This list highlights the tree species commonly available for planting by the City of Toronto as street trees. Trees grow best when they are planted in the right conditions. The City encourages the planting of large-growing, native species whenever possible and works to achieve a healthy, diverse, sustainable urban forest that enhances the quality of life for everyone in the city.
Growth rates are determined in comparison with other tree species on this list. The growth of individual trees will depend on growing conditions including soil quality, soil volume, sun, moisture, etc.
Tree sizes noted are the estimated maximum size that most trees would reach in Toronto’s urban environment
Where appropriate, the City may plant cultivars of some of these species. These cultivars are trees that have been selectively bred for certain traits that will make them more suitable for an urban setting.
Native to Ontario.
Black maples are similar to sugar maples but are hardier in urban settings. They provide excellent fall colour as the leaves turn a glowing yellow with blushes of orange. In natural settings, they are an important food and habitat source for a variety of wildlife, and flowers provide an early food source for pollinators.
Native to Ontario.
Red maples are very sensitive to urban conditions and are not suitable for every location. Leaves emerge tinged with red in the spring, turning green in the summer and bright red in the fall. In natural settings, they are an important food and habitat source for a variety of wildlife, and flowers provide an early food source for pollinators
Native to Ontario.
Silver maples are one of the most majestic trees found in the city’s streetscape, requiring plenty of room to accommodate their large trunks and spreading canopies. A single tree can provide shade and shelter for a large area in a relatively short time due to its fast growth rate. The pale green-white undersides of the leaves give a silvery impression. In natural settings, they are an important food and habitat source for a variety of wildlife, and flowers provide an early food source for pollinators
Native to Ontario.
As the national tree of Canada, the sugar maple’s leaf is displayed on the Canadian flag. They are sensitive trees that grow best in parks or on large lawns with good-quality soil. Every fall, they put on an impressive show of glowing yellow, orange, and red leaves. In natural settings, they are an important food and habitat source for a variety of wildlife, and flowers provide an early food source for pollinators
Native to Ontario.
Freeman maples are a hybrid of two Ontario natives: red and silver maples. They occur naturally in the forests of Ontario but there are also named cultivars sold commercially. They are hardy and especially suitable as urban street trees. Freemans put on an impressive display of red, orange, and yellow foliage in the fall. In natural settings, they are an important food and habitat source for a variety of wildlife, and flowers provide an early food source for pollinators
Native to Europe.
‘Ruby Red’ horsechestnuts have large, palmate leaves that create a dense shade beneath the tree. In late spring, the canopy is covered in red-pink blossoms, which are a rich source of nectar and pollen for insects and hummingbirds. Fruit appears in fall as green husks which hold glossy dark brown, round nut-like seeds.
Native to North America.
Yellow buckeyes have large, palmate leaves that create a dense shade beneath the tree and turn yellow with shades of orange in fall. In late spring, the canopy is covered in yellow blossoms, which are a rich source of nectar and pollen for insects and hummingbirds. Fruit appears in fall as green husks which hold glossy dark brown, round nut-like seeds.
Native to Ontario.
Ohio buckeyes are the smallest of the buckeyes/horsechestnuts offered by the City. The large, palmate leaves create a dense shade beneath the tree and turn yellow and orange in fall. In late spring, the canopy is covered in white blossoms which are a rich source of nectar and pollen for insects and hummingbirds. Fruit appears in fall as green husks which hold glossy dark brown, round nut-like seeds.
Native to Europe.
Common horsechestnuts are large trees offering plenty of interest throughout the year. The large, palmate leaves create a dense shade beneath the tree. In late spring, the entire canopy is covered in creamy white blossoms that are a rich source of nectar and pollen for insects and hummingbirds. Fruit appears in fall as green husks which hold glossy dark brown, round nut-like seeds. In winter, the jagged silhouette of the trunk and branches are a standout feature.
Native to North America.
Catalpas offer an impressive bloom display in late spring when large, showy, flowers form heavy clusters at the ends of branches. The flowers attract pollinator insects and hummingbirds. Fruit are long pods, resembling green beans, maturing to dark brown in the fall. The extra-large, heart-shaped leaves give a tropical impression. In winter, catalpas’ rough bark gives them a rugged look with the clinging pods adding interest.
Native to Ontario.
Hackberries are hardy trees and a great choice for the urban environment. Once established, these trees grow quickly to produce dense canopies of bright green leaves. Corky, deeply ridged bark and delicate branching add winter interest. Hackberries are a host for several butterflies, and birds love the pea-sized fruit.
Native to Asia.
Japanese katsuras are sensitive trees and may struggle in hot, dry locations or poor soil. In the proper location, these are lovely trees with dense branching and an upright form. Heart-shaped leaves emerge in spring with a reddish tinge, turning green for the summer, and finally producing a kaleidoscope of fall colour ranging from yellow to peach to orange.
Native to North America.
Yellowwoods are smaller trees best suited to locations that provide good soil and some shelter. In spring, the branches are covered in hanging clusters of fragrant white flowers, followed by flat seed pods in the fall. The leaves turn a bright, clear yellow in the fall. The slender branches create a delicate zig-zag pattern.
Native to Europe.
Turkish hazels are sensitive trees and may struggle in hot, dry locations or poor soil. In the proper location, these trees offer several unique and beautiful characteristics. In the spring, leaves emerge slightly wavey with fuzzy undersides. The bark is pale grey with a corky texture. In the fall the trees produce clusters of nuts, each one encased in a frilly, papery green husk.
Native to Europe.
European beeches are wide trees which begin spreading their graceful branches close to the ground. The leaves emerge a delicate pale green in spring, turning shiny, bright green in summer, and changing to bronze in the fall. The leaves often persist into the winter, providing shelter and privacy. The bark of European beech is smooth and dark grey, resembling elephant hide.
Native to Asia.
Ginkgos belong to an ancient group of trees dating back millions of years. The oldest recorded specimen is 3,500 years old. They are hardy and can happily survive in urban conditions. Their slow growth rate and open branches create light shade, and their fan-shaped leaves turn a beautiful, clear yellow in the fall.
Native to Ontario.
Honey locusts are commonly planted in urban locations as they are hardy, fast-growing, and suitable for planting near overhead wires. The cultivars planted by the City have few or no pods. The mature trees have an open, graceful form, and their small leaflets allow for dappled light to reach the ground. In fall, the leaves turn a beautiful golden yellow.
Native to Ontario.
Kentucky coffeetrees’ open branching make them very suitable for planting near overhead wires, and they are adaptable to most urban conditions. Large, compound leaves are composed of smaller leaflets that still allow light and air to pass through to the ground below. While the female trees develop large pods in the fall, the City only plants the non-pod-producing male ‘Espresso’ cultivar in residential areas.
Native to Ontario.
In late spring, tulip trees produce cup-shaped flowers of pale green with an orange stripe circling the center. These flowers attract pollinator insects and hummingbirds. Cone-shaped, scaly fruits follow in the summer; their dried bases remain throughout the winter, resembling small, dried flowers. The large, four-lobed leaves turn yellow in fall. When growing in woodlands, the tulip tree can be one of the tallest natives in North America, though trees growing in urban settings rarely reach such heights.
Native to Ontario.
Ironwoods are elegant medium-sized trees that can thrive in medium- to full-shade. Their branches and leaves are delicate and create a lacy effect. In early spring, trees will produce flowers called catkins (male) and racemes (female). By fall, these turn into tiny clusters of nuts, which resemble hops, hence the tree also being known as ‘hop hornbeam’. Their bark is rough and slightly shaggy.
Hybrid North America/Asia.
London planes are large, graceful trees. They have been planted in London and other major European cities since the 1700s due to their tolerance for urban pollution. Large leaves resemble those of maples and turn rusty yellow in the fall. The tree’s most striking feature is the bark, which resembles a camouflage pattern of grey, green, and creamy white.
Native to Ontario.
White oaks take many decades to reach their mature size, but their long lifespan means they will be enjoyed for generations. As large, sensitive trees, white oaks do best when given plenty of space and good soil. Spring foliage emerges tinged with pink, turning green for the summer. In fall acorns appear and leaves turn a reddish-purple, then rich russet brown. In natural settings, they are important to wildlife as food and shelter.
Native to Ontario.
Swamp white oaks are one of the smaller oaks planted by the City and take decades to reach their mature size. Their leaves are a dark, shiny green on top, while underneath they are fuzzy and appear silvery-white. In fall, leaves turn tan or reddish-purple and will cling to the branches into winter. Acorns appear in the fall. The peeling bark enhances the trees’ rugged, textured appearance. In natural settings, they are important to wildlife as food and shelter.
Native to Ontario.
Bur oaks are slow-growing trees that take decades to reach their mature size. The leaves have rounded lobes and turn brown in the fall. Acorns with scaled caps that have a rough fringe along the edge form in late summer. The open branches create a gnarly silhouette once the leaves have fallen. In natural settings, they are important food and habitat source for a variety of wildlife.
Native to Ontario.
Red oaks grow a little faster and are relatively hardier in urban settings compared to other oaks. The leaves have pointed lobes and turn deep red in fall. Red oaks will eventually produce acorns, but usually not in large numbers until the tree is at least forty years old. In natural settings, oaks are an important food and habitat source for a variety of wildlife.
Native to Ontario.
Shumard oaks are one of the smaller oaks planted by the City and take decades to reach their mature size. The delicate-looking leaves have deep notches between the pointed ends of each lobe. They turn a reddish-brown in fall and cling to the branches into winter. Small acorns that appear in the fall. In natural settings, they are important to wildlife as food and shelter.
Native to Ontario.
Basswoods are tall and stately shade trees. Leaves emerge bright green early in the spring, turning darker for the summer, then pale yellow in the fall. While the flowers are small, they cover the tree in late spring and fill the air with a gentle perfume and attract pollinators.
Native to Ontario.
The ‘Redmond’ basswood cultivar is a tall, pyramidal tree. It offers the same features as the non-cultivar native basswood – pale yellow foliage in the fall and small, perfumed flowers in late spring that attract pollinators – but with a more formal appearance. The leaves of ‘Redmond’ are also smaller than the non-cultivar.
Native to Europe.
Littleleaf lindens are similar to the native basswoods but with smaller leaves, which emerge bright green early in the spring and turn a shimmering yellow in the fall. Small, perfumed flowers appear in late spring, attracting pollinators. Cultivars such as ‘Glenleven’ tend to be hardier and have stronger, straighter trunks.
Native to Ontario.
Elms are fast-growing, hardy trees that perform well in tough urban conditions. Leaves emerge early in the spring and turn yellow in the fall. Arching branches are densely covered with leaves, making this a great choice for a shade tree. ‘Valley Forge’ is one of the cultivars considered to be resistant to Dutch elm disease.