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Matching plants with climate zones ensures optimal growth
By Tony Tomeo
I was pleased with the response to my inquiry concerning the origin of the "Spruce Goose" name. Larry of Sunnyvale called me to explain it was an airplane built entirely of wood, primarily spruce. It was only flown once and only for a few miles at very low altitude to a custom-built hangar in Long Beach. Some thought its awkward form resembled a goose, therefore naming it the "Spruce Goose".
The restaurant onboard the Queen Mary (which was the only "Spruce Goose" I was aware of) was named after the airplane. My father, of Tomeo Nursery in Poulsbo, Wash., also called me to confirm this information after reading the Sunnyvale Sun online.
Because my father's family has been in Sunnyvale since the beginning of time, he is the authority on local history. He once explained to me why the entertainment industry had become established in Hayward and, later, Long Beach and Hollywood. It's because there is no other place on the continent so close to so many various environments. California contains more climate zones than vast areas of the rest of North America.
Fortunately, garden enthusiasts in the Santa Clara Valley need only be concerned with three of the 24 popularly recognized climate zones. For convenience, these zones are numbered. The three local zones are 15, 16 and 17. The Coyote Valley is classified as a similar, but distinct, zone 14. Zone 7 includes the mountains to the east and the higher elevations of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Each zone is distinguished by specific climatic conditions.
Selection of plant species for the garden should be limited to those that are recommended for the climate zone. Species that would not perform well here are generally not available in nurseries. However, some specialty items that require more than routine care to live here are available to those willing to accommodate their special needs. For example, most tropical plant species that grow well on a sheltered patio must be brought inside for protection from frost.
Most horticultural texts (such as the Sunset Western Garden Book) include a vast range of species used in all 24 zones, and will also specify which zones each species prefers. This is why such texts include much more than what is available in nurseries. (Nothing bothers nurserymen more than clients who use the Sunset Western Garden Book as a catalogue, assuming that all species described should be available.)
Zone 15 is a "coastal climate", influenced by ocean air most of the time. Weather is generally mild, but may get too warm in summer for some species, or too cool in winter for others. Conversely, summers are warm enough for those species that prefer heat; and winters are cool enough to sufficiently chill those that require cold winters. This zone is also typified by a regular afternoon breeze in summer. The area covered by zone 15 includes most of San Jose, the northeastern half of Campbell, the northeastern half of Cupertino, most of Sunnyvale and most of Mountain View.
The thermal belts of zone 16 are nearly identical to zone 15, but exhibit milder winters. Thermal belts are either slightly above a valley floor or on a slope, so that cold, denser air flows downhill into zone 15. Los Gatos, Saratoga, southwest Campbell, southwest Cupertino and Los Altos Hills are all within this zone.
The area nearest to the bay is in zone 17; including the northern edges of San Jose, Sunnyvale, Mountain View and most of Santa Clara. Summer weather is usually cooler than within the other zones and insufficient for species that require heat, such as citrus. Winter weather is also milder and may interfere with dormancy of species that prefer colder winters. Zone 17 experiences more fog than other zones.
Tree of the Week: Red Ironbark Eucalyptus
The red ironbark eucalyptus, Eucalyptus sideroxylon, is not as predictable as other eucalyptus. It may be as short as 30 feet or as tall as 70 feet. Branch structure is usually somewhat pendulous but may be upright. The foliar canopy may be dense or lean. Even the flower color ranges from light orange-pink to crimson.
However, the dark furrowed bark and slim blue-green leaves are common among all red ironbarks. As many of the eucalyptus, they may drop limbs in strong winds or during humid weather without wind; they should not be used in high-traffic areas. Chlorosis may be a problem if soil is constantly moist. Good examples of this tree may be seen in the medians of Highway 9 between Los Gatos and Saratoga.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
Unlike most eucalyptus species, the red ironbark exhibits much genetic variation in its appearance. 
