The tree is common in wild areas. One place we see it all the time is on Mt. San Bruno, but I'm sure it's plentiful ...Read Morein the east bay as well. Now is the time to locate the trees, as they are currently in their distinctive bloom; you'll have to return later in the summer for the seeds, when they will be out of leaf and harder to find.
I love this tree. I planted a seed, immediately neglected it for a few years, then rediscovered the tree when I cleared out the surrounding brush. It filled out nicely in the first year after that, and is now taking off and covered with flowers. No summer water.
This may seem like an odd question, but I just moved to the East Bay area of San Francisco and was wondering if an...Read Moreyone knew where I could find a public park here or on in the city to pick up a few California buckeyes? Or if anyone nearby has a few they'd be willing to sell or give to me?
My dad, a farmer, carries a buckeye in his pocket every day for good luck. My move is far away from him (he lives in Ohio) and I would love to send him an "exotic" buckeye for his collection. He would love the gesture.
I am surprised to see the hardiness listed here as 7a to 8b as it is a one of my most favorite and common natives all around Sonoma/Marin...Read More Counties where I live, IE zone 9a/b (which extends to vast areas of CA). One thing also I did not see mentioned is the wonderful, delicate, uplifting fragrance of the blooms, (something akin to honeysuckle). At times the fragrance will drift and linger throughout an area. Gives me a pleasantly surprising little rush I relish every spring. I've noted blooms can really vary from niche to niche, some blooming much earlier or later. I've lived among some amazing gnarly specimens, some of the most venerable out on fairly steep open grassy hillsides, branches crossing and melding together, looking like something from Middle Earth. Some specimens had large holes in the huge gnarled, knobby bases. Absolutely love these trees! They grow near seasonal creeks but I believe they are happy with a little more exposure, ie in semi-open oak forests, dotted among oaks and bays. I dug up one several-year-old seedling nearly 20 years ago that was clinging to a steep slope where horses entered a corral (eventually it would have succumbed to trampling) and I was amazed it survived- to this day- it is still in a 5 gallon pot, (my idea was to keep is as a quasi-bonsai). This one has yet to bloom. Several springs I've watched a squirrel chomp the newly emerging twigs (much to my annoyance)- don't know if it was eating them, using them for nesting or what. Tough trees. More/consistent water has forestalled the leaf drop into late summer.
One of my absolute favorite native shrubs! California Buckeyes have year round interest. They are among the first plants to leaf out in l...Read Moreate winter or early spring, and spring floral displays are truely stunning. They are one of the first plants to go dormant in summer, usually some time in July, but the grey branches continue to be attractive, and the forming seeds are especially attractive in winter, when they look like natural Christmas tree decorations.
These plants are generally found in the understory of wooded areas and often along the banks of creeks. This should be kept in mind when trying to grow them in your own yard. They like acidic soil rich in organic matter (think of all of the leaves on a forest floor), and grow most rapidly when planted in partial shade rather than full sun. In ideal conditions, these plants are moderate growers and not slow growing at all. They are survivors though, so in less than ideal conditions, they will persist, but grow much more slowly.
I live on the East side of San Francisco Bay opposite the Golden Gate and about half a mile from the shore. I have a buckeye that I plant...Read Moreed as a seedling circa 20 years ago. The known ancestor of the seedling was a tree on the ranch near San Jose where my wife's father (now in his 101st year) grew up. A seedling from that tree grew into a tree in Castro Valley where my wife grew up, which in turn was the parent of my seedling.
While relatively slow growing for the first 10 years or so, my buckeye now pushes out 3 and 4 foot lateral canes in a month or two in spring and is a bit of a problem to keep under control. The tree is perhaps 20' tall and would be wider if I didn't keep trimming it back around the edges. It is handsome in its deciduous phase with smooth, almost white bark, impressive in bloom, and generally attractive in leaf. It drops a lot of big shiny seeds in the fall which the squirrels love to pick over, and occasionally plant in my flower pots. Other than trimming, it needs no maintenance and has been entirely pest free.
Plants I grew from seed gathered in American River canyon, CA growing well and dropping leaves in july, just like in natural CA habitat o...Read Morenly mine are growing in Arkansas' humidity and summer rain. Have not had problems with summer water as long as drainage is good. In nature these trees usually grow on canyon slopes or just above flood level of streams.
Fast growing likes heavy soil keep it foliage till november in England. Very long flower spikes . Tends to spread outwards as aposed to u...Read Morepwards. Bloody marvellous!!!!!
will grow in my very heavy soil. Slowly as he says. Subject to deer predation. Squirrels will selectively eat parts of the seeds. The...Read Morey bury others which can sprout like acorns.
This tree is extrodinarily well adapted to Mediterranean climates. Must have good drainage, will tolerate heavy soils, will not tolerate ...Read Moresummer water. Leafs out in late winter with bright green, palmate leaves that are followed by long clusters of creamy/white blossoms. The leaves fall in mid-summer as a drought adaptation. The trunk and branches add a structural element to the summer-fall garden. Easily grown be seed. Seeds were considered a food source by the indiginous people of this area once thoroughly leached.
Maria
The tree is common in wild areas. One place we see it all the time is on Mt. San Bruno, but I'm sure it's plentiful ...Read More
Hi all,
This may seem like an odd question, but I just moved to the East Bay area of San Francisco and was wondering if an...Read More
I am surprised to see the hardiness listed here as 7a to 8b as it is a one of my most favorite and common natives all around Sonoma/Marin...Read More
One of my absolute favorite native shrubs! California Buckeyes have year round interest. They are among the first plants to leaf out in l...Read More
I live on the East side of San Francisco Bay opposite the Golden Gate and about half a mile from the shore. I have a buckeye that I plant...Read More
just came back from ca. with 3 buckeyes. they germinated in a plastic bag in a drawer. any thoughts on keeping them in zone 6/7 nj. zip code 08527
Love this tree. Grows in the wild here. I have a lot of small trees around garden that I planted. Very drought tolerant tree.
Plants I grew from seed gathered in American River canyon, CA growing well and dropping leaves in july, just like in natural CA habitat o...Read More
Fast growing likes heavy soil keep it foliage till november in England. Very long flower spikes . Tends to spread outwards as aposed to u...Read More
will grow in my very heavy soil. Slowly as he says. Subject to deer predation. Squirrels will selectively eat parts of the seeds. The...Read More
This tree is extrodinarily well adapted to Mediterranean climates. Must have good drainage, will tolerate heavy soils, will not tolerate ...Read More
This is only for young people to plant. It grows extremely slow.