In addition to the species of street-trees approved by the City of Oakland, the following species of trees were allowed for planting on private property, parks, and schools, using our grant from CAL FIRE.
They meet the requirements of growing to at least 25 feet tall at maturity, not requiring excessive water or maintenance, and not being invasive.
​They are not on the list of approved street-trees for various reasons, such as fruit/nuts, a tendency for a low-branching form that isn't appropriate for planting along streets and sidewalks... or sometimes just not enough of a track record specifically in Oakland, despite good results in other Bay-Area cities.

Have you given us your MOU for a private property tree?
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Acer saccharum
Sugar Maple

• Deciduous
• 40'-60' x 30'-50'
• We are limited to planting low-water-use varieties
• Rare at local nurseries. We have planted some 'Fall Fiesta' and 'Endowment' (columnar form).

Agonis flexuosa
Peppermint Tree

• Evergreen
• 25'-35' x 15'-30'
• Flowers: White

Betula nigra 'Heritage'
Heritage River Birch 

• Deciduous
• 40'-70' x 40'-60'
• Often has multiple trunks, but is available with a single trunk (standard form)
• This variety needs less water than most birches

Calocedrus decurrens (Libocedrus decurrens)
Incense Cedar

• Evergreen conifer
• 70'-90' x 10'-15' (slowly)

Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca'
Blue Atlas Cedar

• Evergreen conifer
• 40'-60' x 30'-50'
• This form has light-blue needles.

Cedrus deodara
Deodar Cedar

• Evergreen conifer
• 40'-60' x 20'-30'

Celtis occidentalis
Common Hackberry

• Deciduous
• 45'-80' x 40'-50'
• Edible Drupe (fruit)

Chorisia (Ceiba) speciosa
Floss Silk Tree

• Evergreen or briefly deciduous
• 40'-60' x 40'-50'
  
• Flowers: Showy Maroon, Pink, Purple, or Rose
• Spiny trunk and green bark
  

Cinnamomum camphora
Camphor Tree

• Evergreen
• 50'-65' x 50'-60' (slowly)
• Needs a very big space for the large trunk and roots
  

Corylus colurna
Turkish Hazel

• Deciduous
• 75' x 30'
• Edible Nut
• Rare at local nurseries, but we have a few in stock

Diospyros kaki
Japanese Persimmon

• Deciduous
• 20'-30' x 15'-25'
• Edible Fruit
• 'Fuyu' and 'Hachiya' are two allowed varieties

Fagus sylvatica
European Beech

• Deciduous
• 65-80' x 50'
• We have a few 'Riversii' ('Rivers Purple') in stock.

Jacaranda mimosifolia
Jacaranda

• Semi-deciduous
• 40'-50' x 20'-30'
• Flowers: Lavender-Blue
• Frost-tender; not for the hills

Juglans hindsii 
Northern California Black Walnut

• Deciduous
• 30'-60' x 30'-60'
  
• Edible Nut
• California native
• Rare at local nurseries

Lagunaria patersonia
Primrose Tree

• Evergreen
  
• 30'-50' x 20'
• Flowers: Pink, Rose, or White

Persea americana 
Mexican Avocado

• Evergreen
• 30’-40’ x 25’-35’
• Flowers: Green
• Edible Fruit
• BACON "upright grower", bears Nov-March
• HASS "large, spreading tree", bears April-Oct
• MEXICOLA bears Aug-Oct
• MEXICOLA GRANDE bears Aug-Oct
• Not suitable for heavy clay soil.

​Pinus canariensis
Canary Island Pine

• Evergreen conifer
  
• 50'-80' x 20'-35'

Pinus eldarica
Mondell Pine or Afghan Pine

• Evergreen conifer
• 30'-80' x 15'-25'

Pinus halepensis
Aleppo Pine

• Evergreen conifer
  
• 30'-60' x 20'-40'
  

Pinus pinea
Italian Stone Pine

• Evergreen conifer
• 40'-80' x 40'-60'

Populus fremontii
Fremont Cottonwood

• Deciduous
• 40'-80' x 30'-50'
• California native
• Male varieties (such as 'Nevada') do not have cottony seeds, but do have pollen
  

Prunus x yedoensis
Yoshino Flowering Cherry

• Deciduous
• 35'-45' x 30'-40'
  
• Flowers: Fragrant Pink or White
• Not suitable for heavy clay soil, and generally hard to establish in most parts of Oakland.
  

Quercus chrysolepis
Canyon Live Oak

• Evergreen
• 70' x 30'
• California native
• Sorry, we cannot find any nurseries growing this species.

Quercus nuttallii (Q. buckleyi)
Nuttall Oak or Texas Oak

• Deciduous
• 30-50' x 30-50'
• Sorry, we cannot find any California nurseries growing this species, and we have planted all the ones we obtained in Oregon.

Taxodium distichum
Bald Cypress

• Deciduous conifer
• 60'-80' x 25'-35'

Ulmus davidiana 'JFS KW2UD'
Greenstone Elm

• Deciduous
• 60' x 40'
• Rare at local nurseries, but we have 1 in stock

Ulmus x 'Pioneer'
Pioneer Elm

• Deciduous
• 50'-60' x 40'-50'
• Sorry, we cannot find any California nurseries growing this species, and we have planted all the ones we obtained in Oregon.

Umbellularia californica
California Laurel or California Bay

• Evergreen
• 60'-75' x 60'-75' (slowly)
• California native
• We have decided not to plant any more of this species, because it seems to contribute to Sudden Oak Death (S.O.D.). Oaks in cities are generally safe from S.O.D. if there are no bay trees nearby. 

Zelkova serrata
Sawleaf Zelkova

• Deciduous
• 50-65' x 50'-65'
• 'Village Green' and 'Green Vase' are two commonly available varieties.