Drought Tolerant

Family:  Pinaceaeae
Zone:  8 - 11
Natural Range:  Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  50’
Bloom Time:  NA
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Tall, strait trunk.  Young trees have open pyramidal crown.
Notes:  In the wild Pinus maximonii grows at moderately high altitude between 600 - 2,400m. 

Pot size: Small Band Pot

Family: Pineaceae
Zone:8 - 11
Natural Range: CentralMexico
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun
Height: 50'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  Needles to 12" long.  Crown is broad and rounded with dense branches. 
Notes: In the wild Pinus montezumae  grows in the mountains of Central and South Mexico where the climate is temperate at elevations between 1200m and 3600m.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Pinaceae
Zone: 8 - 10
Natural Range: California
Soil:  Average, well drained, drought tolerant
Light: sun
Height: 40' - 80'
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Straight or contorted trunk with rounded or flattened irregular crown.  Needles are borne with two per fascicle.  Needles to 6" inches long.
Notes:   Native from sea level to 300m , occurring along the coast and on Santa Cruz Santa Rosa  and Guadalupe islands Islands.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Pinaceaeae
Zone:  5 - 9
Natural Range:  Japan
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  10’
Bloom Time:  NA
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Curved blue green needles.  Cones formed at the branch tips.
Notes:  This form is smaller and slower growing than the species.

Pot size: 1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Pinaceae
Zone: 8 -  10
Natural Range: Southern Europe
Soil:  Moist to dry, humus rich, well drained, drought tolerant
Light: sun, part sun
Height: 40', smaller in cultivation. 
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Grows with a distinct umbrella like canopy when mature.  Reddish gray bark.
Notes:  This is the true Pine Nut tree.  About $20 a pound for the tasty nut.  You too can harvest your own Pine Nuts in nearly a lifetime.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Pineaceae
Zone:7 - 10
Natural Range: California
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun
Height: 50'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  Needles from 3"-6".  Grayish bark with brown ridges.  Crown often windswept and irregular.
Notes:  The type variety occurs naturally only at three localities on the coast of central California.  These plants are from seed collected near Santa Cruz.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Pinaceae
Zone: 5 - 10
Natural Range: California
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained, drought tolerant
Light: sun, part sun
Height: 45'-100', much smaller in cultivation. 
Attributes:  Evergreen, long gray needles giving a ghostly appearance.   Massive, heavy symmetrical, dull brown, resinous cone.  Distinct look among Pines.
Notes:  Collected in Northern California along the Trinity River.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Pinaceae
Zone: 8 - 10
Natural Range: Taiwan
Soil:  Moist to dry, humus rich, well drained, drought tolerant
Light: sun, part sun
Height: 60', smaller in cultivation.
Attributes: Evergreen.  Short, dark green needles
Notes: In the wild Pinus taiwanensis grows along the Central Mountain Range at altitudes of 750 - 3000 m. 

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Pinaceaeae
Zone:  8 - 9
Natural Range:  Mexico; Western Chihuahua, Northern Coahuila to Southeastern Chiapas
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  50’
Bloom Time:  NA
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Single-trunked tree with rounded, dense crown.
Notes:  In the wild it is found in the mountains at elevations of 1,500 - 3,000m

Pot size: Small Band Pot

Family: Pineaceae
Zone:8 - 11
Natural Range: SouthernMexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun
Height: 50'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  Needles to 7" long.  Narrow crown with numerous horizontal branches densely clothed with foliage at the tips.
Notes: In the wild Pinus techumanii  grows in the mountains of Mexico and central America at elevations between 450m and 2900m.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Pinaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: Himalayas
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: sun
Height: 150', much smaller in cultivation
Attributes:  Evergreen, conical crown, blue green leaves to 8 inches long.  Graceful, drooping foliage.  Long cylindrical cones.
Notes:  Rare in cultivation.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Great Plant Picks

Family:  Pinaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Sun
Height: 80', much smaller in cultivation
Attributes:  Evergreen, conical crown, blue green leaves to 11 inches long.  Graceful, drooping foliage.  Long cylindrical cones.
Notes:  Rare in cultivation.  Predominantly grows at 600 - 3000 m elevation on the high plateaus of Yunnan but extending north into Sichuan and south into Myanmar.  1 gallon size plants.

Pot Size:   2 Gallon Pot 2' - 4'

Family:  Podocapaceae
Zone: 8 - 11
Natural Range: South Africa
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Sun, part sun
Height:  10' - 25'
Bloom Time: NA
Attracts: Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  5-7" long, shinny, blue-green needles that droop.
Notes: Very graceful drooping growth habit.Reported to be the hardiest of the South African Podocapus taking temperatures down to around 15 degrees. 

Pot Size:  5 Gallon Pot 4-5'

Family:Polypodiaceae
Natural Range: California 
Zone: 6 - 10
Soil: Average to dry, humus rich, well drained
Light: Part shade
Height:  12" - 15"
Attributes: Evergreen.  Finely divide fronds.  Shallow creeping rhizome
Notes:  Summer dormant, growing fronds autumn.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: PNW
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light:  Part shade, shade, sun
Attributes:  Late spring deciduous, 12" long arching.  Shallow rhizomes that forms an expanding clump.
Notes: In the wild Polypodium glycyrrhiza grows on Acer macrophyllum and Alnus rubra trunks, or on mossy rocks, old stumps or on the ground where they landed after falling out of a tree.  They lose their fronds as the season dries and grows new ones in summer, keeping them through winter.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:Polypodiaceae
Natural Range: Mexico
Zone: 7 - 10
Soil: Average to dry, humus rich, well drained
Light: Part shade
Height:  8"
Attributes: Evergreen.  Thick leathery leaves, uniform fronds.  Shallow creeping rhizome
Notes:  A super cool, hard to find small growing licorice fern from the mountains of eastern Mexico.  Proven to be surprisingly hardy, remaining evergreen with no damage during sustained temperatures below 15 F and being planted in an exposed stump.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Dryopteridaceae
Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: Northern Africa, Western Asia, Southern Europe
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Shade, part shade
Height:  18"
Bloom Time: NA
Attracts: NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  Very finely dissected fronds that radiate horizontal from the crown.
Notes: More delicate and smaller in appearance than the typical species.

Pot Size:  4" Pot

Family: Bromeliaceae
Zone:8 - 10
Natural Range: Bolivia, Argentina
Soil:  Average
Light: Part sun, sun
Height: 1' - 3'
Bloom Time:  Summer
Attributes: Evergreen.  Mounded offsetting clumps with tall flower spikes.  Green-creamy yellow flowers in summer
Notes: Flowering plant does not die once it flowers.  Hardy to mid to upper teens.  Needs good winter drainage.  Can be grown well in pots and tucked inside during extra cold temps.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot  Full

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:3 - 9
Natural Range: Hybrid
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 45'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous.  Columnar growth and yellow, orange and red fall foliage.
Notes:  Selected at Starhill Forest Arboretum by Guy Sternberg

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot 1' - 2'

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:5 - 9
Natural Range: Hybrid; Gambel hybrid
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun
Height: 15' - 30'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous. Red fall foliage. 
Notes:  A TAYLORMADE oak.  Reported to be smaller growing than Jack Maze.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot 1' - 2'

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:3 - 9
Natural Range: Hybrid; Quercus alba x Quercus robur fastigitate form
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 45'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous.  Columnar oak with red fall foliage.
Notes:  Great for narrow situations.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot 1' - 2'

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:6 - 9
Natural Range: Southwest
Soil:  Average, drought tolerant
Light: Sun
Height: NA
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous.
Notes:  Beautiful southwest native oak.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Fagaceae
Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: Colorado; Hybrid; macrocarpa x gambelii
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun
Height: 15' - 30'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous. Small, blue tinged foliage.  Fall foliage turns to red-mahogany late in the season.
Notes:  Beautiful southwest native oak.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot 2' - 3'

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:6 - 9
Natural Range: Southwest US
Soil:  Average, dry
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 15' - 30'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous. Small, blue-green foliage. 
Notes: Natural hybrid between Quercus turbinella x grisea. This form has rounded bluish leaves.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:6 - 9
Natural Range: South Western US; Hybrid; macrocarpa x gambelii
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 15' - 18'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Deep green, lobed foliage turning apricot in fall.
Notes:  Beautiful southwest native oak.  Only now becoming available.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:7 - 9
Natural Range: California, Baja
Soil:  Average, drought resistant
Light: Sun
Height: 40'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  Furrowed, thick bark with age.  Broad crowns.  
Notes:  Quite often branchless up to 20 feet high with large branches extending diagonally upward.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Fagaceae
Zone:   7 - 9
Natural Range:  Spain, Morocco,
Soil:  Average, well drained
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  35’ - 65'
Bloom Time:  April to May
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Deciduous or semi evergreen.  Coarsely toothed or lobed, rounded leaf that can vary in size from 3 to 6 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide.  Larger leaves when young.
Notes:  Stately tree.

Pot size: 1 Gallon Pot 18" - 24"

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:6 - 9
Natural Range:Western Asia, Europe
Soil:  Average humus rich, well drained
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 40' - 60'
Bloom Time:  April
Attributes: Deciduous. Oblong-lanceolate green leaves to 5" long.  3 to 8 pared lobes.  Deeply furrowed gray bark.
Notes:  Slender growth when young, eventually developing broad pyramidal crown with age.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:6 - 9
Natural Range: Oregon, California
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun
Height: 40'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  Leaves can be toothed or smooth even on the same tree.  Green leaves with gold-white underneath.
Notes:  Beautiful western native oak.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:6 - 10
Natural Range: Southern California and Baja California
Soil:  Average, drought tolerant
Light: Sun
Height: 5' - 10'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen, Shrubby with leathery texture.  Gray-green foliage.
Notes:  Beautiful southwest native oak.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:5 - 9
Natural Range: Asia
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 15'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous.  Dissected leaves with pink new growth.
Notes:  Very unusual Oak.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Family:  Fagaceae
Zone:  7 - 9
Natural Range:  California
Soil:  Average, drought tolerant, well drained
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  60'
Bloom Time:  March to April
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Blue-green leaves.  Light colored bark.  Slow growing.
Notes:  Quercus douglasii is native to Coast ranges and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. 
 
Pot size:  Medium Band Pot

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:4 - 9
Natural Range: New Mexico
Soil:  Average, dry
Light: Sun
Height: 30'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous. Single trunk, non suckering.  Spreading canopy. 
Notes: This selection was made from the Gila National Forest.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:4 - 9
Natural Range: Utah, Colorado, Wyoming to New Mexico
Soil:  Average, dry
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 15' - 30'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous. Small, blue-green foliage. 
Notes:

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:6 - 9
Natural Range: Pacific Northwest
Soil:  Average, summer dry
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 25' - 50'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous.  2 - 5" broad and 3-6" long leaves that once they turn brown in the fall usually remain on tree through the winter.
Notes:  Beautiful western native oak.

Pot Size:  One Gallon Pot

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:6 - 9
Natural Range: Pacific Northwest
Soil:  Average, summer dry
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 25' - 50'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous.  2 - 5" broad and 3-6" long leaves that once they turn brown in the fall usually remain on tree through the winter.
Notes:  Beautiful western native oak.

Pot Size:  Small Band Pot

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:7 - 10
Natural Range: Mexico, Southwest US
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 8' - 25'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  Thick, woolly leaves with pinkish new growth.  
Notes:  A Cistus Nursery introduction from a collection made in Nuevo Leon Mexico. Stunning species Oak.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:7 - 9
Natural Range:New Mexico
Soil:  Average, well drained
Light: Sun
Height: 16'
Bloom Time:  April to May
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Small graceful, spreading habit.  Gray green leaves to about 4" long.
Notes:  Newly selected cultivar.  Originally collected by Allan Taylor

Pot Size: Large Band Pot

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:7 - 10
Natural Range: Mexico, Southwest US
Soil:  Average, dry
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 15' - 30'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  Narrow leathery leaves with green upper surface and whitish underside of leaf.
Notes: Stunning species Oak.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:5 - 9
Natural Range: Eastern, Central US
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun
Height: 30'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous, conical to rounded crown.  Glossy, green leaves.  Yellow to red-brown fall foliage.
Notes: Easy to grow and durable species.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Fagaceae
Zone:  5 - 10
Natural Range:  California
Soil:  Average, well drained
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  15’ - 30'
Bloom Time:  April to May
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Red new growth.
Notes:  One of the prettiest trees.
 
Pot size:  Small Band Pot

Family:  Fagaceae
Zone:  6 - 9
Natural Range:  Texas, Mexico
Soil:  Average, well drained
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  35’
Bloom Time:  March to April
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Blue-green leaves with oblong shape and shallow lobes.  Yellow to brown fall foliage.
Notes:  Most often found growing in canyons or protected slopes.  Dense crown with distinct blue cast that contrasts with the surrounding green foliage of Junipers and other oaks.

Pot Size:  Small Band Pot