Hi there,

This is my first post here in the California Gardening forum. My mom has been losing trees in the drought and is hoping to find some very drought resistant, native option(s) to replace the birches that have died. What might you all have to say about Comarostaphylis diversifolia or 'Summer Holly'? She's in Santa Monica, so Coastal, relatively mild, and full sun to partial shade conditions are available for any replacement trees.

Would this species be a good choice for her location? Its natural range seems to include the Santa Monica area, so I thought it might be a good fit, I just have no experience with it. Any other recommendations? Ideally varieties that don't take over the world, but are rather more in the 12-20' height range or able to be maintained there. She loved pictures of a variegated Luma apiculata I took on a recent trip, but I don't think Luma apiculata is a particularly drought tolerant species.

Thanks for any help!

Jay