Urban trees

Most of Kelowna is located in a 6a plant hardiness zone (plants can withstand a minimum temperature of -23 °Cand can support a wide variety of ornamental and native plants. Winter temperatures become cooler farther away from the influence of the lake and at higher elevations. 

If you have any questions about the suitability of a particular plant for your yard, we recommend consulting your local nursery to ensure the plants are hardy enough for your area.

Choosing urban trees

Planting the right tree in the right location is the most critical step when landscaping in order to avoid problems later. Check out some great tips below to consider when selecting a new tree. Visit our NeighbourWoods page for tree planting tips.

Site considerations
Site features that affect the planting process

Attributes: Some species are messy (dropping fruit, leaves or pods) or prone to suckering, pest infestations or wind damage, and require higher levels of maintenance. Is the species slow or fast growing? 

Climate: The species must be adapted to local hardiness zones. Also consider microclimatic factors: elevation, aspect, topography and wind/sun exposure. 

Disturbance: Is the site prone to air pollution, vandalism, mechanical damage, road salts or high winds? Will staking or protective barriers be necessary until the tree is established? 

Diversity: Avoid planting mono cultures or species that are already heavily used in nearby areas. Diversity can help to reduce pest problems. 

Form and function:Is the tree intended for shade, screening or seasonal colourWhat is the appropriate size or shape of the mature crown? 

Location: Ample space must be available for the tree when its fully mature to avoid conflicts with pedestrians, buildings, other trees, overhead or underground utility wires, or sidewalk damage. Root barriers may be necessary to avoid lifting of sidewalks or driveways. 

Soil:What is the soil texture (clay/silt/sand/loam), pH, organic matter and level of compaction? In general, soils in Glenmore tend to be heavy clay; soils in Rutland tend to be rocky and well drained; and soils in the Mission area tend to be sandy (sloped areas) or boggy (flat areas). 

Sunlight: Is the site exposed to full sun, partial shading or full shade? 

Water: Consider the level of the ground water table, soil drainage, presence or absence of irrigation, topography (affecting drainage and available water), amount of soil available (especially for small spaces) and expected competition with other trees, grass or plants for water. 

Tree selection

The water needs identified below describe general requirements for a species once established and for a typical growing season. However, water requirements can change significantly throughout the year and depend on many factors. Newly planted trees require more frequent watering and all trees will require more watering during times of prolonged drought (over 10 days).

Watering should always take place at the outer edge of where the branches end, as this is where the fine roots are located. Ensure you receive direction about the water requirements for your specific tree when purchasing from a nursery.

Sun: F – Requires full sunlight, P – Tolerates partial shade, S – Tolerates shade
Water: H – High, M – Moderate, L – Low
Attributes: Features that should be considered for your location and situation

Columnar trees

These trees have a narrow, upright form and are suitable for confined locations or in planting strips that are offset from overhead obstacles, such as utility lines.

 SunWaterAttributes
Armstrong red maple
  Acer rubrum ‘Armstrong’
F - PHDrought tolerant
Pest resistant
Columnar Norway maple
  Acer platanoides
FHDrought tolerant
Pollution tolerant
European hornbeam
  Carpinus betulus ‘fastigiata’
F - PMPollution tolerant
Flowers
Fastigiate beech
  Fagus sylvatica ‘fastigiate’
PMDeer resistant
Swedish columnar poplar
  Populus tremula ‘erecta’
F - PMDrought tolerant
Pyramidal American linden
  Tilia americana ‘fastigiata’
F - PMFlowers
Fruit

*Indicates trees that are not as well tested in the Kelowna area but appear promising based upon reports from elsewhere. May be difficult to find.

Conifers

Conifers can work well in certain landscapes. However, they can become quite large and aren't suitable for areas where space is a limiting factor They will provide year-round wind and sun protection.

 SunWaterAttributes
White fir
  Abies concolor
F - PMDrought tolerant
Pest resistant
Yellow cedar*
  Cupressus nootkatensis
F - PMPest resistant
Dawn redwood*
  Metasequoia glyptostroboides
M - HPest resistant
Norway spruce
  Picea abies
MPollution tolerant
Attracts birds
Deer resistant
Norway spruce
  Picea abies
F - PMDrought tolerant
Larger seeds/cones
Deer resistant
Blue spruce
  Picea pungens
FMDrought tolerant
Pollution tolerant
Larger seeds/cones
Deer resistant
Western white pine
  Pinus monticola
MLarger seeds/cones
Austrian pine
  Pinus nigra
MPollution tolerant
Deer resistant
Ponderosa pine
  Pinus ponderosa 
MDrought tolerant
Larger seeds/cones
Deer resistant
Eastern white pine
  Pinus strobus
F - PMDrought tolerant
Attracts birds
Deer resistant
Scotch pine
  Pinus sylvestris
F - PMDrought tolerant
Pollution tolerant
Larger seeds/cones
Deer resistant
Interior douglas-fir
  Pseudotsuga menziesii
MDrought tolerant
Larger seeds/cones
Western red cedar
  Thuja plicata
F - PM - H 

*Indicates trees that are not as well tested in the Kelowna area but appear promising based upon reports from elsewhere. May be difficult to find.

Large trees

These trees grow to 15-25 metres tall at maturity and are suitable for larger planting sites with no overhead obstructions. Planting strips should be at least 2.5 metres wide with suggested minimum spacing of 13-16 metres.

 SunWaterAttributes
Sugar maple
     Acer saccharum
F - PM 
Common hackberry
     Celtis occidentalis
F - PH - MPollution tolerant
Fruit
Attracts birds
Katsura tree
     Cercidiphyllum japonicum
F - PMPest resistant
Kentucky yellow-wood*
     Cladrastis kentukea
FMFlowers
Larger seeds/cones
Pest resistant
Hardy rubber tree
     Eucommia ulmoides
F - PMDrought tolerant
Pest resistant
Deer resistant
European beech
     Fagus sylvatica
F - PMDrought tolerant
Attracts birds
Deer resistant
White ash
     Fraxinus Americana
FMFlowers
Green ash
     Fraxinus pennsylvanica
FMDrought tolerant
Pollution tolerant
Deer resistant
Maidenhair tree
     Gingko biloba
FMPollution tolerant
Kentucky coffeetree
     Gymnocladus dioica
FMDrought tolerant
Pollution tolerant
Flowers
Larger seeds/cones
Pest resistant
American sweetgum
     Liquidamber styraciflua
FMFruit
Larger seeds/cones
Deer resistant
Tulip tree
     Liriodendron tulipifera
FMFlowers
Deer resistant
London plane
     Platanus acerifolia
FMDrought tolerant
Pollution tolerant
Larger seeds/cones
White oak
     Quercus alba
FMDrought tolerant
Larger seeds/cones
Scarlet oak
     Quercus coccinea
FM - LDrought tolerant
Larger seeds/cones
Pest resistant
Bur oak
     Quercus macrocarpa
FM - LDrought tolerant
Pollution tolerant
Larger seeds/cones
English oak
     Quercus robur
FMDrought tolerant
Pollution tolerant
Larger seeds/cones
Pest resistant
Red oak
     Quercus rubra
FM - LDrought tolerant
Pollution tolerant
Larger seeds/cones
Prairie Stature oak
     Quercus x bimundorum
FMLarger seeds/cones
Japanese pagoda tree*
     Sophora japonica
F - SMDrought tolerant
Pollution tolerant
Flowers
Larger seeds/cones
American linden
     Tilia americana
F - PMDrought tolerant
Flowers
Littleleaf linden
     Tilia cordata
F - PMDrought tolerant
Pollution tolerant
Flowers
Patmore elm
     Ulmus americana
FMDrought tolerant
Pollution tolerant
Japanese zelkova
     Zelkova serrata
FMPollution tolerant

*Indicates trees that are not as well tested in the Kelowna area but appear promising based upon reports from elsewhere. May be difficult to find.

Medium trees

When mature, these trees are between nine and 15 metres tall and generally require a planting strip of at least 1.5 metres or greater. Suggested minimum spacing is 10-15 metres.

 SunWaterAttributes
Norway maple
     Acer platanoides
FMDrought tolerant
Pollution tolerant
Sycamore maple
     Acer pseudoplatanus
F - PHPollution tolerant
Red maple
     Acer rubrum
FMDrought tolerant
Pollution tolerant
Pest resistant
Horsechestnut
     Aesculus x carnea
FLFlowers
Larger seeds/cones
Deer resistant
American hornbeam
     Carpinus caroliniana
F - PMAttracts birds
Deer resistant
Thornless honeylocust
     Gleditsia triacanthos
FLDrought tolerant
Pollution tolerant
Flowers
Carolina silverbell*
     Halesia carolina
PMFlowers
Larger seeds/cones
Pest resistant
Goldenrain tree*
     Kolreuteria paniculata
FM - LDrought tolerant
Pollution tolerant
Flowers
Fruit
White mulberry
     Morus alba
FMDrought tolerant
Pollution tolerant
Fruit
Black gum
     Nyssa sylvatica
F - PHAttracts birds
Deer resistant
American hop-hornbeam
     Ostrya virginiana
F - PMLarger seeds/cones
Pest resistant
Persian ironwood*
     Parrotia persica
FMPollution tolerant
Amur cork tree*
     Phellodendron amurense
FMDrought tolerant
Larger seeds/cones
Pest resistant

*Indicates trees that are not as well tested in the Kelowna area but appear promising based upon reports from elsewhere. May be difficult to find.

Small trees

These trees are suitable for smaller spaces, generally growing no higher than seven to eight metres. The planting strip should be at least one metre wide. Most small trees tend to become very shrubby or bushy unless pruned to maintain a single trunk or “tree form.”

 SunWaterAttributes 
Trident maple*
     Acer buergerianum
F - PMDrought tolerant
Pollution tolerant
Pest resistant
 
Hedge maple
    Acer campestre
F - SM

Pollution tolerant

 
Tatarian maple
     Acer tataricum
F - PM

Drought tolerant

 
Amur maple
     Acer ginnala
F - PM

Drought tolerant

 
Paperbark maple*
     Acer griseum
F - PM

Pest resistant

 
Serviceberry
     Amelanchier grandiflora
FMDrought tolerant
Flowers
Fruit
Attracts birds
 
Eastern redbud
     canadensis
F - PMFlowers
Has seeds/cones
Deer resistant
 
Kousa dogwood*
     Cornus kousa
F - PM - LFlowers
Attracts birds
 
Hawthorn
     Crataegus x mordenensis
FLDrought tolerant
Fruit
Attracts birds
 
Amur maackia
     Maackia amurensis
F - PMDrought tolerant
Flowers
 
Saucer magnolia
     Magnolia soulangiana
F - PMFlowers 
Star magnolia*
     Magnolia stellata
F - PMFlowers 
Japanese stewartia
     Stewartia pseudocamillia
F - PMFlowers
Pest resistant
 
Japanese tree lilac
     Syringa reticulata
FM - LFlowers
Pollution tolerant
Pest resistant
 

*Indicates trees that are not as well tested in the Kelowna area but appear promising based upon reports from elsewhere. May be difficult to find.

Trees to avoid

We recommend avoiding the following trees due to known undesirable attributes or a poor ability to thrive in our climate.

 Attributes
Tree of heaven
     Ailanthus altissima
Invasive
Birch
     Betula species
Vulnerable to several insect and disease problems
Catalpa
     Catalpa species
Large seedpods require significant maintenance
Russian olive
     Elaeagnus angustifolia
Invasive
Poplar
     Populus species (except columnar varieties
Extensive, shallow root systems and weak wood prone to branch breakage
Siberian elm
     Ulmus pumila
Invasive
Plum and apple
     Prunus and Malus species
Requires mandatory ongoing codling moth control**
Black locust
     Robinia pseudoacacia
Large thorns present on stem and branches
Willow
     Salix species
Weak branching, messy, and vulnerable to several insect and pest problems

**Find more information on the Okanagan Sterile Insect Release (SIR) website

Urban tree benefits

Trees improve air quality by removing atmospheric carbon dioxide, absorbing pollutants and producing oxygen. The average Canadian urban tree is estimated to remove approximately 200 kilograms of carbon from the environment over an 80-year lifespan. 

According to LiDAR analysis completed in 2019, Kelowna's current overall tree canopy is at about 22 per cent, but much lower in our most urban areas at 11.5 per cent. Our target goal is to achieve a canopy cover of 25 per cent by 2050 while overcoming threats to our urban forest like development, wildfire, pine beetle, and climate change.

Learn more about the benefits of urban trees below. Tree Canada's website also contains excellent information on the benefits of trees.

Climate change
  • Trees absorb carbon dioxide, the primary gas causing global climate change
  • Trees retain the carbon from the CO2 molecule and release oxygen into the atmosphere. The carbon makes up half the dry weight of a tree.
  • Planting new trees remains one of the cheapest, most effective means of drawing excess CO2 from the atmosphere
  • One acre of forestland will sequester between 150-200 tons of CO2 in its first 40 years
Energy conservation
  • Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent and can save 20-50 per cent in energy used for heating
  • Studies show that summer daytime temperatures can be up to three degrees cooler in neighbourhoods with mature tree canopies when compared to newly developed areas. By reducing energy usage, additional carbon emissions from power plants are also avoided.
Water conservation
  • Trees intercept significant amounts of precipitation and help prevent runoff (which carries salts, fertilizers and other pollutants into creeks and lakes), erosion and flooding. This also results in improved water quality.
  • For every 1,000 trees, nearly one million gallons of stormwater run-off is prevented                
  • Trees are a critical source of habitat for many wildlife
Air quality
  • Air pollution can be a serious threat to human health, and trees produce many net benefits for overall air quality improvement.
  • Trees improve air quality by removing atmospheric carbon dioxide, absorbing air pollutants and producing oxygen. The average Canadian urban tree is estimated to remove about 200 kilograms of carbon over an 80-year period       
  • An analysis of the Washington, D.C. metro area concluded that tree cover generated annual air quality savings of $49.8 million
Social & community
  • Studies have found that a view of trees was associated with benefits such as a faster recovery time after surgery, improved mental health and well being
  • Urban forests improve our quality of life and help to beautify communities
  • Trees and well-landscaped grounds are among the most important factors considered when individuals choose a place to live
  • Green spaces entice neighbours outdoors on a regular basis, where they build friendships and community ties
  • Workers with a view of nature from their desk were found to have better overall health, increased job satisfaction, less frustration with tasks and overall higher feelings of life satisfaction
Economic
  • Numerous studies have documented a significant increase in property values and rental income associated with attractive tree cover and landscaping. Property values of well-landscaped homes can be increased by five to 20 per cent.        
  • A study of urban forests shows that for each one dollar invested in urban forest management, up to three dollars in benefits is returned to residents through increased property values, removal of air pollutants and energy savings through shade             
  • Shoppers have indicated that they would be willing to spend up to 12 per cent more for products in business districts with attractive urban forests
Health
  • Trees and green spaces can help ease the everyday pressures of life
  • Even brief encounters with nature can improve one’s ability to concentrate
  • Attention Deficit Disorder symptoms in children are relieved after spending time in nature
  • Roadside plantings and landscaping can reduce driver stress 
  • Patients with views of trees from their hospital bed spend less time in the hospital than those with no views
Crime and safety
  • In a study of inner-city neighbourhoods in the U.S., greener residences had lower crime rates       
  • Inner-city families with trees and greenery in their immediate outdoor surroundings have safer domestic environments
  • Neighbourhoods with well-cared for landscapes contribute to reduced feelings of fear and violence