Bracey Tiede's tree need

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Bracey,

I would suggest a Gejeira parviflora, sometimes called Australian willow (though it's more closely related to citrus, I've read).  I have three by my pool in the back.  They are moderately fast growing, very drought tolerant, though they look best with a good weekly soaking during the hottest part of the summer. Mine were planted roughly 4 years ago from very small pots and are now 12-15 ft. tall and  a good 8 ft. wide.  They do not thrust up pavement, and they are quite tidy - very little if any litter seems to fall anywhere except straight down.  They have a lovely shape, and are not a pollen problem as your Aleppo pine probably was to the pond.  If you don't plant them too large to start with, they may not even need staking, but broadleaved evergreens are always a risky proposition in high winds if they grow too top heavy.  I'm a big advocate of top-lopping when necessary to get a beefy trunk.   We did have to stake one in the front yard which we planted a little larger to start with.  I also have Eucalyptus nicholii by the pool.  A very fast grower which MUST be top-lopped perhaps twice yearly until a good sturdy trunk and wide spread roots form.  We lost one this year that we planted last year, which seemed to have a root in a circle we had not noticed when we bought it.   Another we planted 5 years ago and lopped as long as we could is now 30 ft. tall and my next door neighbor's weather vane, or so he tells me.  It's recommended as a poolside tree by Sunset WGB, but the leaves do stain the bottom of the pool temporarily if they land.  That, of course won't be a problem in a pond.  These two are planted together in my yard and complement each other nicely in size, and leaf and trunk color.

Good luck,

Karrie Reid

Folsom Foothill Gardener