Whatz That? - Barstow evergreen trees

Many plants have more than one popular name.  Therefore they can be identified more accurately by their scientific name.  Nurseries are just beginning to realize that and include both names on the labels.  I am doing the same here.  Also I am alphabetizing them by the scientific names as that is the way they are listed in Sunset's Western Gardening Book, the basic authority for plants in this area.  Barstow's climate is USDA 8a or more accurately Sunset's 11.  Those evergreen trees I have located in Barstow are shown in the first section, with pictures.  In the second section are other evergreen trees that are recommended for zone 11.  Palm trees, yuccas, and their kin are in separate postings.


White Fir/Abies concolor
80'x 15'

Shoestring Acacia/Acacia stenophylla
30'x20'   marginal

Deodar/Cedrus deodara
80'x 40'
needles 1"- 1 1/2" single

Arizona Cypress/Cupressus arizonica    
40'x20'
fast-growing
tear-drop shape
xeric







Italian Cypress/ Cupressus sempervirens                    
60'x5'
columnar
The ones in the picture are young.
xeric









White Ironbark/Eucalyptus leucoxylon
30'x18'
xeric










Silver Dollar Eucalyptus/Eucalyptus cinerea
20'x20'
xeric

Hollywood Juniper/Juniperus chinensis 'Tortulosa'
15'x10'











Weeping Juniper/Juniperus scopulorum
20'x10'
seric












Oleander/Nerium oleander
20'x12'
trim as bush or tree
xeric

Olive/Olea europaea
25'x 25'
trim as bush or tree
single or multitrunk
fruit inedible without processing
xeric







Afghan Pine/Pinus eldarica
30'x15'
conical
needles in threes
xeric

Aleppo Pine/Pinus halepensis
30'x30'
fluffy and round
needles in threes
xeric

Chilean Mesquite/Prosopis chilensis
xeric

Argentine Mesquite/Prosopis alba
30'x 30'
xeric

Holly Oak/Quercus ilex
30'x 30'










California Pepper /Schinus molle
25'x25'
marginal, fast growing, poisonous
distinctive peppery smell
xeric

Texas Mountain Laurel/Sophora secundiflora            
15'x10'   slow growing
purple flowers, poisonous
xeric

Athel/Tamarix aphylla 

30'x50'  

salty leaves

inconspicuous white flowers

reseeds

xeric

Slimleaf Vauquelina/ Vauquelina corymbosa
20'x15'
xeric








 I will add more pictures as I locate evergreen trees and identify them.  Meanwhile, there is a list below of other evergreen trees that, according to the Sunset Gardening Book, should grow in Barstow.

Drought Tolerant?

Nandina domestica 'Nana"
in Arkansas

Nandina domestica 'Nana'
in Barstow

I have just returned from spending the Christmas holiday  at my son's farm in Arkansas.  The climate there is about the same as the climate in Barstow temperature-wise, but usually it is a lot wetter.  Fortunately it only rained one day during the ten days I was there, but you can tell the difference by appearance of the plants, even plants that grow in our dry climate.

What I have learned from this is that "drought tolerant" means exactly what it says -- that the plant will not die if it doesn't get enough water. But it won't thrive either!

Burford Holly
in Arkansas

Just a few berries on Burford Holly in Barstow

And a few pictures of the farm and farm animals.  The ground in this part of Arkansas is a yellow clay which is not good for crops.  Rice is grown in the river bottoms, but this time of year the fields are just fields of mud.  So most farmers raise animals and have only a kitchen garden.  Even with just one day of rain, the ground was very mucky.

Farm Pond
The bare ground has been sown with a winter grass.

A Variety of Animals

Friends

Crowding to See What is Going On

Lambs born in December
So the shepherds really could have been
in the field at night this time of year

And a puppy too!

For more pictures of Nathaniel's animals, see his blog at www.goatsrabbitsdonkeys.blogspot.com.