#TreesForever
ABOUT TREE BALBOA PARK
Tree species & initiatives included in the Tree Balboa Park project.
TREES OF BALBOA PARK EXPLORE OUR ROOTS
Tree Balboa Park is a tree planting initiative for Balboa Park, made possible by a grant from Cal Fire. This 3-year project was implemented by the Balboa Park Conservancy in partnership with The City of San Diego, with support from San Diego Urban Corps and Tree San Diego. From 2017-2020, the team planted over 600 climate appropriate trees throughout Balboa Park’s 1,200-acre campus to maximize greenhouse gas reduction, improve air quality and reduce stormwater runoff. As part of the initiative, the Conservancy launched a Tree Steward volunteer program to ensure the newly planted trees are monitored and maintained. To date, there are more than 50 trained volunteers covering over 15 zones parkwide.
TREE SPECIES
Scan this code to view the tree species planted for Tree Balboa Park.
448 DIFFERENT TREE SPECIES THROUGHOUT BALBOA PARK
WHAT IS AN URBAN FOREST? Urban forests are collections of trees and plants that grow in an urban environment such as residential, commercial and public property, along streets, and in parks. Urban forests reduce the effects of pollution and other man-made environmental stresses.
TOP 5 MOST COMMON TREE SPECIES IN BALBOA PARK
Partnering with local nonprofit Tree San Diego, the Conservancy developed a Tree Stewards program to help manage, maintain, and expand Balboa Park’s urban forest. Tree Stewards are specially trained to monitor trees, evaluate soil issues, and identify irrigation needs and pest concerns. In 2019, the program contained a total of 45 Tree Stewards who dedicated over 700 hours of service.
600+ TREES PLANTED FOR BALBOA PARK
WHAT IS CARBON SEQUESTRATION, AND WHY DOES IT MATTER? Carbon Sequestration is the act of removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and storing it elsewhere. Due to photosynthesis, trees and plants are especially good at this—they soak up CO2 and store it in their roots, trunks, limbs and leaves. This helps mitigate the amount of carbon dioxide trapping heat in the atmosphere. Not only do trees help sequester carbon, but they release oxygen as a byproduct of this process.
Thank you to our valued partners.
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF TREE BALBOA PARK Using the Center for Urban Forest Research’s Tree Carbon Calculator, the Tree Balboa Park initiative is projected to provide the following environmental benefits:
• A net greenhouse gas (GHG) benefit of
approximately 1,672 metric tons of CO2e (Carbon dioxide equivalents)
COMMON NAME Sugar gum Coast live oak Silver dollar gum River red gum Peruvian pepper tree
BOTANICAL NAME Eucalyptus cladocalyx Quercus agrifolia Eucalyptus polyanthemos Eucalyptus camaldulensis Schinus molle
% 9.2% 6.9 % 3.9% 3.3% 2.6%
• A 14-metric-ton CO2e GHG benefit from
energy savings over the project’s mandatory two-year maintenance period
• 16.6 million gallons of stormwater runoff avoided
BalboaParkConservancy.org / 619.331.1920
EXPLORE OUR ROOTS Uncover the diversity of Balboa Park’s urban forest through a self-guided walking tour. Beginning at the Kate Sessions statue next to the Cabrillo Bridge, explore the Picturesque landscape style of the park’s west mesa, home to trees of all shapes and sizes. Filled with expansive grass lawns and array of plant species, you’ll find areas for rest, reflection and passive recreation, carefully cultivated by Sessions— the Mother of Balboa Park.
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Kate Sessions’ Statue is the perfect site for viewing
several Hong Kong Orchid Trees (Bauhinia x blakeana), Tipu (Tipuana tipu), Queen Palms (Syagrus romanzoffiana), and a stately Holly Oak (Quercus ilex). Kate Sessions, known as the “Mother of Balboa Park,” devoted her life to horticulture. She was the single largest influence in transforming the Park’s barren mesa tops and canyons into the extensive botanical collection it is today.
Moreton Bay Fig Tree (Ficus macrophylla) and Rustyleaf Fig (Ficus rubiginosa) are two of the 30 types of Ficus trees growing in Balboa Park. Both grow to a height of up to sixty feet, with broad crowns. The Moreton Bay Fig can develop a spread of 150 feet with a buttressed trunk and distinctive surface roots.
Kate Sessions Nursery Area is near 6th and Upas Street. In 1892, Kate Sessions negotiated a lease with the City of San Diego to utilize the NW corner of Balboa Park as a nursery. In return, she agreed to plant 100 trees in the park and provide 300 trees to the City per year. Some of the trees growing in this area include: Cork Oak (Quercus suber), Canary Island Pine (Pinus canariensis), Melaleuca (Melaleuca styphelioides), Fern Pine (Afrocarpus gracilior), Pindo Palm (Butia capitata), Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis) and Queensland Kauri (Agathis robusta).
The George W. & Anna Gunn Marston House was built
in 1905 and was the Marston family home. George Marston, often considered to be the “Father of Balboa Park,” was a successful businessman, park planner, and civic visionary. Distinctive trees include: Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara), Canary Island Pine (Pinus canariensis), Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia), Lemon-Scented Gum (Corymbia citriodora), and Moreton Bay Chestnut (Castanospermum australe).
Trees for Health Garden was planted in 1998 and
expanded in 2003 with grants from the San Diego Herb Society and California ReLeaf. The garden includes a selection of trees that have medicinal qualities.
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Cypress Point was the site of one of the earliest
organized tree plantings in “City Park.” At Kate Sessions’ urging, San Diego celebrated Arbor Day here in 1904. More than 4,000 citizens, including 2,500 local school children, came together to plant this area with about 60 Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) trees.
UPAS ST.
BALBOA PARK
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San Jose Hesper Palms (Brahea brandegeei) were
originally collected by Kate Sessions and Townsend S. Bradegree on an expedition to San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico, in 1900. Bradegee is credited with discovering this species. 325 seedlings of the parent plants were planted here in 1914. Other palms here include the Mexican Blue Fan Palm (Brahea armata), Guadalupe Palm (Brahea edulis), and Senegal Date Palm (Phoenix reclinata).
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QUINCE ST.
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EXTEND YOUR TREE TOUR
LAUREL ST.
Morley Field Drive has a grove of 50 native trees
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that contain Coast Live Oak, Hollyleaf Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia), Tecate Cypress (Hesperocyparis forbesii), and San Diego’s native Torrey Pine (Pinus torreyana).
Fig Tree Garden located across the Morley Field
Sports Complex, has a collection of over 15 different species of fig trees. Many of these fig trees include Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina), Moreton Bay Fig Tree (Ficus macrophylla), Rustyleaf Fig (Ficus rubiginosa).
Jacaranda Place is a great place to see young
Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) trees as well as young trees that include Catalina Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii), Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia), Cork Oak (Quercus suber) and Valley Oak (Quercus lobata). This grove was established during the Balboa Park Conservancy’s first ever Plant It Forward event in honor of Kate Sessions in partnership with The City of San Diego, Parks and Recreation, Cal Fire, and SDG&E.
ABOUT US KALMIA ST.
USS Bennington Memorial Oak Grove signifies the end of the trail on 26th Street starting in Golden Hill Park. This grove commemorates the 66 sailors killed in a boiler explosion aboard the USS Bennington in San Diego harbor in July 1905. There are about 138 Coast Live Oak trees (Quercus agrifolia) that surround the trail on 26th Street.
JUNIPER ST.
Map not to scale
balboaparkconservancy.org/treebalboapark
The Balboa Park Conservancy was
formed in 2011 as a public-benefit 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in partnership with The City of San Diego to advocate for the greater good of Balboa Park. The Conservancy provides resources and expertise to sustain, enhance and envision Balboa Park, in collaboration with the community and park stakeholders. We add value through park improvement projects, the visitor experience, parkwide volunteers, and placemaking.
TREEPLOTTER
Scan this code to explore Balboa Park’s urban forest using Treeplotter.