Supports for Tree Planting on Private Property

About the Program

The Toronto Free Tree Program (formerly the Community Canopy Program) provides Toronto residents with free native trees and shrubs for their properties through City-run giveaways.

Trees and shrubs from the Toronto Free Tree Program must be planted on privately-owned land such as your front, side or back yard, within the City of Toronto. Please note that a portion of the front or side lawn may be owned by the City as part of the road allowance and is not eligible for this program.

What Residents Receive

Toronto residents can register for the program and select up to two trees or shrubs per household each spring and fall. The trees and shrubs come in 1 or 2-gallon pots and range from 1 to 4 feet in height.

Additional Information

The pickup locations for the Toronto Free Tree Program change each season and are distributed throughout the City to ensure equitable access to the program. Preregistration is required. Register for one of the spring Tree and Shrub Pickup Dates below.

Species Available Spring 2026

Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum)

• Mature Height: 6-10 feet
• Mature Width: 6-12 feet
• Light Requirements: Full Sun, Part Shade
• Soil Preference: Moist, well-drained
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Features of Interest: Clusters of small white flowers in late spring or early summer. Vibrant red fall colour.
• Wildlife Benefits: Flowers and dark purple berries attract a variety of pollinators, birds, and small mammals.

Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica)

• Mature Height: 2-5 feet
• Mature Width: 5-10 feet
• Light Requirements: Full Sun, Part Shade
• Soil Preference: Dry to moist, well-drained soils. Tolerant of poor soils, occasional drought, and salt.
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Features of Interest: Leaves turn a vibrant red colour in the fall. Leaves have a pleasant citrus scent when crushed.
• Wildlife Benefits: Female plants produce fuzzy red fruit cluster in fall which are enjoyed by robins, sparrows, chickadees, and goldfinches.

Grey Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)

• Mature Height: 10-15 feet
• Mature Width: 10-15 feet
• Light Requirements: Full Sun, Part Shade, Full Shade
• Soil Preference: Dry to wet soils.
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Features of Interest: Clusters of small white flowers bloom in summer.
• Wildlife benefits: Blue-white berries often persist on the plant into winter and provide a food source for a variety of birds.

 

Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

• Mature Height: 40+ feet
• Mature Width: 40+ feet
• Light Requirements: Full Sun, Part Shade
• Soil Preference: Moist, well-drained soil. Tolerant of drought and a range of soil conditions.
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Features of Interest: Mature bark develops unique corky ridges.
• Wildlife Benefits: Edible berries ripen in late summer and often persist throughout winter, attracting a variety of birds and small mammals. Larval host plant for several species of butterfly including mourning cloak, hackberry emperor and tawny emperor butterflies.

 

• Mature Height: 3-6 feet
• Mature Width: 6-10 feet
• Light Requirements: Full Sun, Part Shade
• Soil Preference: Dry to moist, well-drained soils. Tolerant of a range of soil conditions.
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Features of Interest: Showy purple flowers bloom in late spring, followed by edible berries in late summer.
• Wildlife Benefits: Colourful blooms attract pollinators and the fruit is popular amongst many birds and small mammals.

Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)

• Mature Height: 10-20 feet
• Mature Width: 10+ feet
• Light Requirements: Full Sun, Part Shade, Full Shade
• Soil Preference: Wet to moist, well-drained soil.
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Features of Interest: Showy white flowers in spring, edible reddish-purple berries in summer, and vibrant orange-red fall colour.
• Wildlife Benefits: Berries are popular amongst fruit-eating birds and mammals. Early spring blooms support pollinators.

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

• Mature Height: 60+ feet
• Mature Width: 40+ feet
• Light Requirements: Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
• Soil Preference: Moist, well-drained soil.
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Features of Interest: Brilliant fall colour ranges from yellow to orange to red.
• Wildlife Benefits: Supports a variety of pollinators and other wildlife, including the endangered Cerulean warbler and Acadian flycatcher birds. Larval host plant for the Imperial moth.

Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)

• Mature Height: 50+ feet
• Mature Width: 50+ feet
• Light Requirements: Full Sun
• Soil Preference: Moist, well-drained soil. Tolerant of urban conditions.
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Features of Interest: Leaves are dark green with silvery-white undersides. Leaves turn golden or bronze in fall and can persist on the tree throughout winter.
• Wildlife Benefits: Supports a variety of pollinators and other wildlife. Acorns are a food source for small mammals and some bird species.

White Spruce (Picea glauca)
• Mature Height: 40+ feet
• Mature Width: 10+ feet
• Light Requirements: Full Sun, Part Shade
• Soil Preference: Moist, well-drained soil.
• Growth Rate: Slow
• Features of Interest: Spruces retain their needles year-round, providing privacy, wind breaks and sound buffers.
• Wildlife Benefits: Provides year-round food and shelter for birds and other wildlife.

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

• Mature Height: 15-25 feet
• Mature Width: 15-20 feet
• Light Requirements: Full Sun, Part Shade, Full Shade
• Soil Preference: Moist, well-drained soils.
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Features of Interest: Yellow flowers with long thin petals bloom in late fall after many other plants are finished blooming.
• Wildlife Benefits: Fall blooms provide a late-season food source for pollinators. Birds and small mammals eat the seeds.

About the Program

The Neighbourhood Planting Program supports eligible community-based not-for-profit groups to host a tree giveaway or planting event in their neighbourhood. Eligible groups can apply to host either a free tree and shrub giveaway or a planting event. All trees and shrubs are to be planted on private property within the City of Toronto

Applicants are responsible for pre-registering participants for a tree giveaway event.

Events must take place between April to June 2026.

What Residents Receive

The program provides free native trees and shrubs and free educational materials. Groups can also apply for financial assistance to purchase materials to help run their event and promote the survival of the new plants.

Each season, a variety of native trees and shrubs will be provided by the City. Successful applicants will submit order for species and quantities. The City will deliver the requested plant material to your event.

The trees and shrubs will come in 1- or 2-gallon pots and range from 1 to 4 feet in height.

Application Information

Please read the Neighbourhood Planting Program Spring 2026 Guidelines before applying.

The application period for spring events has ended, please check back here for updates on the fall application period.

See the list of events this spring below or sign up for our mailing list to be notified when more giveaways become available.

About the Grants

Under the Urban Forestry Community Grants, the two funding streams available are the:

• Greening Partnership Grant
• Community Planting and Stewardship Grant

These grants support tree planting and stewardship projects carried out by eligible not-for-profit organizations, charities and institutions on private land within the City of Toronto.

Application assessment considerations may include a project’s ability to increase canopy cover, build community connections, increase equitable access to green infrastructure and environmental impact.

Application Information

Applications for the 2026 Community Grants are open until August 13. Please see Urban Forestry Community Grants for eligibility requirements and information on how to apply.

Applications must be submitted through the Toronto Grants, Rebates and Incentives Portal.

Register for a webinar information session for the Community Grants on June 3 from noon to 1 p.m.

About the Program

The City has partnered with Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (LEAF) to offer tree planting services on private property to Toronto residents at a subsidized cost.

LEAF offers either a full-service planting option or a do-it-yourself planting option.

What Residents Receive

Under the full-service option, you will receive an in-person site consultation with a LEAF arborist, delivery, planting, and mulching of your new tree and ongoing support and educational material from LEAF. The full-service option costs range from $160 to $230 per tree (+HST).

If you are interested in planting the tree yourself, you will receive a virtual consultation with a LEAF arborist, delivery of your new tree and mulch, as well as ongoing support and educational materials from LEAF. The do-it-yourself option costs range from $110 to $180 per tree (+HST).

The trees sizes range from 5- to 8-foot-tall native deciduous trees or 2- to 4-foot-tall native evergreen trees.

Schedule a Consultation

From 2017 to 2025, the Urban Forestry Grants and Incentives Program has invested and leveraged over $25.4 million and funded 247 projects across all 25 wards in Toronto. Together, with the help of our partners, we have been able to plant over 128,000 trees and shrubs on private land and engage over 326,000 people. The impact reports listed below highlight our achievements in increasing canopy cover on private land and showcase the successes of our community partnerships and collaborations.

While we aim to provide fully accessible content, there is no text alternative available for some of the content on this site. If you require alternate formats or need assistance understanding our maps, drawings or any other content, please email forestrygrants@toronto.ca.

See two versions of the 2024 Urban Forestry Grants and Incentives Impact Report:

• 2024 Urban Forestry Grants and Incentives Impact Report (Simplified)
• 2024 Urban Forestry Grants and Incentives Impact Report (With visual design elements)

See two previous versions of the 2020 Urban Forestry Grants and Incentives Impact Report:

• 2020 Urban Forestry Grants and Incentives Impact Report (Simplified)
• 2020 Urban Forestry Grants and Incentives Impact Report (With visual design elements)