For this week’s tour, we visit the City’s first 21st-century neighborhood: Mission Bay. Once a land of warehouses and rail yards, Mission Bay has grown in the past two decades into a dense and dynamic urban neighborhood, filled with hospitals and medical facilities, corporate offices, housing for students and families, shops and restaurants, the Golden State Warriors’ new home (Chase Center), public art, numerous parks, plazas, and open space — and plenty of street trees. Because this entire neighborhood has been created by a developer in a series of broad strokes, the trees tend to appear as monocultures (masses of a single species) along streets and within parks. (Monocultures sometimes lead to diseases sweeping through a planting, seriously affecting all the trees of the same species.)

The tour begins on Terry Francois Blvd, at the eastern end of Mission Bay Commons Park, a broad green stripe of parkland through the neighborhood, flanked by Mission Bay Blvd, North and South.

The walk heads west along Mission Bay Blvd North to 3rd Street, then north on 3rd to China Basin Street, west on China Basin to 4th Street, and north on 4th to Channel Street. From here, the walk leads southwest on Channel Street along the south side of Mission Creek Park; the park contains a fine selection of trees, but the rough pavement precludes chalking. Midway to El Dorado Street, the tour crosses Channel Street and leads down a shaded pedestrian passage to Long Bridge Street, then heads west briefly before crossing to the walkway along the eastern side of Mission Bay Kids’ Park.

At China Basin Street, the walk heads further west along the park’s southern edge, dipping into the park for a single fine specimen of oak. The walk then heads back to China Basin Street, crosses at Merrimac Street, and heads south to Mission Bay Blvd North, then east to 4th Street, south on 4th to Mission Bay Blvd South, east on Mission Bay Blvd South to to the narrow passageway that leads south into the Cardiovascular Research Institute.

From here, the walk exits the southwest corner of the plaza and crosses Nelson Rising Lane into the UCSF residential complex, and out into Gene Friend Way, a broad linear pedestrian walkway. Taking Gene Friend Way to the west, the tour dips into the garden of the Sandler Neurosciences Center, then heads south between green Koret Quad and the Mission Bay Conference Center. At Campus Way, the tour heads west to Owens Street, then northwest along Owens to Gene Friend Way, here a private street.

After crossing Owens at Gene Friend, the tour heads southeast on Owens to the extension of Campus Way, dipping briefly into a pedestrian passageway all the way to B Street, almost below the elevated freeway, before returning to Owens, then heading souteast to 16th Street, east on 16th to Terry Francois Blvd, and north on Terry Francois to Warriors Way.

At Warriors Way, the walk heads west to Bridgeview Way, then north on Bridgeview to Pierpoint Lane, mid-block, east through Pierpoint to Terry Francois Blvd again, and north to the starting point at Mission Bay Commons Park.

Spotted gum - Eucalyptus maculata, very close to the starting point of the tour

We’ve provided this long introduction to the itinerary since street addresses are not always obvious in the neighborhood. Many of the trees are planted in block-long monocultures, where we have chosen not to locate by address but by block. Most of the trees are planted in pockets in the sidewalk pavement; many, however, are planted in public parks and plazas.

The 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 53. White arrows on the pavement provide directions whenever a turn is needed. Our trio of tree geeks responsible for this tour is the same: Jason Dewees (author of Designing with Palms), Richard Turner (retired editor of Pacific Horticulture), and I’m Mike Sullivan, author of Trees of San Francisco.

We strongly recommend using google maps to help in navigating the area. Have fun exploring this new urban neighborhood!

Terry Francois Blvd, between Mission Bay Blvds North and South, west side

1. Western red cedar (Thuja plicata), CA native; CA to AK and MT (a staggered line of 7 trees, uncommon in SF; this is an important timber tree in the Pacific Northwest, where Native Americans use it for canoes and totem poles)

Mission Bay Blvd North, at Terry Francois, north side

2. Incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens), CA native; Baja, CA, OR (2 trees; the wood of this tree is used in construction and for making pencils)

Mission Bay Blvd North, Terry Francois Blvd to Bridgeview Way, north side

3. Brisbane box (Lophostemon confertus), E Australia (this is the dominant street tree along the full length of Mission Bay Blvd North and most of the way along Mission Bay Blvd South)

Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta) — Mexican fan palm (*Washingtonia robusta*)

4. European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), NW Europe to Iran (this is the tree on both sides of Bridgeview Way from Mission Bay Blvd North to China Basin St)

***Cross to the Mission Bay Commons Park, between Mission Bay Blvd North and South

Mission Bay Commons Park, Bridgeview to 3rd St, northside walk

5. Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), C & N CA coastal native, tallest tree species in the world (a small grove of redwoods is at the corner of each block of Mission Bay Commons Park)

6. Crabapple (Malus sp.), undoubtedly a hybrid of species from Europe and/or Japan (a massing of crabapples can be found in the middle of each block of Mission Bay Commons Park)

7. Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia), E Asia (the most common elm in SF; Chinese elms line the outside of the east-west walks on both north and south sides of Mission Bay Commons Park)

3rd Street, Mission Bay Blvd North to China Basin St, west side

These two trees alternate along one or both sides of 3rd St throughout the Mission Bay development:

8. Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta), Mexico: Baja and Sonora

9. Marina strawberry tree (Arbutus ‘Marina’), hybrid of Mediterranean species, first introduced in San Francisco - the interesting San Francisco story can be found here

China Basin Street, 3rd St to 4th St, south side

10. Victorian box (Pittosporum undulatum), E Australia (the dominant street tree along both sides of China Basin St, from 3rd to 4th)

Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) - leaves and fruit (fruit turns red to signal to to birds that it’s ready to be eaten; when the fruit is edible to birds the seeds inside are mature and after going through the birds’ intestinal tracts, are ready to p… — Strawberry tree (*Arbutus unedo*) - leaves and fruit (fruit turns red to signal to to birds that it’s ready to be eaten; when the fruit is edible to birds the seeds inside are mature and after going through the birds’ intestinal tracts, are ready to produce a future tree)

Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), Mediterranean Basin & Ireland (numerous small trees planted between sidewalk and buildings along China Basin St)

4th Street, China Basin to Channel streets, east side

11. Japanese pagoda tree (Styphnolobium japonicum; syn. Sophora japonica), China (the dominant tree along both sides of 4th St, from Mission Bay Blvd North to Channel St)

12. 1155 - 4th Thornless honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Inermis’), E USA

Long Bridge Street at 4th, east side

13. Water gum or small-leaf tristania (Tristaniopsis laurina), E Australia (SF’s most commonly planted tree; the dominant tree along both sides of Long Bridge St, from 4th to 3rd)

4th Street, Channel Street to Mission Creek, west side

14. Saratoga laurel (Laurus azorica ‘Saratoga’), Azores and Canary Islands (selected form introduced by Saratoga Horticultural Foundation)

This Eucalyptus stumped all three of us! — Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolibah), Australia (the row here are the only ones in San Francisco!

15. Monterey cypress (Hesperocyparis macrocarpa), Carmel, CA native (several trees along the eastern and southern edges of Mission Creek Park)

Channel Street, west of 4th St, north side

16. Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolibah), Australia (there are 20 or so specimens here. This one stumped us until our friend Sairus Patel from Stanford provided the ID! We think these are the only Coolibahs in San Francisco - but it’s just one one of the 700 or so species of eucalyptus from Australia.

16B Cajeput tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia), E Australia (feel the spongy bark)

(not numbered) Western sycamore (Platanus racemosa), California native, uncommon in San Francisco streets (the tall tree on the north edge of the park, past two smaller cherry trees, next to Mission Creek)

Western sycamore (Platanus racemosa) - one of the best in San Francisco! These trees are riparian (meaning that they love the edges of rivers), which means it’s very happy here on the edge of Mission Creek — Western sycamore (*Platanus racemosa*) - one of the best in San Francisco! These trees are riparian (meaning that they love the edges of rivers), which means it’s very happy here on the edge of Mission Creek

17. Peruvian pepper tree (Schinus molle), Peru, Chile (just inside the southern edge of the park)

***Where the park path meets the Channel Street sidewalk, please cross Channel carefully; there is no cross walk at this location.

Follow the unnamed pedestrian passageway south from Channel St to Long Bridge St

18. Red maple (Acer rubrum), Florida to Canada to Mississippi River (dominant tree along the west side of the passageway)

19. Italian bay tree (Laurus nobilis), Mediterranean Basin (dominant tree along the east side of the passageway; this is the bay leaf of culinary value; crush a leaf to smell it)

***Please cross Long Bridge St carefully

Follow the walkway between the condos and Mission Bay Kids’ Park, south to China Basin St

19B. African sumac (Rhus lancea, now known in botany as Searsia lancea), S Africa (this row of trees has received some unfortunate pruning to lower the height)

20. Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata), E Asia (a common replacement for American elms, which were decimated by Dutch elm disease in the eastern USA)

Head west on China Basin St but turn into the Kids’ Park on its main walkway

Cork oak (Quercus suber) - the oak that provides the cork for wine bottles — Cork oak (*Quercus suber*) - the oak that provides the cork for wine bottles

21. Cork oak (Quercus suber), Spain & Portugal (the bark of this tree provides the cork used in wine bottles)

***Cross China Basin St at the crosswalk to Merrimac Street

Merrimac Street, China Basin St to Mission Bay Blvd North, west side

22. Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), China and Vietnam (this tree, and others in the neighborhood, are showing signs of fireblight, a disease that causes leaves to turn brown and entire branches to die; unfortunately, this is one of the dominant trees in the neighborhood)

Mission Bay Blvd North, Merrimac St to 4th S, north side

Fan palms ((Washingtonia x filibusta), hybrid of CA native and Baja species — Fan palms ((*Washingtonia* x *filibusta*), hybrid of CA native and Baja species

23. Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata), E Asia (the dominant tree along the pedestrian passageway running north from Mission Bay Blvd)

24. Brisbane box (Lophostemon confertus), E Australia (planted the full length of Mission Bay Blvd North)

***Take a break at the food truck compound in Spark: good food, cold drinks, and Powder ice cream (what more would one need?). Then continue to Mission Bay Blvd South.

Mission Bay Blvd South at 4th St, south side

25. Filibusta palm (Washingtonia x filibusta), hybrid of CA native and Baja species (a grove of 12 trees; others are just west of 4th). Lucky that we had Jason, the palm expert with us - no one else could ID these trees as the hybrids!

***Continue east on Mission Bay Blvd South; turn south at the narrow pedestrian passageway into the UCSF Cardiovascular Research Institute plaza (designed by SF’s Andrea Cochran, one of the country’s top landscape architects)

Cardiovascular Research Institute plaza

26. Peruvian pepper tree (Schinus molle), Peru, Chile

The tree really (a Peruvian pepper tree - Schinus molle) is incidental to this park - it’s the grasses that make this park so beautiful… — The tree really (a Peruvian pepper tree - *Schinus molle*) is incidental to this park - it’s the grasses that make this park so beautiful…

Nelson Rising Lane, north side

A grove of coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens). Redwoods hate wind, and they’re very happy in this wind-sheltered space — A grove of coast redwoods (*Sequoia sempervirens*). Redwoods hate wind, and they’re very happy in this wind-sheltered space

28. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), China (numerous street trees on Nelson Rising and along the western edge of the plaza)

**Cross Nelson Rising Lane at the brick cross walk and enter the residential complex

Mission Bay Housing plaza

29. Marina strawberry tree (Arbutus ‘Marina’), hybrid of Mediterranean species, first introduced in San Francisco (4 trees along the west edge of the plaza) - the interesting San Francisco story can be found here

30. Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), C & N CA coastal native, tallest tree species in the world (a grove within the complex)

***Exit the residential complex onto Gene Friend Way, a broad pedestrian passage connecting 3rd St to the Mission Bay Conference Center and Owens St beyond. To the east, note the tall rusting steel plates, a sculpture by the renowned artist Richard Serra.

Gene Friend Way, 4th St to Owens St, north side

31. London plane tree (Platanus x acerifolia), hybrid of E USA species and European species (this commonly planted urban tree is prone to fungal diseases in SF’s cool foggy climate, as evidenced by the disfigured leaves and shoot tips on this tree)

Sanders Neurosciences Center plaza

32. Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis), W & C China (the female plants are bearing large panicles of fruits, and the foliage is taking on its autumn colors)

33. Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), Korea & Japan

34. Eastern dogwood (Cornus florida) E North America

35. Korean dogwood (Cornus kousa), E Asia

Head south on the pedestrian extension of Merrimac St, between the Mission Bay Conference Center and the green lawn of Koret Quad (chalk markings are on the stone seat walls)

36. Yarwood plane tree (Platanus occidentalis ‘Yarwood’), E North America (the row of trees on the south side of Gene Friend Way; this selection originated at Sather Tower, UC Berkeley)

dawn redwood (Metasequoia gglyptostroboides

37. Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis), Canary Islands (the grove of tall pines surrounding Koret Quad)

38. Saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana), hybrid of E Asian species

Campus Way, 4th St to Owens St, south side

39. Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), China (the row of deciduous conifers along the south side of Campus Way; long thought extinct but discovered in China in the 1940s)

Entry plaza for Mission Bay Conference Center, off Owens St, north of Campus Way

40. 1675 Owens Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora), E Asia (several trees in the central circle)

41. 1675 Owens Fastigiate European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’), NW Europe to Iran (two rows of narrow upright trees flanking the entry plaza)

Owens Street at Gene Friend St, NW corner

42. Olive (Olea europaea), Mediterranean Basin (two trees flanking the pedestrian access to the entry garden of Kaiser Hospital)

Gene Friend St, west of Owens St, south side

43. Ficus (Ficus microcarpa ‘Nitida’), S Asia (a common, albeit problematic, street tree throughout SF; only a few have been planted in Mission Bay)

Owens Street, southeast from Gene Friend Way, west side

44. Cajeput tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia), E Australia (young trees, the dominant planting along much of Owens St)

Pedestrian Walkway opposite Campus Way, between Owens and B Street

45. Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia), Argentina, Bolivia (a small grove in the sunken plaza opposite Starbucks)

46. Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’), a variety of Eurasian species (at the corner of B Street and the pedestrian walkway; clearly predates the development of Mission Bay—perhaps the oldest tree in the neighborhood)

47. Hopseed tree (Dodonaea viscosa), native throughout tropical and subtropical parts of the world (here trained as a tall narrow hedge)

Owens Street, west of Campus Way, east side

48. Japanese pagoda tree (Styphnolobium japonicum, formerly Sophora japonica), China (solid plantings of this tree on the east side of Owens from Gene Friend Way to 16th, between the sidewalk and the buildings)

16th Street, Owens to 3rd streets, north side

Along this stretch of 16th, we pass a number of trees that are repeats of species seen earlier on this walk, beginning with a continuation of the Japanese pagoda tree wrapping around Genentech Hall. Just before 4th Street is a dense bosque (a formally planted “forest” of trees, from the Spanish word for forest) of European hornbeams. At the corner of 16th and 4th is a lonely coast redwood, unhappy being planted in this concrete desert. Between 4th and 3rd are, in order, a bosque of ginkgos and a more open bosque of Chinese elms in front of SF Kebab.

16th Street, 3rd St to Illinois St, north side

49. Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), E USA to Mexico & C America (recently planted, these trees have been allowed to retain their lower branches; ultimately, those lower branches will result in a sturdier trunk than if the branches were pruned off)

16th Street, Illinois to Terry Francois Blvd, south side)

50. Round-leaf sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Rotundiloba’), E USA to Mexico & Central America (a selection with rounded leaf lobes, quite distinct from the other sweetgums on this street)

***Don’t miss the spherical sculptures with their mirrored inner surfaces, a captivating piece of public art at the NW corner of 16th St and Terry Francois Blvd.

Terry Francois Blvd, 16th to Warriors Way, west side

Along the east side of Chase Center, the street is lined with more cajeput trees, seen several times earlier on this walk.

***Turn west on Warriors Way, lined with ginkgos on both sides of the street.

Bridgeview Way, Warriors Way to Pierpont Lane, east side

51. Southern live oak, (Quercus virginiana), coastal SE USA to Mexico and Cuba (becoming a more commonly planted tree in CA, though the jury is still out on its adaptability to the unique climate of SF)

Pierpont Lane, Bridgeview to Terry Francois Blvd

52. Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), Canada, E USA, Mexico (a grouping within the small park at Terry Francois, west of the soaring steel sculpture)

Terry Francois Blvd, Pierpont Lane to Mission Bay Blvd South, west side

53. Spotted gum (Corymbia maculata), E Australia (an undeservedly rare tree with beautiful bark, well adapted to SF;) planted on both sides of Terry Francois north to Mission

This walking tour was organized by Mike Sullivan, author of The Trees of San Francisco (if you like this tour, there are 12 more neighborhood tree tours in Mike’s book), Jason Dewees, horticulturist at Flora Grubb Gardens and author of Designing with Palms; and Richard Turner, retired editor of Pacific Horticulture magazine and editor of Trees of Golden Gate Park. If you’re a tree enthusiast, buy all three books! You can follow Mike (@sftreeguy) and Jason (@loulufan) on Instagram.