Self-Guided Tree Walk: Palo Verde

Tree Selection by Kevin Raftery, ISA certified arborist.
Updated by Jana Dilley and Marty Deggeller, summer 2003
Additional information gathered by Susan Rosenberg from Sunset Western Garden Book The Folklore of Trees and Shrubs, and Red Oaks and Black Birches.

Download this Tree Walk (PDF Version)

The Palo Verde Tree Walk begins at the entrance to Palo Verde Elementary School at 3450 Louis Road.

1a. Evergreen Pear (Pyrus kawakamii)
~ Palo Verde Elementary School, three specimens in a row immediately north of the main entry into the school
A semi-deciduous tree that offers an abundance of white flowers in late winter and early spring. This tree is susceptible to fire blight and bacterial leaf spot.

1b. Liquidambar or Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
~ Three along north property next to wooden fence
The ‘Palo Alto’ cultivar, used extensively as a street tree in Palo Alto, shows more uniform growth habit than the species; leaves turn orange-red in the fall.

1c. Modesto Ash (Fraxinus velutina ‘Modesto’)
~ Along sidewalk in front of school, also street trees along Louis Road
In the superstitious sixteenth century, ash keys – the single-winged samaras which are the fruit of the ash tree – were used to ward off witches and serpents. Antrachnose disease defoliates trees during wet spring weather.

1d. Lemon Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus)
~ A row of six trees along middle classroom windows facing Louis Road
Citrinus is derived from the lemon scent of the bruised foliage. Hummingbirds love the flowers.

1e. Mexican Palo Verde (Parkinsonia aculeata)
~ Left of the main entryway next to the principal’s office
This genus is easily recognized by its leaves—long, narrow streamers. Parkinsonia refers to the English botanical author John Parkinson.

1f. Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata)
~ Near school’s play structure
An incurable fungus called pitch canker could destroy 85% of California’s native Monterey pine forest. It is the most widely cultivated forest tree in the world with vast forests in Chile, New Zealand, and throughout the southern hemisphere.

2. Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo)
~ 3487 Greer Road, right of front door
A slow-growing shrub or tree with small flowers that turn into strawberry-like red fruits that may remain on the tree for months. Birds find the fruit attractive. Native to Ireland and the Mediterranean.

3. Cordyline (Cordyline australis)
~ 3498 Janice Way, left of garage
Woody plants with swordlike leaves, related to yuccas and agaves but usually ranked with palms. In nurseries it is often sold as a Dracaena but it is not a true Dracaena.

4a. London Plane Tree (Platanus acerifolia)
~ 3488 Janice Way, street tree left of driveway
Excellent shade trees; requires full sun and well drained soil. Leaves have tomentose on surface. To some, their bark resembles marble. Reported to be the most widely planted urban forest tree in the world.

4b. Hollywood Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Kaizuka’)
~ 3488 Janice Way, right of front door
Rich green foliage with twisted, irregularly-shaped branches; this tree often takes a stunning wind- swept form.

5. Olive Tree (Olea europaea)
~ 3487 Janice Way, front of house, left of driveway
Introduced to early California Mission gardens for their oil. This tree is best used in dry soils.

6. Hopseed Bush (Dodonaea viscosa ‘Purpurea’)
~ 3482 Janice Way, left side along fence
This drought resistant evergreen shrub serves beautifully as a clipped hedge or an unclipped screen. Growth is fast and uniform, maintenance easy. Damage to the plant can occur when temperatures dip into the low twenties.

7. Shamel Ash (Fraxinus uhdei)
~ 3481 Janice Way, street tree left of driveway
This fast-growing tree requires some pruning when young to prevent serious structural
damage. It provides a majestic canopy over city streets when planted as a street tree. Roots are very aggressive. Not a tree for a small yard.

8. Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin)
~ 3458 Janice Way
Also known as the Mimosa tree; unlike the true mimosa this tree does not fold up its leaves when touched but does curl up on cool evenings. Interesting fuzzy pink flowers.

9. Yew Pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus)
~ 3433 Janice Way, right side of front yard
This tree has foliage similar to the yew except that the needles are longer and wider. This is the most common of the Podocarpus species in America at this time.

10. Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii)
~ 3409 Janice Way, in cul-de-sac, left of driveway
A good accent or bonsai tree. The lustrous deep green needles and white candle-like buds are particularly handsome.

11. Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis)
~ 3382 Kenneth Dr., right of driveway near sidewalk
The seeds yield an oil used in cooking, and the Chinese have been known to boil the leaf buds and eat them. The species P. vera, yielding the edible pistachio nuts, is frequently grafted on roots of this Chinese species.

12. Flaxleaf Paperbark (Melaleuca linariifolia)
~ 3444 Kenneth Drive, front yard, left of driveway
Most melalucas stand heat, wind, poor soil, limited moisture. Most are vigorous and fast-growing. Shearing makes the plants dense and lumpish. This tree has bark that sheds in papery flakes.

13. Silver Dollar Gum (Eucalyptus polyanthemos)
~ 3448 Kenneth Drive, right side near house
This tree grows almost anywhere except for wet places. The flowers are seen as large masses of pink December through June.

14. Mayten Tree (Maytenus boaria)
~ 3452 Kenneth Drive, 2 trees on right side
Originally from Chile this weeping evergreen makes a beautiful specimen and is highly
recommended by many as a street tree.

15. Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’)
~ 3461 Kenneth Drive, along sidewalk left of driveway
Atlas cedar needs a large area for full development and should not be crowded. The wood is excellent for carpentry and has a strong scent which repels insects.

16. Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
~ 3485 Kenneth Drive, left of front door
Rich, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter is the optimal medium for best growth. They cannot be expected to grow well in dry, poor, gravelly soils.

17. European White Birch (Betula pendula)
~ 3489 Kenneth Drive, street trees left and right of driveway
A native of rainy summer climates, all birches need ample water during our dry summer months. Said to be the most frequently planted deciduous tree in the west.

18. Carolina Laurel Cherry (Prunus caroliniana)
~ 3469 Greer Road, right of driveway
This tree was used at Williamsburg by early colonists. A distinct cherry odor is evident when stem are bruised. The leaves carry a high concentration of hydrocyanic acid which makes the plant unpalatable and dangerous to livestock.

19. Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica)
~ 3458 Greer Road
The same tree in two different forms; espaliered to the right of the front door and as a standard to the left of the driveway.

20. Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
~ 3440 Greer Road., in cul-de-sac left of driveway
The sight of dark green cypress columns is the essence of a Mediterranean landscape. It is believed the doors of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome were made of this wood. When they were finally removed they were found to be eleven hundred years old and in good condition.

This publication was funded by the California ReLeaf 2003 Capacity-Building Grant Program and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.