Number 5 in a series of my experiences with CA natives in my garden. My house is in the Crescenta Valley which is northwest of Pasadena and has the typical climate of the inland valleys surrounding LA, although we are about 1000 feet higher elevation than Pasadena, Burbank or Glendale which surround us so our winters can be a little colder at night than those areas. Our entire valley is made of alluvial runoff from the surrounding mountains, the soil is sandy, rocky and very fast draining.

Cercis occidentalis or Western Redbud

At the bottom of a slope with no supplemental water. 1 gallon planted 12 years ago, now about 12' high and 10' wide. I wanted a multi-trunked small tree to screen our house from the road and this has grown into a perfect specimen. For many years it didn't flower at all and only in the last 5 years has it flowered profusely. I don't trim it, I don't water it but it has turned into a specimen, especially in the spring. There is a fair amount of litter from the seedpods but if you want a smallish tree that is drought tolerant Western Redbud is a great choice.