Gardening Gardening By Region Garden Guide for Southern California What's the Best Shade Tree for Zone 10 in Southern California? I live in Cypress, California, Zone 10. I am looking for a tree that offers shade but has a small base. We recently had a plantain tree knock over the wall in our yard because it got WAY too big! I also don't want trees that get too root-heavy, like a ficus. By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on August 12, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email There's actually a great tree-search engine for California gardeners: http://selectree.calpoly.edu/ Check it out! It lets you search by a very wide range of criteria and helps you pick the most appropriate tree for your needs. More On Trees Healthy, mature shade trees can contribute up to $1,500 toward a lot's value. Our Favorite Small Trees Selecting Trees For Your Yard Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit