Tree "Categories"

Basic Leaf Forms:

Very large leaf surface, i.e., vulnerable to desiccation and wind damage—moist tropics and subtropics (including palms, banana, etc.)

Succulent—dry tropics and subtropics

Tiny or finely divided, generally evergreen—dry tropics and subtropics (e.g., pepper tree, jacaranda, acacia, and other desert legumes)

Thick, leathery, broadleaf evergreens—moist or semi-moist tropics and subtropics.  Generally a bit problematic except in Southern California (Ficus-type species) although there is a “hardy” subset of this leaf-form, mainly Japanese, and often with fragrant flowers and usually preferring shade (e.g Aucuba, Hedera, Fatsia, Viburnum sp., camellias, etc.).

Smallish-to-medium-size sclerophyll leaves—Mediterranean climates including most of California (e.g. olive, evergreen oaks, bay, madrones, toyon, Pyracantha, Cotoneaster, Photinia)

Smallish-to-medium-size deciduous leaves—temperate climates with moisture during growing season

Subtypes of above:

1)  palmate/maple-like—Acer (most), Liquidambar, Platanus, Vitis, Liriodendron (more or less)

2) pinnate (except finely divided)—Pistacia chinensis, Rhus, Koelreuteria, Toona, Juglans, Carya, Fraxinus, Sorbus, Wisteria, Cladrastis, Gymnocladus, Gleditsia, Sophora, Laburnum, Sambucus

Types of flowers:

“blossom”—e.g. Prunus/Malus/Pyrus/Cotoneaster/Sorbus/Pyracantha, etc. i.e all Rosaceae?

“legume”—e.g. Wisteria, Robinia, Laburnum, etc. i.e., all Fabaceae

“tubular”—e.g. Catalpa, Paulownia, trumpet vines etc., Jacaranda,  i.e. all Bignoniaceae?

“big single”—e.g. Magnolia, Chorisia