Species List

The following list of tree species has been approved by the City of Saratoga Arborist and are eligible for the El Quito Neighborhood Street Trees for Free Program. You are invited to suggest a tree species, which will be reviewed by a certified arborist from Our City Forest. The arborist will visit the location to ensure the proper species is selected for the site. If you do not have a suggested species for your street tree, the arborist will make the appropriate selection for you.

Acer x freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’ (AUTUMN BLAZE MAPLE) Deciduous, fast growth to 60', needs moderate to regular watering, similar to Acer rubrum with a dense, upright, oval crown, bright red-orange fall color.



Celtis sinensis (CHINESE HACKBERRY) Deciduous, fast growth to 45', needs low to moderate watering, light green leaves with gold/yellow fall color, structure best when pruned while young, deep rooted.



Cinnamomum camphora (CAMPHOR TREE) Evergreen, moderate growth to 50' with broad canopy, needs moderate watering, glossy light green mature leaves, younger leaves have red or gold color in spring, tree has distinct enlarged root flair when mature, requires large growing space.



Fraxinus americana ‘Autumn Purple’ and ‘Autumn Applause’ (AMERICAN ASH) Deciduous, fast growth to 50', needs moderate to regular watering, dark green leaves, deep red/purple in fall, oval-shaped crown.



Ginkgo biloba (MAIDEN HAIR TREE) Deciduous, slow growth to 60', needs moderate watering, bold form, unusual leaf, gold fall color, smog tolerant.



Magnolia grandiflora (SOUTHERN MAGNOLIA) Evergreen, slow growth to 60', needs regular water in well-drained soil, thick glossy green leaves, large white flowers in summer, requires large growing space.



Pistacia chinensis (CHINESE PISTACHE) Deciduous, slow growth to 60', Drought Tolerant- Not recommended for irrigated areas, narrow leaflets, round canopy, bright red/orange fall color.



Platanus x acerfolia ‘Columbia’ and 'Yarwood’. (SYCAMORE) Deciduous, fast growth to 60', needs low to moderate watering, large lobed leaves, good natural structure.



Podocarpus gracilior (YEW PINE) Evergreen, moderate growth to 40’, needs low to moderate watering, small narrow leaves, dense canopy, good screen tree.



Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat', 'Chanticleer' and 'New Bradford' (FLOWERING PEAR) Deciduous, moderately fast growth to 50', needs moderate watering, small simple leaves, bright red fall color followed by white flowers in spring, deep rooted.



Quercus agrifolia (COAST LIVE OAK) Evergreen, slow growth 60', small simple leaves, dense canopy, CA native. Drought Tolerant- Not recommended for irrigated areas.



Quercus kellogii (CALIFORNIA BLACK OAK) Deciduous, 30 to 80' tall, dark furrowed bark, leaves begin pink or dusty rose becoming bright glossy green turning yellow-orange in fall.



Quercus lobata (VALLEY OAK) Deciduous, moderately fast growth to 70' with wide canopy, low water needs but faster growing with regular water, lobed leaf, yellow fall color, requires large growing space, CA native.



Quercus rubra (RED OAK) Deciduous, 40 to 70' tall, reddish-grey bark, leaves 5-10" long, turning a brick red and sometimes brown in fall.



Quercus suber (CORK OAK) Evergreen, moderate growth to 60', needs low watering with good drainage, small simple leaves, dense canopy, interesting bark that cork is produced from.



Quercus virginiana (SOUTHERN LIVE OAK) Evergreen, moderately fast growth to 50’ with broad canopy, needs regular watering with good drainage, simple leaves, dense canopy.



Sophora japonica (JAPANESE PAGODA TREE) Deciduous, moderate growth to 40' with broad spreading canopy, needs moderate watering, dark green rounded leaflets, drooping clusters of sweet-pea shaped flowers are followed by pods, mature trunk takes on look of oak.



Tilia cordata (LITTLE LEAF LINDEN) Deciduous, moderate growth to 40', needs regular watering, heart shaped leaves, dense compact crown, gold fall color, and fragrant creamy flowers in late spring to early summer.



Ulmus wilsoniana 'Frontier' (Frontier ELM) fast growth to 40’ tall and 0' wide, needs regular watering, ovate simple leaves, broad spreading form.



Ulmus japonica x wilsoniana 'Accolade' (ACCOLADE ELM) fast growth to 50’ - 60' tall, needs regular watering, ovate simple leaves, and upright spreading form.



Zelkova serrata (SAWLEAF ZELKOVA) Deciduous, moderately fast growth to 50’ tall and equally wide, needs moderate watering, narrow green leaves, yellow to dark red fall color, interesting bark.





Approved Species For Planting Under Power Lines

Chionanthus retusus (CHINESE FRINGE TREE) Deciduous, to 20’ tall, low to moderate water needs, leaves turn deep yellow in fall, narrow fringelike, white petals in impressive, ample lacy clusters, in bloom a magnificent tree like a huge white lilac.



Koelreuteria bipinnata (CHINESE FLAME TREE) Deciduous, moderate growth to 40', needs low to moderate watering, narrow leaflets, small showy yellow flowers in summer followed by colorful papery seedpods.



Lophostemon confertus (BRISBANE BOX) Evergreen, fast growth to 40’, low to moderate water needs, oval leathery leaves, red bark, white flowers clusters in summer.



Laurus nobilis 'Saratoga' (SARATOGA SWEET BAY) Evergreen, slow growth to 40’, needs moderate watering, simple glossy leaves are fragrant when crushed, dense canopy, good screen.