At least 36 trees are native to Sacramento County, including a rare walnut tree. Sacramento County's native trees are listed below.
Native Dryland Trees
The following native trees grow throughout Sacramento County in areas not adjacent to rivers, streams, or other wetlands. They can be successfully grown in urban or suburban landscaping without supplemental water.
California Buckeye
California buckeye is a 20- to 40-foot-tall, deciduous, white-flowering tree (in the soapberry family) that prefers full sun and good drainage. You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website and USDA Conservation Plant Characteristics; see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa; and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Western Redbud
Western redbud is a 15-foot-tall, deciduous, purple-flowering tree or tall shrub (in the pea family) that prefers full sun. You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website; see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa; and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Gray Pine
Gray pine (also called foothill pine) is a 20- to 80-foot-tall, evergreen, coniferous tree (in the pine family) that prefers full sun and moderate to good drainage. You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website and USDA Conservation Plant Characteristics; see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa; and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Fremont's Cottonwood
Fremont's cottonwood is a 50- to 90-foot-tall, deciduous tree (in the willow family) that prefers full sun. You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website and USDA Conservation Plant Characteristics; see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa; and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Canyon Live Oak
Canyon live oak is a 30- to 90-foot-tall evergreen intermediate oak tree (in the beech family) that prefers shade. You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website and USDA Conservation Plant Characteristics; see pictures of it at CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa; and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Blue Oak
Blue oak is a 20- to 60-foot-tall, deciduous white oak tree (in the beech family) that prefers full sun. You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website and USDA Conservation Plant Characteristics; see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, Picasa; and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Valley Oak
Valley oak is a 35- to 100-foot-tall, deciduous red oak tree (in the beech family) that prefers full sun and moderate to good drainage. You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website and USDA Conservation Plant Characteristics; see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa: Valley Oak; and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Interior Live Oak
Interior live oak is a 10- to 30-foot-tall, evergreen red oak tree or tall shrub (in the beech family). You can read more about it at the Las Pilitas Nursery website; see pictures of it on CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa; and find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Native Trees Outside Their Usual Range
The following native trees grow occasionally in a few areas of Sacramento County, but grow more successfully in other parts of California (usually at higher elevations). They can be successfully grown in urban or suburban landscaping, but may require extra care to keep them healthy. They may be only marginally well adapted to Sacramento's clay soil and summer heat.
balsam fir incense cedar Port Orford cedar Pursh's buckthorn sugar pine yellow pine Klamath plum Douglas-fir coast live oak California black oak cascara sagrada coast redwood Pacific yew California nutmeg
Native Wetland Trees
The following native trees grow throughout Sacramento County, but only along rivers, streams, and other wetlands. They can be successfully grown in urban or suburban landscaping, but will need regular watering.
box elder white alder brown dogwood blackfruit dogwood Oregon ash California black walnut Western sycamore sandbar willow Goodding's black willow red willow yellow willow arroyo willow shining willow dusky willow