Please note that we work WITH the City of Oakland but are not a part of the  official City of Oakland's  Tree Services. 

The City of Oakland has a list of approved “Street Trees” that you can choose from. 

Effective April 2017 - April 2018.  
Some new species have been added since the previous list, and the required tree-well sizes for some existing species have been changed (such as Medium to Small, or Large to Medium).  The new list also includes the relative height (stature) and rate of growth of each species.
Download the current (2017-'18) City of Oakland – Master Street Tree List (PDF) here.

In the columns below, you can click on the botanical names and/or variety names to be linked to more information.
Most of the links go to the Tree Selection profile at CalPoly's SelecTree website.

Trees for Small Wells:
Well min. 2’x3’
Not CAL-FIRE eligible. 

The city has approved of these species being planted as official street trees, but due to their small stature, our grant (aimed at planting larger-stature trees) will not be able to provide these  for you. You may choose to purchase these on your own or find another organization who may be able to provide them for you.

Acer buergerianum
Trident Maple

• Deciduous 
• Small stature (25' x 25')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous

Cercis canadensis
Eastern Redbud

• Deciduous
• Small stature (25' x 25')
• Flowers: Showy Pink/Rose
• Some varieties are available with white flowers ('Alba') or purple leaves ('Forest Pansy')
• Unreliable and often very slow-growing in Oakland, especially in the flatlands

Chionanthus retusus
Chinese Fringe Tree

• Deciduous
• Small stature (15'-20' X 10')
• Flowers: Showy, Fragrant White
• Limited use on a trial basis

Heteromeles arbutifolia
Toyon or Christmas Berry

• Evergreen
• Small stature (20' x 15')
• Flowers: Showy White
• Single-trunk specimens may be hard to find at nurseries
• Limited use on a trial basis

Lagerstroemia indica x L. fauriei 
Hybrid Crape Myrtle – ‘Muskogee’,  ‘Natchez’, or ‘Tuscarora’​

• Deciduous
• Small stature (25' x 20')
• Flowers: Showy Lavender ('Muskogee'), White ('Natchez'), or Pink ('Tuscarora')
• These varieties are best for Oakland because they resist powdery mildew

Parrotia persica

• Deciduous
• Small to Medium stature (20'-30' x 20'-30')
• Flowers: Showy Red

Photinia fraseri
Fraser Photinia

• Evergreen
• Small stature (20' x 15')
• Flowers: Showy White

Prunus x blireiana
Double-Pink-Flowering Plum

• Deciduous
• Small stature (20' x 20')
• Flowers: Showy Pink

Prunus cerasifera ‘Krauter Vesuvius’ or 'Newport'
Purple-Leaf Plum

• Deciduous
• Small stature (20'-30' x 15'-20')
• Flowers: Showy Pink
• These varieties produce no fruit, or almost none

Pyrus kawakamii
Evergreen Pear

• Evergreen
• Small stature (15'-30' x 15'-30')
• We are not planting this species because of the high risk of fireblight

Rhus lancea
African Sumac

• Evergreen
• Small stature (20' x 20')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• Should be pruned in its first few years to promote good form

Tristania (Tristaniopsis) laurina
Water Gum

• Evergreen
• Small stature (25' x 20')
• Flowers: Showy, Fragrant Yellow

Trees for Medium Wells:
Well min. 3'x6' or 4’x4’
Most are CAL-FIRE eligible, except as noted.
CAL-FIRE wells must be longer (see below).

​Acer campestre
 ‘Queen Elizabeth’ or ‘Evelyn’ Hedge Maple
(not in stock until Fall 2017)

• Deciduous
• Medium stature (30' x 30')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• Limited use on a trial basis

Acer negundo 'Sensation'
'Sensation' Box Elder
(not in stock until Fall 2017)

• Deciduous
• Medium to Large stature (40' x 30')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• Use this variety only, because seedlings are not reliably large enough
• Limited use on a trial basis

Acer nigrum
(also known as Acer saccharum nigrum)
Black Maple
(not in stock until Fall 2017)

• Deciduous
• Large stature (50' x 20')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous 

Acer rubrum ‘October Glory’, ‘Brandywine’, 'Armstrong', or 'Armstrong Gold'
Red Maple

• Deciduous
• Large stature (50' x 20'-40') ('Armstrong' and 'Armstrong Gold' are narrower, 'October Glory' is broader, and 'Brandywine' is in between)
• These varieties have the best growth form and autumn color

Albizia julibrissin
Silk Tree or Mimosa

• Deciduous 
• Medium stature (40' x 50')
• Flowers: Showy Pink/Rose

Arbutus 'Marina'
Hybrid Madrone, Strawberry Tree

• Evergreen
• Medium to Large stature (40' x 40')​
• Flowers: Showy Pink/Rose

Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’ or ‘Frans Fontaine’
European Hornbeam

• Deciduous
• Medium stature (40' x 20'-30' for 'Fastigiata', or half as wide for 'Frans Fontaine')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous 

Chitalpa tashkentensis
Chitalpa (hybrid of a Catalpa and a Chilopsis)

• Deciduous
• Medium stature (25'-35' x 30')
• Flowers: Showy White ('Morning Cloud') or Pink ('Pink Dawn')
• Limited use on a trial basis

Fraxinus dipetala
Foothill Ash or California Ash

• Deciduous
• Small to Medium stature (25' x 20')
• Flowers: Showy White
• Limited use on a trial basis

Geijera parviflora
Australian Willow

• Evergreen
• Medium stature (30' x 30')
• Flowers: White

Ginkgo biloba ‘Fairmont’, 'Princeton Sentry', or ‘Saratoga’
Ginkgo or Maidenhair Tree 

• Deciduous
• Large stature (50' x 30', but 'Princeton Sentry' is narrower)
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• These male varieties do not produce fruit

Laurus nobilis ‘Saratoga’ 
Saratoga Laurel

• Evergreen
• Medium stature (40' x 20')
• Flowers: Green, White, or Yellow

Lophostemon confertus
(also known as Tristania conferta)
Brisbane Box

• Evergreen
• Large stature (40'-50' x 25')
• Flowers: Showy White

Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem' or 'St. Mary'
Southern Magnolia (small varieties)
not CAL-FIRE eligible
The city has approved of this species being planted as an official street tree, but due to its small stature, our grant (aimed at planting larger-stature trees) will not be able to provide these  for you. You may choose to purchase this on your own or find another organization who may be able to provide it for you.

• Evergreen
• Small stature (25' x 20')
• Flowers: Showy White, Fragrant
• These small varieties are also approved under high-voltage electrical wires

Melaleuca linariifolia
Flaxleaf Paperbark

• Evergreen
• Medium stature (20'-30' x 20'-25')
• Flowers: Fragrant White
• Limited use on a trial basis

Melaleuca quinquenervia 
Cajeput Tree

• Evergreen
• Medium stature (20'-40' x 15'-25')
• Flowers: Pink, Purple or Yellow

​Metrosideros excelsa
New Zealand Christmas Tree

• Evergreen
• Medium stature (40' x 30')
• Flowers: Showy Red

Nyssa sylvatica
Sour Gum or Tupelo

• Deciduous
• Large stature (50' x 25')
• Named varieties, such as 'Wildfire' or 'Red Rage', have more uniform growth

Pistacia chinensis ‘Keith Davey’ or ‘Pearl Street’
Chinese Pistache
(not in stock until Summer 2017)

• Deciduous
• Medium to Large stature (40' x 30')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• These male varieties do not produce fruit and have a more dependable tree form

Pyrus calleryana
Ornamental Pear

• Deciduous
• Medium stature (30'-40' x 20')
• We are not planting this species because of the high risk of fireblight

Robinia x ambigua ‘Purple Robe’ 
Purple-Flowering Locust

• Deciduous
• Medium to Large stature (40' X 25')
• Flowers: Showy Pink/Purple
• Should be pruned in its first few years to promote strong branching

Robinia pseudoacacia 'Bessoniana'
'Bessoniana' Black Locust
(not in stock until Fall 2017)

• Deciduous
• Medium to Large stature (40' x 25'-35')
• Flowers: White, Fragrant
• 'Bessoniana' is thornless, compact, and less invasive than the species
• Limited use on a trial basis

Sapium sebiferum (also known as Triadica sebifera)
Chinese Tallow Tree

• Deciduous
• Medium stature (30'-40' x 25'-30')
• We are not planting this species because of the potential for invasiveness

Tilia tomentosa
Silver Linden

• Deciduous
• Large stature (50' x 40')
• Flowers: Showy Fragrant Yellow/White

Ulmus propinqua 'Emerald Sunshine'
Emerald Sunshine Elm
(not in stock until Fall 2017)

• Deciduous
• Medium stature (40' x 30')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• Smaller than other elms
• Limited use on a trial basis

Trees for Large Wells:
Well min. 4'x6' or 5’x5’
All are CAL-FIRE eligible.

Acer x freemanii ‘Jeffersred’
(sometimes misspelled 'Jeffersed')
Autumn Blaze Red Maple

• Deciduous
• Large stature (55’-65’ x 30’-40')
• Red Flowers
• Limited use on a trial basis

Aesculus carnea ‘Briottii’
Red Horsechestnut

• Deciduous
• Medium stature (40' x 35')
• Flowers: Showy Red

Fraxinus americana ‘Autumn Purple’ or ‘Empire’ 
American Ash

• Deciduous
• Large to Extra-Large stature (50'-60' x 40')

Fraxinus oxycarpa ‘Raywood’ 
Raywood Ash

• Deciduous
• Medium to Large stature (40' x 25')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
  
• May be subject to dieback or other health problems in our area
  

Gleditsia triacanthos inermis  ‘Shademaster’ or ‘Skyline’ 
Thornless Honey Locust

• Deciduous
• Large stature (40' x 30')

Gymnocladus dioica ‘Espresso’ 
Kentucky Coffee Tree
(not in stock until Fall 2017)

• Deciduous
• Large stature (60' x 40')
• 'Espresso' is a male variety without seedpods
• Limited use on a trial basis

Koelreuteria bipinnata
Chinese Flame Tree

• Deciduous
• Medium stature (30' x 30')
• Flowers: Showy Yellow

Koelreuteria paniculata
Goldenrain Tree​

• Deciduous
• Medium stature (30' x 30')
• Flowers: Showy Yellow

Lyonothamnus floribundus asplenifolius 
Catalina Ironwood

• Evergreen
• Large stature (50' x 40')
• Flowers: Showy White
• Limited use on a trial basis

Magnolia grandiflora 'D.D. Blanchard', 'Majestic Beauty',  'Samuel Sommer', or seedlings
Southern Magnolia (larger varieties)

• Evergreen
• Large stature (60'-80' x 50'-60' or smaller, depending on variety)
• Flowers: Showy White, Fragrant

Platanus x hispanica ‘Columbia’
(also known as Platanus x acerifolia 'Columbia')
London Plane 

• Deciduous
• Extra-Large stature (70' x 60')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• 'Columbia' is the best variety for Oakland, because it resists anthracnose and powdery mildew

Podocarpus gracilior (Afrocarpus falcatus)
African Fern Pine

• Evergreen
• Extra-Large stature (65' x 20')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous

Quercus ilex
Holly Oak

• Evergreen
• Large stature (30'-60' x 30'-60')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• Limited use on a trial basis

​Quercus shumardii
​Shumard Red Oak

• Deciduous 
• Large stature (50' x 40')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous

​Quercus suber
Cork Oak

• Evergreen
• Large stature (55' x 55')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous

Ulmus americana ‘Jefferson’, 'New Harmony', or ‘Princeton’  
American Elm

• Deciduous
• Large to Extra-Large stature (60' X 45')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• These varieties are resistant to Dutch Elm Disease

Ulmus x ' Frontier'
Frontier Hybrid Elm

• Deciduous 
• Large stature (45' x 30')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous

Trees for Extra-Large Wells:
Well min. 6’x8’
All are CAL-FIRE eligible.

Quercus agrifolia 
Coast Live Oak

• Evergreen
• Large stature (50' x 60')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• Limited use on a trial basis

Quercus coccinea
Scarlet Oak

• Deciduous 
• Extra-Large stature (60' x 45')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous

Quercus douglasii
Blue Oak

• ​Deciduous
• Large stature (50' x 40')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous

Quercus macrocarpa
Bur Oak
(not in stock until Fall 2017)

• Deciduous
• Large to Extra-Large stature (60'-80' x 30')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• Variety 'Urban Pinnacle' has smaller acorns and narrow form
• Limited use on a trial basis

​Quercus palustris
Pin Oak

• Deciduous
• Large to Extra-Large stature (60' x 35')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous

Size categories depend on the size of the available tree well.
Note that the required size of the well does not necessarily correspond to the size of the tree.  The revised species list in April 2017 includes a separate category for the height or stature of each species.

• Small: Minimum 2' X 3', or a continuous strip 2' wide, and all locations with overhead high-voltage wires.  (On a case-by-case basis, taller trees may be planted under high-voltage wires that are more than 35' above the ground.)
• Medium: Minimum 3' X 6' or 4’ X 4', or a continuous strip 3' wide.  Since CAL-FIRE requires at least 24 square feet per tree (3' X 8', 3.5 X 7', or 4' X 6'), a well of "Medium" width must be longer than what the City requires.
• Large: Minimum 4' X 6' or 5' X 5', or a continuous strip 4' wide.  This size automatically meets the CAL-FIRE requirement of 24 sq.ft. per tree.
• Extra-Large: Minimum 6'x8', or a continuous strip 6' wide.  This size automatically meets the CAL-FIRE requirement of 24 sq.ft. per tree.