Leptospermum 'Dark Shadows' - Dark Shadows Leptospermum

Leptospermum 'Dark Shadows' is a nice compact small evergreen tree or large shrub with purple foliage reaching 15 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Another nice dark foliaged tree for contrast in the landscape. From my observations, the plants seem to be almost as wide as tall and multi-stemmed forming a upright spreading habit. 

Leaves are alternate, simple, narrowly lanceolate, about an inch long, mostly purplish color but those in the inner canopy are more green and new ones are more red. Leaves covered with long silver hairs.

Flowers are white, borne in summer, about 3/4" in diameter and contrast very nicely with the flush of new foliage.

Fruit is a small capsule with 5 valves when open.

Misidentification:

Agonis flexuosa 'Jervis After Dark' perhaps?

Location:

Aptos 

455 Sandlewood Dr

Corymbia maculata - Spotted Gum

The spotted gum is a large eucalyptus relative with a long straight trunk, somewhat like lemon scented gum, with the foliage up high forming a rounded to spreading canopy and beautiful bark. I have not seen others in town but they are likely to exist, this one caught my eye when it was shedding its bark, otherwise I might have missed it. So much for my observational skills.

Evergreen foliage is alternate, simple, lanceolate, 5-9" long, no distinct upper or lower surface. Dark green and somewhat leathery, which is supposed to separate them from C. citriodora. This is from a small tree and is not very large. New foliage has a reddish color.

Flowers are white, small, in  in winter or spring in an elongating cluster but terminating in clusters of 3. Each bud has a pointed cap.

Fruits are urn shaped capsules, small like C. citriodora.


The bark is smooth most of the year, but sheds in "polygonal flakes". Most of the year the smooth bark is white, grayish or pink, but during the shedding it looks greenish.

Misidentification:
C. citriodora for sure, until the bark peels.

Location:
Seacliff Dr East, between Sea Terrace Way and Seacliff Dr before it turns into Center.

Eucalyptus viminalis - Manna Gum

Manna Gum is a very fast growing evergreen tree commonly seen on freeways. These trees grow to over 100' tall and maybe 50' wide. They often branch low resulting in several very large thick trunks where the shedding bark accumulates. 

The evergreen leaves are alternately arranged, simple, narrowly lanceolate to linear, 4-6" long, often slightly curved, dull light green, no upper or lower surface as they hang vertically. Typical Eucalyptus smell when crushed.

Flowers are white, borne in groups of threes thought there are lots of these little cymes making it look like a larger group.

Fruit is a capsule, 3/8" in diameter with a nice ring around the top, valves are sticking out past the ring.

Beautiful bark, shedding most of the way to the base of the trees. The top photo is from a massive tree at UCSC arboretum.

These are the two trees at UCSC arboretum. Big trees.

Misidentification:
Flower number is always key with Eucalyptus, leaf shape, and bark.

Location:
Aptos
Freeway just behind the Safeway at RDM shopping center

Capitola
41st Ave and Highway 1 intersection, on the Auto dealer side of the roads.

Scotts Valley
Highway 17 on the right side heading north just before the first sign for the Granite Creek exit.

Eucalyptus spathulata - Swamp Mallee

The Swamp Mallee is a nice small evergreen tree in the 20-30' range with upright branches and an open canopy. Plants have somewhat of gray brown look to them, even in summer. Often grown as a screen, though I have only seen a few trees.

These are the two on Wharf Rd.

The leaves are evergreen, narrowly linear, 3+ inches long, about 1/4" wide, gray-green in summer. Turning reddish prior to abscission. 

Flowers are small, cream colored, not showy, hard to see (hard to reach as well). Flower buds are pretty cool, small but with a long cap (operculum) in clusters of (3)5-7.

Fruit is a small capsule.

Bark is smooth to the base where there is a tiny bit to persistent bark. Gray and red brown mostly

Misidentification: Other narrow leaf Eucalyptus for sure, but these are pretty small, very narrow and something like E. nicolii has very different bark.

Location:

Capitola

1901 Wharf Road, two specimens. Not sure about the exact address, its an apartment complex with 1900 Wharf Rd across the street.  (Gone - sorry about that)