|  Buckeye,
Ohio
Aesculus glabra
A deciduous tree with a rounded crown, palmately compound leaves
that turn spectacular shades of orangish-red in fall, and unusual
greenish flower spikes in spring. Ohio Buckeyes are native to the
moister climates of eastern North America; in Salida’s hot
and dry summers, they are susceptible to leaf scorch. The glossy
seeds may be poisonous. One grows south of Hwy. 50 at the Wal-Mart
intersection.
 Hawthorn
Crategus species
Small trees native to Europe, Asia, and North America. Most of
the species can grow as either a multi-trunked tall shrub or a single-trunked
tree. All sprout clusters of white or pink flowers in spring, succeeded
by fruit shaped like tiny apples (“haws” in England).
The “thorn” part of their name honors the truly formidable
thorns that cover their branches and twigs. One grows on Maxwell
Street in Salida.
 Mulberry,
White
Morus alba
White Mulberry is native to China and widely planted in the desert
southwest because it tolerates heat and alkaline soils. Grows into
a thick-trunked tree with heart-shaped leaves. Fruit on female trees
is attractive to birds. The tree growing in front of High Country
Bank on Hwy 50 in Salida is a White Mulberry.
|
Black
Walnut
|
 Walnut,
Black
Juglans nigra
In eastern North America, where Black Walnut is native, these trees
can reach 100 feet in height with broad crowns 70 feet across. In
Salida’s dry climate and poor soils, that a Black Walnut can
grow at all is surprising, but one does grow here, on First Street.
Not only are Black Walnuts difficult to grow in Salida, they secrete
a growth inhibitor which makes it difficult to grow vegetable gardens
near these trees (lawn grasses aren’t affected). |
