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Sidewalk Trees

Using the City of Santa Rosa’s approved street tree list, the District strategically replaces trees that have lived beyond their natural lifespan, replacing them with trees suited for a city sidewalk environment. We currently plant Ginkgos, Eastern Redbuds and Crape Myrtles. While they are no longer planted in the Downtown, Downtown’s clusters of Coastal Redwoods are the true stars of the Downtown Tree Show.

Every year the District will replace additional trees in the Downtown District. If you have a specific tree you’d like us to address, please contact us.

Cercis canadensis
Eastern Redbud
  • Pink blossoms appear in spring.
  • Features somewhat heart-shaped leaves 2-6” in length that emerge red, turn dark green in summer and then yellow in fall.
  • Grows in a rounded vase shape.
Ginkgo Biloba
Gingko
  • Features simple, fan-shaped leaves that are 2-3” long.
  • Provides attractive yellow color in fall.
  • Slow to grow after planting.
Lagerstroemia
Crape Myrtle
  • Flowers bloom in summer and fall, with petals that look like crepe paper.
  • A major feature is their smooth, mottled bark that sheds to reveal new colors underneath (often pink, beige, or cinnamon).
  • Leaves often turn bright yellow, orange, or red in the fall.
Sequoia sempervirens
Coastal Redwood
  • The world's tallest tree species, reaching heights over 380 feet and living over 2,000 years
  • They have bark up to a foot thick that is rich in tannin and lacks flammable pitch, making them highly fire-resistant.
  • They store more carbon above ground than any other forest type.
  • Their root systems are surprisingly shallow, often only 6-12 feet deep, but they spread out over 100 feet and intertwine with other redwoods for stability.