What types of trees are in southern california?

Question

The one in particular I'm trying to figure out has five pointed leaves that turn red in the fall (LA area).

Answer 1

Sounds like it is a Liquidamber (Sweet Gum) tree.

http://www.californiagardens.com/images/Liquidamber_red_c.jpg

Answer 2

Yup, probably liquidamber. I was told that nurseries brought them to Southern California to help transplanted people from inland and the north to have a change of seasons. Trouble is, they have very annoying seed pods with thorns. I've seen some creative types make wreaths out of them - otherwise, they're a pain.

There are some elm trees that turn a shade of pink or salmon in the fall and drop leaves, but mostly the leaves are yellow. I've also seen some varieties of maple that drop leaves, but the trees are hybrids and very small - almost like bushes.

Answer 3

Also sounds like Liquidambar styraciflua to me. There are only maybe 10 trees in SoCal that turn colors that I can think of. It's too bad really. Liquidambar has a leaf that looks kinda like a Maple. Also gets those prickle balls. They'll drop those in about Jan or Feb. There are several named varieties: Festival, Palo Alto, Burgandy to name a few.

Answer 4

Listed below is a great site that has all the Coniferous trees, Deciduous broadleaf trees, and Evergreen broadleaf trees of So. CA.

I used it for a report not long ago and it helped me a ton.

Answer 5

Yep, Liquidambar styraciflua. There is a newer Liquidambar rotundaloba which looks almost identical to L.sty. but it doesn't produce those annoying balls that make such a mess on the sidewalk.

Answer 6

That is usually the Maple family... we have lot's of them here in So Cal.