Nyssa sylvatica, black gum is excellent for fall color and a bit variable in size. A named cultivar clone will be more reliable. Imagine the soze variance of humans in general vs hypothetical genetically identical cloned humans.

Your immediate climate interests me. Southen California......what do you use over there? Sunset zones or something? Does your area see any freezes? Any water concerns?

I don't know if nyssa survives those extremes.

Hi courtney.

When searching for trees that grow well in your area, one way is to drive around your neighborhood and see what trees do well and are thriving.

Another way is to contact your local conservation/agricultural office for your county. They can tell you why they recommend the trees they do and how to plant and care for them.

A high end nursery in your area will also have helpful advice.

If you're in a dry area, water loving trees won't do very well unless you can provide regular irrigation for them. Even then, once they become a large tree it can be a problem supplying enough water to keep them happy.

The huge eucalyptus trees you talk about get that way because they grow well there.

Maples and Black gum can get over 50 ft tall if the climate suits them and Exclamation London plane trees can get larger than that. But they need a moist climate with regular rains in the summer.

There are some great lower water use trees that don't get to big like the Australian acacias, chitalpa and desert willow. This podless desert willow blooms for 6-7 months a year. Your water district should have some good recommendations.