The Broadleaf Families of Trees in Southern California

The Broadleaf Families of Trees in Southern California
by J. Zimmerman, Ph.D.

What native broadleaf trees can you find in Southern California, from San Diego and Imperial counties in the south up to Monterey, Kern, and Inyo counties?

Trees and Shrubs of California by John Stuart and John Sawyer. California's native tree species and most of its common shrub species in one accessible field guide. Over 100 line drawings, 300 range maps, and 40 color photographs.

National Audubon Society Field Guide to Trees: Western Region by Elbert L. Little. (Great photos of leaf, flower, and fruit, plus informative text guide you through over 300 native tree species west of the Rocky Mountains.)

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You can see these families of broadleaf trees in Southern California.

Agave Family (Agavaceae).

1. Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia).
2. Mojave Yucca (Yucca schidigera).

Beech Family (Fagaceae).

Southern California Genera are in the Chinquapin genus (Castanopsis), specifically:

1. Golden Chinquapin (C. chrysophylla var. minor).

or in the Oak genus (Quercus):

1. Blue Oak (Q. douglasii) -- deciduous.
2. California Black Oak (Q. kelloggii) -- deciduous.
3. Canyon Live Oak (Q. chrysolepis) -- evergreen.
4. Coast Live Oak (Q. agrifolia) -- evergreen.
5. Engleman Oak (Q. englemannii) -- evergreen.
6. Interior Live Oak (Q. wislizenii) -- evergreen.
7. Oracle Oak (Q. morehus) -- evergreen.
8. Palmer Oak (Q. palmeri) -- evergreen.
9. Valley Oak (Q. lobata) -- deciduous.

or in the Tanoak genus (Lithocarpus):

1. Tanoak (L. densiflora).

Bignonia Family (Bignoniacae).

The only native species is:

1. Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis).

Birch Family (Betulaceae).

The tree-sized natives in Southern California are:

• Alder genus (Alnus):
  1. Red Alder (A. oregona).
  2. White Alder (A. rhombifolia).

Buckeye Family (Hippocastanaceae).

The only native species is:

1. California Buckeye (Aesculus californica), also called horse chestnut.

Cacao Family (Sterculiaceae).

This family contains:

1. California Flannel Bush (Fremontodendron californica). Also called slippery elm.
2. Mexican Flannel Bush (F. mexicana).

Dogwood Family (Cornaceae).

The only native species is:

1. Mountain Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii).

Heath Family (Ericaceae).

This family contains:

1. Madrone (Arbutus menziesii).
2. Big Berry Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca).

Honeysuckle Family (Capriofoliaceae).

The Elderberry genus (Sambucus) is present as:

1. Blue Elderberry (S. caerulea).
2. Mexican Elderberry (S. mexicana).

Laurel Family (Lauraceae).

The only native species is:

1. California Laurel (Umbellularia californica). Also called California Bay, Bay Laurel, Pepperwood, or Oregon Myrtle.

Maple Family (Aceraceae).

Maples found in Southern California are:

1. Big Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum).
2. Box Elder (Acer negundo).
3. Mountain Maple (Acer glabrum).

Olive Family (Oleaceae).

The tree-sized natives of this family are in the Ash (Fraxinus) genus:

1. Arizona Ash (F. velutina).
2. Dwarf Ash (F. anomala).
3. Flowering Ash (F. dipetala).

Palm Family (Palmaceae).

The only native species is:

1. California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera). Also called Desert Palm.

Pea Family (Leguminoseae).

Southern California genera and species are:

• Acacia genus: Cat's Claw (A. greggii).
• Cercis genus: Western Redbud (C. occidentalis).
• Cercidium genus:
  1. Little Leaf Horse-Bean (C. microphyllum).
  2. Palo Verde (C. floridium). Also called Green Bark Acacia.
• Dalea genus: Smoke Tree (D. spinosa). Also called Indigo Bush.
• Olneya genus: Desert Ironwood (O. tesota).
• Parkinsonia genus: Horse-Bean (P. aculeata). Also called Mexican Palo Verde or Jerusalem Thorn.
• Prosopis genus:
  1. Honey Mesquite (P. glandulosa).
  2. Screw-Bean Mesquite (P. pubescens).

Rose Family (Rosaceae).

The tree-sized natives in Southern California are in these genera and species:

• Mountain-mahoganies in the genus Cercocarpus:
  1. Birch-leaf Mountain-mahogany (C. betuloides). Also called Hard Tack.
  2. Curl-leaf Mountain-mahogany (C. ledifolius).
• Prunus genus:
  1. Bitter Cherry (P. emarginata).
  2. Desert Apricot (P. fremontii).
  3. Hollyleaf Cherry (P. ilicifolia).
  4. Western Choke Cherry (P. virginiana).
• Heteromeles genus:
  1. Toyon (H. arbutifolia). Also called Christmas Berry.

Sycamore Family (Platanaceae).

The only native species is:

1. Western Sycamore (Platanus racemosa), also called the Plane Tree.

Walnut Family (Juglandaceae).

The only native species is:

1. California Walnut (Juglans californica), a small evergreen.

Wax Myrtle Family (Myricaceae).

The only native species is:

1. Wax Myrtle (Myrica californica).

Willow Family (Salicaceae).

Members of this family produce catkin flowers (spike-like), both male and female. The flowers that produce seeds are on separate trees from the flowers that produce pollen. Willows are hardy and grow quickly. They are common near streams and in other moist places. The natives in Southern California are in the willow (Salix) genus:

1. Arroyo Willow (S. lasiolepis).
2. Black Willow (S. gooddingii).
3. Golden Willow (S. lasiandra).
4. Nuttall Willow (S. scouleriana).
5. Red Willow (S. laevigata).
6. Sandbar Willow (S. hindsiana).
7. Watson's Willow (S. lutea var. watsonii).

The poplar (Populus) genus includes:

1. Aspen (P. tremuloides).
2. Fremont Cottonwood (P. fremontii).
3. Black Cottonwood (P. trichocarpa).

For More Information.

Resources - Book.

• Native Trees of Southern California by P. Victor Peterson, University of California Press. Peterson's book gives details on how to recognize all trees of Southern California.
• Trees and Shrubs of California by John Stuart and John Sawyer.

Resources - Related pages.

• Articles - Our Index.
• South California: Families of Native Trees, Pines.
• Sierra Nevada: Families of Native Trees.
• Pines: Introducing Pines, How to Names Pines.
• Got Conifer - How You Can Tell What Kind of Conifer You Have.
• Oak trees of California.

Forest and Tree Home, Glossary pages: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.

[Thanks for visiting.]

Copyright © 2001-2006 by J. Zimmerman.