Picea engelmannii (Engelmann Spruce) is a species of spruce native to western North America, from central British Columbia and southwest Alberta, southwest to northern California and southeast to Arizona and New Mexico; there are also two isolated populations in northern Mexico. It is mostly a high altitude mountain tree, growing at 900-3650 m altitude, rarely lower in the northwest of the range; in many areas it reaches the alpine tree line.Picea engelmannii is a medium-sized to large evergreen tree growing to 25-40 m tall, exceptionally to 65 m tall, and with a trunk diameter of up to 1.5 m.
The leaves are needle-like, 15-30 mm long, rhombic in cross-section, glaucous blue-green above with several thin lines of stomata, and blue-white below with two broad bands of stomata.
The cones are pendulous, slender cylindrical, 4-8 cm long and 1.5 cm broad when closed, opening to 3 cm broad. They have thin, flexible scales 15-20 mm long, with a wavy margin. They are reddish to dark purple, maturing pale brown 4–7 months after pollination. The seeds are black, 2-3 mm long, with a slender, 5-8 mm long pale brown wing.
The bark is thin and scaly, flaking off in small circular plates 5-10 cm across. The crown is narrow conic in young trees, becoming cylindric in older trees. The shoots are buff-brown to orange-brown, usually densely pubescent, and with prominent pulvini.
Rhus ovata ~ Sugar Bush
Rhus ovata is a large green shrub. The Sugar Bush can grow to 15 feet or more in height and width. The flowers and seeds can be soaked in water to make a refreshing drink. Rhus ovata is native to California and Arizona in the inland Chaparral portions of the state. Rhus integrifolia, Lemonade Berry, is common closer to the coast. Rhus ovata only needs a little irrigation to get established. The seeds of the Sugar Bush are popular with the seed eating birds and are great for attracting wildlife to your garden. With their deep roots Rhus ovata is a great plant for stabilizing slopes. And with its height Sugar Bush can from an excellent hedge or screen. The plants adapt well to regular trimming. The leaves last too long for to trim your hedge with a hedge trimmer, this is best done by hand.
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