And the poorer the soil, the better for this tree. Once established, you’ll probably never have to water it. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators are drawn to the Chaste Tree in bloom.Ĭhaste Trees love dry, well-draining soil. These tree-like shrubs produce grayish-green, palm-shaped foliage that smells almost as fragrant as its blue and violet flowers, which bloom from early summer into early fall. The Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) isn’t a tree at all but rather a fast-growing shrub in the Verbena family. The second species on our list of trees with purple flowers, like the first, is a bit of a misnomer. Silk Floss Trees prefer a well-draining soil in full sun.Chaste Tree This shrub has a fragrant smell and will attract many different pollinators. In the fall (or midsummer in hotter areas) a profusion of pink flowers 5-6” wide adorn the tree. The bark on the young tree is green and matures to grey. The Floss Silk Tree does best in warm dry areas of SoCal and is sure to catch onlookers’ attention year-round with its thick trunk covered in thorns. Thorny Trunk of the Silk Floss Tree – Images by Fern Berg, Own Work, for Tree Vitalize The palmate leaves have 5” long leaflets and the trees are known for their large seed pods which contain the silk-like fiber used in upholstery. The tropical-looking foliage and hibiscus-like flowers make the Floss Silk Tree a favorite ornamental in mild winter areas of CA. The Floss Silk Tree is a thick and thorny trunked flowering tree native to tropical and subtropical forests of South America. In its natural habitat, the Desert Ironwood sheds its leaves to conserve moisture but can remain evergreen when given supplemental irrigation.Īverage Size at Maturity: 20-33 ft tall and 15-33 ft wide Edible brown seed pods follow the seed pods and are enjoyed by native wildlife. The flowers emerge in arches at the branch tips in early spring and range in color from pale rose to pink to white. The bark is smooth and gray on young trees and develops wrinkles with age. The oval leaves are small, grey-green, and are covered in small hairs and develop into an attractive spreading canopy upon maturity. The Desert Ironwood provides local wildlife with food and shelter including quail, doves, and small rodents. Spring sees the appearance of dizzying purple flowers that resemble those of sweetpea, and are highly desirable to butterflies and other local pollinators in dry inland areas. The Desert Ironwood is an integral part of the desert landscape. Varieties Suitable for California: Erythrina x bidwillii, Erythrina acanthocarpa, Erythrina abyssinica, Erythrina coralloides ‘Bicolor, Erythrina flabelliformis, Erythrina crista-galli, Erythrina humeana, Erythrina falcata, Erythrina speciosaįlowering Season: Late winter/early spring Overwatering can cause growth spurts that the tree can’t support, resulting in weak limbs and causing branches to snap in strong winds.Īverage Size at Maturity: 20-40 ft tall and 40-60 ft tall Coral trees love heat and should be planted in full sun.Ĭoral Trees flowers are what give this tree its character they have a finger-like appearance and are a fiery red/orange that vies for your attention with its exotic allure. There are about 112 different members of the Erythrina genus, and about 12 of them thrive in San Diego’s semi-arid climate. The Coral Tree is also the official tree of the city of Los Angeles. Cockspur Coral Tree – Images by Fern Berg for Tree VitalizeĬoral Trees are members of the Genus Erythrina and are primarily found in tropical regions of the world, as well as in South Africa.
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