San Francisco Street Tree Species List – a collaboration with SF Department of Public Works and
Friends of the Urban Forest
Disclaimer: these lists contain trees that can work as sidewalk trees in San Francisco. Every planting site has unique conditions. A lot of factors go into choosing a tree. This list can help you decide but you must have species approval from the Department of Public Works prior to planting your tree.
List A: Species that perform well in many locations in San Francisco
Arbutus x ‘Marina’
Callistemon citrinus
Callistemon viminalis
Cordyline australis
Eriobotrya deflexa
Ginkgo biloba ‘Autumn Gold’, ‘Saratoga’
Lagunaria patersonii
Lophostemon confertus (formerly Tristania conferta)
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Sam Sommers,’ ‘St. Mary,’ ‘Majestic Beauty,’ ‘Little Gem’
Melaleuca linarifolia
Melaleuca quinquenervia
Metrosideros excelsus
Olea europaea
Pittosporum undulatum
Platanus x acerifolia ‘Bloodgood,’ ‘Yarwood,’
Prunus cerasifera ‘Krauter Vesuvius’
Prunus serrulata ‘Kwanzan’
Pyrus calleryana ‘Aristocrat’ or ‘Chanticleer’
Pyrus kawakamii
Trachycarpus fortunei
Tristaniopsis laurina
Tristaniopsis laurina ‘Elegant’
Ulmus parvifolia
Washingtonia robusta
List B: Species that perform well in certain locations, with special considerations, as noted
Acacia baileyana ‘Purpurea’ – fast growing, high maintenance
Acer buergeranum – prefers heat, wind protection
Acer rubrum – prefers heat, wind protection
Aesculus carnea – gets windburn easily in summer even in protected sites
Celtis sinensis – prefers heat, wind protection, uneven performer
Ceratonia siliqua – needs large space, good drainage
Corymbia ficifolia – needs lots of sidewalk space
Crataegus phaenopyrum
Crataegus laevigata – needs wind protection
Cupaniopsis anacardioides – uneven performer, needs heat, wind protection
Eucalyptus nicholii – needs space, fast growing, high maintenance
Eucalyptus polyanthemos – needs space, fast growing, high maintenance
Geijera parvifolia – prefers heat, wind protection
Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Shademaster’ – fast growing, prefers heat, wind protection
Hymenosporum flavum – uneven performer, prefers heat, wind protection, good drainage, does well when protected from wind
Jacaranda mimosifolia – uneven performer, prefers heat, wind protection, good drainage
Koelreuteria paniculata – uneven performer, prefers heat, wind protection
Laurus nobilis ‘Saratoga’ – uneven performer, prefers heat, wind protection, gets pests
Leptospermum laevigatum – roots poorly, needs staking for many years, or even permanent metal staking
Ligustrum lucidum – pollen irritates allergies
Liquidambar styraciflua – needs space for canopy and roots
Liriodendron tulipifera – uneven performer, gets pests, prefers heat and wind protection
Lyonothamnus floribundus asplenifolius – prefers heat, wind protection
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Russet’ – large cultivar, needs space
Maytenus boaria – needs space for roots, produces many suckers
Melaleuca ericifolia – roots poorly, needs staking for many years
Melaleuca styphelioides – prickly and can root poorly
Michelia doltsopa – uneven performer, very slow grower, prefers heat and wind protection
Phoenix dactylifera – needs space due to height and width
Phoenix canariensis – needs space due to height and width
Pistacia chinensis ‘Keith Davey’ – prefers heat, wind protection
Pittosporum crassifolium – best for narrow sidewalks in foggy and windy areas. Can leak sap from trunk.
Podocarpus gracilior – gets pests, better as a shrub
Quercus agrifolia – uneven performer, prefers heat, wind protection, good drainage
Rhus lancea
Syragus romanzoffianum – needs heat, wind protection
Tilia cordata –needs space, produces a lot of suckers.
List C: Species that need further evaluation
Acer x freemanii
Brachychiton populneum – prefers heat, wind protection
Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’
Chorisia speciosa – prefers heat, wind protection
Corylus colurna, Turkish hazel
Elaeocarpus decipiens
Gingko biloba ‘Princeton Sentry’ – more upright form
Magnolia soulangeana ‘Rustica Rubra’
Michelia champaca – needs wind protection, prefers heat, clay soil
Platanus x acerifolia ‘Columbia’
Pittosporum rhombifolium
Pittosporum tenuifolium
Prunus lyonii
Prunus ilicifolia
Quercus frainetto ‘Forest Green’, Italian Oak
Quercus ilex – needs wind protection, sidewalk space, gets powdery mildew
Quercus suber
Quercus phellos (Willow oak)
Sorbus aucuparia (or other species)
Ulmus parvifolia x carpinifolia ‘Frontier’
Ulmus wilsoniana ‘Prospector’
Ulmus japonica x wilsoniana ‘Accolade’
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