Recommended Tree List
Right Tree, Right Place
Proper tree selection begins with choosing trees that are compatible with our climate and that will fit the space where they will be planted. Choosing the right tree ensures the long term health of that tree and of our region’s community forest. There are many factors to consider when selecting the right tree for a particular place including: soil type, drainage, available space, location of above- and below-ground utilities, mature height and spread, tree form, drought resistance, insect and disease resistance, as well as seasonal color. This tree list is your guide to choosing the right tree for the right place.
Click Below to see Trees Recommended in Each Category
 Fruiting Apple Tree (Malus domestica) |
 Mountain Ash (Sorbus species) |
 Golden Chain Tree (Laburnum watereri) |
 Pinon Pine (Pinus edulis) |
 Japanese maple and cultivars (Acer palmatum) |
 Singleseed Juniper (Juniperus monosperma) |
 Magnolia (Magnolia species) |
 Tree Juniper (Juniperus species) |
 Mountain alder (Alnus tenufolia) |
 Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) |
 Maackia (Maackia amurensis) |
 Ash (Fraxinus species) |
 Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo biloba) |
 Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica glauca) |
 Mulberry (Morus alba) |
 Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia) |
 Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera) |
 Common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) |
 River Birch (Betula nigra) |
 Common Persimmon (Dispyros kaki) |
 Rocky mountain maple (Acer glabrum) |
 Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos inermis) |
 Tupelo or Sour Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) |
 Japanese Pagoda Tree (Sophora japonica) |
 Arizona Cypress (Cupressus glabra) |
 London Planetree (Platanus x acerifolia – hybrida) |
 Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) |
 Oak (Quercus species) |
 Catalpa (Catalpa species) |
 Pine (Pinus species) |
 Common Horsechestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) |
 Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) |
 Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glytostroboides) |
 Silver maple (Acer saccharinum) |
 Dawyck Purple Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Purple’) |
 Spanish Fir (Abies pinsapo) |
 English Walnut (Juglans regia) |
 Spruce (Picea species) |
 European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) |
 Sycamore (Platanus acerifolia) |
 Giant Redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum) |
 Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipfera) |
 Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) |
 White alder (Alnus rhombifolia) |
 Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) |
 White Fir (Abies concolor) |
 Linden (Tilia species) |
 Zelkova (Zelkova serrata) |
 Locust (Robinia species) |
Class I Street Trees requires that the planting strip be a minimum of five feet between the curb and sidewalk. Class II Street Trees requires seven to 10 feet. Class III requires planting strip widths greater than 10 feet wide. These guidelines are set in place to avoid future root conflicts with curbs, gutters and sidewalks.
 Amur Cork Tree (Phellodendron amurense) |
 Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) |
 Amur Maple (Acer ginnala) |
 Japanese Lilac Tree (Continus coggyrgria) |
| Catalpa (Catalpa species) |
Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo biloba) |
 Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis) |
 Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) |
 Columnar Norway maple (Acer platanoides ‘Columnar’) |
 Pear (Pyrus Species) |
 Crabapple (Malus hybirds) |
 Plum or Cherry (Prunus species) |
 Crimson Sentry Norway maple (Acer platanoides ‘Crimson Sentry’) |
 Raywood ash (Fraxinus oxycarpa) |
 Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) |
 Red Sunset maple (Acer rubrum) |
 Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) |
 Redpointe maple (Acer rubrum x saccharinum) |
 Golden Rain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) |
 Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria) |
 Hawthorn (Crataegus species) |
 Trident maple (Acer buergeranum) |
 Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos inermis) |
 Turkish filbert (Corylus colurna) |
Tree Wells for the City of Reno are a standard 5 foot by 5 foot cut-out in the sidewalk with installed tree grates and upright tree guards. Trees in this section are chosen because of their up-right/ columnar growth habit, which minimizes limbs obstructing pedestrian and vehicular movement.
| Columnar Norway maple (Acer platanoides ‘Columnar’) |
Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) |
| Crimson Sentry Norway maple (Acer platanoides ‘Crimson Sentry’) |
Pear (Pyrus Species) |
Approved street trees for planting within the public right-of-way – Trees referenced as Street Trees from this list are approved for planting within the City of Reno rights-of way. Many of these trees are also included in the City of Sparks Urban Forester’s List of Recommended Tree Species. Permits are required for any trees to be planted within the public rights-of-way in Reno. The City of Sparks and Washoe County also require approval for any improvements within their designated public rights-of way.
Trees prohibited from planting within public rights-of-way – Some trees are prohibited from public rights-of-way because they have characteristics that create hazards. They may be weak-wooded trees that are prone to breakage, produce fruit or seeds that make sidewalks dangerous, or have invasive root systems that damage concrete and underground utilities.