Urban sidewalk trees - what to plant?

[Yllaria]

Here’s anotherSF tree site. Also, it looks like you’ll need a permit to plant a street tree, although it looks like there isn’t a fee.

[Courk]

@Hello_Again

Flowering Pear. It thrives on high carbon monoxide levels, forms a decent amount of shade, and doesn’t drop random stinky garbage, like a Ginko (the worst of all street trees).

You may want to clarify what flowering pear tree you’re referring to. My Bradford pears smell like fish when in bloom – for years my dad kept wondering if there was a dead fish in the storm drain, and how a fish would have gotten there several years in a row.

[bump]

I saw Magnolias on that list; they look great, but they shed big, woody leaves all year round, and in the summer drop those weird cones for several months.

Something to consider… no weird stinks or undue shedding though; just consistent shedding all the time.

[Roderick_Femm]

@TriPolar

You’re right. Once you plant a tree there’s no way to get rid of it if it grows too large.

Also I wasn’t being serious when I first posted that, it’s probably not a great side walk tree, but then again, why not do it anyway?

Thank you to everyone who contributed useful suggestions. And thanks to Yllaria for another list. Mostly the same trees, but more useful information about them.

I also appreciate the warnings about less desirable trees.
Roddy

[Magiver]

@mack

There are a lot of Ginkgo trees where I am in Manhattan. They’re pretty cool-looking except the fruit make a mess on the sidewalk and they smell like puke in the fall. Otherwise a fine addition to any urban landscape

You should only plant the male ginkgo tree for this reason.

In my city some twit decided Osage Orange would make a great sidewalk tree. Yah, that sucker got cut down the first time a good T-storm came through and broke some branches off. Morons.

[Magiver]

Meant to mention the Wax Privet. Stays green all year round and you can pretty much bully it into doing anything you want except wash your car.

[aceplace57]

Crape Myrtles are planted in the road center medians here.

Example. They do great on streets.
http://community-2.webtv.net/@HH!3A!3C!E3ADCC919668/BurnsideCPA2/TreeFarm/scrapbookFiles/mailedD6.jpg

[svd678]

I should think the City Forester would have good advice, and info about legalities. By the way, tree trunks do not grow higher - a limb 6 feet off the ground will be 6 feet up until it breaks off,etc.

[TriPolar]

@Roderick_Femm

Thank you to everyone who contributed useful suggestions. And thanks to Yllaria for another list. Mostly the same trees, but more useful information about them.

I also appreciate the warnings about less desirable trees.
Roddy

Why thank you! So very much! Happy to lend a helping hand.