Suggested Trees
Top 47 Ojai Valley drought-tolerant & native ornamental trees
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Photos courtesy of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Urban Forest Ecosystem Institute.
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Peppermint Tree
Agonis flexuosa
Low water, medium size
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Strawberry Tree
Arbutus unedo
Low water, medium size
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Deodar Cedar
Cedrus deodara
Low water, large size, fire prone
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Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Moderate water, small-medium size
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Pink Dawn
Chiltalpa tashkentensis
Low water, small-medium size
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Camphor Tree
Cinnamonum camphora
Moderate water, medium to large size, fire prone
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Australian Willow
Geijera parviflora
Low water, medium size
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Toyon
Heteromeles arbutifolia
Native, very low water, small size
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Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica
Moderate water, small to medium size
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Tulip tree
Liriodendron tulipifera
Moderate water, large size
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Magnolia
Magnolia spp.
Moderate water, medium to large size
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Palo Verde
Parkinsonia ‘Desert
Museum’ (Cercidium)
Very low water, medium size
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Coulter Pine
Pinus coulteri
Native, low water, large size, fire prone
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Aleppo Pine
Pinus halepensis
Low water, large size, fire prone

Chinese Pistache
Pistacia chinensis
Moderate water, medium size

California Sycamore
Platanus racemosa
Native, moderate water, large size

Bradford Pear
Pyrus calrleryana*
Moderate water, medium-large height
* Can be susceptible to fire blight and Entomosporium Leaf Spot
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Coast Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia
Native, very low water, large height

Engelman Oak
Quercus Engelmanii
Very low water, Large height, Native

Black Oak
Quercus kellogii
Moderate water, large height, native

Southern Live Oak
Quercus virginiana
Moderate water, large height

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, medium height

Marina Madrone
Arbutus marina
Low water, medium-large height

Atlas Cedar
Cedrus atlantic
Moderate water, large size,
fire prone

Carob
Ceratonia siliqua
Low water, large size
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Western Redbud
Cercis occidentalis
Native, low water, small size
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Chinese Fringe tree
Chionanthus retests
Moderate water, medium size

Nichol’s Willow Leafed Peppermint
Eucalyptus nicholii
Low water, medium size
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Honey Locust
Gleditsia tricanthos
Moderate water, large size

Chinese Flame Tree
Koelreuteria bipinnata
Moderate water, medium size
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Bay Laurel
Laurus nobilis
Low water, small size
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Catalina Ironwood
Lyonothamnus
floribundus
Native, low water, medium to large size
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Olive
Olea europa
Low water, small to medium size, fruiting (plant fruitless olives in proximity to natural areas and waterways)
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Canary Island Pine
Pinus canariensis
Low water, large size, fire prone
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Afghan Pine
Pinus eldarica
Low water, large size, fire prone
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Italian Stone Pine
Pinus pinea
Low water, large size, fire prone

London Plane Tree
Platanus acerifolia
Moderate water, large size

Purple Leaf Plum
Prunus cerasifera
Moderate water, small size

Evergreen Pear
Pyrus kawakami *
Moderate water, small-medium height
* Can be susceptible to fire blight and Entomosporium Leaf Spot
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Blue Oak
Quercus douglas
Very low water, Large height, Native

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
