Download Source: Sunset Western Garden Book, 1991 edition.

DROUGHT-TOLERANT TREES SUITABLE FOR FRESNO/CLOVIS AREA
AS COMPILED BY TREE FRESNO 6/02
Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is a deciduous shrub or small tree with fast growth to 25’. Habit broad and
spreading, leaves are divided fanwise. Conspicuous 7” spikes of lavender-blue to pinkish-white flowers appear
in the summer and fall. Tolerates many types of soils, but requires plenty of summer heat for richly colored,
profuse bloom.
Source: Sunset Western Garden Book, 1991 edition.
Chinese Hackberry (Celtis sinesis) is a deciduous tree to 40’, nearly as wide. Branches are spreading and
sometimes pendulous. Leaves to 4” long, smooth, and glossy with scallop-toothed edges. Deep root system.
Especially good in windy locations, though young trees should be staked until well established. When
established, trees will take wind, desert heat, much drought, and alkaline soil.
Source: Sunset Western Garden Book, 1991 edition.
Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinesis) is a deciduous tree to 60’ tall by 50’ wide. Foliage colors are beautiful in
fall---scarlet, crimson, orange, sometimes yellow tones. Not fussy as to soil or water; accepts moderately
alkaline conditions, lawn watering (though verticillium wilt is a danger,) or no summer watering at all in deep
soils. Stake young trees and prune for first few years to develop head high enough to walk under.
Source: Sunset Western Garden Book, 1991 edition.
Chinese Tallow (Sapium sebiferum) is a deciduous tree to 35’ high with dense or conical crown of equal
width. Outstanding fall color: red, purple, yellow. Easily trained to single trunk: stake young plants securely.
Branch tips may freeze back; new growth quickly covers damage, but many require thinning. Leaves are
poplarlike, roundish, tapering to slender point, light green. Tiny yellowish f lowers; fruit small, clustered,
grayish white, covered by a waxy coating. Give it ample water for fast growth and prune only to correct shape.
Avoid planting close to sewer or irrigation lines or over sidewalk.
Avoid planting near streambed or natural water source as it readily naturalizes.
Source: Sunset Western Garden Book, 1991 edition.
Chinese Fringe Tree (Chionanthus retusus) reaches 20’ with flower clusters to 4 in. long in June and July.
Earns common name from narrow, fringelike, white petals on flowers that are borne in impressive, ample, lacy
clusters. There are male and female trees. If both are present, female plants produce fruit like small dark olives
in clusters. Male trees have larger flowers. Broad leaves turn deep yellow in fall. In bloom this is a
magnificent tree, something like a tremendous white lilac.
Source: Sunset Western Garden Book, 1998 edition .
Chitalpa (Chitalpa tashkentensis) is a fast growing, deciduous shade tree to 25’+ and as wide. Clusters of
frilly trumpet-shaped flowers appear over a long season. Drought-tolerant, tough tree that loves full sun. ‘Pink
Dawn’ has pink flowers; ‘Morning Cloud’ white ones.
Source: Sunset Western Garden Book, 1991 edition.
Crabapple (Malus) Many attractive species and varieties. Hardiness and long life are qualities generally
associated with flowering crabapples. Relatively free of pests and diseases. Outstanding spring bloom, good
overhead canopy. Malus floribunda has small fruit, Malus ioensis plena rarely sets fruit.
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is highly valued in hot inland areas for summer flowers ranging from
white to pink to purple to red. Dwarf shrubby forms and shrub-tree forms 6-30 ft. tall are available.
Source: Sunset Western Garden Book, 1998 edition .
Goldenrain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) is a deciduous tree of slow to moderate growth to 20-35’ with
10-40’ spread. Open branching, giving slight shade. Leaves to15” long with 7-15 toothed or lobed leaflets,
each 1-3” long. Flower clusters in summer, 8-14” long. Fruit buff to brown in fall, hanging late. Takes cold,
heat, drought, wind, and alkaline soil. Needs regular watering when young. Prune to shape; can be gawky
without pruning. Valuable as street, lawn, or terrace tree in difficult soils and climates.
Source: Sunset Western Garden Book, 1991 edition.
Gimlet, Narrow-leafed (Eucalyptus spathulata) is a small evergreen tree to 20’ with ribbonlike leaves and
smooth red bark. A versatile tree, it tolerates poor soil drainage, acts as a bushy windscreen, is a good desert
plant. Cream and gold flowers open in summer from long, oval buds. Bell-shaped seed capsules. Possible
freeze damage in very cold winters.
Source: Sunset Western Garden Book, 1991 edition.
Plum, Flowering (Prunus species) will grow in almost any soil. An adaptable and choice medium-size
flowering tree for lawn, patio, terrace or small street tree is P. blireiana. It also does well in planters and large
tubs, but is susceptible to bacterial gall. In choosing plum to be planted in paved area, check its fruiting habits
(e.g., P. cerasifera ‘Krauter Vesuvius’). When planting in a patio, prune to establish head at height to walk
under. As tree develops, prune out crossing and inward-growing branches. Expect attacks from sphids, slugs,
caterpillars, spider mites.
Source: Sunset Western Garden Book, 1998 edition .
Redbud, Western (Cercis occidentalis) grows to 10-18 feet with equal spread. Usually grows several trunks
from base. All-year interest. In spring it delivers 3-week display of brilliant magenta flowers; summer foliage
of handsome blue-green, leaves notched or rounded at tip; in fall, whole plant turns light yellow orred; in
winter, bare branches in picturesque pattern hold reddish brown seed pods.. Excellent for dry, seldom watered
banks. Water regularly in first year or two to speed growth. Thereafter, needs minimal water inland.
Source: Sunset Western Garden Book, 1998 edition.
Sumac, African (Rhus lancea) is an evergreen tree to 25 ft. Open, spreading habit; graceful weeping outer
branchlets. Pea-size, berrylike, yellow or red fruit grows in clusters on female tree, can be messy on pavement.
Stake and prune to establish form you want. Can be trained into a single-trunk tree or let it grow as
multitrunked tree that looks somewhat like olive.
Source: Sunset Western Garden Book, 1998 edition .
Tupelo, Sour Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) is one of the best lawn trees for fall color (deciduous.) Slow to moderate
growth to 30’, spreading to 15’. Leaves turn hot, coppery red in fall; bluish fruit is attractive to birds. Grows
well in any soil. Tolerates poor drainage.
Source: Sunset Western Garden Book, 1991 edition.
Valley Oak (Quercus lobata) is California’s mightiest oak, often reaching 70’ or more, with equal or greater
spread. Trunk and limbs are massive, with thick, ashy gray, distinctly checked bark. Limbs often picturesquely
twisted; long, drooping outer branches sometimes sweep ground. Deeply lobed leaves, lobes rounded.
Tolerates high heat and moderate alkalinity in its native range. Best in deep soils where it can tap ground water;
in such situations, it can grow fast (2-3’ a year.) Magnificent tree for shading really big outdoor living area
(debris makes it difficult for beds of small plants or heavily paved areas.)
Source: Sunset Western Garden Book, 1991 edition.