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Caring for Boston's Urban Forest

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The urban forest is an important part of the City’s landscape. It’s made up of all the trees on public and private land in Boston, along with the City’s shrubs, grasses, ground cover, soil, and waterways.

Street Tree Inventory

The Urban Forestry Division is working to maintain updated information on the city’s almost 40,000 street trees. Explore the inventory to learn about trees in your neighborhood and see some of the recent work done by the division.

View the inventory

Learn How to Care for Street Trees

Click here to explore the three key factors in tree care: Water, Mulch, and Stewardship.

View the Guide

Recommended public street trees

Recommended Species
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
Acer rubrum 'October Glory' October Glory Red Maple
Acer rubrum 'Red Sunset' Red Sunset Maple
Carpinus betulus European Hornbeam
Celtis occidentalis Hackberry
Ginkgo biloba (Male) Ginkgo
Gleditsia triacanthos inermis Thornless Honeylocust
Gymnocladus dioicus 'Espresso' Kentucky Coffeetree
Koelreuteria paniculata Golden Raintree
Liriodendron tulipfera 'Emerald City' Emerald City Tulip Tree
Liquidambar styraciflua 'Hapdell' Happidaze Sweet Gum
Nyssa sylvatica Black Tupelo
Ostrya virginiana Hophornbeam
Quercus acutissima Sawtooth Oak
Quercus alba White Oak
Quercus bicolor Swamp White Oak
Quercus coccinea Scarlet Oak
Quercus imbricaria Shingle Oak
Quercus macrocarpa Bur Oak
Quercus palustris Pin Oak
Quercus phellos Willow Oak
Quercus rubra Red Oak
Quercus velutina Black Oak
Sophora japonicum Japanese Pagoda Tree
Tilia cordata 'Green Spire' Littleleaf Linden
Tilia tomentosa 'Green Mountain' Silver Linden
Tilia tomentosa 'Sterling Silver' Silver Linden
Ulmus americana 'Valley Forge' American Elm
Ulmus 'Morton' accolade Accolade Elm
Ulmus 'Morton Stalwart' Commendation Elm
Ulmus 'Patriot' Patriot Elm
Ulmus parvifolia 'Frontier' Lacebark Elm
Zelkova serrata 'Musashino' Japanese Zelkova
Zelkova serrata 'Village Green' Japanese Zelkova
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
Acer campestre Hedge Maple
Acer truncatum 'Norwegian Sunset' Norwegian Sunset Maple
Amelanchier laevis 'Cumulus' Allegheny Serviceberry
Carpinus caroliniana American Hornbeam
Crataegus inermis 'Thornless Cockspur' Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn
Malus x 'Adirondack' Adirondack Crabapple
Malus x 'Purple Prince' Purple Prince Crabapple
Malus x 'Royal Raindrops' Royal Raindrops Crabapple
Malus x 'Sugar Tyme' Sugar Tyme Crabapple
Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis' Higan Cherry
Prunus 'First Blush' First Blush Cherry
Prunus 'Okame' Okame Cherry
Prunus sargentii Sargent Cherry
Prunus x yedoensis Yoshino Cherry
Prunus virginiana 'Canada Red' Canada Red Chokecherry
Syringa reticulata 'Ivory Silk' Japanese Tree Lilac

 

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