Native Trees

Bigleaf Maple California Buckeye Western Redbud Oregon Ash California Walnut Gray Pine Western Sycamore Fremont's Cottonwood Blue Oak Valley Oak Interior Live Oak Blue Elderberry California Bay Laurel

At least 13 trees are native to the land within Chico's city limits, including a rare walnut tree.¹ Chico's native trees are described below. (See also a list of local endangered species.)

Bigleaf Maple

Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) on the Feather River North Fork, near Strawberry Valley. Photo by queerbychoice.Bigleaf maple is a 30- to 100-foot-tall, deciduous maple tree (in the soapberry family) that prefers shade and can be found in riparian areas. You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website and USDA Conservation Plant Characteristics, see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.

California Buckeye

California buckeye is a 20- to 40-foot-tall, deciduous, white-flowering tree (in the soapberry family) that prefers full sun and good drainage. You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website and USDA Conservation Plant Characteristics, see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.

Western Redbud

Western redbud is a 15-foot-tall, deciduous, purple-flowering tree or tall shrub (in the pea family) that prefers full sun. You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website, see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.

Oregon Ash

Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia) in the American River Parkway. Photo by queerbychoice.Oregon ash is a 35- to 70-foot-tall, deciduous tree (in the olive family) that prefers sun or partial shade. You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website and USDA Conservation Plant Characteristics, see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.

California Walnut

California walnut is a 15- to 30-foot-tall, deciduous tree (in the walnut family) that prefers sun or partial shade. You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website, see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.

Gray Pine

Gray pine (Pinus sabiniana) in the California State University Sacramento arboretum. Photo by queerbychoice.Gray pine (also called foothill pine but still, and unfortunately, commonly referred to as Digger Pine) is a 20- to 80-foot-tall, evergreen, coniferous tree (in the pine family) that prefers full sun and moderate to good drainage. You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website and USDA Conservation Plant Characteristics, see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.

Western Sycamore

Western sycamore (Platanus racemosa) next to the 10th Street Bridge in Yuba City. Photo by queerbychoice.Western sycamore is a 20- to 75-foot-tall, deciduous tree (in the sycamore family) that prefers full sun and moderate to good drainage. You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website and USDA Conservation Plant Characteristics, see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.

Fremont's Cottonwood

Fremont's cottonwood (Populus fremontii) in the American River Parkway, with cotton-like seeds. Photo by queerbychoice.Fremont's cottonwood is a 50- to 90-foot-tall, deciduous tree (in the willow family) that prefers full sun. You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website and USDA Conservation Plant Characteristics, see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.

Blue Oak

Blue oak is a 20- to 60-foot-tall, deciduous white oak tree (in the beech family) that prefers full sun. You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website and USDA Conservation Plant Characteristics, see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.

Valley Oak

Valley oak is a 35- to 100-foot-tall, deciduous red oak tree (in the beech family) that prefers full sun and moderate to good drainage. You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website and USDA Conservation Plant Characteristics, see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa: Valley Oak, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.

Interior Live Oak

Interior live oak is a 10- to 30-foot-tall, evergreen red oak tree or tall shrub (in the beech family). You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website, see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.

Blue Elderberry

Blue elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) laden with berries, in the California State University Sacramento arboretum. Photo by queerbychoice.Blue elderberry is a 23-foot-tall, white-flowering, deciduous tree or tall shrub (in the honeysuckle family) that prefers sun or partial shade and moderate to good drainage. You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website and USDA Conservation Plant Characteristics, see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.

California Bay Laurel

California bay laurel (Umbellularia californica). Photo by queerbychoice.California bay laurel is a 30- to 80-foot-tall, deciduous tree (in the laurel family) that prefers shade. You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website and USDA Conservation Plant Characteristics, see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa, and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.