When we reviewed the latest fire safety, zone 0, landscaping codes in California we noticed that well-maintained trees are allowed within 5 feet of the house. Really? Who plants a tree within 5 feet of a house anyway?
Then we realized a tree can be defined as a large shrub and may be allowed if limbed up from the ground and away from overhanging eaves and if the upper branches don’t hang over the house.
This led us to feature small trees this month, and not just in the Strawberry Tree post, but also with some ideas for small trees in small gardens (see below).
And since it is October and the rainy season should be starting anytime, be sure to keep your landscape hydrated. It is OK to start watering now; let your garden wake up.
~ Saxon Holt and Nora Harlow
October’s Blog Post:
Strawberry Tree
Arbutus unedo, the strawberry tree, has been known and revered for millennia in summer-dry climates surrounding the Mediterranean Sea and has been cultivated in Europe at least since the seventeenth century. Its popularity among gardeners and landscape designers seemed to have waned in recent years as other shrubs and small trees, most notably the hybrid Arbutus ‘Marina’, took center stage. The strawberry tree is now poised for a comeback
“Pineapple guava, Acca sellowiana renamed (as it once was) back to Feijoa sellowiana. This small South American tree is quite well adapted to summer-dry climates as a fruiting tree or silver foliage hedge.”
We tend to forget that many shrubs can be considered trees and are glad the new California fire codes allow for well-maintained trees within 5 feet of a house. There is still a good amount of controversy about all of this because every municipality has the right to enact its own code, and insurance companies may demand no vegetation of any kind within 5 feet.
The small trees below are not intended to be considered as fire safe landscaping but are presented as good examples of trees that can stay small. The key in all of these is to begin the training early, keep only a few lower branches, and let them take a beautiful shape over the years as you prune them.
Well pruned manzanita (Arctostaphylos) shrub with native grasses by swimming pool. Design Kate Frey.
A well-pruned manzanita can take your breath away and the larger varieties get to 15 to 20 feet so there’s ample opportunity to shape and let them reveal the landscape around them.
Small trees (Redbud and Japanese Maple) by pond with rock waterfall in backyard bird habitat garden.
These homeowners are birders and wanted to create habitat. The small trees are not only welcomed by the birds, but provide some private viewing for the observers.
Haematoxylon brasiletto (Mexican Logwood), small drought tolerant tree in patio courtyard, Palm Springs, California.
These homeowners are birders and wanted to create habitat. The small trees are not only welcomed by the birds, but provide some private viewing for the observers.
Haematoxylon brasiletto (Mexican Logwood), small drought tolerant tree in patio courtyard, Palm Springs, California.
Also known as Mexican logwood, this really tough shrub can be a great choice for desert gardens.
Chilopsis linearis ‘Bubba’ (left) and Tecoma stans, ‘Yellow Bells’ in Southern California garden.
These are classic small trees. They have really benefited from hybridizing in the nursery industry and are well-adapted to Southern California, with great summer color.
By choosing naturally occurring, climate-appropriate plants, gardeners can promote healthier ecosystems and make a difference from their own backyards. Gardening in Summer-Dry Climates guides you through the journey of cultivating a stunning, biodiverse landscape with gorgeous pictures, detailed advice, and an expansive plant compendium. Plus, when you order it directly from us, we will autograph it for you.
Every garden should have a tree of some kind and the SelectTree website is the best guide we know.
We would love to hear about any resources you would like to pass along. We all get these snippets from our news feeds and inboxes. Let’s share the best, and we will keep the running list so you can find them later on the Links We Like page.
Saxon Holt is a photojournalist and sole photographer of more than 30 garden books, including the award winning books Plants and Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates, The American Meadow Garden, and Hardy Succulents. He is the Director of the Summer-Dry Project, a Fellow of the Garden Writers Association, and owner of the PhotoBotanic Garden Library.
