Good fruit/shade tree - evergreen

Any ideas for a fruit tree that would provide shade pretty quickly and not be dropping leaves all over? We want one to grow next to our stream beside a bench. It would have morning shade (but bright light), then sun the rest of the day.

Would love to plant a native tree, but I have awful allergies and want something I can enjoy sitting next to.

Kathleen

Cupaniopsis anacardioides...aka Carrot Wood tree is a nice tree which is pretty "clean" as far as leaf drop goes. They're evergreen and very tolerant of adverse conditions...sea air, bad soil, drought etc. even overwatering.

They grow pretty fast and are easily trimmed to keep a nice shape and size.

You can get them as a single trunk tree or a multi trunk (usually 3 in one).

Thanks, Mike, I'll check it out.

Thanks, Mike. It's high on the allergy scale (7on a 1-10), but I'll keep it in mind because otherwise it looks like a good solution.

Ooops, looks like it's very invasive, so I'll not be adding it to my list.

This message was edited Sep 10, 2007 8:39 AM

Thinking about a loquat - any pros and cons I should know about? There's a bronze one, which I don't think fruits but has lots of foliage color, and the fruiting one.

K...do you want a named variety or a seedling? I usually have seedlings though would have to check...dug and gave away a lot. I love the scent of the flowers in bloom...would they bother you by any chance?
Sherry

Hmmm...not sure, Sherry. There are smells and then there are smells. I cut open a passionfruit this morning and wanted to dive into it, it smelled so good. Are they messy trees? Does yours fruit? Is it regular sized or dwarf? Reckon it would be a japonica?

I'm back looking at Arbutus menziesii now, too. I would really like to find a 15 gal one.

K....I'm not familiar with the different varieties of loquats. It came with the property. In looking up the japonica, I did see mentioned the fact that it does drop a lot of fruit which can draw bees and wasps and that you may not want this in a sitting area. I know they drop fruit, haven't noticed having a problem with the bees and wasps. The arbutus may be a really nice choice for that spot.

Yes, I've come to that conclusion. Now to find one that is more than 1 gal. It seems easier to get the Arbutus "marina" but it's not native and somewhat different. Would really prefer the native one - it has awesome bark. Getting excited with fall planting time coming up. :-)

Well, the quest continues! Seems the "menziesii" doesn't grow well here (they do better up north) - Tree of Life said they have been unsuccessful propagating it, though they have one on their property. So, I'm trying to find a "marina" locally. They are supposedly much more forgiving of the climate here. The berries will probably be a problem, but I just want a nice tree that won't choke me! As a last resort, there is a supplier here that has the 1-gal.

Arbutus fruits are messy, in my opinion. I'd go with a loquat if you're concerned about leaf drop. How high a tree/shrub do you need? In San Diego you could grow papaya and they get tall enough to provide sitting shade.

My loquat drops leaves......but at least they would be large leaves, easier to clean up than a zillion little ones.
K.....I took a look out there (it's a jungle) and I actually have a loquat that's about 5-6 ' tall and I'm going to dig it anyway. If the root system is small enough to pot and it makes it, it's yours should you decide you want a seedling loquat.
Sherry
edited to add: Actually found one down there that's 10-11 ' tall and since that area had been soaked this a.m., decided to dig it. Don't know if it will make it. The span of the root system is pretty small for a tree that size already, stiff roots, so wouldn't go into 5 gallon pot. It's gone into an extra cracked recycling bin we had. Pulled out bare root, may not make it, but many things have surprised me when treated roughly. Will see. Don't feel that you have to take it if it lives unless you decide you can use it. I can always plant it elsewhere. There's also a smaller one, maybe 5'.
Sherry

This message was edited Sep 13, 2007 5:49 PM

Spidra, thanks for that info. I've been trying to grow papaya from seed but have not been successful. There is an exotic fruit nursery nearby and I will go check them out. The Arbutus are proving elusive anyway!

Sherry, we would love to have a 5' loquat! We still have a slope to fill in that has nothing on it, and that could be a starter - or several other places I can think of. :-) I sure hope I end up with something I can share with you one of these days.

Okay, I'll dig the 5' also. It doesn't look tree-like yet, not very impressive. I hope the taller one makes it....you could already sit under it! I also have papaya seed and I'll see if I can grow some for you. Do you have any protected area there or all exposed? You got hit much harder by the freezes than I did. We're pretty warm at our location in winter and we have a lot of 'nooks and crannies' for things that need more protection.

Thanks, Sherry. Our ramada tends to be the place I keep the tender plants. It's a little protected and has shade cloth. Otherwise, it's pretty exposed around here. It's also close to the house, so I don't forget they are there - one of my big problems!

How low did it get at your place in January? I seem to remember we got down to 26 a few nights in a row, which is when the damage was done. I also read somewhere that if the plants were dry, they were more likely to be damaged. This year I will be ready with cover cloth, etc.

Just bought another papaya and passionfruit today - I will try the seeds again anyway. :-)

I really don't know how cold it got. We had frost one morning, that's about it. We hardly ever even get frost. When my elderly neighbor was still alive he'd record the temps at various places on his property and I'd go by what he told me....He always said there was about an 11 degree difference from the top of the property down to the swale in the back and it's not that steep (feels like it's very steep though when you're walking up to the mailbox!)

We hardly ever get frost, either. And to our knowledge, the temp had never been as low as freezing since we moved in 4-1/2 years ago. That's why it was so surprising. Must have just been a convergence of conditions.

We have a "woodland" at the back of our property that we seldom see. It's behind a wall of cactus - DH has to clear near the steps periodically so they don't "get" you - and goes down to a road behind our property. Then the trek up to the house - also on a hill. Glad my mailbox isn't down there! 'Course, if it was, I'd be in better shape! lol I really hate going down there because it has such potential - we have the mother of all toyons down there and I keep thinking of plants that could make it so beautiful. Should be buying lottery tickets, I guess.