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Trees and Power Lines

Recommended Trees

listed below is a partial list of recommended trees for planting under or near power lines. These trees may not be appropriate for every microclimate in California. Another source of information about tree species is the Selectree for California web site at http://selectree.calpoly.edu/.

Photos (with the exception of Hawthorne, Malus spp, Pyrus callyerana, and Arbutus) by Dennis Rosenberg, Metaphor Media

Partial list of Recommended Trees

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

  • spring blooming with striking pink flowers, heart-shaped leaves
  • Mature height: 35 feet
  • Mature spread: 35 feet
  • Sunset Zones 1-3, 7-20

Visit Cal Poly Tree page

Lemon Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus)

  • spring flowering, with red bottlebrush-like flowers
  • Mature height: 25 feet
  • Mature spread: 20 feet
  • Sunset Zones 8, 9, 12-24

Visit Cal Poly Tree page

Washington Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)

  • summer blooming, white flowers; fall color; winter fruiting, attracts birds Mature height: 35 feet
  • Mature spread: 20 feet
  • Sunset Zones 1-11, 14-17
  • Click here for more information

Visit Cal Poly Tree page

Citrus Fruit Trees (Citrus)

  • summer fruiting (lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange, tangerine)
  • Mature height: 30 feet
  • Mature spread: 15 feet
  • Sunset Zones 8, 9, 12-14

Visit Cal Poly Tree page

Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.)

  • summer blooming with impressive red and white flowers
  • Mature height: 20 feet
  • Mature spread: 15 feet
  • Sunset Zones 7-9, 12-14, 18-21

Visit Cal Poly Tree page

Flowering Cherry (Prunus spp.)

  • spring flowering with white flowers, shiny bark
  • Mature height: 35 feet
  • Mature spread: 20 feet
  • Sunset Zones 4-6. 15-17

Visit Cal Poly Tree page

Ornamental Pear (Pyrus calleryana)

  • spring flowering with white flowers
  • Mature height: 30 feet
  • Mature spread: 20 feet
  • Sunset Zones 2-9, 14-21

Visit Cal Poly Tree page

Strawberry Madrone (Arbutus unedo)

  • spring flowering with white flowers; summer fruiting, orange gumball-sized fruit, attracts birds
  • Mature height: 30 feet
  • Mature spread: 25 feet
  • Sunset Zones 4-24

Visit Cal Poly Tree page

Hopseed Bush (Dodonaea viscosa)

  • Mix of purple and green foliage, good for screening
  • Mature height: 20 feet
  • Mature spread: 10 feet
  • Sunset Zones 7-9, 12-24

Visit Cal Poly Tree page

Evergreen Pear (Pyrus kawakamii)

  • spring flowering with white flowers; semi-deciduous if cold or stressed
  • Mature height: 35 feet
  • Mature spread: 20 feet
  • Sunset Zones 8, 9, 12-24

Visit Cal Poly Tree page

Bronze Loquat (Eriobotrya deflexia)

  • spring flowering with white flowers, great leaves
  • Mature height: 25 feet
  • Mature spread: 25 feet
  • Sunset Zones 8-24

Visit Cal Poly Tree page

Australian Willow (Geijera parviflora)

  • Weeping foliage
  • Mature height: 25 feet
  • Mature spread: 20 feet
  • Sunset Zones 8, 9, 13-24

Visit Cal Poly Tree page

Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)

  • summer flowering with white flowers; winter fruiting; native multi-trunked tree, drought tolerant
  • Mature height: 20 feet
  • Mature spread: 15 feet
  • Sunset Zones 5-24

Visit Cal Poly Tree page

Pittosporum (Pittosporum tenuifolium)

  • Vertical in growth, dense green foliage
  • Mature height: 30 feet
  • Mature spread: 15 feet
  • Sunset Zones 9, 14-17, 19-24

Visit Cal Poly Tree page




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