Trees that can be Considered
"Native" to California
Our mission is to sustain and enhance the trees of Mountain View, California, through community stewardship, education and advocacy.
What is a "Native" California Tree?
by Ray Morneau
What is a native California tree? Well, that depends upon who you ask.
The Native Sons of the Golden West suggest that if it was here before the Gold Rush, it's a native. Some arborists suggest we look back more than 200 years to find the true natives and that might include some old oak trees in your neighborhood or very old willows, sycamores, and big leaf maples.
I think that realistically we could consider a native tree to be one that is sustainable in our climate of dry summers and wet winters.
On October 25, Mountain View Trees planted 15 Platanus racemosa ( California Sycamore) at the entrance to Shoreline Park and that's about as "native' as you can get.
Trees that are often conisdered California "Natives":
Aspen
Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Alder
White Alder (Alnus rhombifolia)
Cedar
Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens)
Cottonwood
Black Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa)
Fremont Cottonwood (Populus fremontii)
Cypress
Lawson Cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana)
Elderberry
Blue Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana)
Fir
Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
White Fir (Abies concolor)
Hemlock
Mountain Hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana)
Laurel
California Laurel (Umbellularia californica)
Madrone (Arbutus menziesii)
Oak
Valley Oak (Quercus lobata)
Leather Oak (Quercus durata)
Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia)
California Black Oak (Quercus kelloggii
Canyon Live Oak (Quercus chrysolepis)
Interior Live Oak (Quercus wislizenii)
Tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus)
Pine
Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata)
Bishop Pine (Pinus muricata)
Sequoia
Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)
Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum)
Sycmore
California Sycamore (Platanus racemosa)
Toyon (Heteromeles
arbutifolia)
Willow
Arroyo Willow (Salix lasiolepis)
Calendar of Events
September, 2010
10:00 am - 11:30 pm
Early Tree Care Workshop [date/location
tbd]
October 3rd, 2010
Sunday, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market, Train Station
Location: Downtown Mountain View, Caltrain Station parking lot at 600 West Evelyn Ave.
Come visit our table at the Farmers' Market in Downtown Mountain View, California and meet some of our volunteers and find out more about the trees that keep our city so beautiful.
October, 2010
10:00 am - 11:30 pm
Pruning Workshop
[date/location to be
determined]
Join professional arborist, Ray Morneau, to learn important concepts about pruning. You will learn a step-by-step process to structurally improve your trees. He will address some of the fine points of pruning such as safety, tool selection and sharpening, and the reasons to prune. He will include a discussion on how to wisely select a tree care contractor to help with mature trees and suggest additional helpful resources.
A suggested donation to Mountain View Trees of $15 is
welcome.
Questions: 650-450-MVT1 (6881)
December 5th, 2010
Sunday, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Farmers' Market, Train Station
Location: Downtown Mountain View, Caltrain Station parking lot at 600 West Evelyn Ave.
Come visit our table at the Farmers' Market in Downtown Mountain View, California and meet some of our volunteers and find out more about the trees that keep our city so beautiful.
