Looking for low growing tree that can really take the heat

[lifegardener]

Looking for a low growing tree that can really take the heat - dwarf variety, nothing over 8-feet, with good lateral growth for providing shade preferred.

Any suggestions are welcome. Thankyou.

 

[Tetters]

Olive trees are an obvious choice, and Carob trees too, I know they like growing in Malta and it gets pretty steamy there. A fig tree might be a good one too if you could contain the roots. Planting in a pot is an idea, but the pot MUST have a slab or proper barrier underneath or else those roots will escape through the holes in the bottom. What kind of soil do you have? It's always good to be guided by that - acid or alkaline?

 

[cpp gardener]

8' is more like a large shrub than a tree. Olives, figs and Carob get much bigger.
You could try:
Callistemon citrinus
Photinia fraseri
Grevillea 'Moonshine' or 'Long John'
Heteromeles arbutifolia - Toyon
Arbutus unedo

 

[redback]

It depends a bit on the depth of soil. Street trees - Chinese pistachio (Pistacia chinensis) and Curry tree (Murraya Koenigii) do grow higher but if the space and depth of soil are restrictive will remain low. They might not take heavy frost. The pistachio is deciduous, and both will take a lot of hot sun and low rainfall.

 

[Tetters]

One excellent option for a low-growing tree that can withstand heat and provides good lateral growth for shade is the Dwarf Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum). There are several cultivars available, such as 'Shaina' or 'Crimson Queen', which typically reach heights of 6-8 feet and have a spreading habit, making them ideal for providing shade in smaller spaces. These trees also offer beautiful foliage colors, adding aesthetic appeal to your landscape. Additionally, they are relatively low maintenance once established.

This is very true, as long as the soil is sufficiently acidic.

 

[lifegardener]

Olive trees are an obvious choice, and Carob trees too, I know they like growing in Malta and it gets pretty steamy there. A fig tree might be a good one too if you could contain the roots. Planting in a pot is an idea, but the pot MUST have a slab or proper barrier underneath or else those roots will escape through the holes in the bottom. What kind of soil do you have? It's always good to be guided by that - acid or alkaline?

More on the alkaline side. Large pepper trees and oleander grew there once.

 

[lifegardener]

8' is more like a large shrub than a tree. Olives, figs and Carob get much bigger.
You could try:
Callistemon citrinus
Photinia fraseri
Grevillea 'Moonshine' or 'Long John'
Heteromeles arbutifolia - Toyon
Arbutus unedo

Grevillea is something we have growing in another area - hummingbirds love it. Will check your suggestions out.

 

[nao57]

You can find some good ideas by looking up videos on gardening in Arizona. They have different techniques they use than us. Specifically, one thing they do is the wood chips over the ground. But they aren't doing that to enrich the soil so much as trying to create a HEAT SHIELD, over the ground around the tree for a few feet in radius. Then you can set up drip irrigation and some other things to stabilize whichever types of trees that you decide to go with.

Are you asking about a tree that produces something, or any kind of tree?

If possible, and if you are going through all that trouble to set it up, you might as well try to get something that will give you fruit...

 

[lifegardener]

You can find some good ideas by looking up videos on gardening in Arizona. They have different techniques they use than us. Specifically, one thing they do is the wood chips over the ground. But they aren't doing that to enrich the soil so much as trying to create a HEAT SHIELD, over the ground around the tree for a few feet in radius. Then you can set up drip irrigation and some other things to stabilize whichever types of trees that you decide to go with.

Are you asking about a tree that produces something, or any kind of tree?

If possible, and if you are going through all that trouble to set it up, you might as well try to get something that will give you fruit...

Tree or shrub - preferably evergreen.

 

[lifegardener]

Toyon is the winner:

Drought tolerant, excellent for wild life foraging, erosion control, and just plain beautiful . . . Thankyou so much for all the great suggestions.

 

[cpp gardener]

It’s one of my favorite California natives. It will grow almost anywhere in our state, regular garden watering, rainfall only in many places. Can be a tree, a shrub, a hedge. Flowers in the spring, berries in fall and winter, shiny green leaves all year long. MAJOR pollen producer and birds go crazy for the fruit!