Suggested Trees
Top 47 Ojai Valley drought-tolerant & native ornamental trees
Photos courtesy of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Urban Forest Ecosystem Institute.
Peppermint Tree
Agonis flexuosa
Low water, medium size
Strawberry Tree
Arbutus unedo
Low water, medium size
Deodar Cedar
Cedrus deodara
Low water, large size, fire prone
Chinese Fringe tree
Chionanthus retests
Moderate water, medium size
Carob
Ceratonia siliqua
Low water, large size
Pink Dawn
Chiltalpa tashkentensis
Low water, small-medium size
Australian Willow
Geijera parviflora
Low water, medium size
Honey Locust
Gleditsia tricanthos
Moderate water, large size
Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica
Moderate water, small to medium size
Primrose Tree/Cow-Itch
Lagunaria patersonia
Low water, medium size
Palo Verde
Parkinsonia ‘Desert
Museum’ (Cercidium)
Very low water, medium size
Catalina Ironwood
Lyonothamnus
floribundus
Native, low water, medium to large size
Chinese Flame Tree
Koelreuteria bipinnata
Moderate water, medium size
Purple Leaf Plum
Prunus cerasifera
Moderate water, small size
California Sycamore
Platanus racemosa
Native, moderate water, large size
Aleppo Pine
Pinus halepensis
Low water, large size, fire prone
Chinese Pistache
Pistacia chinensis
Moderate water, medium size
Engelman Oak
Quercus Engelmanii
Very low water, Large height, Native
Evergreen Pear
Pyrus kawakami *
Moderate water, small-medium height
* Can be susceptible to fire blight and Entomosporium Leaf Spot
Blue Oak
Quercus douglas
Very low water, Large height, Native
Silverleaf Oak
Quercus hypoleucoides
Low water, large size
Black Oak
Quercus kellogii
Moderate water, large height, native
Netleaf Oak
Quercus rugosa
Low water, large size
Cork Oak
Quercus suber
Low water, large height
Japanese Pagoda Tree
Sophora japonica
Moderate water, Medium height, fire prone, invasive
Chinese Elm
Ulmus parvifolia
Moderate water, large size
Marina Madrone
Arbutus marina
Low water, medium-large height
Atlas Cedar
Cedrus atlantic
Moderate water, large size,
fire prone
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Moderate water, small-medium size
Camphor Tree
Cinnamonum camphora
Moderate water, medium to large size, fire prone
Western Redbud
Cercis occidentalis
Native, low water, small size
Tulip tree
Liriodendron tulipifera
Moderate water, large size
Nichol’s Willow Leafed Peppermint
Eucalyptus nicholii
Low water, medium size
Toyon
Heteromeles arbutifolia
Native, very low water, small size
London Plane Tree
Platanus acerifolia
Moderate water, large size
Bay Laurel
Laurus nobilis
Low water, small size
Coulter Pine
Pinus coulteri
Native, low water, large size, fire prone
Magnolia
Magnolia spp.
Moderate water, medium to large size
Olive
Olea europa
Low water, small to medium size, fruiting (plant fruitless olives in proximity to natural areas and waterways)
Canary Island Pine
Pinus canariensis
Low water, large size, fire prone
Afghan Pine
Pinus eldarica
Low water, large size, fire prone
Italian Stone Pine
Pinus pinea
Low water, large size, fire prone
Argentine Mesquite
Prosopis alba thornless
Low water, medium size
Bradford Pear
Pyrus calrleryana*
Moderate water, medium-large height
* Can be susceptible to fire blight and Entomosporium Leaf Spot
Coast Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia
Native, very low water, large height
Southern Live Oak
Quercus virginiana
Moderate water, large height
Holly Oak
Quercus iIex
Low water, medium height
Valley Oak
Quercus lobata
Moderate water, large height, native
California Pepper
Schinus molle
Very low water, medium to large height, fire prone, invasive
African Sumac
Sears lancea
Low water, small to medium height
Tipu Tree
Tipuana tipu
Low water, Large height
