to keep dense.
1912 Alabama: Deodar
Cedar. (Cedrus deodora). Large
tree with nodding top. Can dominate a yard.
1920 Alabama: The conical plant in this yard is a very old dwarf
Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca 'Conica').
Sunset's
Western
Garden
book
says
they
take
35
years
to
reach
seven
feet.
^Top of Page^
Alameda Boulevard
15 Alameda:
African Sumac (Rhus
lancea).
Sprawling evergreen tree to 20' or so. Trunks will not grow up
straight. Suckers profusely wherever a pruning cut is made. A product
containing Naphthalene acetic acid or NAA will do a good job on
controlling sprouts.
17 Alameda: Magnolia of some sort as a street tree. Interesting yard,
used to be primarily a white garden.
107 Alameda:
Trident Maple.
It's the medium
size tree with small leaves and furrowed bark. (Check the notes and
photos for 1617
Virginia.)
Carolina
Avenue
1920 Carolina
Ave: A giant black walnut. I don't know what species this is, possibly Juglans hindsii but I don't know.
Could even be a pecan. I will work on identifying it. Well kept, no
major pruning work done.
1930 Carolina Ave. Someone is trying to grow the frost tender Norfolk
Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla).
It
does
not
look
too
happy.
1934 Carolina Ave. Nice garden.
Circle
Street
15 Circle: Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum). Too big
for this spot. See another at 1823
Pennsylvania.
Delaware
Avenue
1112 Delaware:
Excellent holly hedge. Possibly Ilex
cornuta.
1153 Delaware:
Mature Xylosma congestum. Outstanding specimen. Usually seen as a
hedge. Can assume these tree like proportions after 25 to 30 years.
Evergreen in our area.
Bark can be furrowed or smooth. Some have thorns. (Small image) (Large image)
1617 Delaware: Young
Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta).
Makes
very
tall,
slender
palm.
(Small
image) (Large image).
Might be confused with a Mediterranean fan palm. (Chamaerops humilis) Med fan palms
have a much more clumping habit. To compare, look at these photos: (Small image) (Large image)
1633 Delaware: An out
of bloom white Spirea. (Spirea.
Possibly
variety
"prunifolia").
Deciduous
shrub
with
a
nice
fountain
shape and wonderful small white flowers. But it should be
cut back every few years to remain neat. (Small image) (Large image)
1709 Delaware:
The dark looking tree is Little Leaf Linden (Tilia cordata). A fine small to
medium sized tree. (Foliage image, small, large) (Tree image, small, large).
1732 Delaware: A young Bougainvillea. We
lost many older Bougainvilleas in the
hard frost of 2009/2010. A thorny plant but nothing displays consistent
color throughout the growing season like Bougainvilleas.
1802 Delaware:
Often a nice corner display of annuals and perennials. (Small image) (Large image)
Delaware and
Euclid Street: The stout trunked tree with graffiti
carved into it
is a doomed White Alder (Alnus
rhombifolia), once commonly planted in the central valley. A
flat head borer has greatly reduced the numbers of White Alders. This
particular tree suffers greatly from misletoe, with most of the canopy
infected. (Small image) (Large image)
1819 Delaware:
On the Euclid side of this house is a fine Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica). See a picture
of its fruit. (Small image) (Large image)
1830 Delaware:
Interestingly carved hedge of Pyracantha.
I
do
not
know
what
kind,
although
this
one
seems
to
be
a
low
growing
form.
Berries
if
you
don't
shear
them
off.
Thorny.
Prone
to
fireblight.
1837 Delaware:
The living arch over the entry walk is a Photinia fraseri. Interesting use
of a shrub that can easily get to eight feet high with an equal spread.
New growth is red. To see it used as a more conventional hedge, see the
note for 1903 Maryland.
1903 Delaware:
Tree on the left side of the entry walk is a Chinese
Tallow Tree (Sapium sebiferum).
Disorganized
growth
habit
but
a
smallish
tree
for
smaller
yards.
May
get
to
35'.
Also
check
1571
Alabama
Ave.
and
1624
Vermont
Ave.
for
more
examples.
Of
real
note
is
the
"Dinosaur
Food"
or
Gunnera
on the 19th Street side in
the backyard. Each year it sends out new sprouts that can reach eight
feet high. (Small image) (Large image)
1947 Delaware:
On the Stone Boulevard side of this property is a hedge of English
Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus).
The variety might be
Zabeliana.
Euclid Street
401 Euclid St.: A heavy looking Bay Tree or Sweet
Bay Tree (Laurus nobilis). On
the Pennsylvania Ave. side is a young Red Maple (Acer rubrum).
^Top of Page^
Jefferson
Boulevard
1550 Jefferson:
The trees in the veterinarian parking lot are Chinese Hackberries. (Celtis sinensis.) They drip. A lot.
Jefferson and
Stone Blvd. Western Redbud (Cercis
occidentalis).
Maryland Avenue
1701 Maryland. Cape
Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata).
Will
die
down
to
a
pile
of
sticks
in
the
winter but usually comes back
by Summer to produce wonderful pale blue flowers. There is also a white
variety. (Small image) (Large image)
1735 Maryland:
The conifer is a Sago Palm (Cycas
revoluta), the pendulous tree
a European White Birch (Betula pendula),
and
the
tall
tree
a
Tulip
Tree
(Liriodendron
tulipifera). The tulip in Tulip tree refers to the outline of
the leaf. Look at one closely and see how much a leaf shape resembles a
tulip blossom. (Small
image) (Large image)
1802 Maryland: Cork
oak (Quercus suber). Yes, this
is the tree used for bottle corks. Evergreen. A good shade tree.
1806 Maryland: A nice front yard filled with perennials and cactus.
1813: A good sized
Coast redwood.
1836 Maryland: Spider
plant (Chlorophytum comosum).
Normally used as an indoor hanging plant, Spider Plant can be grown
outdoors here as a groundcover if given a great deal of protection in
the winter. Looks very nice in the shade. (Small image) (Large image)
1903 Maryland: On the 19th Street side is a Camellia trained as a tree.
Around the corner of the house is a well done hedge that's about four
feet high. It's a Photinia fraseri,
usually
used
as
a
big
privacy
screen.
New
growth
is
a
copper
red.
Facing
Maryland,
the
tree
on
the
right
hand
side
of
the
house
is
a
Chinese
Pistache
(Pistache chinensis).
Good
fall
color
but
needs
training
when
young.
1906 Maryland: Nice grove of European White Birches. (Betula pendula). Need much water.
These are the common birches in the trade. Contrast these with the
cutleaf birches a little further down the street at 1948 Maryland. Also
check out the cutleafs at 2001 Stone Court. B.
pendula is more, well, pendulous than the cutleaf birch which
has a more upright aspect. The leaves of B. pendula are also plainer
than the cutleaf variety. The whole aspect of the cutleaf birch is that
of a more elegant tree.
1926 Maryland: The tall tree with multiple smooth trunks (behind the
pine) is Chinese Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus
altissima). A weed tree. Do not plant. (Small
image of blossom) (Large
image
of
blossom) (Small
image of tree) (Large
image of tree)
1949 Maryland: Great stand of Aptenia
cordifolia, a red flowering groundcover. Would bloom more if it
had more sun. This homeowner is doing everything right. (Small image) (Large image)
1953 Maryland: A Camphor tree (Cinnamomum
camphora) is on the left. Heavy branches, a good deal of shade
and large amount of litter. Confine it to lawns where it does not drape
over walks or driveways. A Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus) is the small
tree on the right. This one blooms red.
Maryland Court
2001 Maryland
Ct.: A very nice yard here. Many interesting things. This is an image
of a double hedge of Gardenia 'Radicans'. With time, and the
replacement of a few plants, it may eventually fill in and look really
terrific. (Small image) (Large image) Tucked into a line of
shrubbery is a Hopseed Bush (Dodonaea viscosa). The photograph doesn't
show it well, but Dodonaea is an upright, loose bush with brownish
colored, papery flowers. (Small
image) (Large image). One
interesting use is to train it into a small tree. It looks very nice. (Small image) (Large image)
Also, check out
the dwarf Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea
Pungens): (Small image) (Large image)
Memorial Park
The several
trees on the west side of the property, along Delaware Ave., are
fastigate or upright
oaks. I can only think of Quercus
robur or English Oaks, possibly the variety called 'Fastigata'.
Branches are held close to the trunk, almost pendulous. The trees
themselves are upright in aspect, spreading somewhat at the top as
they age. (Image of
branches, small) (Image
of
branches,
large).
The very tall,
columnar trees at the edge of one ball field are Poplars. I do not know
the variety. But the most commonly planted one is Lombardy Poplar, Populus nigra 'Italica'. (Small
image) (Large image)
Park Boulevard
1515 Park Blvd.:
Fagus sp. Possibly F. sylvatica 'Tricolor'. Beautiful deciduous trees.
Sunset's Western Garden book describes 'Tricolor' as "Green leaves
marked white and edged pink." (Small
image of tree) (Large image of
tree) (Small image of
foliage) (Large image of
foliage)
1701 Park Blvd.,
on the 17th St. side: Strawberry tree (Arbutus
unedo). Sprawling small tree with age. Much character. Red,
exfoliating bark with drooping fruit that turns red. (Small image) (Large image) (Small image of fruit) (Large image of fruit) (Small image of Arbutus as
small tree) (Large
image of Arbutus as a small tree)
1717 Park Blvd.:
The wonderful small palm is a Pindo Palm or Butia
capitata.
(Identity kindly supplied by the owner.) This palm tolerated the frost
of 2009/2010 well. Slow growing. (Small
image) (Large image)
1725 Park Blvd.
Colorado Blue Spruce (normal tree) (Picea
pungens): (Normal sized tree) 1725 Park Blvd. (Small image) (Large image)
1801 Park Blvd.:
Italian alder. (Alnus cordata)
Nice smaller tree. Similiar to the White Alder but
fewer
problems
and
a
smaller
tree.
Leaves
of
Italian
Alder
are
smooth
feeling,
white
alder's
leaves
are
rough.
(Small
image) (Large image) (Image of fruits and
catkins, small) (Image
of
fruits
and
catkins,
large).
1921 Park Blvd.
The tree on the right is an Evergreen Elm (Ulmus parvifolia), a fine small
tree when pruned correctly, and the tree on the left is a Mayten (Maytenus boaria).
Pennsylvania
Avenue
1537
Pennsylvania: Nice Tulip Tree (Liriodendron
tulipifera).
1551
Pennsylvania:
The
small
tree
on
the
right
hand
side
of
the
house
is
an
old
Mock
Orange
(Pittosporum tobira).
After
twenty
or
twenty
five
years
this
shrub
can
become
a
small
tree. Also check out a more dwarf form at 1623 Delaware.
1700
Pennsylvania:
The
stout,
dark
looking
tree
is
probably
Sweet
Bay
or
Laurus
Nobilis. Leaves are used in
cooking. The only tree this can be confused with is a California
native: Umbellularia californica.
1721
Pennsylvania: The Bradford Pear (Pyrus
calleryana 'Bradford') is the tree with several trunks close
together. The raised beds at this house sport some different perennials.
Regent St. and
Pennsylvania Ave. Silk Tree (Albizia
julibrissin) next to
the Memorial Park sign.
Euclid St.
and Pennsylvania
Avenue: The five large trees lining Pennsylvania Avenue near this intersection
are
Fruitless Mulberries (Morus alba).
They're
deciduous
and
need
much
room.
Mulberries
are
many
times
the
street
trees
you
see
chainsawed
to
large
nobs,
often
cut
back
in
terrible
fashion.
(Small image) (Large image) Check out the
pruning needed to contain them by looking at the work
done each year to the mulberries at 1827 Alabama.
1823 Pennsylvania: A
beautiful Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron
giganteum). Also at 15 Circle St.
1902
Pennsylvania: Split leaf philodendron (Monstera
deliciosa). Dramatic plants that need afternoon shade. (Small image) (Large image)
1906 Pennsylvania: A nice
line of Italian Cypress (Cupressus
sempervirens) on the right hand side of this property.
1925 Pennsylvania: Ipomoea on
the galvanized fence along Stone Boulevard. See note for 16 19th
Street. Also an unkempt Potato Vine (Solanum
jasminoides) on the same fence. Although needing some
maintenance, Potato Vine blooms intermittently throughout the entire
growing season. Which is nice. (Small
image) (Large image)
Pennsylvania Court
2000
Pennsylvania Court. Umbrella plant. (Cyperus
alternifolius). (Small
image) (Large image)
Sam Combs Park
The two trees
with dark bark near the water fountains and day care building are
probably Red Ironbark (Eucalyptus
sideroxylon). These are sturdy, dependable trees with light pink
flowers. (Large image)
(Small image)
By the dog run
there are several large trees with big trunks that are grayish white.
The leaves are silver colored underneath. I believe these are White
Poplar (Populus alba). Very
messy seeds, in fact, the ground nearby is covered in white when these
trees start blossoming. (Large
image of tree) (Small
image of tree) (Small
image
of
trunks) (Large
image of trunks) (Large
image of leaves) (Small
image of leaves)
(Large image of leaves).
Stone Boulevard
208 Stone: On the left is a Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora). On the right
is a tree to avoid, a Tree Privet or Ligustrum
lucidum. These weedy trees set fruit that stain sidewalks, lawn
furniture, and anything else you have under them. They also reseed
freely. Too freely. It seems you
can never get rid of the hundreds of new privets that sprout up
wherever the soil
is moist. Most privets like this one are not planted but rather are
volunteers. At 148 Stone is a bigger example of the tree. It's in the
backyard but easily seen from the Vermont Ave. side. Take a look at it
here (Small image) (Large image).
Stone Court
2001 Stone Court: A cutleaf weeping
birch. Possibly Betula pendula
'Dalecarlica'. Compare to the plainer variety of Birch at 1906 Maryland. There is also a group of
European White Birches with a single cutleaf birch in a group planting
at 1712 Alabama.
2000 Stone Court: Avocado (Peresea americana). There are a
number of fruit trees here. The one with the most stakes is the Avocado. (Small
image) (Large image)
2005 Stone
Court: Goldenrain
tree
(Koelreuteria
panniculata). And a much smaller example is near 216 11th
Street, on the left hand side of the property.
^Top of Page^
Vermont Avenue
1580 Vermont:
The plain looking shrub underneath the London Plane Tree is a Lilac
(Syringa vulgaris).
1605 Vermont: Two Canary Island palms. (Phoenix canariensis).
1620 Vermont: Two ginkgos (Ginkgo
biloba) are near the street; discussed elsewhere as nice street
trees.
1624
Vermont: On
the right side of the driveway is a Sapium (Sapium congestum). A good
small to moderate sized tree. Flowers not especially showy.
1704 Vermont: Italian Stone pine (Pinus
pinea) in the lawn, Chinese
Pistache
(Pistache chinensis)
as young street trees.
1708 Vermont: A golden thua. (Platycladus
orientalis). These always look cute at the nursery.
Unfortunately, unless you get a true dwarf, they can get big and out of
scale in your yard. As a street tree there is also a very congested
Hawthorn (Crataegus sp.). I do
not know what kind it is, however, English Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata) is probably
the most commonly planted. Rosy red to pink flowers. (Small foliage image) (Large foliage image)
1725 Vermont: A young Eastern Redbud (Cercis
canadensis). Good spring color.
This redbud assumes a more upright character than its California
relative (Cercis occidentalis)
which is at Jefferson Blvd. and Stone Blvd.
1733 Vermont: The recently planted young tree with sawtooth leaves is a
Zelkova (Zelkova serrata). As
the images from Sacramento State University
show, it eventually makes an excellent shade or street tree. (Small image) (Large image)
1716 Vermont: In the
shade is a groundcover I really like, a variegated Vinca major. The white in the
leaves really brightens a dark spot. The shrub growing through it is a
Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius).
1717 Vermont: Huge cypress. I am going to take a guess and say this is
an Monterey Cypress (Cupressus
macrocarpa).
1908 Vermont: A
live oak of some kind. The cupped leaves suggest Coastal Live Oak or Quercus agrifolia. But are the
leaves large enough? On the 19th
Street side of this property is a
Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria).
Here
it
is
in
bloom.
(Small image)
(Large image) Look close when it
is out of bloom because the purple leaves often turn to green.
1911 Vermont.
There are two plants on the front fence. On the left is ivy, on the
right is Honeysuckle (Lonicera
japonica). Honeysuckle has a nice scent, attracts bees and
butterflies and hummingbirds, but is very difficult to maintain in a
good condition. To look good you have to cut out all the branches it
produces back to the support it is on. And then you have to look at
bare stems for sometimes a few months until it sprouts new growth.
Here's an image of it in rambunctious growth. (Small image) (Large image). And
here's a photograph of how much you have to cut it back after it's done
blooming. (Small image)
(Large image)
Virginia Avenue
1522 Virginia: A
nice California Pepper Tree. (Schinus
molle) Doesn't produce peppers but foliage is graceful, and
older trunks produce a tree filled with character.
1536 Virginia:
Oleanders (Nerium
oleander)
trained as trees. The heads of oleanders are so heavy that most need to
be staked throughout their entire life.
1540 Virginia: Look across the street. The big lobed tree is an edible
fig. I don't know the variety. You need a lot of room to grow these.
But terrific drought resistance once established and edible fruit.
Messy.
1544 Virginia: Big blue flowering Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) to the right
of the walkway. (Small image)
(Large image)
1559 Virginia: Nice dark leafed Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum).
1560 Virginia. Solitary palm. Possibly California Fan palm, Washingtonia robusta.
1575 Virginia: A neglected Butterfly Bush (Buddleia
davidii) next to the house. It can be much better. Click here
for a look at this shrub's potential. These images are from the
Sacramento City Cemetery. (Small
image) (Large image)
1582 Virginia: A Japanese Maple (Acer
palmatum).
1600 Virginia: Near the front door is a hedge of Myrtle (Myrtus communis.) On the side is a Raywood ash with its
distinctive foliage and bark. (Fraxinus
oxycarpa).
1617 Virginia: Trident maple (Acer
buergeranum). Note the three lobed leaves. Interesting bark when
older but some young trees display rough bark as well. Makes a fine
small tree. Compare the one at 107 Alameda. These photos from the
Smud
headquarter's property show it as a mature tree. (Small image) (Large image)
1620 and 1624 Virginia: The street trees are young Red Maples (Acer
rubrum). Note the red stems.
1624 Virginia: The green clump next to the sidewalk is a solitary
Myrtle (Myrtus communis.) Smell to
test. There are compact and variegated forms.
1638 Virginia: A walnut of some sort. On the 17th side is a rampant
Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans).
Nice
red
flowers
but
you
will
have
trouble
keeping
it
in
bounds.
Flower:
(Small image) (Large image) Vine: (Small image) (Large image)
1700 Virginia: A purple leafed form of Norway Maple (Acer platanoides). Very nice.
1701 Virginia:
(On the 17th. St. side) I believe this
is a Majesty Palm. (Ravenea
Rivularis) (Small image)
(Large image)
1703 Virginia: Modesto ash (Fraxinus
velutina 'Modesto'). Once widely planted and now out of favor.
Has many problems and better choices are widely available.
1712 Virginia: Two Incense Cedars (Calocedrus
decurrens) bookend this front yard. Incense Cedars are planted
throughout the States Streets' neighborhood.
1716 Virginia: Two Bradford pears (Pyrus
calleryana).
1717 Virginia: Unknown maple.
1732 Virginia: A Bouganinvillea puts on new growth and flowers for the
summer of 2010. This one may have been recently planted. Many Bouganinvilleas were lost
due to the frost of 2009/2010. Keep Bouganinvilleas covered
during the winter if possible. Christmas lights are often a good idea.
1738 Virginia: Possibly an Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis).
1804 Virginia: The five shrubs on the property line shaded by a white
birch are Waxleaf privets, probably Ligustrum
japonicum. Although the property owner has them trimmed as
solitary plants, they can be grouped together to make a nice hedge as
seen at 1619 Alabama Ave.
1805 Virginia: The glossy leafed tree on the left side of the walk
appears to be a Persimmon (Diospyros
sp.)
1811 Virginia: Two massive Coastal Redwoods. (Sequoia sempervirens). (Small image) (Large
image)
1813 Virginia: The broad leaved tree on the right is an English Walnut (Juglans regia). The conifer on the
left is a Cedar (Cedrus atlantica.
Possibly
Cedrus atlantica
'Glauca').
1915 Virginia: Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus Fortunei). (Small image) (Large image)
^Top of Page^
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