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What Makes a Good Permaculture Street Tree? (Zone 8 WA)

 
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Location: Western Washington
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So, I’ve been eyeing some sidewalk strips in town, and have finally decided to ask the city about planting in them. They’ve tentatively said yes, so long as I choose trees that don’t cause problems. But while I have a tremendous amount of experience in gardening and food forestry, this type of planting is something I’ve only rarely engaged in. I need help choosing trees that won’t cause problems. Here are the considerations:

I live in zone 8, western Washington
We get almost no rain for half the year (I live in a rain shadow and get 15-20 inches per year)
The trees need to be drought tolerant once established. I don’t want to have to stop by in my truck to water them after two or three years
I’d prefer things that are edible for humans

I will try to post pictures of the site, at some point.

Some trees I am considering:
Blue elderberry
Hackberry
Garry Oak
Chestnut?
Crabapple

Shrubs:
Oregon grape
Goumi Berry
Currants
Gooseberries
 
gardener & author
Posts: 3199
Location: Tasmania
1940
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Similar climate here, European chestnut street trees in the rain shadow near us yield well in rainy years, dry years they are still beautiful and I don't think they get watered.

Some drought-tolerant species of oaks might do well. Crabapples, normal apples, elderberries, blackthorn, hawthorn, plums all go well.
 
steward
Posts: 16691
Location: USDA Zone 8a
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Memories from my childhood, I remember trees that drop berries on the sidewalk so please don't consider those.

I am unfamiliar with a Garry Oak, though Live Oaks would be an excellent sidewalk tree.

I also feel that Poplar Trees would be a good suggestion.

Here in Texas, nut trees are often used especially Pecan since they are native trees.  And nuts on the ground are not too much trouble compared to other fruits.

What nice fruit-producing trees are native to your area that don't cause problems with fruit falling on the ground?
 
pollinator
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Location: NW California, 1500-1800ft,
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My brother’s neighborhood in Seattle has a lot of serviceberries planted along parking strips, and they look quite nice in spring bloom. Serviceberries are just okay in flavor to me, but they are popular with birds I always like to see. I think a consideration that led them to these smallish trees/large shrubs might be how the roots will interact with the pavement of the street long term. I love big oaks and maples, but they will tear up the road. I wish we could just prioritize the tree over cars’ alignment, but alas trees have yet to gain suffrage or form a superpac to lobby for themselves..  
 
James Landreth
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Thank you everyone, for the suggestions! It's a whole new world for me.

I'm thinking blue elderberry and serviceberry. I'm also hoping to locate some areas without power liens for those bigger nut trees
 
pollinator
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You may want to try some Madrone, too. Or look into some spruce type trees/ shrubs from your area that don't get too big. Or native hollies.

I'm not super familiar with the area, so my help is kind of limited.
 
James Landreth
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I've heard that madrone doesn't transplant well. I could give it a shot, I suppose.

I think most evergreens get too big, unfortunately, depending on the site. I don't think we have native hollies but we do have mahonia, which looks kind of similar and produces good fruit
 
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I've seen some really pretty pineapple guava planted as shrubs along the street in Tacoma. You'd probably have to prune it too keep it at the right size for the street.
 
Jenny Wright
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Here's my service berries look like after almost ten years, bare minimum irrigation the first two years, and being accidentally mowed down at least once or twice.

I got them from the King County native plant sale.
20230621_140852.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20230621_140852.jpg]
20230621_140904.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20230621_140904.jpg]
It's the thing between the two posts.
 
author & steward
Posts: 7304
Location: Cache Valley, zone 4b, Irrigated, 9" rain in badlands.
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Street trees that drop pollen or fruits can annoy people...

The worst street tree for me are horse chestnuts, cause they drop seeds that impale my bare feet.

What currently grows non-irrigated in the neighborhood? I'd start there.
 
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Trees that drop fruit ot nuts might get pushback.
A lime or linden tree might be better on that count.
 
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