With significant rains still at least another week away, we enjoyed a picture-perfect day in Pacific Heights, focusing on trees between Scott and Gough streets, and California and Vallejo streets. The neighborhood is filled with large and elegant homes, often with spectacular views of the Bay, and a number of international consulates. It also presents a delightful diversity of trees, some among the largest of their kind in the city.

We begin this tour at an exceptional specimen at 2760 Sacramento Street, then head east to Steiner Street, north past Alta Plaza Park to Washington Street, east on Washington to Fillmore Street, north on Fillmore to Pacific Avenue, east on Pacific to Webster Street, north on Webster to Broadway, east on Broadway to Buchanan Street, north on Buchanan to Vallejo Street, and east on Vallejo to Gough Street. The tour then turns south on Gough to Broadway, west on Broadway to Octavia Street, south on Octavia to Washington, west alongside Lafayette Park to Laguna Street, and then south on Laguna alongside the park to Sacramento, west on Sacramento to Fillmore, south on Fillmore to California Street, west on California to Scott Street, and finally north on Scott to Sacramento, ending a few doors west of the tour’s beginning. This walk is just over 2-½ miles long.

soapbark tree (Quillaja saponaria) - a “City Champion” - biggest soapbark in San Francisco - and one of the best trees of any kind in the City! — soapbark tree (*Quillaja saponaria*) - a “City Champion” - biggest soapbark in San Francisco - and one of the best trees of any kind in the City!

Numbered trees are labeled with common and scientific names and country of origin, all written in white chalk on the sidewalk; accompanying numbers, in blue, run from 1 to 47. White arrows on the pavement provide directions whenever a turn is needed.

Our trio of tree geeks responsible for this tour is the same: Mike Sullivan, author of Trees of San Francisco, Jason Dewees (author of Designing with Palms) and Richard Turner (retired editor of Pacific Horticulture).

Sacramento Street, Scott to Pierce, north side

1. 2760 Sacramento Soapbark tree (Quillaja saponaria), Chile (2 other trees, across the street and at 2730 Sacramento; very rare in San Francisco). This tree at 2760 Sacramento is a “City Champion” - the biggest of its species in San Francisco, and a spectacular tree generally.

Sacramento Street, Pierce to Steiner, south side

2. 2693 Sacramento Cypress (Hesperocyparis sp.), this is a California native cypress, but the different species are often hard to tell apart, and this one stumped our three experts.

African fern pine (Afrocarpus gracilior) at 2689 Sacramento - a beautiful specimen! — African fern pine (*Afrocarpus gracilior*) at 2689 Sacramento - a beautiful specimen!

3. 2689 Sacramento African fern pine (Afrocarpus gracilior), East and South Africa

4. 2672 Sacramento Carob (Ceratonia siliqua), Eastern Mediterranean Basin (seed pods can be used to make a chocolate substitute— though not recommended for true chocolate lovers)

5. 2671 Sacramento Carrotwood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides), Eastern Australia

**Note the attractive shade garden against the house at 2621 Sacramento**

Turn left on Steiner. Steiner Street, Sacramento to Clay, west side

6. 2211 Steiner Rusty-leaf fig (Ficus rubiginosa), Eastern Australia

7. 2231 Steiner Olive (Olea europaea), Mediterranean Basin

8. 2243 Steiner Blackwood acacia (Acacia melanoxylon), southeast Australia

SE Corner of Alta Plaza Park (a lot of water runs off this corner of the park, which benefits these next two moisture-living species)

9. Clay at Steiner Red alder (Alnus rubra), Alaska to Santa Barbara; a San Francisco native!

10. Steiner at Clay Sourgum or tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica), Eastern North America

Steiner Street, Clay to Washington, east side

11. 2302 Steiner Princess tree (Tibouchina urvilleana), Southern Brazil (usually a shrub, sometimes becoming a tree; notable for its intense purple flowers; this plant loves San Francisco conditions!)

Turn right (east) on Washington. Washington Street, Steiner to Fillmore, north side

12. 2400 Steiner New Zealand Christmas tree, pōhutukawa in Māori (Metrosideros excelsa), New Zealand (tree is on Washington). In the City’s 2017 tree census, this tree was identified as the 2nd most common tree in San Francisco.

13. 2566 Washington Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), Eastern USA to Mexico and Central America

14. 2560 Washington Springfire metrosideros (Metrosideros collina ‘Springfire’), French Polynesia and Cook Islands (this is the only one we know of in San Francisco)

Turn left on Fillmore. Fillmore Street, Washington to Jackson, west side

Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) — Japanese black pine (*Pinus* *thunbergii*)

15. 2401 Fillmore Indian laurel fig (Ficus microcarpa), South and southeast Asia to Australia (an uncommon form of this species; note the small pinkish fruits)

16. 2411 Fillmore Evergreen pear (Pyrus kawakamii), Taiwan

Fillmore Street, Jackson to Pacific, west side

17. 2529 Fillmore Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii), East Asia. One of the biggest of this species in San Francisco.

Turn right (east) on Pacific. Pacific Avenue, Fillmore to Webster, south side

18. 2351 Pacific Mayten (Maytenus boaria), Chile

19. 2351 Pacific Olives (Olea europaea), Mediterranean Basin

8 London plane trees (Platanus x acerifolia) have been “pleached” at 2301 Pacific — 8 London plane trees (*Platanus* x *acerifolia*) have been “pleached” at 2301 Pacific

20. 2301 Pacific London plane tree (Platanus x acerifolia), hybrid of Eastern USA species and European species (these 8 trees, wrapping around the corner onto Webster, have been pleached; google it to see what that’s all about. An amazing sight!)

**Turn left and head north on Webster to Broadway, passing the Italian Consulate at 2590 Webster**

Broadway, Webster to Buchanan, north side

21. 2190 Broadway Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), southeast USA (a particularly fine specimen next to the corner of the building; 2 more trees to the right, and many in the neighborhood)

22. 2120 Broadway London plane tree (Platanus x acerifolia), hybrid of Eastern USA species and European species (these trees, in front of Hamlin School, have been pollarded, meaning that they have been repetitively cut, year after year, at a particular point to cause the tree to generate a knobby end - google “pollard” for more info)

**Turn left and head north (downhill) on Buchanan**

Buchanan Street, Broadway to Vallejo, east side

23. 2760 Buchanan Saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana), hybrid of East Asian species

**Turn right and head east on Vallejo**

Vallejo Street, Buchanan to Laguna, north side

24. 2090 Vallejo Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’), a variety of a Eurasian species (6 trees on Buchanan)

25. 2090 Vallejo Brazilian pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolius), Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay

Vallejo Street, Laguna to Octavia, north side

26. 2699 Laguna Marina strawberry tree (Arbutus ‘Marina’), hybrid of Mediterranean species (a fine specimen is across the street, but many can be found throughout the neighborhood; first introduced in San Francisco - the interesting San Francisco story can be found here)

27. 1900 Vallejo Brisbane box (Lophostemon confertus), Eastern Australia

Vallejo Street, Octavia to Gough, north side

28. 1868 Vallejo Lemon bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus), Eastern Australia (2 trees flank the entry walk; the crushed leaves smell of lemon)

Vallejo Street, east of Gough, north side

Northern rātā (Metrosideros robusta) - San Francisco’s largest example of this species — Northern rātā (*Metrosideros* *robusta*) - San Francisco’s largest example of this species

29. 1772-1790 Vallejo Northern rātā (Metrosideros robusta), New Zealand (very rare in San Francisco; this is a “City Champion” - the biggest of its kind in the City!) This tree was nominated to be an official “landmark tree” by the City, but the nomination failed in a 3-2 vote at the City’s Urban Forestry Council.

30. 1772 Vallejo Tītoki tree (Alectryon excelsus), New Zealand (a “City Champion”: the biggest of its kind in San Francisco)

**Return to Gough and turn left to head uphill/south**

Gough Street, Vallejo to Broadway, east side

31. 2424 Gough London plane tree (Platanus x acerifolia), hybrid of Eastern USA species and European species (these trees were pollarded early in their lives, but have since been allowed to take a more natural shape)

32. 2424 Gough Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), Japan, China, Korea

**Note the Greek Consulate at 2441 Gough; then turn right and head west on Broadway to Octavia**

Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) — Canary Island date palm (*Phoenix canariensis*)

Octavia Street, Broadway to Pacific, west side

33. 2415 Octavia Silver dollar gum (Eucalyptus polyanthemos), Eastern Australia

34. 2401 Octavia Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis), Canary Islands, Spain

**Continue south/uphill on Octavia Street**

Octavia Street, Jackson to Washington, east side

34-B 2280 Octavia California bay (Umbellularia californica), Oregon and California, (inside the lower curved wall within the median). This is a San Francisco native tree - very rare to see it as a street tree but it’s doing well in his Octavia Street median.

35. 2280 Octavia. Avocado tree (Persea americana), Mexico and Central America (inside the upper curved wall within the median)

Monterey cypress (Hesperocyparis macrocarpa) hedge at the Spreckels Mansion — Monterey cypress (*Hesperocyparis macrocarpa*) hedge at the Spreckels Mansion

36. 2280 Octavia Monterey cypress (Hesperocyparis macrocarpa), Carmel, CA, native (sheared into a spectacular hedge around the old Spreckels Mansion, now owned by author Danielle Steel)

Turn right on Washington. Washington Street, Octavia to Laguna, south side

37. Lafayette Park Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), China (the young ginkgoes along Washington have been badly affected by the persistent west winds on this hill)

Turn left on Laguna. Laguna Street, Washington to Sacramento, east side

38. Lafayette Park Monterey cypress (Hesperocyparis macrocarpa), Carmel, CA, native (2 trees flanking the Clay Street entrance to Lafayette Park)

39. Lafayette Park She-oak (Casuarina sp.), Eastern Australia

40. Lafayette Park Willow (Salix sp.), Eastern North America (near the southwest corner of the park)

Turn right on Sacramento. Sacramento Street, Laguna to Buchanan, south side

41. 2201 Sacramento Red-flowering gum (Corymbia ficifolia), southwest Australia

42. 2241 Sacramento After Dark peppermint willow (Agonis flexuosa ‘Jervis Bay Afterdark’), southwest Australian cultivar (2 young trees flanking the gate; often less vigorous than the green-leafed species)

Sacramento Street, Buchanan to Webster, south side

43. 2323 Sacramento Sweetshade tree (Hymenosporum flavum), Eastern Australia

44. 2323 Sacramento Brush cherry (Syzygium australe, formerly S. paniculatum), Eastern Australia

**Continue on Sacramento to Fillmore, then turn left and head south on Fillmore (lined with Indian laurel figs and evergreen pears) to California; then turn right on California**

California Street, Fillmore to Steiner, south side

45. 2435 California (Mollie Stone’s) Hedge maple (Acer campestre), Eurasia and North Africa (this is the largest hedge maple that we know of in San Francisco)

46. Parking lot across the street Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis), Canary Islands (the tall narrow pines at east and west ends of the parking lot)

California Street, Steiner to Pierce, south side

47. 2501 California Trident maple (Acer buergerianum), East Asia (several colorful street trees on both sides of the gas station)

Continue west on California to Scott, then north on Scott to Sacramento; the tour begins on Sacramento just east of Scott.

Our regular commercial: This walking tour was organized by Mike Sullivan, author of The Trees of San Francisco and webmaster of www.sftrees.com; Jason Dewees, horticulturist at Flora Grubb Gardens and author of Designing with Palms; and Richard Turner, retired editor of Pacific Horticulture magazine . You can follow Mike and Jason on their tree-themed Instagram pages at @sftreeguy and @loulufan. Richard edited another great book on San Francisco trees: Elizabeth McClintock’s Trees of Golden Gate Park. If you’re a tree enthusiast, buy all three books!