California Trees A Field Guide to the Native Species

California Trees explores the majestic and diverse world of California’s largest organisms. It is a comprehensive guide celebrating the beauty and ecological significance of the state’s 95 native species. From the towering redwoods of the northern coast to the iconic Joshua trees of the desert, Trees of California takes readers on a journey through the state’s varied landscapes, showcasing the remarkable diversity of its arboreal inhabitants. With detailed profiles for each species, including identification tips, habitat descriptions, and cultural or historical significance, the book is a perfect companion for nature enthusiasts, hikers, and environmental stewards. Illustrated with vivid photographs and expert insights into the vital roles trees play in supporting ecosystems, California Trees is an invitation to deepen your connection with the natural world and appreciate the unique beauty of the Golden State’s forests, woodlands, and wild spaces.

Matt Ritter Grew up in rural Mendocino County, California. After earning a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from U.C. Santa Barbara, he attended U.C. San Diego for a Ph.D. in plant biology. He’s a botany professor in the Biological Sciences Department at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California, where he teaches plant biology, ecology, and field botany. He’s the author of several books, including a guide to California’s flora, California Plants: A Guide to Our Iconic Flora. He also wrote the best-selling guide to California’s urban forest, A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us (Heyday, 2011). He recently won the National Outdoor Book Award for his children’s book, Something Wonderful. His writing has appeared in several magazines, including Pacific Horticulture. He won the Cal Poly’s Distinguished Teaching Award, the International Society of Arboriculture Award for Excellence in Education, and the Indie Book Award for his climate change novel Rainwalkers. He is the California Coordinator of the National Big Tree Registry, studies California’s native plants and trees in the urban forest. He’s an avid woodworker, mason, and gardener.

Michael Kauffmann Grew up in the eastern deciduous forests of Virginia and would stare out the window in the winter, hooting for barred owls and wonder…why are some of those trees still green? He nurtured his evergreen conifer fascination in the Appalachian Mountains during college and, upon graduation, found a job teaching outdoor education in California. Sans family, alone in the West, he began to hang out with giant sequoias and foxtail pines on weekends. The high country conifers of southern California entertained him for many years until the temperate rainforest eventually called him north to Humboldt County. He now live in Kneeland, California, with his wife, Allison, his sons, Sylas & Asa. Besides writing, he works as a devoted teacher both at the elementary and college level, is the founder and president of the Bigfoot Trail Alliance, and a research plant ecologist.