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Miscellaneous Non-native Trees
With the exception of Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus), the trees on this page are not common in Monterey county. Several of them can be invasive if they escape from cultivation into a favorable habitat.
Tree of Heaven – Ailanthus altissima : (Simaroubiaceae – Quassia Family)
Height:
< 20 m
Habitat:
Disturbed areas, many communities
Blooms:
June
Notes:
This is often planted as a decorative tree, but it spreads aggressively and is classified as moderately invasive. It has distinctive pinnate leaves, with 10–41 lanceolate leaflets, each 5–18 cm long. It is dioecious, with male and female flowers borne on separate plants. Flowers are in long panicles, yellowish-green to red. The male flowers are more conspicuous, and give off a rather foul smell, which attracts the pollinators. The female flowers produce small seeds, encased in reddish-orange winged samaras.
Blue Gum – Eucalyptus globulus : (Myrtaceae – Myrtle Family)
Height:
< 60 m
Habitat:
Disturbed areas
Blooms:
Oct–Jan
Notes:
This tall tree is immediately recognizable, with its long, pendulous leaves and shredding bark. Leaves are narrowly lanceolate, often sickle-shaped. Mature leaves are blue-gray, but much more bluish when young. It bears striking flowers, with many white stamens. The fruit is a four-part, woody, warty capsule. According to the Jepson Manual, this is California’s most widely cultivated, most widely naturalised and tallest flowering tree. Unfortunately, it contains volatile oils, which make it highly vulnerable to fire. It has one significant redeeming feature: in some places (such as Pacific Grove and Andrew Molera State Park), the Monarch Butterflies love it, congregating on them in large numbers during their winter migrations. Native to southeastern Australia.
Silver Dollar Gum – Eucalyptus polyanthemos : Myrtaceae – Myrtle Family)
Height:
< 25 m
Habitat:
Disturbed coastal areas
Blooms:
Dec–Feb
Notes:
This is much smaller than Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus, see above), and less common. Its flowers are white, and smaller than Blue Gum. Its pear to bowl-shaped fruits are also smaller (5–6 mm vs. 2 cm). The leaves are elliptic to ovate, 5–10 cm long, gray-green to blue-green in color. The bark is shredding, though less marked than in the case of Blue Gum. Native to southeastern Australia.
Red Ironbark – Eucalyptus sideroxylon : (Myrtaceae - Myrtle Family)
Height:
< 25 m
Habitat:
Coastal, disturbed areas
Blooms:
Dec–Feb
Notes:
This is similar in size to Silver Dollar Gum (Eucalyptus polyanthemos, see above), but differs from it in several ways. First, the flowers are pink or red, rather than white. Second, the leaves are lanceolate and slightly sickle-shaped, gray-green in color. Third, the bark is is dark brown to black, deeply furrowed and not shredding. Fruits are a little larger (± 1 cm) and ovoid in shape. Native to southeastern Australia. Photo #2 below by CJH.
English Holly – Ilex aquifolium : (Aquifoliaceae - Holly Family)
Height:
< 20 m
Habitat:
Garden escape, cool wooded areas
Blooms:
May–June
Notes:
This is immediately recognizable by its shiny, dark green, oval leaves with long pointed spines, 3 to 5 on each margin. The underside of the leaf is paler in color. The tree is dioecious. Male flowers are small and yellowish, while female flowers are white or pink-tinged. The bright red berries are indelibly associated with Christmas in northern Europe, as in the song "The Holly and the Ivy". Commonly cultivated for its showy fruit, and moderately invasive in the wild.
Pepper Tree – Schinus molle : Anacardiaceae - Sumac family
Height:
5–15 m
Habitat:
Garden escape
Blooms:
June–Aug
Notes:
A Peruvian native, this common ornamental tree has slender pinnate leaves, Its panicles of numerous very small white flowers are followed by dry, reddish berry-like drupes. These are the source of the spice known as pink peppercorns, which have a somewhat peppery flavor. Other members of this family include Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) and the cashew tree. The tree can easily become invasive. A related species, Brazilian Pepper Tree (Schinus terebinthifolia, not shown) is sometimes found, very similar in appearance but with shorter, broader leaves.
