Lyonothamnus floribundus aspleniifolius

The Catalina Ironwood is a really unique and attractive tree. Native to the Channel Islands off the coast of California. The variety with cut leaves is more common in nature as well as in cultivation. The trees stand out due to their habit, tall and narrow, growing up to 60' x 20'. Evergreen, with distinct leaves and beautiful fibrous bark make it a popular landscape tree. This is a fairly young specimen growing in a grove at Cabrillo.

The leaves are very distinct. Alternately arranged, pinnately compound, with deeply divided margins, that look like large fins or saw blades. Even the rachis is toothed. Dark green, 5-6" long, shiny, lighter on the lower surface. Usually 5 but sometimes 3 leaflets, considered palmately compound by some authorities. Jepson says, "simple to pinnately to palmately compound". Say what?

Young stems brown, with a nice large pointed terminal bud.

Flowers are very showy, but can be very high up in an old tree. Individual flowers are very small, arranged in a flat topped inflorescence that measures 8-16" across. Blooms in the middle of summer. 

This is the remnants of the flower cluster.

The bark is really one of the nicest features of the tree. Reddish brown to tan exfoliating in long thin strips. 

Misidentification: not likely, the leaves are very distinct.

Location:
Aptos: Sesnon house has 2 flanking the old house,
584 Rio Del Mar Blvd, is a nice large one.

Capitola: Interchange of 41st and Highway 1

Robinia pseudoacacia - Black Locust

The Black Locust is an old school tree. It has been in commerce for years. The black locust tree traveled across the US with migrating easterners using the fast growing, drought tolerant tree for lumber and fence posts. Old trees are very attractive and tough looking.  They have an upright, open crown, a straight trunk and the foliage often restricted to the ends of the coarse branches. Makes a nice contrast with the attractive rough bark. You are much more likely to encounter the pink flowered one than the species in Santa Cruz. There are a few old species on the corner of N Branciforte Ave and Goss.

The black locust has alternate, odd pinnately compound leaves, 6-14" long with 7-19 leaflets. The leaflets are about 1.5-2" long, entire margins, sort of oblong-shaped.

Stems are brown, smooth, often with sharp stipular spines at the base of the leaves. Spines seen on vigorous shoots.

Flowers are very attractive. Each pea-like flower is off white, and very fragrant.

Fruit is a 3-4" brown pea-pod. Generally produced in high quantities, and looking pretty bad once the foliage drops off.

Bark is very deeply furrowed and a wonderful contrast, especially in winter with snow. Not around here anyway.

Misidentification: not sure, students usually have a problem with so many pinnately compound leaves.

Locations: Great ones on Branciforte and Goss, old school ones.

Lots of cultivars abound as well,

There is a 'Decaisneana' with very light pink flowers at 7341 Soquel Dr on the side of the lot. Shown below. Most likely a hybrid Robinia X ambigua.

'Frisia' - Is a beautiful tree in the right place. I first saw this tree at  Buchart Gardens and was blown away. Tried it many times up north in the cold and heat, and would not do well, but here it seems to be great. There is one at 136 Mar Monte in La Selva Beach. The image below is not the one on Mar Monte.

Robinia X ambigua idahoensis -  Rose colored flowers, more commonly planted in SC than the others, found along River St near Mission. Bark is smooth, and usually one or two vertical cracks on the trunk. Not sure what the real name is, or if there is a difference between this one and 'Purple Robe'.

'Tortuosa' - A dwarf twisted form, this plant may  be 10' tall with a dense twisted branches. Two nice ones on Monterey Blvd in Capitola, 729 and 230 Junipero Ct (2 doors up).