Tilia cordata - Little leaf linden

The linden trees of Northern Europe are really something. Long broad avenues lined with huge specimens hundreds of years old. The are called lime trees in the UK and elsewhere I am sure. They often prune them using a technique called Pleaching. 

So, the little leaf linden is one of 3-4 you might encounter. They are medium to large deciduous trees,  60-70 feet, typically pyramidal in youth becoming a little more rounded with age. Overall a pyramidal tree however there are several cultivars available in the trade so they will likely be different. Lindens all have very distinct leaves and an interesting way of hang their flowers and fruit.

Fall color is exceptional. Especially where it gets cold. Notice the very nicely pyramidal habit.

Leaves are alternate, simple 1.5-3" long mostly cordate shaped. Margins serrated and with a long drawn out tip, (acuminate tip). While not totally unique, the leaf base is unequal making one side of the leaf look larger than the other. 

Look for small tufts of orangish hairs in the axils of the viens on the lower surface of the leaves.

Twigs are smooth, gray green sometimes turning redish in winter. May have glaucous bloom.

Flowers are fragrant, small, yellowish green in clusters of 5-7, subtended by a large leaf like bract. Separate male and female flowers on the same inflorescence.

Fruit is a nutlet in groups of 5-7. Slightly ridged, and still attached to the flower bract. (Small nut-like drupe according to many references.)

Branching pattern is congested resulting form poor pruning in the nursery. But they do have a tendency to develop lots of branches in a short vertical space. They also have a tendency to sucker at the base below the graft union.

Misidentification:
Other Lindens maybe.  Smaller leaves than others but not always. Look at the lower surface.

Location:
Capitola:
720 Gilroy
304 Escalona (small 2010)

Live Oak
along Capitola Dr from about 17th to 7th, usually two of three trees in the center divider

Santa Cruz
200 block of Mission Blvd close to the Plaza

Parking lot of the Chase Bank on the corner of Water and Ocean.

1416 Broadway, Largest by far.

Catalpa speciosa - Catalpa

Catalpa trees are large deciduous shade trees. They are in the old school group, not commonly planted anymore but great to see when in bloom. Like these on Catalpa St in Santa Cruz. 

Catalpas may be 40-60' tall and about as wide, forming a rounded dense crown with thick course branches. Considered to be medium in growth rate but I have seen young trees grow really fast, especially seedlings coming up in your garden. The tend to be a bit messy throughout the year as most of the parts are big and generally end up on the ground.

Fall color can be pretty nice giving you some joy before you have to pick up all the leaves. There is a small one on a hillside in Nicene Marks that glows in the sun in the fall. 

Catalpas have large simple leaves, 6-10" long and wide. They are usually whorled (3 per node, see below) ovate or cordate shaped with a pointed tip and a lobed base. Light to medium green above and pubescent below.

Stems are thick, green to start but eventually brown. Bark is nice, brownish and fissured. You can see the 3 leaves attached to the stem at one location, whorled arrangement.

Trees are quite pretty when in bloom. The flowers are arranged in upright panicles with whorls of flowers at each node. Generally blooming early June.

Tubular white flowers are about 2" long with yellow and purple spots on the throat. 

Fruit is a long capsule 8-18" long. Splits open to release the seeds.

Misidentification:
not sure, pretty easy to spot, large cordate leaf, flowers if there.

Location:
Santa Cruz
Catalpa St. Off Water

Capitola
708 Riverview Drive

Aptos
275 Spreckles Dr. (you can see it from the overpass on hiway 1)