The City of Oakland has a list of approved “Street Trees”

Download the current City of Oakland – Master Street Tree List (PDF) here.


Most of the below links go to the Tree Selection profile at CalPoly's SelecTree website.
*External links are not intended to be endorsements of any product, service, or advertisement and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of content found at any website link. 

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

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Trees for Medium Wells:
City requirement: Well min. 3'x6' or 4’x4’, or 3' wide strip.
Grant requirement: 24 sq.ft. per tree, which is 3'x8' or 3.5'x7', or 3' wide strip.

​Our short-list (in alphabetical order):
Arbutus 'Marina' (Hybrid Madrone or Strawberry Tree, evergreen)
Lophostemon confertus  (a.k.a. Tristania conferta) (Brisbane Box, evergreen)
Nyssa sylvatica (Sour Gum or Tupelo, deciduous)
Tilia tomentosa (Silver Linden, deciduous)

The full list:
Acer campestre
 ‘Queen Elizabeth’ or ‘Evelyn’ Hedge Maple

• Deciduous
• Medium stature (30' x 30')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• Limited use on a trial basis
• Not available locally. May be available from out-of-state nurseries with enough lead-time.

Acer negundo 'Sensation'
'Sensation' Box Elder

• Deciduous
• Medium to Large stature (40' x 30')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• Use this variety only, because seedlings are not reliably large enough
• Quasi-native (the full range of the species includes California, but this selection is from another state)
• Limited use on a trial basis
• Available in small quantities locally. May also be available from out-of-state nurseries with enough lead-time.

Acer nigrum
(also known as Acer saccharum nigrum)
Black Maple

• Deciduous
• Large stature (50' x 20')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous 
• Not available locally. May be available from out-of-state nurseries with enough lead-time.

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
• Less drought-tolerant than other species on this list

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
• Fruit: Yellow ripening to red.  Fallen fruit may be somewhat messy, but it is still accepted by Tree Services
• Similar to the native madrone tree of the Oakland hills

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
• California native
• Limited use on a trial basis
• We have not found any at local nurseries in the 15-gallon size required for street-tree plantings.
• All ash trees may be in danger from the emerald ash borer epidemic.

Geijera parviflora
Australian Willow

• Evergreen
• Medium stature (30' x 30')
• Flowers: White
• Not an actual willow (Salix)
• Not good for high-traffic or busy pedestrian areas.  Slow-growing and very small when first planted, vulnerable to vandalism or accidental damage for a few years after planting.

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

• Deciduous
• Large stature (50' x 30', but 'Princeton Sentry' is narrower) but slow growth
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• These cloned male varieties do not produce fruit.
• Not good for high-traffic or busy pedestrian areas.  Slow-growing and very small when first planted, vulnerable to vandalism or accidental damage for a few years after planting.

Laurus nobilis ‘Saratoga’ 
Saratoga Laurel

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

Lophostemon confertus
(also known as Tristania conferta)
Brisbane Box

• Evergreen
• Large stature (40'-50' x 25')
• Flowers: Showy White
• Should be pruned in its first few years to avoid overfast growth and vulnerability to wind damage in winter storms

Melaleuca linariifolia
Flaxleaf Paperbark

• Evergreen
• Medium stature (20'-30' x 20'-25')
• Flowers: Fragrant White
• Bark: White, papery/spongy texture
• Limited use on a trial basis
• Not good for high-traffic or busy pedestrian areas.  Usually small and fragile when first planted.

Melaleuca quinquenervia 
Cajeput Tree

• Evergreen
• Medium stature (20'-40' x 15'-25')
• Flowers: Pink, Purple or Yellow
• Bark: White, papery/spongy texture

​Metrosideros excelsa
New Zealand Christmas Tree

• Evergreen
• Medium stature (40' x 30')
• Flowers: Showy Red
• Not good for high-traffic or busy pedestrian areas.  Usually small and fragile when first planted.

Nyssa sylvatica
Sour Gum or Tupelo

• Deciduous
• Large stature (40'-50' x 25')
• Named varieties, such as 'Wildfire', and 'Red Rage', have more uniform growth and dependable fall color.
• 'Wildfire' is available in large quantities.  Our contacts also have a few  'Afterburner', 'Firestarter', 'Select', 'Majestic', and 'Tupelo Tower' in stock.

Pistacia chinensis ‘Keith Davey’ or ‘Pearl Street’
Chinese Pistache

• Deciduous
• Medium to Large stature (40' x 30')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• Fruit: None from these cloned male varieties, which also have a more dependable tree form than seedlings.  Seedling pistaches include males and females (which will bear fruit) and are suitable for planting in parks or yards.
• Nursery stock of the male clones has often been small/fragile or simply unavailable; be prepared for back-order delays of a month or more. 

Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat'
Aristocrat Ornamental Pear

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

Robinia ‘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

• Deciduous
• Medium to Large stature (40' x 25'-35')
• Flowers: White, Fragrant
• Limited use on a trial basis
• 'Bessoniana' is thornless, compact, and less invasive than the species.
• Not available locally. May be available from out-of-state nurseries with enough lead-time.

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 potential invasiveness

Tilia tomentosa
Silver Linden

• Deciduous
• Large stature (50' x 30')
• Flowers: Showy Fragrant Yellow/White
• Not available locally, but our contacts have several 'Silver Lining' or 'Sterling Silver' in stock, as well as several natural seedlings of a large and healthy tree growing in Alameda.

Ulmus propinqua 'Emerald Sunshine'
Emerald Sunshine Elm

• Deciduous
  
• Medium stature (40' x 30')
  
• Flowers: Usually inconspicuous, sometimes showy light green
• Smaller than other elms
• Limited use on a trial basis

Trees for Large Wells:
Well min. 4'x6' or 5’x5’, or 4' wide strip

Our short-list (in alphabetical order):
Koelreuteria paniculata (Goldenrain Tree​, deciduous)
Lyonothamnus floribundus asplenifolius (Catalina Ironwood, evergreen)
Quercus shumardii ​(Shumard Red Oak, deciduous)
Quercus suber (Cork Oak, evergreen)

The full list:
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
• Not good for high-traffic or busy pedestrian areas.  Slow-growing and usually small when first planted, vulnerable to vandalism or accidental damage for a few years after planting. 

Fraxinus americana ‘Autumn Purple’
American Ash

• Deciduous
• Large to Extra-Large stature (50'-60' x 40')
• 'Empire' is also approved but not available at the nurseries we source from.
• All ash trees may be in danger from the emerald ash borer epidemic. Not a safe long-term investment.

Fraxinus oxycarpa ‘Raywood’ 
Raywood Ash

• Deciduous
• Medium to Large stature (40' x 25')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• All ash trees may be in danger from the emerald ash borer epidemic. Not a safe long-term investment.
• 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')
• Not always reliable in the flatlands, especially in West Oakland. Often grows slowly and not much taller than 20 or 30'. 

Gymnocladus dioica ‘Espresso’ 
Kentucky Coffee Tree

• Deciduous
• Large stature (60' x 40')
• 'Espresso' is a male variety without seedpods.
• Limited use on a trial basis
• Usually not available locally, but our contacts buy them from out-of-state nurseries, and we have a few in stock (winter 2020).

Koelreuteria bipinnata
Chinese Flame Tree

• Deciduous
• Medium stature (30' x 30')
• Flowers: Showy Yellow
• Fruit: Showy Pink/Tan, dry "paper lanterns"
  

Koelreuteria paniculata
Goldenrain Tree​

• Deciduous
• Medium stature (30' x 30')
• Flowers: Showy Yellow
• Fruit: Showy Pink/Tan, dry "paper lanterns"

Lyonothamnus floribundus asplenifolius 
Catalina Ironwood

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

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

• Evergreen
• Large stature (up to 60'-80' x 50'-60' but often smaller, depending on variety)
• Flowers: Showy White, Fragrant
• Not good for high-traffic or busy pedestrian areas.  Slow-growing and small when first planted, vulnerable to vandalism or accidental damage for a few years after planting. 
• Less drought-tolerant than other species on this list.

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
• Already common as a street-tree, so we suggest planting only as infill on streets with other London plane trees

Podocarpus gracilior (Afrocarpus falcatus)
African Fern Pine

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

Quercus ilex
Holly Oak

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

​Quercus palustris
Pin Oak

• Deciduous
• Large to Extra-Large stature (60' x 35')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• The species is widely available, and the variety 'Pacific Brilliance' is sometimes available.

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.
• Usually not available locally, but our contacts buy them from out-of-state nurseries, and we usually have at least one 'Jefferson' or 'Princeton' in stock.
• 'Colonial Spirit' is another variety that we are testing on private property or in parks.

Ulmus x 'Frontier'
Frontier Hybrid Elm

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

Trees for Extra-Large Wells:
Well min. 6’x8’, or 6' wide strip

This is already a short list.  All oaks!

Quercus agrifolia 
Coast Live Oak

• Evergreen
• Large stature (50' x 60')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
  
• California native: it is the "oak" for which Oakland is named
• 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'), but slow-growing
  
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• California native

Quercus macrocarpa
Bur Oak

• Deciduous
• Large to Extra-Large stature (60'-80' x 30')
  
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• Limited use on a trial basis
  
• Not commonly available locally, but a few of the variety 'Urban Pinnacle' are sometimes available.  It has smaller acorns and a narrow upright form.
  

​

The list of approved street-trees also includes a category for Small Wells (well min. 2'x3') ...

Trees for Small Wells:

Acer buergerianum
Trident Maple

• Deciduous 
• Small stature (25' x 25')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
  
• Should be pruned each year in its first few years to promote good form
  

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
• Fruit: Showy Red, berries
  
• California native
• Limited use on a trial basis
• We have not found a nursery offering single-trunk "standard-form" specimens, as would be required for streetside planting.

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')
• Leaves: bright red at first, maturing to dark green
• Flowers: Showy White

Prunus x blireiana
Double-Pink-Flowering Plum

• Deciduous
• Small stature (20' x 20')
  
• Leaves: dark purple-red, usually with green tints
• Flowers: Showy Pink
• This species sometimes experiences an aphid infestation in the first year or two.

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

• Deciduous
• Small stature (20'-30' x 15'-20')
  
• Leaves: dark purple-red
• Flowers: Showy Pink
• Fruit: Sometimes none, sometimes small edible plums

Pyrus kawakamii
Evergreen Pear

• Evergreen
• Small stature (15'-30' x 15'-30')
  
• We recommend not planting this species at all, because of the high risk of fireblight.

Rhus (Searsia) lancea
African Sumac

• Evergreen
  
• Small stature (20' x 20')
• Flowers: Inconspicuous
• Fruit: On female trees, pea-sized berries in clusters that dry to tan-brown and then fall.  Male trees do not bear fruit.  Nurseries sell only seedling trees, so you take a chance on each tree being male or female.
  
• Grows very vigorously; should be pruned every year in its first few years to promote good form

Tristania (Tristaniopsis) laurina
Water Gum

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

There is one more entry on Oakland's list that is a special case:
Magnolia grandiflora 'St. Mary' or 'Little Gem'
Southern Magnolia (smaller varieties)

• Evergreen
• Small stature (20'-25' x 10'-15')
  
• Flowers: Showy White, Fragrant
• Not good for high-traffic or busy pedestrian areas.  Slow-growing and small when first planted, vulnerable to vandalism or accidental damage for a few years after planting. 
• Less drought-tolerant than other species on this list
• Southern magnolias have relatively aggressive roots, so Oakland requires planting them in a "Medium" space (min. 3'x6' or 4'x4'), even though they will be small-stature when mature.

The City of Oakland's size categories for trees 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'x3', or a continuous strip 2' wide, and all locations with overhead high-voltage wires.  (On a case-by-case basis, the City staff have accepted as "official" some taller species under high-voltage wires that are more than 35' above the sidewalk.)
• Medium: Minimum 3'x6' or 4’x4', or a continuous strip 3' wide. 
  
• Large: Minimum 4'x6' or 5'x5', or a continuous strip 4' wide.
  
• Extra-Large: Minimum 6'x8', or a continuous strip 6' wide.