Urban Forestry Council Landmark Tree Evaluation Form and Criteria

Pursuant to Ordinance 0017-06 and Public Works Code Section 810, the UFC has developed these criteria for evaluating potential landmark trees in San Francisco. When evaluating or considering potential landmark trees, please consider the context of the tree within its site location. For example, a tree on PUC land may not have the same community importance that a street or park tree would. Use comment sections, as appropriate, to explain or support evaluation. Attach sheets if more space is needed.

Evaluator’s name: Jon Swae Date of evaluation: 10-9-2018 (10:45am) Scientific name: Aesculus California Common name: California buckeye Street address: 2694 McAllister Street Cross streets: Willard Street North

Rarity _X__ Yes ___ Partially ___ No

Rarity: __X__Rare ____Uncommon ____Common ____Other Unusual species in San Francisco or other geographic regions.

Comment: California buckeyes are a native California species. They don’t appear common in San Francisco. Only 43 buckeye trees were recorded in the Street Tree Census (2017). It is rare for such a large specimen to be found in San Francisco and located in such a prime visible location next to the public right-of-way.

Physical Attributes _X__ Yes ___ Partially ___ No

Size: __X__Large ____Medium ____Small Notable size compared to other trees of the same species in San Francisco.

Comment: This is certainly the largest California Buckeye I have ever seen in either an urban or non- urban location. It is quite magnificent. The Trees of San Francisco book by Mike Sullivan lists the tree as “the largest California buckeye in San Francisco.”

Age: __X__Yes ____No Significantly advanced age for the species.

Comment: Given the large size of the tree and trunk, it appears significantly advanced in age. The home associated with the tree was built in 1900. The tree was likely planted around then.

Distinguished form: __X__Yes ____No

Page 1 Urban Forestry Council 2 Landmark Tree Evaluation Form and Criteria Tree is an example of good form for its species, has a majestic quality or otherwise unique structure.

Describe: The tree has a very large and unique trunk with many knobby shapes. The tree’s large and high canopy spreads over the property’s front yard and surrounding sidewalks. Photos of the tree in bloom and covered in green leaves reveal a very fine appearing form.

Tree condition: __X__Good ____Poor ____Hazard Consider overall tree health and structure, and whether or not tree poses a hazard

Describe: The tree appears to be in a good condition for such age. Marks are visible where pruning has occurred in the past. Some moss can be seen growing on limbs.

Historical ___ Yes ___ Partially ___ No

Historical Association: ____ Yes ____ None apparent Related to a historic or cultural building, site, street, person, event, etc.

Describe nature of appreciation: I am not aware of any connection of the tree to historic events, people or structures.

Profiled in a publication or other media: __X__Yes ____Unknown Tree has received coverage in print, internet, video media, etc. Attach documentation if appropriate.

Describe coverage: The tree is discussed in The Trees of San Francisco by Mike Sullivan an on websites of local native plant organizations.

Environmental __X_ Yes ___ Partially ___ No

Prominent landscape feature: __X__Yes ____No A striking and outstanding natural feature.

Describe, attach photo if possible: The tree has a striking presence and creates a prominent feature on the corner of McAllister and Willard North Streets. It would be difficult to not notice the buckeye.

Low tree density: ____Low ____Moderate ____High Tree exists in a neighborhood with very few trees.

Describe: _ McAllister and nearby streets appear only partially covered by street trees. The Inner Richmond has an estimated canopy of 9.5%.

Interdependent group of trees: _ __Yes __X__No This tree in an integral member of a group of trees and removing it may have an adverse impact on adjacent trees.

Describe: A very old and large California Bay tree is located adjacent to the buckeye. It is uncertain how any potential removal would impact this other tree.

Page 2 Urban Forestry Council 3 Landmark Tree Evaluation Form and Criteria Visible or Accessible from public right-of-way: __X__Yes ____No High visibility and/or accessibility from public property. Describe: The tree cannot be missed. Its prominent location at the corner makes it highly visible to pedestrians, vehicles and nearby homes.

High traffic area: ____Yes __X__No Tree is located in an area that has a high volume of vehicle, pedestrian or bike traffic and has a potential traffic calming effect.

Describe: Moderate vehicle and pedestrian traffic was visible during time of viewing (~11am).

Important wildlife habitat: __X__Yes ____No Species has a known relationship with a particular local wildlife species or it provides food, shelter, or nesting to specific known wildlife individuals.

Describe: Birds were visible in the trees branches at the time of visit.

Erosion control: ____Yes __X_No Tree prevents soil erosion.

Describe: I am unaware of any major erosion control function being performed by the tree.

Wind or sound barrier: ____Yes __X__No Tree reduces wind speed or mitigates undesirable noise.

Describe: The tree does not appear to provide a significant wind or sound barrier.

Cultural ___ Yes _X__ Partially ___ No

Neighborhood appreciation: __X__ Yes ____None apparent Multiple indicators such as letters of support, petition, outdoor gatherings, celebrations adjacent or related to tree, etc. Attach documentation:

Describe: I believe an easement was put on the property at some point in the past requiring Friends of the Urban Forest to be involved in any decisions by future property owners affecting the tree. This presumably was initiated out of strong interest in the tree. The Urban Forestry Council has also periodically remarked on the tree’s significance in San Francisco. I am not aware of any letters from neighbors in regards to landmark designation.

Cultural appreciation: __X__Yes ____None apparent Particular value to certain cultural or ethnic groups in the city.

Describe nature of appreciation: The McAllister Street buckeye is celebrated by various local native plant and habitat restoration organizations. The tree is mentioned in documents from the California Native Plant Society’s Yerba Buena Chapter and by the Sutro Stewards Project (see attached documentation).

Page 3 Urban Forestry Council 4 Landmark Tree Evaluation Form and Criteria Planting contributes to neighborhood character: __X__Yes ____No Tree contributes significantly to, or represents, neighborhood aesthetic.

Describe contribution: I would say the tree does contribute to the neighborhood’s character. Its unique size, age and form along with its location in the front yard of a 100 year old home creates a very rare focal point in a neighborhood with mostly large apartment buildings.

Profiled in a publication or other media: __X__Yes ____Unknown Tree has received coverage in print, internet, video media, etc. Attach documentation if appropriate.

Describe coverage: The tree is mentioned in the Trees of San Francisco book and in documents by local environmental organizations.

Prominent landscape feature: __X__Yes ____No A striking and outstanding natural feature.

Describe, attach photo if possible: Yes, the tree is surely a prominent landscape feature as is discussed throughout this document. While the viewing occurred in the fall, springtime photos show the tree in striking full bloom with many white cone-like flowers blooming.

Additional comments

Page 4 10/9/2018 California Buckeye (Aesculus californica) - Yerba Buena Chapter – CNPS

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California Buckeye (Aesculus californica) Posted on January 8, 2017 by Jake Sigg

The California buckeye (Aesculus californica) is common in the Bay Area but harsh winds, sandy soils, and other factors conspired to prevent very many trees from growing in San Francisco prior to European contact. A Flora of San Francisco, California, published in 1958, states that Archibald Menzies in the 1792 Vancouver Expedition records the buckeye on the “skirts of the Bay and hilly Country behind” in the northeastern part of what is now San Francisco.

The flora reported only one tree extant in the city in 1958 and it is still thriving at the Caltrain station at 22nd and Pennsylvania Streets. Subsequently we have located a sizable one in a backyard at the base of a cliff at the open space at Palou and Phelps Streets. Other large ones are on the shoreline of Mallard Lake in Golden Gate Park and in a front yard at 2694 McAllister Street, corner of Willard.

The trunk of the last-noted one is approximately two feet diameter just above its swollen base. Knobby excrescences and fused branches invite visual inspection, one fusing branch producing a ten-inch-diameter doughnut hole. Some of the limbs are larger than the trunks of most trees you will encounter. An impressively large California bay laurel keeps it close company. But you should see the trees soon-they are growing in front of an old empty cottage with an unkempt yard (as is the cottage next door) and they both have “condo” written all over them. It would be nice if the landowner were enlightened enough to save them but the world isn’t like that, is it?

BuckeyeAre these cited trees indigenous occurrences? Estimating the age of a buckeye is not easy. Buckeyes have a moderate growth rate even when growing in fairly dry surroundings. When water is available growth can be rapid, so that a large tree is not necessarily very old. http://cnps-yerbabuena.org/california-buckeye-aesculus-californica/ 1/3 10/9/2018 California Buckeye (Aesculus californica) - Yerba Buena Chapter – CNPS Buckeyes share with olives the ability to look ancient after only a few decades. In the case of Home Calendar Gardening Exploring About Contact Volun the McAllister tree, reasoning tells you that it is not likely that a buckeye grew atop windswept sand dunes. Lack of water and leaves sensitive to wind would prohibit that. More likely the buckeye and the bay were planted by the owner after the cottage was built. The Mallard Lake tree could be indigenous because it is growing in a depression, out of the wind and where the water table was probably high enough. However, abundant water is provided by the lake and it could have been planted within the last five or six decades.

Buckeyes are easy to grow and if you have space in your yard (they will eventually want to spread thirty feet or more) you might want to pick up a seed at our November plant sale. We recommend seed rather than a plant because a buckeye grows quickly from seed, it will have a better-formed root system, and it will grow faster than if you had started from a plant in a can.

Posted in Gardening with Natives.

Jake Sigg

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Featured Posts Native Trees: San Francisco’s Long time Residents April 24, 2017 Janis Gomes

California is widely known as the home to some of the largest trees in the world. Among them is the native California redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and native giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), the latter species boasting the largest single living tree Could the Clarendon (by volume) in the world. Here in San Francisco, a unique microclimate, windy Trailhead Stonework be conditions, and sandy and serpentine soils have precluded the area from having an Your Legacy Project? extensive native tree canopy, let alone producing the aforementioned “big trees” found July 5, 2018 in other parts of the state.

Nevertheless, San Francisco has always Recent Posts had its share of native trees. Long before the major tree plantings of the late 1800s, BiodiverseCity small stands of native oaks, bay laurel, Summit at the Global willows, and California buckeye graced the Climate Action landscape, near creeks and in canyons, Summit - Post Event Message and in the city’s less windy eastern side. In October 5, 2018 fact, the coast live oak (pictured left) was among the most important food sources for the Ohlone Indians. Acorns, when ground CVIA will Match $1,500 into meal, provide high protein calories in Donations! year-round and were important in winter October 2, 2018 and other times of scarcity. You can also still see some of the area’s early oak trees in remnant patches such as the Oak Trip Report: Woodlands in Golden Gate Park. In San September Bird Walk Francisco A Natural History, Garr and Miller September 11, 2018 (pg. 53) noted, “Arroyo willow thickets lined the former city creeks, along with occasional wax myrtles. California Bay trees Beers Made by or laurels were located along Mission Creek Walking Tickets on in the Mission District. Coffeeberry Sale Now! September 11, 2018 (Rhamnus californica) and toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), though classified as shrubs, can grow to the size of a small tree.”

While today many of the city’s trees are introduced species that have faired well in our Trip Report: August Bird Walk unique climate, a number of native trees and shrubs continue to enjoy a place in our landscape. A few notable ones are highlighted here:

California Buckeye (Aesculus August 24, 2018 californica) or California horse chestnut has been called a tree for all seasons. In early spring its bright chartreuse palm-shaped Search By Tags foliage announces spring long before most any other tree. Then in spring and summer it 10th anniversary BMBW Bay Area puts on a spectacular display of cone-like Bay Area Ridge Trail white flower spikes. In fall and winter after Beers Made by Walking shedding all its leaves and fruit, its silvery BiodiverseCity Summit CNPS smooth bare branches resemble an CVIA ethereal piece of artwork glowing in the California Academy of Sciences moonlight. California Scrub-Jay Aesculus californica is a member of the Chlorogalum pomeridianum Sapindaceae (soapberry) family and is the Clarendon Clarendon Trailhead only buckeye species native to California. It Cole Valley Improvement is distributed widely in the state among Association coastal sage scrub, mixed-evergreen forest, Community Challenge Grant DEIR riparian areas (rivers & creeks) and central District 7 EIR Executive Director https://www.sutrostewards.org/single-post/2017/04/24/Native-Trees-San-Francisco%E2%80%99s-Long-time-Residents 1/3 10/9/2018 Native Trees: San Francisco’s Long time Residents | Sutro Stewards | Mount Sutro | Volunteer in San Francisco oak woodland. It is a large shrub or tree Fall Plant Sale growing from 13-40 feet tall and is typically multi-trunked. The California buckeye’s Franciscan wallflower crown is as broad as it is high. Young leaves are chartreuse green, turning darker green Global Climate Action Summit as it matures and has five to seven palmate (shaped like an open palm or like a hand Golden Gate Audubon Society with the fingers extended) leaflets. It has leathery pear-like seed pods and shiny brown Historic Trail Mount Sutro seeds that look like chestnuts. But don’t roast them since they are known to be unpleasant tasting and are toxic. Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve Mr. Sutro Mt. Sutro Birds and Bees: The sweetly fragrant flowers of this tree provide a rich pollen and National Trails Day Normal Yee nectar source for native bees, hummingbirds, and many species of butterflies. North Ridge Trail Northern Flicker However, Aesculus californica pollen is known to be hazardous to honey bees, none of Pacific wren Programs Assistant which are native to California. It is advised not to plant them near to apiaries. REI SF Beer Week

Local native American tribes, including the Pomo, Yokut, and Luiseño, crushed the SF Urban Riders San Francisco poisonous nuts to stupefy schools of fish in small streams to make them easier to catch. Stewardship Assistant Buckeye also makes a good fireboard for a bow drill to make fire with. Supervisor Yee Sutro Bird Watcher Sutro Forest In the garden, California buckeye is drought tolerant. Sutro Native Plant Nursery However, it will go deciduous early (summer) if dry, Sutro Reserve Sutro Stewards hence, it may look better with some watering. In cool coastal climates, leaves may hold through early fall. Technical Advisory Committee Aesculus californica tolerates clay, serpentine, and Twin Peaks seasonal flooding. It is also great for a butterfly garden. It UCSF Mount Sutro Open Space works well with other natives such as Buckwheat Reserve (Eriogonum sp.), Coffeeberry (Frangula californica), Sticky Wilson's Warbler aguilegia Monkeyflower (Mimulus aguilegia formosa animals aurantiacus), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Oak anniversary assistant audubon (Quercus sp.), Redberry (Rhamnus crocea), Currant backyard beer bees beginning (Ribes sp.), Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea), Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), and many others, as well as numerous annual wildflowers. best city hike bike bell biking bioblitz biodiversity bird You can see California buckeye in a number of places in the city, including atop Mt. bird walk bird watching birding Sutro in Rotary Meadow. One of the more prominent specimens can be seen on the birds black phoebe corner of Willard North and McAllister Street near the University of San Francisco. blue-eyed grass brewers

brewery buckeye building Hollyleaf cherry (Prunus ilicifollia) butterflies california native plants is also known as Islais Cherry. Islais Creek, in San Francisco’s Glen Canyon south of children chutney citizen science Twin Peaks, is named for the hollyleaf clarkia climate cherry that reportedly grew along this clinopodium douglasii columbine riparian habitat. It is an evergreen shrub to community small tree that is native to community engagement the chaparral areas of conservation coservation coastal California (from Mendocino County to San Diego County), Baja cow parsnip craft beer California, and Baja California Sur, as well crew leader crew leader profile as the desert chaparral areas of the Mojave crew leaders crosswalk cuttings desert. It is a member of the rose family, cycling donate drought tolerant Rosaceae, and grows 8-30 feet tall with dune habitat dunes ecology shiny, spiny-toothed leaves. Its fruits are edible plants education sweet edible cherries, although they contain little flesh. Its small white flowers are environment fall events family produced on racemes (a flower cluster with family nature hike the separate flowers attached by short farewell to spring fauna festival equal stalks at equal distances along a flora flora and fauna flowers central stem) in the spring. flycatcher founding memebers

fringecup fundraiser gardening Birds and Bees: Hollyleaf cherry is an excellent tree for encouraging wildlife into the grant grindelia guided hike garden. The flowers attract bees. The fruits are relished by many bird species and the seeds are consumed by small mammals. These birds and animals also help to disperse guided tour gum plant habitat the seeds away from the parent plant. In addition, many bird and animal species use habitat restoration hawk the plants for cover as well as nesting places. heracleum heteromeles hike hike report hikers hiking hiring Native American uses: Central and southern California tribes prized hollyleaf cherry history hollyleaf cherry not so much for its minimal fleshy fruit, but for its seed kernel or pit, which had to be horticulture hummingbirds subjected to a lengthy cooking process to remove the poisonous hydrocyanic acid it contained. The flour made from the processed pits was said to taste like beans or intern intern profile internship chestnuts. The Diegueño and the Cahuilla are among the tribes that treated colds and jobs junco kids coughs with infusions made from hollyleaf cherry bark and roots. management plan manroot mapping marah masonry In the garden hollyleaf cherry is easy to care for, has a low water requirement, and mount sutro multi-use tolerates a variety of soil. It can tolerate temperatures down to 15° F. It works well with native plant society native plants native trees and brush such as Coyotebrush (Baccharis pilularis), Barberry (Berberis https://www.sutrostewards.org/single-post/2017/04/24/Native-Trees-San-Francisco%E2%80%99s-Long-time-Residents 2/3 10/9/2018 Native Trees: San Francisco’s Long time Residents | Sutro Stewards | Mount Sutro | Volunteer in San Francisco sp.), Ceanothus sp., Redbud (Cercis occidentalis), native trees nature nursery Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), Pines (Pinus sp.), Oak nursery intern nursery tour oak (Quercus sp.), Flannelbush (Fremontodendron sp.), open house participatory budget Currant (Ribes sp.), and many others. It is deer resistant, party pedestrian safety and can be used as a hedge or for bank stabilization. pink flowering currant

place-based plant care Come Visit Us! plant hike plant identification The Sutro Stewards Native Plant Nursery is a great place plant profile plant propagation to learn about native plants. To learn more about the plant sale planting plants nursery and our Wednesday volunteer opportunities, see our Nursery page. To learn pollinators profile propagation about Sutro Stewards’ other activities and volunteer efforts see our Events calendar. rain garden rainwater catchment

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1. Sequoiadendron giganteum. Wikipedia. March 2017. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoiadendron_giganteum spring steller's jay stewardship 2. San Francisco Urban Forest Plan. Final Fall 2014., http://default.sfplanning.org/plans-and-programs/planning-for- sticky monkey flower stonework the-city/urban-forest-plan/Urban_Forest_Plan_Final-092314WEB.pdf stormwater student interns 3. Holloran, Pete, Coast Live Oaks (Quercus agrifolica). Historical Essay. Shaping San Francisco’s Digital Archive@FoundSF. FoundSF.org. http://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Coast_Live_Oaks_(Quercus_agrifolia) summit sutro stewards tapping 4. Garr G. and Miller R. San Francisco A Natural History. Arcadia Publishing. 2006. tellima tours toyon trail bell 5. Raiche, R. California Buckeye: A Tree for All Seasons. Pacific Horticulture. Jan. 2009. http://www.pacifichorticulture.org/articles/california-buckeye-a-tree-for-all-seasons/ trail building trail running 6. California Buckeye. Aesculus californica. California Native Plant Society. http://calscape.org/Aesculus- trail system trailhead trails californica-() training trip report 7. Ridgeway, S. Aesculus californicus. California Buckeye. Univ. of California UC Master Gardener Program. http://sonomamg.ucanr.edu/Plant_of_the_Month/Aesculus_californica_-_California_buckeye/ urban biodiversity volunteer 8. Rose, Evelyn. A-Foresting We Will Go. A History of Trees in San Francisco. Part I. Blog Post. August 2013. volunteer appreciation party http://www.trampsofsanfrancisco.com/a-foresting-we-will-go-a-history-of-trees-in-san-francisco/ 9. Prunus Ilicifolia. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_ilicifolia volunteer spotlight walkers 10. Hollyleaf Cherry. Prunus Ilicifolia. California Native Plant Society. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_ilicifolia walking wallflower water 11. Anderson, M. Kat. Tending the Wild. Native American Knowledge and the Management of California’s Natural weeding wild onion Resources. Univ. of California Press. 2005 12. Hollyleaf Cherry. Prunus Ilicifolia. USDA NRCS Plant Guide. https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_pril.pdf wildflower walk wildflowers wildlife wlaking woodpecker yerba buena Tags: plant profile native trees oak hollyleaf cherry buckeye california native plants mount sutro sutro stewards Follow Us

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