Problem Species at Low Elevations

In lower elevations in the high desert, primarily Owens Valley, there is an abundance of plant material that has been selected that prefers cooler summers.

With plenty of water these marginally adapted plants plants, particularly trees, will survive but they do not do as well as they should. This sets up expensive problems down the road when they get diseases or insects as result of chronic, long-term stress.

A large, mature tree is expensive to remove or prune. It's better to plant something else!

• Sugar Maples (Acer saccharum) Beautiful fall color, but there's a reason it's on Canada's flag. Prefers cooler weather and more humidity.
• Birches (Betula nigra, B. papifera, and other spp.) These usually appear stressed. Prone to leaf drop, aphids, and other problems, all related to stress. Usually surviving here, but not as wonderful in appearance as in cooler locations. Need lots of water. Difficult to maintain on sandy soil.
• White Alders (Alnus rhombifola) Some individual specimens do great, but many appear stressed in the upper canopy. Not the worst tree on this list, but there is some risk.
• Sweetgum/Liquidambar (L. styraciflua) Perhaps it's the low humidity, but local specimens look nothing like the wild type. It's actually a fairly fast growing slightly pyrimidal-form tree, not the scraggly assemblage of twisted branches with leaves closely attached that we see here. There are better choices for fall color that don't create spiny fruit.
• Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) This Wikipedia quote says it all: "Populus tremuloides is a deciduous tree native to cooler areas of North America." We usually see it above 7,000 ft. not on valley floors. Avoid in landscapes. It's very trouble-prone.
• Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila) A common tree that survives just about everywhere, but has few things going for it. Elm leaf beetles adore it. Many better elms to select from, some of which don't get eaten by beetles.
• Lombardy Poplar (Populus nigra 'Italica') A fast growing, fastigiate tree that is beautiful in a formal setting. Unfortunately it is short-lived and expensive to remove. It is very weak wooded and prone to breakage in high wind. Here's an interesting history of this tree. Thankfully, not as popular as in years past. Several dead ones can be seen in Nevada and eastern California. If you have one, start saving for it's removal.
• Oleander (Nerium oleander) Oleanders vary tremendously in winter hardiness. Buy hardy varieties only. Hardy oleanders may survive in Bishop with frequent winter damage to foliage. Hardy oleanders seem to do better in Independence and points south. Remember they are toxic to animals and kids.
• Palms in Owens Valley: Some unusual, low-growing hardy palms should survive reliably. In protected places, California fan palm (Washingtonia filifera) may survive, at least for awhile. It will be safer south of Independence. There is a real risk of winterkill with palms. Low desert locations are usually safe enough. You're better to plant something else if it is important for a plant to survive where you plant it. Consider it an experiment that will probably not work out.
• Japanese Euonymus: Subject to powdery mildew. May need to spray. Other than that they do well if you don't mind this mostly cosmetic disease.
• Crapemyrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) Cultivars vary in their hardiness. Most will survive in Owens Valley reliably, but frosts that occur after winter dormancy has broken will damage them. More work needs to be done to determine which are best suited. In the meantime if you choose to plant these, cultivars under 15 feet will present the least work if pruning or removal is needed. It should be reliably root hardy once established. OK to plant, but be aware of the potential for the crown to freeze.
• Salt Cedar / Tamarisk: These are an invasive plant. Do not plant them. They are poky, spread out of control, and are only pretty 2 weeks of the year.