Approved Species List

The following is a list of tree species approved by NYC Parks for sidewalk and lawn planting sites in the public right–of–way in New York City. Superior cultivars may be substituted with the permission of the Agency.

There are two ways to have a street tree planted in front of your home. Through Parks' Neighborhood Tree planting program, new street trees are planted on a cyclical basis—prioritizing the most heat-vulnerable neighborhoods first. Check our maps to see which neighborhoods we will be planting next. If you do not want to wait for NYC Parks to plant your neighborhood, you can apply for a permit to plant one on your own. Visit the Street Tree Planting page for more information.

Large Trees: Mature Height Greater Than 50 Feet

Species Name Form Growth Rate Fall Color Environmental Tolerances Location Tolerances Notes/Suggested Cultivars
Scientific Common
Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo Upright Slow Yellow Salt, Drought, High Wind, Pollution and High pH Tolerant Median Tree, Narrow Growing Space 'Autumn Gold' or 'Presedential Gold'
Quercus spp. 'Fastigiata' Fastigiata Oak Upright Slow Maroon none Median Tree, Narrow Growing Space Similar tree is Quercus robur
Liquidambar styraciflua Sweetgum Pyramidal Medium Yellow Wet Site Tolerant none Plant Spring Only, lawn pits only, look for 'Rotundiloba'
Metasequoia glyptostroboides Dawn Redwood Pyramidal Medium Orange/Brown Wet Site, Drought, High pH Tolerant Median Tree, Narrow Growing Space Can Grow 2 to 3 Feet per Year
Taxodium distichum Baldcypress Pyramidal Medium Orange/Brown Wet Site, Salt and High Wind Tolerant Median Tree, Narrow Growing Space Ideal For Wet Soils
Tilia cordata Littleleaf Linden Pyramidal Medium Yellow Pollution Tolerant Median Tree 'Greenspire'
Gymnocladus dioicus Coffeetree Rounded Medium Yellow Drought Tolerant none 'Espresso'
Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis Honeylocust Rounded Medium Yellow Wet Site, Salt, Drought, High Wind, Pollution, and High pH Tolerant Median Tree 'Halka'
Quercus rubra Northern Red Oak Rounded Medium Maroon Salt Tolerant none Plant Spring Only
Quercus bicolor Swamp White Oak Rounded Medium Yellow Wet Site and Drought Tolerant Median Tree Plant Spring Only
Quercus imbricaria Shingle Oak Rounded Medium Yellow none none Plant Spring Only
Quercus palustris Pin Oak Rounded Medium Maroon Drought, High Wind, and Pollution Tolerant Median Tree Needs large tree pit
Quercus phellos Willow Oak Rounded Slow Yellow/Orange Drought and Pollution Tolerant Median Tree Plant Spring Only
Tilia americana American Linden Rounded Medium Yellow Shade and High pH Tolerant none 'Redmond'
Tilia x euchlora Crimean Linden Rounded Medium Yellow Pollution Tolerant none Pest Resistant
Tilia tomentosa Silver Linden Rounded Medium Yellow Salt and Shade Tolerant none 'Green Mountain'
Zelkova serrata Japanese Zelkova Vase–Like Medium Red/Bronze Drought, High Wind, Pollution, and High pH Tolerant Median Tree, Small Tree Pit(<3ft), and Narrow Growing Space 'Halka'

Medium Trees: Mature Height 35–50 Feet

Species Name Form Growth Rate Fall Color Environmental Tolerances Location Tolerances Notes/Suggested Cultivars
Scientific Common
Carpinus betulus European Hornbeam Upright Medium Yellow Salt, Drought, Pollution and Shade Tolerant Small Tree Pit (<3 ft), Narrow Growing Space 'Fastigiata' cultivar is best for narrow spaces
Quercus robur English Oak Upright Slow Yellow Salt and High pH Tolerant Small Tree Pit (<3 ft), Narrow Growing Space Plant Spring Only
Corylus colurna Turkish Filbert Pyramidal Medium Yellow Drought and High pH Tolerant Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) Also known as Turkish Hazelnut
Nyssa sylvatica Black Gum Pyramidal Medium Red Wet Site Tolerant none Should only be planted in extremly wet sites
Ostrya virginiana American Hophornbeam Rounded Slow Yellow Shade and High pH Tolerant Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) Plant Spring Only
Quercus acutissima Sawtooth Oak Rounded Medium Yellow Salt and High pH Tolerant Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) Plant Spring Only
Eucommia ulmoides Hardy Rubber Tree Rounded Slow Yellow Salt and Drought Tolerant Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) Tolerates Tough Conditions
Styphnolobium japonicum Scholar Tree Rounded Medium Cream Drought, High Wind, and Pollution Tolerant Median Tree, Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) 'Regent'

Intermediate Trees: Mature Height 25–35 Feet

Species Name Form Growth Rate Fall Color Environmental Tolerances Location Tolerances Notes/Suggested Cultivars
Scientific Common
Koelreuteria paniculata Goldenraintree Rounded Medium Yellow Salt, Drought, Pollution, High pH Tolerant Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) Tolerates tough conditions
Maackia amurensis Amur Maackia Rounded Slow Yellow Drought and High pH Tolerant Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) Fixes Its Own Nitrogen in the Soil, Late Bloomer

Small Trees: Mature Height Less Than 25 Feet

Species Name Form Growth Rate Fall Color Environmental Tolerances Location Tolerances Notes/Suggested Cultivars
Scientific Common
Amelanchier sp. Serviceberry Rounded Slow Red/ Yellow Wet Site and Shade Tolerant Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) 'Autumn Sunset,' 'Cumulus,' and 'White Pillar'
Cercis canadensis Eastern Redbud Rounded Medium Yellow Salt, Shade and High pH Tolerant Median Tree, Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) Does Best in Lawn Pits
Carpinus caroliniana American Hornbeam Rounded Slow Yellow/Orange Shade Tolerant Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) Plant Spring Only
Malus sp. Crabapple Rounded Slow Red/ yellow Salt and Drought Tolerant Median Tree, Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) M. zumi , and 'Donald Wyman,' 'Spring Snow' is seedless
Crataegus sp. Hawthorn Rounded Medium Maroon Salt and Drought Tolerant Median Tree, Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) 'Winter King,' 'Princeton Sentry,' or 'Crimson Cloud'
Cornus mas Cornelian Cherry Rounded Medium Yellow Salt Tolerant Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) One of the first flowering spring trees
Prunus virginiana 'Schubert' Schubert Cherry Pyramidal Medium Maroon Salt, Drought, Pollution, and High pH Tolerant Median Tree, Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) Tolerates Tough Conditions
Syringa reticulata Japanese Tree Lilac Rounded Medium Yellow Salt, Drought, and Shade Tolerant Median Tree, Small Tree Pit (<3 ft), Narrow Growing Space 'Ivory Silk'
Prunus cerasifera Purpleleaf Plum Rounded Medium Maroon Salt Tolerant Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) 'Atropurpurea,' 'Thundercloud'
Prunus 'Okame' Okame Cherry Rounded Medium Red/Bronze none Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) Earliest Blooming Cherry
Prunus padus European Birdcherry Rounded Slow Yellow/Bronze none Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) One of the First Trees to Leaf Out in the Spring
Prunus sargentii Sargent Cherry Rounded Slow Red/Bronze none Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) 'Accolade' is Semi–double Flowering;
Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan' Japanese Flowering Cherry Rounded Slow Red/Orange none Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) Double–flowering
Prunus x yedoensis Yoshino Cherry Rounded Medium Yellow none Small Tree Pit (<3 ft) Tree Does Best in Lawn Pits