Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Saturday - April 24, 2010
From: San Ramon, CA
Region: California
Topic: Trees
Title: Trees for pool area in San Ramon, California
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
We live in San Ramon. We are remodeling our pool and are looking for a tree that will be 15 feet from a pool. We just removed a pine tree. We have now lost our privacy and see the neighbor's back fence on their hillside. What can we plant that will be about 15 feet high, 10 feet wide at most, direct sunlight, that will not be messy near our pool, yet pretty both during every season.ANSWER:
Below are several evergreen trees in approximately the size range you are seeking that are native to Northern California:
Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii (hollyleaf cherry)
Umbellularia californica (California laurel)
Lithocarpus densiflorus (tanoak) and here are photos and more information
Heteromeles arbutifolia (toyon)
Cercocarpus ledifolius (curl-leaf mountain mahogany) and here are photos and more information
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus (blueblossom)
Morella californica (California wax myrtle) and here are photos and more information
Rhododendron macrophyllum (Pacific rhododendron)
You can see more suggested species by going to our Recommended Species page and choosing Northern California from the map or the pull-down menu. You can use the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option in the side menu to select for characteristics that you want.
Here are photos from our Image Gallery of some of the above:
More Trees Questions
Problems with Mexican Monterrey Oak in Killeen, TX
September 02, 2009 - I planted a Mexican/Monterrey White Oak in September of 2008. It was about 10 ft tall and about 1 1/4 inches in diameter at the bottom. I kept it watered over the winter and spring and of course, ve...
view the full question and answer
Offer to send Bumelia to Kansas from Central Texas.
April 02, 2010 - If you send my email to the person who wanted the Bumelia lanuginosa (synonym: Sideroxylon langinosum), I will dig some for him/her.
view the full question and answer
Acacia tree that will grow in Louisiana
July 13, 2011 - Please tell me if there are any Acacia Trees that will grow in direct sun in Louisiana. I really want to plant some from seeds but don't which to get for zone 8.
Thank you Mr Smarty Plants
view the full question and answer
Poolside plants for East Texas
June 18, 2015 - What are the best plants, shrubs, ornamental trees, etc. for poolside planting in East Texas?
view the full question and answer
Need trees & shrubs for a 2.5x45 ft. planter box in Chatsworth. CA.
August 07, 2012 - We recently built a pool in our backyard and need to redo all the landscaping. We have a planter that is 45 feet long and about 2.5 feet wide. We'd like to put some trees in this planter that are n...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |