Trees for Rocky Soil in California

Hardy in USDA Zone 8

• The desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) grows in rocky soil, says the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. This deciduous tree is native to the southwestern U.S., with a range that spreads from California to Texas and south to Mexico. It's hardy in USDA zones 8 to 9 and grows to 25 feet tall with a spreading canopy. The desert willow blooms in spring or summer with an aromatic show of pink or lavender flowers. The Texas mountain laurel (Sophora segundiflora) also tolerates rocky soil. Hardy in zones 7 to 10, this drought-tolerant tree adds color to the landscape with its pendulous sprays of blue-purple blossoms. It grows to 25 feet tall and has lustrous, dark, evergreen foliage.

Hardy in USDA Zone 7

• The Texas persimmon (Diospyros texana), another southwestern native, is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9. It tolerates a range of soils, including rocky (ref. 1), acidic, alkaline and clay. Mature trees grow up to 25 feet tall and produce edible fruits. Also hardy in zones 7 to 9, the Mexican buckeye (Ungnadia speciosa) adds fragrance to your California landscape with its showy pink blossoms. This adaptable tree tolerates full shade as well as rocky soil and grows to heights of 25 feet.

Hardy in USDA Zone 6

• The Texas ash (Fraxinus texensis) grows in rocky soil and also tolerates a range of pH levels. Its dense foliage makes this deciduous tree a good choices for those areas where you want some shading. The Texas ash grows to 50 feet tall and is hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9. Another North American native, the Mexican plum (Prunus mexicana), grows to 25 feet with a rounded canopy. The Mexican plum's abundant, fragrant spring flowers and orange fall color make it an attractive accent tree. It's hardy in zones 6 to 8 and grows best in well-drained soil.

Hardy in USDA Zone 5

• The American smoke tree (Cotinus obovatus) tolerates rocky soil (ref. 1). Native to the eastern U.S., this deciduous tree lights up the fall landscape with red, orange, purple and gold autumn foliage and an abundance of pink and white blossoms in spring. It grows to 25 feet tall and is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8. For even more color, the roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondi) blooms with white spring flowers and has purple fall foliage. A deciduous native of the midwestern U.S., this deciduous tree grows to 25 feet and is hardy in zones 4 to 9.