Gardeners! Botanists! Tree enthusiasts! What kind of trees are these? (PHOTO)

[Radio_Lady]

These glorious trees were in bloom all over the San Francisco area on our recent trip.

The flowers are "furry" and range in color from orange to deep red.

I'd love to know more about these trees! Can you help?

Gratefully,

Radio Lady in Oregon

[begin_within]

1. Looks like bottlebrush (Callistemon rigidus)

[Radio_Lady]

2. Here's another Internet shot with no identification!

[BrotherBuzz]

4. That is definitely bottlebrush

The first photo looks like a different shrub entirely, like maybe a rhododendron. :shrug:

[Radio_Lady]

10. Bob, that is one beautiful Rhododendron!

[Radio_Lady]

3. Bob_Weaver, the color is similar, but the shape isn't right...

I'll post some other pictures we took on our vacation.

Maybe that will clear it up.

The trees we photographed were on North Point Street in the block where the Sheraton Hotel was located (corner of Mason and North Point).

[begin_within]

5. If you could post a close-up of the flowers, that would help.

The plant pictured in reply #2 is bottlebrush, but it's obvious now that the one in your original post is not. The leaves are different. Do you have a close-up of the flowers?

[begin_within]

6. It also could be a type of crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)

because crepe myrtle blooms in the summer. But I haven't seen one with flowers that fuzzy - might be a hybrid one that was recently developed?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. Found it...Red-flowering Gum ( Eucalyptus ficifolia )

Myrtle Family
http://www.smccd.edu/accounts/leddy/CSM%20TREES/eucfic.htm

[Radio_Lady]

8. PHOTOS of North Point flowers -- looks like you found it, Goddess.

[Radio_Lady]

9. DUers rule! More pics! Thanks to all for your efforts in searching for these magnificent trees!

[Radio_Lady]

11. Tree is native of Australia, and photos on the web from other West Coast US locations.

Google images of RED FLOWERING GUM TREE.

More information and photos at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corymbia_ficifolia

Neat!

Thanks again.

[Gormy Cuss]

12. Those aren't the only trees in bloom like that in the city.

While the North Point ones may be red gum, many of the other small landscape trees in bloom right now around San Francisco are crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia.) Foliage is similar, flowers are not. I think that the bottlebrushes (callistemon) are past bloom right now.

This is a typical sidewalk landscaping plant all over the Bay area, the red crape myrtle:


Here's a picture of a bottlebrush variety similar to those planted in this area:


You can see why posters made these guesses!

[yellowdogintexas]

13. crape myrtles RULE! here in North Texas, EVERYBODY has

a crape myrtle or two. They bloom all summer, from April to Oct, really, and don't care if it is wet or dry, hot or mild, whack them back, and here they come again. I have 5 treeform crape myrtles in my yard. They are elegant even in winter, you can see the trunk forms in the upper right corner of this lovely and rare snow scene.




a more different view, they are running along the fence here, as you look at the spring blooming iris


opposite direction:

[Radio_Lady]

19. Hi Gormy Cuss. Thanks for clearing that up. We saw lots of flowers in SF we couldn't identify.

[Neshanic]

14. Good calls you guys, how about this test of your abilities?

[Radio_Lady]

15. Oh, they're beautiful. I haven't a clue what they are... colored sunflowers?

I am botanically challenged.

The bees would see a wonderful large target. Do they see in black-and-white?

Thanks for posting!

[tigereye]

16. the bottom one looks like a dahlia of some sort

[Neshanic]

17. They are Gazanias, a clumping groundcover. The flowers are 4" and the detail

always amazes me. I have a multitude of variations and colors.

[tigereye]

18. they are different from gazanias I have had - must be a matter of photo

perspective, I suppose.

They are beautiful.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

21. They're wonderful!

What sort of habitat do they prefer?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

22. I think I remember reading that gazanias are from

South Africa...

They are hardy and will grow without too much support...

They tolerate partial shade, but I believe they prefer full sun...

And of course they are beautiful!

:hi:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

23. I planted some late this year...

can't wait till they bloom! First one should be open in the next day or two. :bounce:

[Radio_Lady]

20. Looks like there are a Brazilian gazinias!

Never heard of them before today... thanks for posting!