Rosemont West Neighborhood Association

TREES OF HOFFMAN PARK

Aug 27, 2002

WEST PERIMETER
There are 5 Mount Atlas pistaches on the west edge of the park. These were probably planted in the last decade. These pistaches are slow growers and will not reach their maximum of 60 feet for a long time. Their leaves are a lovely bronzy-red in the late fall. There?’s one olive tree at the northwest corner of the park.
NORTH PERIMETER
The largest tree in the park, near the northwest corner, is the red gum, a very large and stately eucalyptus tree with enormous roots, beautiful gray bark, and tall limbs that may give shelter to a visiting Great horned owl.
There are several African sumacs along the north edge. These South African trees may be male or female and fruit-eating birds enjoy the green berries of the females.
You may not have noticed two beefwoods on the north edge. They resemble pines, but are not related to pines. These Australian trees produce tiny ?“cones?” and when you pick one off the ground, you?’ll see they are quite different from pine cones!
EAST PERIMETER
A group of xylosma look like they?’re not doing so well. Freezing nights have cleared the branches of leaves at the park?’s edge. These large shrubs have been shaped into small trees over time.
Several of our lovely twisty-trunked olive trees grow on this side. These silvery, gnarly trees produce tasty olives, but they need to be brined to take out the bitterness. Olive trees grow in the Mediterranean region. Some in Greece are said to be a thousand years old!

SOUTH PERIMETER
Olives, more pistaches, African sumacs, and privets on this side. The glossy privets usually look a little worse for wear. They were probably planted in the last decade, but growing on the dirt instead of on the lawn means they?’re not getting enough water.
One of the best climbing trees in the park is the large African sumac with its sideways limbs obliging many a youngster.

INSIDE THE PARK: SOUTHEAST QUADRANT
There is an interesting group of trees around the playground. Rich green laurel-leaf cocculus is a large shrub that has been made into a tree. It maintains its deep color throughout the year. Seeming to resemble it is a fine multi-trunked specimen of xylosma. You can see right way a difference in their bark.
An Australian weeping bottlebrush sways just north of the slide. Look closely and you?’ll see that the tree is really three trees growing tight together. Red bottlebrush flowers were blooming in December.
The large South American hybrid mesquite is one of the great trees of Tucson. Planted in 1949, it has developed one of the largest and most interesting trunks of any mesquite in Tucson.
The mulberry trees near the play area are leafless in winter. These spreading shade trees from China were once common all over Tucson. As they die off, they are not replaced due to a 1990 Pima County ban on mulberries. Mulberries, along with fruiting olive trees, are considered highly allergenic pollen producers. In fact, their pollen producing season is short, so they should not trouble us for long.
Towering Mexican fan palms form the pillars of the park. These tall palms add height and grace to our park and we have 20 of them!

INSIDE THE PARK: NORTHEAST QUADRANT
Most notable is the stand of laurel-leaf cocculus. Growing close together these bright evergreen tree/shrubs from Japan look fresh and beautiful. Touch the pebbly bark.

INSIDE THE PARK: NORTHWEST QUADRANT
Around the ball field it?’s not a good idea to have too many trees! Here find one of two Aleppo pines in the park. These tall, rounded dark green pines from the Mediterranean region are staples in Tucson Parks. They grow well in our climate. And, heck, we have to plant those living Christmas trees somewhere!