Top 5 evergreen trees for Sacramento

September 12, 2016

Side-by-side portraits of five popular evergreen trees for the Sacramento region, including strawberry tree leaves, deodar cedar, California bay laurel leaves, cork oak, and interior live oak leaves

Enjoy winter foliage, and year-round air-cleaning with these popular evergreen trees for our region! These trees are showcased in our online Shady Eighty guide.

Strawberry tree – Something showy on this small tree all year round! In winter the green leaves contrast nicely with the dark reddish, papery bark. Spring and Summer follow with white urn-shaped flowers and then bright red, round fruit (sort of resembling strawberries, where it gets its name).

Deodar cedar – The majestic silhouette of this large conifer really set it apart in our landscapes. This cedar resembles a coast redwood, but is a mush lower water user and grows wonderfully in our region. It also is superb at filtering air pollutants and a great choice near roadways as well as in your yard.

California laurel – Similar to the Grecian laurel (from which we get bay leaves for cooking), this large California native tree is a fragrant addition to your landscape. Tiny clusters of creamy flowers dot the tree in Spring.

Cork oak – The unique, textured bark on this Mediterranean oak are the source of cork. Cork oaks grow very well here, and their large, rounded canopies provide wonderful shade.

Interior live oak – Dark green foliage and light gray bark make this low-water user an easy choice to beautify your garden. This evergreen oak is a true native to our region, and you can see them throughout the area and along the American River Parkway.