Are you getting tired of installing the same old Olive or Magnolia tree over and over again? It’s time to get out of your rut and consider some other uncommon trees that we grow at Pacific Nurseries.
Think outside the box to make your clients happy
Trees provide the essential structure and foundation for any successful landscape project. So if you’re looking for some out of the box inspiration for uncommon trees, we have a few recommendations below worth considering.Magnolia x alba
Common name | White Chempaka Magnolia
On the top of my list for San Francisco is Magnolia x alba. When this beauty blossoms, the perfume is extraordinary and it prefers to be out of the wind. As a small evergreen, growing 10 – 20 feet tall with large glossy leaves, it blooms intermittently year round with the heaviest bloom in the winter and summer seasons. Once you smell its fragrance in bloom, it’s hard to forget!
Fagus sylvatica ‘Riversii’
Common Name | European Beech
If you or your client is looking for something that grows big, fast, and makes a statement, take a look at our Fagus sylvatica hybrids which are commonly known as European Beech. We have a few different varieties but my favorite is ‘Riversii’ which has purple leaves and grows 50 feet tall and 40 feet wide. It has a beautiful smooth trunk of gray bark which contrasts beautifully with the leaves. While it is deciduous, it provides a sense of seasons and has a wonderful winter silhouette.
Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp aspleniifolius
CA Native Common name | Catalina Ironwood
For your discerning clients that have a preference for natives, we suggest the handsome Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp aspleniifolius. Also known as the Catalina Ironwood, this tree comes from the Channel Islands down in southern California. It’s an evergreen with interesting scalloped leaves and red bark that peels off in strips. It needs good draining soil and does well on the coast.
Podocarpus elongatus ‘Icee Blue’
Common Name | Cape Yellowwood
For a more unusual conifer look, consider the Podocarpus elongatus ‘Icee Blue’. It’s an incredibly clean evergreen tree with an upright pyramidal form that sheds little and grows slowly to 25′ tall and 5-10′ wide. The dense growth and beautiful foliage color of this plant makes it a great choice for specimen planting in the ground or in large containers and for use as a screening hedge. It has dense foliage and can be sheared to create a formal hedge or shaped topiary. The most distinctive feature of this handsome tree is its unique gray/blue leaves. As a result, it creates an instant focal point in a Bay Area landscape.
Araucaria Araucana
Common Name | Monkey Puzzle Tree
Finally, the most unusual tree of them all: Araucaria araucana, It’s also known as the Monkey Puzzle tree. It makes a weirdly skeletal statement because it appears to have no leaves but scaled branches instead. Because this unique specimen looks like no other tree in the world, it has been popular since the Victorian era. While slow-growing in its youth, in a few decades it will eventually reach 70 to 90 feet tall and 30 feet wide. So make sure it has plenty of room before you install it for your customer.
Turn to the experts for uncommon trees + selection help
As both a grower and a plant broker, we’re ready to work with you to find the right plants and trees that will make your project a success. It’s one of the many qualities that make us different from just an ordinary nursery.Our difference ensures that you’ll be able to create the masterpiece your client is looking for with an unlimited palette of plants.
Contact any of our experts online at Pacific Nurseries or just call 650.755.2330. And if you need a plant material Estimate or would like to place an Order, just click the button below to use our convenient ONLINE ESTIMATE FORM.
Share your favorite uncommon trees.
Have you installed any interesting trees in your recent projects? Share what has been a hit with your clients and what you’ve found to be beautiful and different.
As the Founder of Pacific Nurseries, Don Baldocchi gets satisfaction from knowing the Bay Area is greener and more beautiful by helping landscape professionals succeed. Email Don or give him a call at 650.755.2330.
