The Urban Forestry Council (UFC) works with key urban forestry stakeholders, including San Francisco Public Works and Friends of the Urban Forest, to create lists of recommended trees to plant in San Francisco.
The 2021 List of Recommended Street Trees helps provide information on species that are the best performers in our city. When using this list to help select a species to plant, make sure to consider microclimates and existing infrastructure.
The list of Uncommon and Special Trees to Promote Diversity in Yards, Parks, and Open Spaces (PDF) identifies tree species that are considered to be well-adapted to San Francisco’s climate and conditions, but are under-represented in our open spaces.
It’s important to keep in mind all factors that may affect a tree in the location that it’s being planted and it’s always better to get a tree that fits the spot well than it is to try and prune it to make it fit. These lists include trees that do well in many microclimates in the city, as well as trees that grow well in specific conditions that are part of one climate in the city, but might not be best for another.
Related Content
The 2021 List of Recommended Street Trees
Uncommon and Special Trees - (PDF) to Promote Diversity in Yards, Parks, and Open Spaces
The San Francisco Plant Finder also houses the List of Recommended Street Trees as well as hundreds of other plant species for habitat, sustainability and success in the built environment.