Urban trees
Most of Kelowna is located in a 6a plant hardiness zone (plants can withstand a minimum temperature of -23 °C) and 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.
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 colour? What is the appropriate size or shape of the mature crown?
Location: Ample space must be available for the tree when it’s 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.
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
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.
| Sun | Water | Attributes | |
| Armstrong red maple Acer rubrum ‘Armstrong’ | F - P | H | Drought tolerant Pest resistant |
| Columnar Norway maple Acer platanoides | F | H | Drought tolerant Pollution tolerant |
| European hornbeam Carpinus betulus ‘fastigiata’ | F - P | M | Pollution tolerant Flowers |
| Fastigiate beech Fagus sylvatica ‘fastigiate’ | P | M | Deer resistant |
| Swedish columnar poplar Populus tremula ‘erecta’ | F - P | M | Drought tolerant |
| Pyramidal American linden Tilia americana ‘fastigiata’ | F - P | M | Flowers 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 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.
| Sun | Water | Attributes | |
| White fir Abies concolor | F - P | M | Drought tolerant Pest resistant |
| Yellow cedar* Cupressus nootkatensis | F - P | M | Pest resistant |
| Dawn redwood* Metasequoia glyptostroboides | F | M - H | Pest resistant |
| Norway spruce Picea abies | F | M | Pollution tolerant Attracts birds Deer resistant |
| Norway spruce Picea abies | F - P | M | Drought tolerant Larger seeds/cones Deer resistant |
| Blue spruce Picea pungens | F | M | Drought tolerant Pollution tolerant Larger seeds/cones Deer resistant |
| Western white pine Pinus monticola | F | M | Larger seeds/cones |
| Austrian pine Pinus nigra | F | M | Pollution tolerant Deer resistant |
| Ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa | F | M | Drought tolerant Larger seeds/cones Deer resistant |
| Eastern white pine Pinus strobus | F - P | M | Drought tolerant Attracts birds Deer resistant |
| Scotch pine Pinus sylvestris | F - P | M | Drought tolerant Pollution tolerant Larger seeds/cones Deer resistant |
| Interior douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii | F | M | Drought tolerant Larger seeds/cones |
| Western red cedar Thuja plicata | F - P | M - 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.
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.
| Sun | Water | Attributes | |
| Sugar maple Acer saccharum | F - P | M | |
| Common hackberry Celtis occidentalis | F - P | H - M | Pollution tolerant Fruit Attracts birds |
| Katsura tree Cercidiphyllum japonicum | F - P | M | Pest resistant |
| Kentucky yellow-wood* Cladrastis kentukea | F | M | Flowers Larger seeds/cones Pest resistant |
| Hardy rubber tree Eucommia ulmoides | F - P | M | Drought tolerant Pest resistant Deer resistant |
| European beech Fagus sylvatica | F - P | M | Drought tolerant Attracts birds Deer resistant |
| White ash Fraxinus Americana | F | M | Flowers |
| Green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica | F | M | Drought tolerant Pollution tolerant Deer resistant |
| Maidenhair tree Gingko biloba | F | M | Pollution tolerant |
| Kentucky coffeetree Gymnocladus dioica | F | M | Drought tolerant Pollution tolerant Flowers Larger seeds/cones Pest resistant |
| American sweetgum Liquidamber styraciflua | F | M | Fruit Larger seeds/cones Deer resistant |
| Tulip tree Liriodendron tulipifera | F | M | Flowers Deer resistant |
| London plane Platanus acerifolia | F | M | Drought tolerant Pollution tolerant Larger seeds/cones |
| White oak Quercus alba | F | M | Drought tolerant Larger seeds/cones |
| Scarlet oak Quercus coccinea | F | M - L | Drought tolerant Larger seeds/cones Pest resistant |
| Bur oak Quercus macrocarpa | F | M - L | Drought tolerant Pollution tolerant Larger seeds/cones |
| English oak Quercus robur | F | M | Drought tolerant Pollution tolerant Larger seeds/cones Pest resistant |
| Red oak Quercus rubra | F | M - L | Drought tolerant Pollution tolerant Larger seeds/cones |
| Prairie Stature oak Quercus x bimundorum | F | M | Larger seeds/cones |
| Japanese pagoda tree* Sophora japonica | F - S | M | Drought tolerant Pollution tolerant Flowers Larger seeds/cones |
| American linden Tilia americana | F - P | M | Drought tolerant Flowers |
| Littleleaf linden Tilia cordata | F - P | M | Drought tolerant Pollution tolerant Flowers |
| Patmore elm Ulmus americana | F | M | Drought tolerant Pollution tolerant |
| Japanese zelkova Zelkova serrata | F | M | Pollution 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.
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.
| Sun | Water | Attributes | |
| Norway maple Acer platanoides | F | M | Drought tolerant Pollution tolerant |
| Sycamore maple Acer pseudoplatanus | F - P | H | Pollution tolerant |
| Red maple Acer rubrum | F | M | Drought tolerant Pollution tolerant Pest resistant |
| Horsechestnut Aesculus x carnea | F | L | Flowers Larger seeds/cones Deer resistant |
| American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana | F - P | M | Attracts birds Deer resistant |
| Thornless honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos | F | L | Drought tolerant Pollution tolerant Flowers |
| Carolina silverbell* Halesia carolina | P | M | Flowers Larger seeds/cones Pest resistant |
| Goldenrain tree* Kolreuteria paniculata | F | M - L | Drought tolerant Pollution tolerant Flowers Fruit |
| White mulberry Morus alba | F | M | Drought tolerant Pollution tolerant Fruit |
| Black gum Nyssa sylvatica | F - P | H | Attracts birds Deer resistant |
| American hop-hornbeam Ostrya virginiana | F - P | M | Larger seeds/cones Pest resistant |
| Persian ironwood* Parrotia persica | F | M | Pollution tolerant |
| Amur cork tree* Phellodendron amurense | F | M | Drought 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.
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.”
| Sun | Water | Attributes | ||
| Trident maple* Acer buergerianum | F - P | M | Drought tolerant Pollution tolerant Pest resistant | |
| Hedge maple Acer campestre | F - S | M | Pollution tolerant | |
| Tatarian maple Acer tataricum | F - P | M | Drought tolerant | |
| Amur maple Acer ginnala | F - P | M | Drought tolerant | |
| Paperbark maple* Acer griseum | F - P | M | Pest resistant | |
| Serviceberry Amelanchier grandiflora | F | M | Drought tolerant Flowers Fruit Attracts birds | |
| Eastern redbud canadensis | F - P | M | Flowers Has seeds/cones Deer resistant | |
| Kousa dogwood* Cornus kousa | F - P | M - L | Flowers Attracts birds | |
| Hawthorn Crataegus x mordenensis | F | L | Drought tolerant Fruit Attracts birds | |
| Amur maackia Maackia amurensis | F - P | M | Drought tolerant Flowers | |
| Saucer magnolia Magnolia soulangiana | F - P | M | Flowers | |
| Star magnolia* Magnolia stellata | F - P | M | Flowers | |
| Japanese stewartia Stewartia pseudocamillia | F - P | M | Flowers Pest resistant | |
| Japanese tree lilac Syringa reticulata | F | M - L | Flowers 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.
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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
