If not European White Birch, than what?

Question from Tanya:
I originally come from Russia, so when we planned our front yard garden in Pasadena, thought it would be great to incorporate the groves of white European birches on both sides of the yard. Having read your related articles, it looks like the birches we want won’t survive in our Southern California climate (the front yard gets the full assault from the Southern California sun). Are there trees native to Southern California that will create the same look of a grove? We’re looking for something that will shield our front porch from our neighbors’ eyes, but won’t be too overwhelming for the rest of the plantings. Thank you so much for your help

Answer from Pat:
People often yearn for other times and places and want to recreate them in their own gardens. I sympathize with that feeling but you have read my advice to others on this subject so you already know that European white birches are troublesome plants here. Unfortunately, there is no other tree that will give you exactly the same atmosphere and appearance. This is why people love it so much.

As for trees that can be planted in groves and would be perfectly adapted to performing the job you need done, paperbark tree (Melaleuca quinquinervia) is the first tree that comes to mind. It is easy to grow here. It will grow pretty big in time but when planted in groves is less fast-growing. It has creamy-white to pinky-brown spongy or papery bark that peels off in sheets. It is not fussy about soil, has no known pests or diseases, and is drought-resistant once established. The trunk is much thicker than a birch tree but many paperbark trees are multi-trunked. Don’t expect this to give you exactly the same feel as a silver-barked birch and make sure you truly love it, but this is the best solution I can come up with and is the closest approximation in bark color and dappled shade to what you want. Other trees that will grow in groves are sweetshade (Hymenosporum flavum)—it is wonderfully fragrant when in bloom, and shoe string acacia (Acacia stenophylla), but neither of these will work as well as Melaleuca. These trees are invasive, so you want to water them deeply to encourage deep-rooting. You can grow a lawn, shrubs, and other plants under these trees if everything is planted at the same time.

California sycamore (Platanus racimosa), while not generally a grove tree is sometimes planted in groves, but just one specimen would do the job. These are gorgeous trees with light mottle bark. They lend a handsome atmosphere to gardens, not totally without problems but worth the care they take. It would do the job you want. Choose one already having a fine and interesting shape and set it in the ground at an angle. They grow well in Pasadena.

One of the best ways to find trees you love that flourish in Southern California is to look around you at trees in other nearby gardens. When you see plants you love that flourish near your home, try to learn what they are and grow those. As an immigrant myself, I found the real cure for garden homesickness was to fall in love with something with an entirely different atmosphere, something that grows well here and is exotic and spectacularly colorful. Among trees that wouldn’t be too overwhelming but nonetheless sheild you from your neighbor’s eyes, are Chinese flame tree (Koelreuteria henryii or K. elegans), firewheel tree (Stenucarpus sinuatus), silk tree (Albizzia julibrissin), tipu tree (Tipu tipuana), weeping bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis), and crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica). Out of these choices I think weeping bottle brush would work best but it might not cast enough shade. I love all these trees but have none of them in my garden since 55 years ago when my husband and I built our home I didn’t know enough about trees to choose good ones. Several of these choices can be planted in groves, a number of them have interesting bark, some are deciduous, and some can even be planted in groves. Look up their characteristics, go to botanical gardens at various times of year to see them in bloom. I hope you can find a tree that will flourish in your garden and lift your heart with joy.

Remember this, however, no tree is perfect. They all have drawbacks. You need to choose something you will love enough to put up with a few bad habits, such as litter. One last thought: a close friend of mine has a front south-facing garden shaded by several podocarpus trees (Podocarpus gracilior, Afrocarpus elongatus.) These are evergreen trees, but beautiful and trouble free. They grow extremely well in Pasadena and are virtuous trees with few if any bad habits. They are not messy either and you can garden under them. My friend has a front porch too and they sit out on it. The trees don’t provide privacy however. It is the lower plants in the garden that do that, especially hedges.