Climate Forward Tree Selection Tool

Whether planted in residential landscapes, enhancing businesses, or featured in parks or medians as public amenities, trees can lower temperatures, lift spirits and contribute to a healthier community.

Use Marin Water’s Climate Forward Tree Selection Tool to find a tree that delivers these benefits while using less water, helping to support pollinator communities and thriving in Marin’s local climate.

This list was developed with input from *Fire Safe Marin, UC Marin Master Gardeners and Watershed staff at Marin Water. Tree descriptions have been sourced from Santa Rosa Water’s Climate Ready Trees list, as well as Calscape.

Click the icons to generate lists of trees matching your preferences. Select all desired qualities.

*FireSafe Marin encourages proper plant maintenance as the most important factor in creating a fire-smart landscape. For guidance and checklists, including tree care, visit firesafemarin.org.

Black elderberry

Sambucus nigra

Cream to yellow flowers bloom in summer, followed by dark berries in the fall. Fast growing and easy to grow. Prune to create desired structure.

Blue oak

Quercus douglasii

Blue tinted foliage. Pale gray bark. Very slow growing. Not susceptible to Sudden Oak Death. Plant away from structures. Not suited for more coastal locations.

Blue palo verde

Parkinsonia florida (Cercidium floridium)

Greenish bark and yellow-gold flowers in spring. Has thorns. Summer leaf drop during extreme heat. Will not survive extended frost. Little pruning needed. Fast growing. Once established, needs little to […]

California buckeye

Aesculus californica

Showy creamy white flowers in spring. Summer deciduous without supplemental irrigation. Honeybee toxic but supports native bees. Allergenic.

California lilac

Ceanothus spp.

Be sure to choose a tree form, such as Ray Hartman. Dark green, glossy leaves. Clusters of tiny blue to purple flowers bloom in spring. Fast growing and easy to […]

Carolina laurel cherry

Prunus caroliniana

Small, fragrant, white flowers attract bees. Dense, glossy green foliage. Some pruning needed to maintain shape. Fast growing. Fruit toxic to humans and pets, but food source for birds.

Coast live oak

Quercus agrifolia

One of the best local natives for large properties. Rich green foliage and sculptural branches. Plant in non-irrigated area away from structures. Avoid watering in summer after establishment. Susceptible to […]

Coast silk tassel

Garrya elliptica

Natural shrub form, can prune into tree form. Long flower clusters in winter and glossy green leaves year-round. Prefers well-draining soil but tolerates clay and serpentine soil. Works well as […]

Coffeeberry

Frangula californica

Natural shrub form, can prune into tree form. Dense evergreen with dark red branches bearing dark green leaves and red to black fruit in summer. Easy to grow. Needs very […]

Crape myrtle

Lagerstroemia indica

Showy summer flowers and fall foliage color. Attractive smooth, peeling bark when mature. Purchase when in flower for desired color. May need pruning when suckers grow from base.

Gooseberry

Ribes speciosum

Natural shrub form, can prune into tree form. Long-lasting, bright fuchsia-red flowers hang below small, dark green, glossy leaves on thorny branches. Hairy pink berries are a food source for […]

Keith Davey Chinese pistache

Pistacia chinensis ‘Keith Davey’

Known for showy fall color and as replacement for maple. Dark green foliage in summer. May prefer male cultivar for no fruit production and lower maintenance. Female cultivar produces berries […]

Little leaf palo verde

Parkinsonia microphylla (Cercidium microphylla)

Greenish bark and yellow-gold flowers in spring. Has thorns. Summer leaf drop during extreme heat. Will not survive extended frost. High pest tolerance. Little pruning needed. Slow growing. Once established, […]

Manzanita

Arctostaphylos spp.

Be sure to choose a tree form. Proper maintenance makes this a great fire-resistant garden addition. Striking mahogany bark and winter bloom of small bell-like flowers. Slow growing.

Oregon ash

Fraxinus latifolia

Nondescript flowers bloom in spring. Foliage turns yellow in fall. Consider spacing, as fast growing when young and can live to 250 years.

Pacific madrone

Arbutus menziesii

Sprays of small, bell-like white flowers in spring followed by red berries in autumn. Beautiful peeling red-orange bark. Once established, needs very little or no water in summer.

Persimmon

Diospyros kaki

Heavily fruiting tree with outstanding fall color. Fruit may stay on tree after leaves drop. Glossy green leaves in summer. Nondescript flowers bloom in spring. Easy to grow.

Pink Dawn Chitalpa

x Chitalpa tashkentensis ‘Pink Dawn’

Beautiful pink, trumpet-shaped flowers. Can flower from spring to fall. Long, dark green leaves. Frost hardy once established.

Pomegranate

Punica granatum

Fruiting tree with beautiful fall foliage. Showy red flowers and fruit. Prune when young for strength. Needs heat for enhanced fruit flavor. Long blooming season. Deer resistant.

Red elderberry

Sambucus racemosa

White to cream, fragrant blooms in spring to summer, followed by red to purple berries in the fall. Prune to create desired structure.

Strawberry tree

Arbutus unedo

Attractive pendulus clusters of flowers in mid to late winter. Edible fruit persists year-round. May require pruning to establish/maintain tree shape.

Swan Hill olive

Olea europaea ‘Swan Hill’

Be sure to choose fruitless variety. Silver-green foliage shimmers in wind. Gnarled, sculptural trunk when mature provides texture and interest. Does well in poor, rocky soil.

Toyon

Heteromeles arbutifolia

Small, white, fragrant flowers bloom in late spring to summer, followed by clusters of red winter berries that are important food source for local fauna. Deer resistant. Fast growing and […]

Valley oak

Quercus lobata

One of the best local natives for large properties. Fuzzy, green, lobed leaves. Thick, ridged bark. Plant in non-irrigated area away from structures. Avoid watering in summer after establishment. Not […]

Western redbud

Cercis occidentalis

Deep pink spring bloom along branches. Legume seed pods held in winter. Shiny heart-shaped leaves. Slow growing and easy to grow. Responds well to pruning.

Climate Forward Tree Selection Tool

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