Is your area subject to droughts? Will these trees be irrigated?

What about Acer macrophyllum or one of your California native oaks?

Acer macrophyllum and oaks are way too large. It's CA and in a city. We do not have 1+ acre lots. :)

Acer macrophyllum is far too large a tree for most suburban lot sizes. Where native, they will easily achieve 60-100' in height and with a 50' spread. And will eliminate virtually any other gardening opportunities in the near vicinity. And not very drought tolerant either...prefers a riparian setting.

Try posting this on the California Gardening forum for more regionally appropriate suggestions.

There are dwarf versions like Acer macrophyllum Rubrum.

Funny how no one has actually answered my question. I have asked for suggestions for other trees in other threads, but no one is able to come up with suitable alternatives that fit in my space. That's why I'm literally down to choosing between varieties of Maples. I have added a few to my list.

Was looking for pros and cons of each but I guess I'll try to look elsewhere. I suppose another trip to the nursery is in order...

How much rain does Roseville get a year again? It has been awhile since I worked for the railroad. Are you in town proper or up in this hills?

Or am I confusing you with Redding?

Me no Cali expert. I said my piece initially-you didn't like what I said-I'm done with this one.

I recommend you plant a Lyonothamnus. Why be set on a thirsty, wet-summer-climate maple when there are so many more interesting trees you can grow there?

wisconsitom and david,

Most native CA trees are either gigantic, drop tons of crazy messy flowers as well as leaves later, have lots of messy berries or fruits, or are downright ugly. Like I said before, I'm not SET on a Maple, but with no other feasible options, it may be the way we have to go. I've gone down the "Sacramento Shady 80" list and didn't find much of anything that would work. Every nursery we have visited have suggested Maples for the size and non-messiness. I don't know if Elms, Birch, Redbud, or any of those kinds of trees will be suitable but there must be a reason no nursery has suggested them for our application right? If I remember right, Elms get huge, Birch get too wide and aren't very drought tolerant, and Redbuds look messy as hell. All the other interesting varieties are flowering trees that also make a mess, and although we might end up with a Ceanothus Ray Hartman or 3, I do not want everything in the backyard to be a flowering something. There is plenty of space back there to plant a lot of other flowering somethings.

"There must be a reason no nursery has suggested them for our application right?"

Probably. And that reason is most likely related to what they have in stock. Which in turn is related to what is easy to mass produce and what people see on TV and ask for. Sorry. I always cringe when people confuse a salesmen with an advice professional. That gets so many people in trouble (in other, more serious areas).

Anyway, a couple people asked questions about rainfall which weren't answered. A couple people offered suggestions. Without more information on your site its hard to offer meaningful advice. I really don't want to contribute to the California water crisis out of ignorance.

I don't know how much it rains here. Usually a decent amount, but you can't count on it every year. Obviously we got into a drought and aren't out of it yet.

Drip irrigation is not included with our regulations. Hell, if we were to put in the subsurface drip under the lawn we could water it everyday all day if we wanted.

And no, they have lottttts of trees in stock. Tons. All different types and varieties. But each one has always suggested the Maples, mostly for the size we are needing. Japanese Maples are popular out here, those are appealing but grow to slow for our needs.