Small Tree Choices for San Diego County

During my visits to clients throughout San Diego county, I am often asked about tree choices. My personal view is that planting a tree that will ultimately be too large for a space is wrong. Many justify it to themselves by saying 'We will be long gone by the time its a problem'. Others plant trees that grow to be giants because they just dont know how big its ultimately going to get. At The Yard Fairy we size our trees (and plants) according to the space you have in your yard. By drawing up your yard on paper, we can see exactly if something is going to fit.

Chinese Redbud or Cercis chinensis
Covered in green glossy leaves with pink or violet flowers
Can grow up to 20 feet tall and 15 wide if allowed
Does shed leaves for fall
Rather low maintenance
Prefers partial shade or full sun




Crape Myrtle or Lagerstroemia hybrids
Many different types
Deciduous tree, loses leaves in fall
Have hybrids that are resistant to many diseases.
Narrow trees that can grow to 25 feet tall and 12 feet wide




Lemon Bottlebrush or Callistemon citrinus
Can grow up to 20-25 feet
Has bright green leaves, flowers are bright red ‘brushes’ with gold tips
Available in Multi
Tolerant to heat and needs little water
Evergreen tree, does not shed leaves for fall


Mexican Redbud or Cercis canadensis mexicana
Can grow to 15 feet tall
Has glossy green leaves that slightly curl
Flowers can range from red to pink
Needs full sun, and fairly drought tolerant
Deciduous tree, will shed leaves for fall
Photo by Natalia Banaszczyk ->







Peppermint Willow or Agonis flexuosa
Can grow up to 25-35 feet tall and 15-30 feet wide
Has lance-shaped leaves and white flowers
Fragrant evergreen that won’t shed leaves for winter
Drought and heat resistant












Pineapple Guava or Feijoa sellowiana (Acca sellowiana)
Can grow up to 18-25 feet tall and wide
Has flowers that are red with yellow tips, and gives green fruit
Has moderate tolerance to temperatures within 80-80 degrees
Evergreen tree with glossy leaves, does not shed for winter









Purple Orchid Tree or Bauhinia veriegata
Can grow up to 25-30 feet tall and wide
Deciduous tree that sheds leaves for the winter
Has leaves that look like a cow’s hoof and orchids for flowers
Needs full sun and is picky about soil pH
Has a blooming period of late winter to early summer





Smoke Tree or Cotinus coggygria
Is also called ‘Purpreus’ or ‘Atropurpurea’
Can grow to 12-15 feet wide and tall, in some cases even 25 feet
Has flowers that cluster together to look like smoke
Has oval shaped, dark purple leaves that turn red in fall
Prefers full sun to partial shade




Strawberry Tree or Arbutus unedo
Is also called ‘Compacta’
Can grow up to 10 feet tall and wide, but seldom over
Is a evergreen shrub with white flowers and red drupe fruit
Prefers partial shade and does well in dry climates
Does not produce strawberries













Western Redbud or Cercis occidentalis
Can grow up to 10-18 feet wide and tall
Is a deciduous shrub or small tree
Has violet flowers and edible fruits
Tolerant of lime or acidic soils





Diane E Downey is the owner of The Yard Fairy Inc, a North San Diego County based award winning landscape design and installation company creating low water, low maintenance landscapes that are as functional as they are pleasing to the eye. To arrange your consultation with The Yard Fairy, please call 760 804 1661 or email info at yardfairy.com today.