Species Selection

1. Helpful websites to learn about and see photos of trees.

  • United Forests Ecosystem Institute - UFEI based at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is one of the best places to use attributes to help choose appropriate tree species. For example: You can select your Western climate zone, flower color, tree size and biogenic emissions; and it will select the most appropriate species for your site.

  • Cuyamaca College has photos and characteristics of many plants taken from their Ornamental Horticulture program. Organized by botanic name.

  • Cal-Photos is a searchable data base of photos and details by many characteristics.

  • City of San Diego Street Tree Guide is a downloadable list of approved trees for use in tree lawns.Crape Myrtle

  • City of Los Angeles Street Trees is a more extensive list than for San Diego. With approval, however, they may be used without a fee in San Diego.

  • USDA – Natural Resources Conservation Service is an extensive database of plants from the United States Department of Agriculture.

  • Dave Wilson Nursery Trees sells fruit, nut and shade trees through nurseries in San Diego. The website also had information about tree planting. For fruit tree growers the site has details about chill hours as well as a fruit harvesting chart for those trying to spread out the fruit harvest.

  • Palms is a commercial source that has photos of many palm trees.

  • Southwestern and Texas Trees is a list of Texas natives from Texas A & M that may also grow here. It is a good source of photos and culture information.

  • Arbor Day Foundation is a list of shade trees and shrubs, organized by common and scientific name with photos and culture information.

  • Calflora is the tree page for wild California plants.

2 . Where to see identified mature trees in San Diego.

  • San Diego Botanic Garden, Encinitas is a local resource for tree identification. There is an entrance fee if you go there. But, if the tree you want is on display there, you should go there to see how it grows when it is well maintained in the San Diego area.

  • South Bay Botanic Garden at Southwestern College, Chula Vista has a Nationally Certified National Botanic Garden and includes many fruit trees. The nursery technology department has location maps for their campus trees.

  • Palomar College Arboretum, San Marcos, is another local source for viewing trees.

  • The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College, El Cajon specializes in drought tolerant plants and trees.

  • UCSD, La Jolla was one of the first schools in the nation to earn TREE Campus USA status through the Arbor Day Foundation in 2008.

  • San Diego State University, SD: tree guides are available on campus

  • Balboa Park; San Diego “Trees of Balboa Park” book (available in ATAC lending library)