Metro Plant Palette Standards

Trees

California is home to a diverse range of native trees, each with its own unique characteristics and benefits. From towering redwoods to delicate dogwoods, these trees play an important role in the's ecosystem and provide benefits to both wildlife and humans alike. In this article we'll explore some of most iconic native trees in California and learn more about their significance

Big Leaf Maple

Acer macrophyllum

Southern Magnolia

Magnolia grandiflora

Blue Oak

Quercus douglasii

Box Elder

Acer negundo

Fremont Cottonwood

Populus fremontii

Valley Oak

Quercus lobata

California Ash

Fraxinus dipetala

Coast Live Oak

Quercus agrifolia

California Bay Laurel

Umbellularia californica

Scientific Name	Common Name	Family	Sunset Zones	Coastal	Basin	Inland	Height	Spread	Accent	Screen	Shade	Water	Leaves	Shape	Origin	Growth
Acca sellowiana	Pineapple Guava	Myrtaceae	7-9, 12-24	Y	Y	Y	15’-25’	15’-25’	Full	Full		Low	Evergreen	Rounded	S. America	~24”/yr.
Acer macrophyllum	Big Leaf Maple	Sapindaceae	2-9, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	30’-90’	30’-50’			Full	High	Deciduous	Rounded	N. America	~36”/yr.
Acer negundo	Box Elder	Sapindaceae	1-10, 12-24	Y	Y	Y	30’-50’	35’-40’		Full	Full	High	Deciduous	Rounded	California	~36”/yr.
Acer palmatum	Japanese Maple	Sapindaceae	2-10, 12, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	15’-25’	15’-25’	Full	Full		Med	Deciduous	Vase	Japan	12-24”/yr.
Adenostoma sparsifolium	Red Shanks	Rosaceae	7-9, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	10’-15’	6’-10’		Full		Low	Evergreen	Vase	California	12-24”/yr.
Afrocarpus falcatus	African Fern Pine	Podocarpaceae	8-9, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	50’-70’	25’-30’			Full	Med	Evergreen	Rounded	Africa	12-36”/yr.
Agonis flexuosa	Peppermint Tree	Myrtaceae	15-17, 20-24	Y	Y		20’-35’	15’-30’		Full		Low	Evergreen	Rounded	Australia	24-36”/yr.
Alnus rhombifolia	White Alder	Betulaceae	1-10, 14-21			Y	40’-80’	40’-50’		Full	Partial	High	Deciduous	Conical	California	24-36”/yr.
Arbutus ‘Marina’	Marina Madrone	Ericaceae	8-9, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	35’-45’	20’-30’		Full	Partial	Med	Evergreen	Rounded	Europe	12-24”/yr.
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana	King Palm	Arecaceae	16-17, 21-24	Y	Y		40’-60’	8’-12’	Partial			Med	Evergreen	Palm	Australia	~24”/yr.
Arctostaphylos glauca	Bigberry Manzanita	Ericaceae	4-9. 14-24	Y	Y	Y	10’-20’	15’-20’	Partial			Low	Evergreen	Rounded	California	12-24”/yr.
Arctostaphylos manzanita	Common Manzanita	Ericaceae	4-9, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	10’-15’	5’-10’	Partial			Low	Evergreen	Vase	California	12-24”/yr.
Beaucarnea recurvata	Ponytail Palm	Agavaceae	13, 16-24	Y	Y	Y	10’-20’	6’-12’	Partial			Low	Evergreen	Palm	Mexico	12-24”/yr.
Bismarckia nobilis	Bismarck Palm	Arecaceae	19-24	Y	Y		40’-70’	10’-15’	Partial			Med	Evergreen	Palm	Madagascar	12-24”/yr.
Brahea armata	Mexican Blue Palm	Arecaceae	12-17, 19-24	Y	Y		20’-50’	12’-25’	Partial			Low	Evergreen	Palm	Mexico	12-24”/yr.
Brahea edulis	Guadalupe Palm	Arecaceae	24-Dec	Y	Y	Y	15’-25’	10’-15’	Partial			Low	Evergreen	Palm	Mexico	~12”/yr.
Butia capitata	Pindo Palm	Arecaceae	8-9, 12-24	Y	Y	Y	15’-25’	10’-15’	Partial			Low	Evergreen	Palm	S. America	12-24”/yr.
Callistemon citrinus	Lemon Bottlebrush	Myrtaceae	8-9, 12-24	Y	Y	Y	15’-25’	15’-25’	Partial		Partial	Low	Evergreen	Rounded	Australlia	~36”/yr.
Casuarina cunninghamiana	River She-Oak	Casuarinaceae	8-9, 12-24	Y	Y	Y	50’-100’	20’-30’		Full	Partial	Low	Evergreen	Conical	Australlia	24-36”/yr.
Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’	Ray Hartman Ceanothus	Rhamnaceae	5-9, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	10’-20’	10’-20’	Full	Full		Low	Evergreen	Rounded	California	24-36”/yr.
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus	Blue Blossom	Rhamnaceae	5-9, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	10’-15’	5’-20’	Full	Full		Low	Evergreen	Rounded	California	12-24”/yr.
Ceiba speciosa	Floss Silk Tree	Malvaceae	24-Dec	Y	Y	Y	40’-60’	40’-50’	Full			Low	Deciduous	Rounded	S. America	12-24”/yr.
Cephalanthus occidentalis	California Button Willow	Rubiaceae	2-10, 14-21			Y	10’-15’	5’-15’	Partial	Full		Med	Deciduous	Rounded	N. America	24-36”/yr.
Cercis occidentalis	Western Redbud	Fabaceae	24-Feb	Y	Y	Y	15’-25’	10’-20’	Full			Med	Deciduous	Rounded	California	24-36”/yr.
Cercocarpus betuloides	Mountain Ironwood	Rosaceae	3, 5, 7-10, 13-24	Y	Y	Y	10’-20’	10’-20’		Full		Low	Evregreen	Vase	N. America	~24”/yr.
Chamaerops humilis	Mediterranean Fan Palm	Arecaceae	24-Apr	Y	Y	Y	10’-15’	10’-15’	Partial			Low	Evergreen	Palm	Mediterranean	~12”/yr.
Chilopsis linearis	Desert Willow	Bignoniaceae	3, 7-14, 18-23		Y	Y	15’-30’	10’-20’	Full	Full		Low	Deciduos	Rounded	N. America	24-36”/yr.
Chionanthus retusus	Chinese Fringe Tree	Oleaceae	3-9, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	10’-20’	6’-12’		Full		Med	Deciduous	Rounded	Asia	~24”/yr.
Cornus nutallii	Pacific Dogwood	Cornaceae	1-2, 4-7, 14-17, 21-23		Y		20’-50’	20’-30’	Full			Med	Deciduous	Rounded/Vase	N. America	~36”/yr.
Cupaniopsis anacardioides	Carrotwood	Sapindaceae	16-24	Y	Y	Y	30’-40’	30’-40’			Full	Med	Evergreen	Rounded	Australia	12-24”/yr.
Dendromecon harfordii	Island Bush Poppy	Papaveraceae	7-9, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	10’-15’	8’-20’	Full	Full		Low	Evergreen	Rounded	California	~24”/yr.
Eriobotrya japonica	Japanese Loquat	Rosaceae	24-Jun	Y	Y	Y	15’-30’	15’-30’		Full		Med	Evergreen	Rounded	Asia	~36”/yr.
Elaeocarpus sylvestris	Japanese Blueberry Tree	Elaeocarpaceae	8-9, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	40’-60’	20’-30’		Full	Full	Low	Evergreen	Rounded	Asia	~36”/yr.
Ficus macrophylla	Moreton Bay Fig	Moraceae	17, 19 - 24	Y	Y	Y	90’-200’	70’-130’			Full	Med	Evergreen	Rounded	Australia	~36”/yr.
Ficus microcarpa	Indian Laurel Fig	Moraceae	9, 13, 16-24	Y	Y	Y	20’-40’	35’-40’			Full	Med	Evergreen	Rounded	Malaysia	~24”/yr.
Fraxinus dipetala	California Ash	Oleaceae	24-Jul	Y	Y	Y	20’-25’	15’-20’			Full	High	Deciduous	Rounded	California	~24”/yr.
Fraxinus uhdei	Evergreen Ash	Oleaceae	9, 12-24	Y	Y	Y	60’-80’	40’-60’			Full	Med	Evergreen	Rounded	Mexico	~36”/yr.
Fraxinus velutina	Velvet Ash	Oleaceae	9, 12-24	Y	Y	Y	30’-50’	30’-40’	Partial			Med	Deciduous	Conical	N. America	~24”/yr.
Geijera parviflora	Australian Willow	Rutaceae	8-9, 12-24	Y	Y	Y	20’-30’	15’-20’		Full		Med	Evergreen	Rounded	Australia	24-36”/yr.
Ginkgo biloba	Maidenhair Tree	Ginkgoaceae	1-10, 12, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	50’-80’	30’-40’	Full			Med	Deciduous	Conical	China	12-24”/yr.
Handroanthus heptaphyllus	Pink Trumpet Tree	Bignoniaceae	15-16, 20-24	Y	Y		20’-30’	15’-25’	Full			Med	Deciduous	Rounded	S. America	12-24”/yr.
Hesperocyparis goveniana	Gowen Cypress	Cupressaceae	24-Jul	Y	Y	Y	≤ 150’	5’-20’		Full	Partial	Low	Evergreen	Conical	California	~24”/yr,
Hesperocyparis macrocarpa	Monterey Cypress	Cupressaceae	24-Jul	Y	Y	Y	40’-90’	40’-50’	Full		Partial	Low	Evergreen	Vase	California	~36”/yr.
Heteromeles arbutifolia	Toyon	Rosaceae	5-9, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	10’-25’	8’-15’		Full		Low	Evergreen	Vase	California	12-24”/yr.
Howea forsteriana	Kentia Palm	Arecaceae	17, 21-24	Y	Y		15’-25’	6’-10’	Partial			Med	Evergreen	Palm	S. Pacific	12-24”/yr.
Jacaranda mimosifolia	Jacaranda	Bignoniaceae	12-13, 15-24	Y	Y	Y	20’-50’	15’-30’	Full	Full		Med	Deciduous	Rounded	S. America	~36”/yr.
Juglans californica	Southern California Black Walnut	Juglandaceae	18-24	Y	Y	Y	15’-30’	15’-30’		Full		Med	Deciduous	Rounded	California	~24”/yr.
Juniperus californica	California Juniper	Cupressaceae	3, 6-12, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	20’-40’	10’-40’		Full		Low	Evergreen	Conical	California	12-24”/yr.
Koelreuteria bipinnata	Chinese Flame Tree	Sapindaceae	24-Aug	Y	Y	Y	20’-40’	15’-30’	Full	Full		Med	Deciduous	Rounded	Asia	12-24”/yr.
Lagerstroemia indica	Crape Myrtle	Lythraceae	7-10, 12-14, 18-21			Y	15’-25’	15’-25’	Full			Low	Deciduous	Vase	China	~24”/yr.
Laurus nobilis	Bay Laurel	Lauraceae	5-9, 12-24	Y	Y	Y	20’-40’	15’-30’			Full	Med	Evergreen	Conical	Spain	12-24”/yr.
Liquidambar styraciflua	American Sweetgum	Hamamelidaceae	3-9, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	60’-80’	40’-50’	Full			Med	Deciduous	Conical	N. America	24-36”/yr.
Lophostemon confertus	Brisbane Box	Myrtaceae	15-17, 19-24	Y	Y	Y	30’-50’	10’-30’			Full	Med	Evergreen	Rounded	Australia	24-36”/yr.
Lyonothamnus floribundus subsp. aspleniifolius	Catalina Ironwood	Rosaceae	14-17, 19-24	Y	Y	Y	50’-60’	20’-30’		Full		Low	Evergreen	Conical /Rounded	California	~24”/yr.
Magnolia grandiflora	Southern Magnolia	Magnoliaceae	4-12, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	60’-80’	20’-40’	Partial		Full	High	Evergreen	Rounded	N. America	~24”/yr.
Malosma laurina	Laurel Sumac	Anacardiaceae	14-17, 19-24	Y	Y	Y	10’-20’	10’-20’		Full		Low	Evergreen	Rounded	California	~24”/yr.
Markhamia hildebrandtii	Gold Markhamia	Bignoniaceae	21-24	Y	Y		20’-30’	10’-20’	Full		Full	Med	Evergreen	Upright	Africa	~24”/yr.
Melaleuca linariifolia	Flaxleaf Paperbark	Myrtaceae	9, 13-24	Y	Y	Y	20’-30’	20’-25’	Full	Full		Low	Evergreen	Rounded	Australia	~36”/yr.
Melaleuca nesophila	Pink Melaleuca	Myrtaceae	13, 16-24	Y	Y	Y	15’-30’	15’-30’	Full	Full		Low	Evergreen	Rounded	Australia	~36”/yr.
Melaleuca quinquenervia	Cajeput Tree	Myrtaceae	9, 12-13, 15-17, 20-24	Y	Y		20’-40’	15’-25’			Full	Low	Evergreen	Rounded	Australia	~24”/yr.
Metrosideros excelsa	New Zealand Christmas Tree	Myrtaceae	16-17, 23-24	Y			20’-40’	30’-35’	Full			Low	Evergreen	Rounded	New Zealand	~24”/yr.
Morella californica	Pacific Wax Myrtle	Myricaceae	4-9, 14-17, 20-24	Y	Y		10’-30’	10’-30’		Full		Med	Evergreen	Conical	California	~24”/yr.
Olea europaea ‘Swan Hill’	Swan Hill Olive	Oleaceae	8-9, 11-24	Y	Y	Y	25’-30’	25’-30’	Full		Partial	Low	Evergreen	Vase	Mediteranean	~24”/yr.
Parkinsonia × ‘Desert Museum’	Desert Museum Palo Verde	Fabaceae	8-14, 18-20			Y	15’-25’	20’-25’	Full			Low	Deciduous	Vase	N. America	24-36”/yr.
Pinus pinea	Italian Stone Pine	Pinaceae	8-9, 12-24	Y	Y	Y	40’-80’	40’-60’			Full	Med	Evergreen	Conical	Mediteranean	24-36”/yr.
Platanus racemosa	California Sycamore	Platanaceae	24-Apr	Y	Y	Y	20’-80’	20’-50’			Full	Med	Deciduous	Rounded	California	~36”/yr.
Platanus x hispanica	London Plane Tree	Platanaceae	24-Feb	Y	Y	Y	70’-100’	60’-75’			Full	Med	Deciduous	Rounded	Spain	~36”/yr.
Prosopis glandulosa ‘Maverick’	Thornless Honey Mesquite	Fabaceae	10-13, 18-24	Y	Y	Y	20’-40’	25’-35’		Full	Partial	Low	Evergreen	Rounded	California	12-36”/yr.
Prunus caroliniana	Laurel Cherry	Rosaceae	24-May	Y	Y	Y	15’-35’	15’-25’	Full	Full		Med	Evergreen	Rounded	N. America	~36”/yr.
Podocarpus gracillor	African Fern Pine	Podocarpaceae	8-9, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	50’-70’	25’-30’	Full	Full		Med	Evergreen	Columnar	Africa	12-36”/yr.
Podocarpus henkelii	Long Leafed Yellowood	Podocarpaceae	8-9, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	20’-40’	15’-25’	Full	Full		High	Evergreen	Conical	S. Africa	12-36”/yr.
Podocarpus macrophyllus	Yew Pine	Podocarpaceae	4-9, 12-24	Y	Y	Y	20’-30’	15’-20’		Full		Med	Evergreen	Conical	Japan	~24”/yr.
Populus fremontii	Fremont Cottonwood	Salicaceae	1-12, 14-21			Y	40’-80’	30’-50’			Partial	Med	Deciduous	Rounded	California	~36”/yr.
Populus trichocarpa	Black Cottonwood	Salicaceae	1-9, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	40’-80’	30’-50’			Partial	Med	Deciduous	Columnar	California	24-36”/yr.
Quercus agrifolia	Coast Live Oak	Fagaceae	7-9, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	30’-100’	30’-70’			Full	Low	Evergreen	Rounded	California	~24”/yr.
Quercus berberidifolia	Scrub Oak	Fagaceae	5, 7-10, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	15’-20’	~20’		Full	Partial	Low	Evergreen	Rounded	California	12-24”/yr.
Quercus chrysolepis	Canyon Live Oak	Fagaceae	3-11, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	30’-90’	30’-60’			Full	Low	Evergreen	Rounded	California	~24”/yr.
Quercus douglasii	Blue Oak	Fagaceae	3-11, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	50’-70’	40’-50’			Full	Low	Evergreen	Rounded	California	~12”/yr.
Quercus dumosa	Coastal Scrub Oak	Fagaceae	15-17, 21-24	Y	Y		10’-15’	6’-8’		Full		Low	Evergreen	Rounded	California	12-24”/yr.
Quercus durata	Leather Oak	Fagaceae	5, 7-10, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	~10’	~12’		Full		Low	Evergreen	Rounded	California	12-24”/yr.
Quercus engelmannii	Engelmann Oak	Fagaceae	7-9, 14-21			Y	50’-70’	80’-120’			Full	Low	Evergreen	Rounded	California	12-24”/yr.
Quercus ilex	Holly Oak	Fagaceae	24-Apr	Y	Y	Y	30’-60’	30’-60’			Full	Med	Evergreen	Rounded	Mediteranean	~24”/yr.
Quercus kelloggii	California Black Oak	Fagaceae	5-7, 9, 14-21			Y	50’-70’	30’-50’			Full	Med	Evergreen	Rounded	California	~24”/yr.
Quercus lobata	Valley Oak	Fagaceae	3-9, 12-16, 18-24	Y	Y	Y	50’-70’	40’-50’			Full	Med	Evergreen	Rounded	California	24-36”/yr.
Quercus palmeri	Desert Oak	Fagaceae	7-11, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	10’-20’	10’-20’		Full		Low	Evergreen	Rounded	California	12-24”/yr.
Quercus suber	Cork Oak	Fagaceae	5-16, 18-24	Y	Y	Y	50’-70’	50’-70’			Full	Low	Evergreen	Rounded	Mediteranean	24-36”/yr.
Quercus x menzii	Munz’s Oak	Fagaceae	3-9, 12-16, 18-24	Y	Y	Y	50’-70’	30’-50’			Full	Med	Evergreen	Rounded	California	24-36”/yr.
Quercus tomentella	Island Oak	Fagaceae	7-9, 14-17, 19-24	Y	Y		20’-50’	25’-40’			Full	Low	Evergreen	Rounded	California	~24”/yr.
Quercus john-tuckeri	Tucker Oak	Fagaceae	3-11, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	20’-30’	5’-20’			Full	Low	Evergreen	Rounded	California	12-24”/yr.
Quercus wislizeni	Interior Live Oak	Fagaceae	7-9, 14-16, 18-21			Y	40’-70’	40’-80’			Full	Med	Evergreen	Rounded/Vase	California	12-24”/yr.
Rhus integrifolia	Lemonade Berry	Anacardiaceae	8-9, 14-17, 19-24	Y	Y	Y	5’-20’	5’-15’	Full	Full		Low	Evergreen	Rounded	California	12-36”/yr.
Rhus lancea	African Sumac	Anacardiaceae	8-9, 12-24	Y	Y	Y	20’-30’	20’-35’			Partial	Low	Evergreen	Rounded	S. Africa	~24”/yr.
Salix laevigata	Red Willow	Salicaceae	1-9, 14-17, 22-24	Y	Y		20’-45’	15’-35’		Full		High	Deciduous	Rounded	California	~36”/yr.
Salix lasiandra	Pacific Willow	Salicaceae	1-9, 14-17, 22-24	Y	Y		20’-40’	10’-25’		Full		High	Deciduous	Rounded	California	~36”/yr.
Salix lasiolepis	Arroyo Willow	Salicaceae	1-9, 14-17, 22-24	Y	Y		15’-30’	5’-10’		Full		High	Deciduous	Rounded	California	~36”/yr.
Sambucus mexicana	Blue Elderberry	Adoxaceae	1-10, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	10’-20’	10’-20’		Full		Med	Deciduous	Rounded	N. America	~36”/yr.
Spathodea campanulata	African Tulip Tree	Bignoniaceae	21-24	Y	Y		25’-35’	15’-25’	Full		Full	Med	Evergreen	Rounded	Africa	~36”/yr.
Tipuana tipu	Tipu Tree	Fabaceae	12-16, 18-24	Y	Y	Y	25’-50’	25’-50’	Full		Full	Med	Evergreen	Rounded	S. America	24-36”/yr.
Tristaniopsis laurina	Elegant Water Gum	Myrtaceae	15-24	Y	Y	Y	20’-35’	15’-25’		Full		Med	Evergreen	Rounded	Australia	~12”/yr.
Umbellularia californica	California Bay Laurel	Lauraceae	4-9, 14-24	Y	Y	Y	60’-80’	60’-75’			Full	High	Evergreen	Rounded	California	12-24”/yr.
Washingtonia filifera	California Fan Palm	Arecaceae	8-9, 11-24	Y	Y	Y	40’-80’	10’-20’	Partial			Med	Evergreen	Palm	California	~36”/yr.

Station Design Hub

Metro Plant Palette Standards

Trees

Tree Species Table