The Brief

You know them, you might love looking at them, and you definitely hate to park under them. Jacaranda season is upon us, and the iconic tree gets a lot of attention every year (see here if you need help tracking them down). But if you only pay attention to that bloom, you’re barely scratching the surface of the flowers you can see every year – there's no shortage of tree species planted around town.

If you're going to park under a jacaranda, it helps if your car matches the flowers.

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Kevin Tidmarsh/LAist

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Greater Los Angeles has an incredibly varied assortment of tree species, owing in part to its microclimates and the many varieties of trees that can adapt to live here, especially drought-tolerant ones. And while they may not all have the name recognition of the famous tree imported from South America, they’re just as eye-grabbing when you see them.

Keep your eyes peeled this summer for these blooms, and if there’s a particular tree you’ve got to see flower yourself, you might want to consult a guide like this one for the city of L.A.. And if you’d rather see a bunch of trees at once, it could be worth a trip to somewhere like the L.A. County Arboretum or Descanso Gardens.

To put some shine on these lesser-known tree species, we went ahead and polled some specialists from TreePeople and the L.A. County Arboretum for their favorite blooms.

One protip from our experts: The range of time when you can see these trees in bloom can vary substantially from year to year, especially as climate change intensifies. This year’s blooming season, like last year’s, is later than usual owing to a wet winter, and trees of the same species might not bloom at exactly the same time. So if you don’t see any flowers, don’t fret – you can look somewhere else, and the same tree could be a lot more flowery in just a week or two.

Crepe myrtles

• Lagerstroemia

A crepe myrtle tree in the L.A. County Arboretum.

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Courtesy Frank McDonough/L.A. County Arboretum

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Crepe myrtles do well in lots of L.A.'s microclimates, including by the beach. A specimen in Redondo Beach is pictured here.

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Kevin Tidmarsh/LAist

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• When it normally flowers: Summer (may flower multiple times per year)
• Native to: Oceania, South and Southeast Asia
• About the tree: It shouldn’t be too hard to spot, since its hardiness makes it one of the most commonly planted trees in L.A., though TreePeople’s senior arborist Bryan Vejar said it’s fallen out of favor somewhat in recent years in part due to its widespread planting. And summer isn't the only time Frank McDonough, botanical information consultant of the L.A. County Arboretum, said that they're one of the best trees for fall foliage when cooler temperatures roll around.

Southern magnolia

• Magnolia grandiflora

Magnolia grandiflora getting ready to bloom.

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Courtesy U.S. National Arboretum

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• When it normally flowers: Spring through fall
• Native to: Southeastern United States
• About the tree: If you want to see some really big flowers, Vejar says this is one of the ones to look out for: They can get almost as big as a dinner plate. Magnolias are also a living fossil, being one of the first plants to evolve flowers tens of millions of years ago.
  

Tipuana

• Tipuana tipu

Tipuana tipu trees, like jacarandas, were originally brought to L.A. from South America.

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Flickr user Cyril Nelson

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• When it normally flowers: Early to late summer
• Native to: South America
• About the tree: This tree is a member of the legume family, but you might think it’s more closely related to maple trees if you saw their helicopter-like seeds, according to Vejar.
  

Gold medallion tree

• Cassia leptophylla

Cassia leptophylla, the Gold Medallion tree.

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Courtesy Frank McDonough/L.A. County Arboretum

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• When it normally flowers: Summer
• Native to: Southern Brazil
• About the tree: These are related to tipuanas, also being members of the legume family, and they produce long, skinny seed pods – though McDonough warned to be careful with these around kids, as they’re somewhat toxic.
  

Chinese flame tree

• Koelreuteria bipinnata

This tree goes by many names - Chinese flame tree, Chinese lantern tree, the Bougainvillea golden-rain tree - but whatever you call it, it's beautiful, right?

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Flickr user Surely Shirly

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• When it normally flowers: Summer to fall
• Native to: East Asia
• About the tree: These trees can be somewhat invasive in humid regions or close to the coast, but otherwise Vejar says they’ve adapted well to the Los Angeles urban environment. They’re also known as Chinese lantern trees due to their papery, lantern-shaped seed pods.
  

Strawberry tree

• Arbutus unedo

The strawberry tree can produce small white flowers year-round. It's just as remarkable for its fruit - which is much harder to eat than actual strawberries.

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Flickr user laredawg

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• When it normally flowers: Year-round
• Native to: Mediterranean Europe
• About the tree: This tree, an evergreen, has a deep red, exfoliating bark that’s almost as remarkable as its bell-shaped flowers. If you spot one, Vejar said you may also see some hummingbirds nearby. And the fruit is edible – though if you try it, be warned that it may be quite gritty and tough to chew.

Elderberry

• Sambucus racemosa)

Don't forget: Pollination is why plants evolved to produce flowers.

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Courtesy National Park Service

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• When it normally flowers: Summer
• Native to: Most of North America
• About the tree: While this widespread species is perhaps best known for its use in Native American medicine, it also produces beautiful flowers in white, cream and yellow. It’s currently in its blooming season, said Vejar.

Queensland bottle tree

• Brachychiton rupestris)

The Queensland bottle tree is one of a few Australian trees featured on this list.

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Courtesy Frank McDonough/L.A. County Arboretum

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• When it normally flowers: Spring to summer
• Native to: Queensland, Australia
• About the tree: These trees grow rather quickly and, being from a very dry part of Australia, have a mechanism where they can store water inside, similar to a cactus. According to McDonough, this is one of the most stable trees you can plant owing to its low center of gravity.

Desert willow

• Chilopsis

Desert willows are usually covered in pink flowers when they're in bloom, but they can also come in white.

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Courtesy Charlie McDonald/U.S. Forest Service

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• When it normally flowers: Late spring to summer
• Native to: Mexico and southwestern U.S.
• About the tree: These are related to jacarandas, and are one of the few species native to the area that is appropriate for an urban environment. Vejar said now is a good time to seek out this flower, as they’re just starting to bloom.
  

Catalina ironwood

• Lyonothamnus

The Catalina ironwood's exfoliating reddish bark and leaves are remarkable any time of year, but you can also spot it covered with white flowers when it's in bloom.

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Flickr user brewbooks

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• When it normally flowers: Summer
• Native to: Channel Islands
• About the tree: Being native to coastal regions, Vejar said the best place for this species to grow is by the coast, though it’ll still survive in the Inland Empire and other warmer areas.

Floss silk tree

• Ceiba speciosa

This specimen of ceiba speciosa was started from seed at the L.A. Arboretum.

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Courtesy Frank McDonough/L.A. County Arboretum

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• When it normally flowers: From August to December, depending on variety
• Native to: South America
• About the tree: The tree is loved by horticulturists for its prominent flowers and low water use – though its tendency to drop branches without warning has earned it the nickname “palo borracho” (drunken branch), said McDonough.

Lacebark tree

• Brachychiton discolor

Brachychiton discolor's flowers are beautiful on the tree, but they're just as showy when they drop to the ground.

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Courtesy Frank McDonough/L.A. County Arboretum

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• When it normally flowers: Summer to fall
• Native to: Eastern Australia
• About the tree: These flowers will eventually drop from the tree like jacarandas (and other flowering trees) – but with the lacebark tree, that’s actually a plus, as they produce a pleasing thwack sound when they hit concrete or asphalt. “I like to just put myself in a nice meditative state and listen to these things,” McDonough said. “There's no way to put any kind of word on it. It has a very calming effect on you.”
  

Plumeria

This is just one of many, many varieties of plumerias you can see at the L.A. Arboretum and around town.

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Courtesy Frank McDonough/L.A. Arboretum

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• When it normally flowers: Spring to fall, depending on variety
• Native to: Tropical and subtropical parts of the Americas, from Florida to Brazil
• About the tree: While this plant commonly associated with Hawaii is often grown as a shrub, McDonough said they’re more accurately classified as small trees. The L.A. Arboretum currently has the largest collection of plumeria in the U.S., and you can celebrate the flower at their Plumeria Festival this July 19 and 20.
  

Red flowering gum

• Corymbia ficifolia

A personal favorite flower produced by the red flowering gum tree.

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Kevin Tidmarsh/LAist

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• When it normally flowers: Year-round, but especially in July and August
• Native to: Western Australia
• About the tree: All right, I’ll admit it – this tree is my own addition, and I saved my personal favorite for last. I’m a big fan of flowers that look otherworldly, and these anemone-like blooms really take the cake. Like many of the trees listed, it can also grow in urban conditions that other species would balk at – it’s very “punk rock” in that way, as Vejar put it.

A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked California from enforcing a new law that would have banned federal immigration agents from wearing masks during immigration sweeps.

U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder ruled that the state could not enforce the facial-covering provision of SB 627, the No Secret Police Act, while a legal challenge brought by the federal government moved forward. That lawsuit argued that SB 627 conflicted with federal authority and would improperly limit how federal agents could do their jobs.

The backstory

The law banning facial coverings took effect Jan. 1 and had already sparked confusion and backlash in Los Angeles after Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said officers would not enforce the ban. McDonnell called the law bad policy and said enforcing it could put officers and the public at risk.

McDonnell’s statements drew sharp criticism from local elected officials, the authors of the laws, and immigration law attorneys and advocates.

The federal government sued California last year, arguing that SB 627 and a second law, SB 805, known as the No Vigilantes Act, unlawfully interfered with federal immigration enforcement. SB 627 sought, in part, to make it illegal for most officers, including federal agents, to conduct law enforcement operations while wearing masks. SB 805, in part, required agents to identify themselves.

About the ruling

Snyder ruled that the mask ban inconsistently applied to some law enforcement officers and not others, which is one of the reasons why the judge temporarily blocked it.

Federal attorneys had argued that agents should be allowed to wear masks for their safety against harassment and assault, such as doxxing. Snyder disagreed, writing that while federal agents and other public figures face security risks, masks were not essential for performing their duties.

“Security concerns exist for federal law enforcement officers with and without masks,” Snyder wrote. “If anything, the Court finds that the presence of masked and unidentifiable individuals, including law enforcement, is more likely to heighten the sense of insecurity for all.”

Reaction to the ruling

One of the law’s authors, Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, announced Monday afternoon that he would be introducing new legislation aimed at revising the original law to apply to state officers it previously exempted. He characterized the ruling as a win and vowed to continue efforts to unmask federal agents.

“Now that the Court has made clear that state officers must be included, I am immediately introducing new legislation to include state officers,” Wiener said in a prepared statement, adding: “We will unmask these thugs and hold them accountable. Full stop.”

What's next

Monday’s ruling still required enforcement of SB 627 and SB 805’s remaining provisions, including that officers identify themselves. It also protected the pathway for civilians to directly sue agents for misconduct.

This temporary order will remain in effect until the federal case is resolved. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment. This story will update if it does.

A new report from L.A. County offers a closer look at the economic damage to the region caused by federal immigration enforcement — and at the neighborhoods most affected.

The analysis, compiled by the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity and Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, identified the neighborhoods hardest hit by ICE, and found that they were more economically precarious.

Researchers determined that the most targeted ZIP code in the county is 91402, which spans Mission Hills, Panorama City and North Hills in the San Fernando Valley.

The report, which was commissioned by the county Board of Supervisors, also found that many small businesses county-wide have lost revenue and customers since ICE ramped up its presence in Los Angeles last year.

The Department of Homeland Security has detained more than 10,000 people in the L.A.-area since June, according to numbers released in December. Its aggressive deportation campaign has altered daily life in Los Angeles, where nearly one in five people is undocumented or lives with someone who is undocumented.

The report lays out the ripple effect of that campaign on communities, local businesses, and workers, and its uneven influence on the region as a whole.

Vulnerable neighborhoods

The survey created an index of most vulnerable areas.

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Courtesy L.A. County Economic Development Corporation

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The report lays out the economic consequences for communities repeatedly hit by ICE sweeps.

The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, a nonprofit research group, used census data and reports on detentions from the Los Angeles Rapid Response Network to assess how vulnerable each L.A. County ZIP code was to immigration enforcement.

Researchers looked at four other factors for each ZIP code: shares of foreign-born population from Latin America, renter households, Spanish-speaking households and non-citizen workforce.

The 10 most vulnerable ZIP codes, they determined, are primarily in working class, immigrant neighborhoods including Bell, Pico Rivera and Southeast L.A.

Researchers used employment data for the county and found that those ZIP codes were over-represented in industries, including manufacturing and retail, which have a significant number of undocumented workers. Businesses in these neighborhoods also tended to have fewer employees on average compared to the rest of the county, and employees were paid less.

"Taken together, these exhibits show that areas facing heightened immigration enforcement differ from the rest of Los Angeles County and appear more economically vulnerable," the report states.

Declined revenue, less foot traffic

Researchers also distributed a survey to small businesses county-wide to assess how federal immigration enforcement has affected the communities they operate in and their bottom lines since summer.

More than 200 small businesses responded. Most reported having fewer than 10 employees, and the majority were in industries like restaurants, retail, professional or personal services and manufacturing.

The majority of respondents — 82% — reported being negatively affected by federal immigration enforcement. Around half reported lost regular customers, less foot traffic or reduced daily sales. Around a quarter reported temporary closures due to concerns from community members.

Many surveyed business owners reported a climate of fear that has led people to stay home and avoid certain places altogether.

"Businesses reported that customers expressed fear about their location, that customers asked about safety in the neighborhood, and that customers avoided shopping or dining in their neighborhood," the report states.

Undocumented workers generate 17% of county's economic activity

No corner of Los Angeles is exempt to the ongoing immigration sweeps that have become a new reality for the region. Nearly 950,000 undocumented immigrants live in L.A. County, according to recent estimates. That's more than 9% of people in the county who lack legal status.

Undocumented workers also play a huge role in many of L.A.'s key industries. Recent research from the USC Equity Research Institute estimates that 37% of cleaning and maintenance workers and 25% of food preparation and service workers in L.A. County are undocumented.

The industry with the highest percentage of undocumented workers is construction, at 40%.

The county's undocumented population together generates just under $240 billion in economic output, according to the county's report. That's around 17% of the county's total economic activity.

The Los Angeles Unified School District rescheduled a Tuesday meeting where the board was expected to vote on layoffs as part of a larger plan to cut spending.

“The district has adjusted the date of the upcoming board meeting to ensure adequate time for preparation, public engagement, and responsible deliberation on items of significant impact and interest to our workforce and community,” an LAUSD spokesperson wrote in a statement to LAist.

They wrote the proposed reduction in force would be presented at a “future meeting.” Tuesday’s meeting is currently re-scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 17.

In a Friday letter, the unions representing LAUSD teachers, support staff and principals asked the board to delay the RIF vote until there is more information available about state funding and the public has more time to understand the proposed cuts.

“The notion that these are dark times for education requiring harmful cuts when there are record high state revenues is fearmongering,” the union letter reads.

LAUSD's financial challenges

For the last two years, the district has relied on reserves to backfill a multi-billion-dollar deficit. That deficit comes enrollment has declined steeply but expenses have not. There are more than 40% fewer students compared to the early 2000s. At the same time, as costs have increased, the district has not closed schools or significantly reduced staff. LAUSD hired more staff to support students during the pandemic, and now the federal relief dollars that initially funded those positions are gone.

The layoff vote is part of a $1.4 billion “fiscal stabilization plan.” Reductions in force are proposed for several categories including “un-funded” positions, central office staff, and at schools that support higher needs students.

LAUSD must vote on the reduction in force before March 15, the deadline for California school districts to notify staff they may be laid off.

 “It is not a foregone conclusion that people will lose jobs,” said Superintendent Alberto Carvalho at a Jan. 20 board meeting. For example, he said staff may be reassigned to vacant positions or given the opportunity to transfer to another school.

Where are the plan details?

At that same meeting, several board members pressed LAUSD staff for more details.

“When are we going to know the central office reductions? When are we going to know how many of those [there] are?” Karla Griego, a board member who represents District 5, asked, adding: “In a couple of weeks, I hope.”

“No, sooner,” responded Saman Bravo-Karimi, LAUSD's chief financial officer. Bravo-Karimi said the board would be provided with the number of positions impacted and their job classifications.

LAist requested information about the proposed layoffs last week and was told by a district spokesperson that the information would not be available until the board materials were publicly posted.

California’s Brown Act requires public agencies, including school districts, to post information about their regular meetings, including a description of each matter to be discussed, at least 72 hours in advance. Some agencies opt to publish the information even earlier.

No materials related to the Feb. 10 meeting were posted by that 72-hour deadline, and the meeting was rescheduled Sunday.

LAist reached out to Scott Schmerelson, LAUSD board president, who represents District 3, to discuss the delayed meeting. As of Monday evening Schmerelson had not responded.

Weigh in on LAUSD’s planned layoffs

The next meeting where the board could vote on the layoff proposal is Tuesday, Feb. 17. The agenda for the meeting must be publicly posted by Saturday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m.— 72 hours before the start of the meeting. Sign up to get the agendas emailed here.