In the euphemistically named Sunnyside neighborhood, we enjoyed a truly superb sunny Sunday chalking out our latest tree tour. We began at a neighborhood treasure: the Sunnyside Conservatory, which dates to 1898. After years of decline, it was designated City Landmark #78 in 1975 and has, in recent years, seen a series of upgrades in access, hardscape, and plantings, thanks to a notable partnership between the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, the Department of Public Works, and an active local support group, Friends of Sunnyside Conservatory. (Read more about the project at sunnysideconservatory.org.)

This walk begins at the front gate of the Sunnyside Conservatory on Monterey Blvd. Look for the white numbers on the concrete curbing and retaining walls along the broad walk through the Conservatory’s garden, eventually exiting up the steps at the northeast corner to Joost Avenue. At Joost, the tour heads west on Joost to Congo Street, then returns on the north side of Joost to the Mini-Park mid-block. It then heads up the steps through the Mini-Park to Mangles Avenue, before returning down the steps to Joost again. At Joost, the walk continues east to Baden, then south on Baden to Monterey Blvd, and finally west on Monterey to the Sunnyside Conservatory. This walk is barely one mile long. Be forewarned that there are several flights of steps involved, through the Conservatory and up to Joost, and again from Joost up to Mangels and back down within the Mini-Park.

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 51. White arrows on the pavement provide directions whenever a turn is needed. (To preserve the sanctity of the Sunnyside Conservatory’s garden, we have only provided the numbers, in white, for the trees on this portion of the walk.)

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).

Sunnyside Conservatory at 236 Monterey Blvd, between Baden and Congo streets, north side

(We have only chalked the numbers, in white, on concrete curbing and retaining walls within the Conservatory gardens.)

1. Pindo palm (Butia odorata), Southern Brazil and Uruguay

2. River banksia (Banksia seminuda),southwest Australia (look for the bright yellow flowers)

3. Grass-leaf hakea (Hakea francisiana), south and southwest Australia

4. Variegated century plant (Agave americana ‘Variegata’), Mexico,southwest USA

5. Canary Island date palms (Phoenix canariensis), Canary Islands, Spain (these trees are over 100 years old)

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

6. Waggie palm (Trachycarpus fortunei ‘Wagnerianus’), China

7. Cabbage tree or tī koūka in Māori (Cordyline australis), New Zealand

8. Tree fuchsia (Fuchsia arborescens), C America (this large shrubby fuchsia flowers all year in San Francisco)

9. Chilean palm (Jubaea chilensis), Chile (one of San Francisco’s finest specimens, this specimen is over 100 years old)

10. Evergreen dogwood (Cornus capitata), Himalayas (watch for the white flowers in late spring, followed by red fruits in the fall)

11. Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla), Australia, Norfolk Island

12. Tasmanian tree fern (Dicksonia antarctica), southeast Australia

12B Australian tree fern (Cyathea cooperi), NE Australia (compare the trunks on this tree fern and the previous one)

13. Nikau palm (Rhopalostylis sapida), New Zealand

**Exit the main part of the Conservatory’s garden at the northeast corner, following a flight of steps through a garden passageway to Joost Avenue; the trees noted by number are on the right and left of the steps**

14. (right) Giant bird-of-paradise (Strelitzia nicolai), South Africa

15. (left) Stinging wigandia (Wigandia urens), Southern Mexico to NW South America (beware of the stinging hairs on the leaves)

16. (left) Firewheel tree (Stenocarpus sinuatus), NE Australia

closeup of a lilly pilly tree (Syzygium smithii, previously known as Acmena smithii) — closeup of a lilly pilly tree (*Syzygium smithii*, previously known as *Acmena smithii*)

17. (right) Pompom tree (Dais cotinifolia), South Africa (watch for the pink flowers in early summer)

Joost Avenue, west to Congo Street, south side

18. 257 Joost Lilly pilly tree (Syzygium smithii, previously known as Acmena smithii), eastern Australia

19. 265 Joost Cabbage tree or tī koūka in Māori (Cordyline australis), New Zealand (this is a much older specimen than the one in the Conservatory’s garden)

20. 277 Joost Lemon (Citrus x limon) hybrid of southeast Asia species

21. 281 Joost Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla), Norfolk Island, South Pacific

22. 289 Joost Marina strawberry tree (Arbutus ‘Marina’), hybrid of Mediterranean species (first introduced in San Francisco)

23. 293 Joost Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), Japan, China, Korea

** Cross to the north side of Joost**

Joost Avenue, east of Congo Street to the Mini-Park, north side

*Note: the next five trees are actually on Joost, along the side of 400 Congo)

24. 400 Congo Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneus), eastern Australia

25. 400 Congo Hackberry (Celtis species)

26. 400 Congo Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin), Iran

27. 400 Congo Mulberry (Morus species)

28. 400 Congo Blue Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’), Morocco and Algeria

29. 268 Joost Peppermint willow (Agonis flexuosa),southwest Australia

30 266 Joost Peruvian pepper tree (Schinus molle), Peru, Chile

31. 262 Joost Brisbane box (Lophostemon confertus), eastern Australia

**Head up the steps through the Mini-Park, almost to Mangles Avenue**

Within the Mini-Park, on right or left of steps

31B. (left) Coffeeberry (Frangula californica), CA native, including San Francisco

32. (left) Champak (Magnolia champaca) South and southeast Asia (flowers are fragrant)

33. (left) Flowering cherry (Prunus serrulata), E Asia

34. (right) English or cherry laurel, English laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), Black Sea (this species and the next one were originally part of a hedge that has been allowed to grow beyond its original bounds)

35. (right) Portugal laurel (Prunus lusitanica), France to Portugal and Morocco

36. (left) Islay (Prunus ilicifolius), San Francisco native tree (the namesake of Islais Creek in Glen Canyon)

37. (left) Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), CA native, including San Francisco

38. (left) Grapefruit tree (Citrus x paradisi), hybrid of two other citrus: sweet orange and pomelo (within the yard to the west)

39. (right) Ray Hartman ceanothus (Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’), hybrid of CA native species

40. (right) Hopseed tree (Dodonaea viscosa ‘Purpurea’), native throughout tropical and subtropical parts of the world (this was likely a hedge planting originally)

41. (right) Century plant (Agave salmiana var. ferox), Mexico (this succulent is not a tree at all, but the tall, asparagus-like flower stalk will be tree-like in form when in full bloom; the stalk will likely grow another 15 feet taller before flowering; the plant will die after flowering)

**Return down the steps to Joost**

Joost Avenue, east to Baden Street, north side

42. 238 Joost Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis), Canary Islands, Spain

43. 226 Joost Bailey’s acacia (Acacia baileyana), eastern Australia (often the first species to bloom in January)

***Cross Joost carefully***

Joost Avenue, east to Baden, south side

44. 201 Joost Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), eastern USA to Mexico and Central America (these two trees are surprisingly evergreen)

45. 201 Joost English holly (Ilex aquifolium), W Europe and N Africa (a magnificent specimen)

Joost Avenue, east of Baden, south side

46. 199 Joost Red-flowering gum (Corymbia ficifolia),southwest Australia (first tree across the street)

Baden Street, Joost to Monterey, west side

47. 201 Joost Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii), Japan and Korea (tree is in the rear yard, on Baden)

48. 190 Monterey Silver wattle (Acacia dealbata), eastern Australia (tree is in the rear yard, on Baden, across the street; seldom planted anymore, as it has proven to be highly invasive)

48. 215 Baden King palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana), eastern Australia

[49 not used]

Monterey Blvd, west from Baden, north side

50. 222 Monterey Red-leaf photinia (Photinia x fraseri), hybrid (more commonly seen as a dense shrub with red new foliage along our freeways)

51. 236 Monterey Carrotwood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides), eastern Australia (several nice specimens continue along Monterey to Congo St.)

The Sunnyside Tree Walk ends here, where it began, at the Sunnyside Conservatory.

A short commercial: I’m Mike Sullivan, author of The Trees of San Francisco and webmaster of www.sftrees.com, and I created this tour. You can follow me on my tree-themed Instagram page at @sftreeguy. If you enjoyed the tour, I think you’ll like my book - it’s hard to keep a local book in print, so click here to buy a copy or visit your local independent bookseller to get a copy!