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 (Aesculus californica) in the California State University Sacramento arboretum. Photo by queerbychoice. 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 (Pinus sabiniana) in the California State University Sacramento arboretum. Photo by queerbychoice. 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 (Populus fremontii) at the Watt Avenue Access in the American River Parkway, with cotton-like seeds. Photo by queerbychoice. 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 (Quercus chrysolepis). Photo by queerbychoice. 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

The small, shallowly lobed leaves of blue oak (Quercus douglasii) in Hammon Grove Park. Photo by queerbychoice. 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 (Quercus lobata) in Beckwourth Riverfront Park Complex. Photo by queerbychoice. 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

The holly-like leaves of interior live oak (Quercus wislizeni) in Hammon Grove Park. Photo by queerbychoice. 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

California black oak (Quercus kelloggii) can be identified by the bristles on the tips of its large, deeply lobed leaves. Photo by queerbychoice. 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

Sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana) in the California State University Sacramento arboretum. Photo by queerbychoice. Yellow pine (Pinus ponderosa) on Pine Hill in El Dorado County. Photo by queerbychoice.

Native Wetland Trees

Box elder (Acer negundo) in Beckwourth Riverfront Park Complex, displaying seeds in October. Photo by queerbychoice. 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

White alder (Alnus rhombifolia) on the Feather River Little North Fork, north of Strawberry Valley. Photo by queerbychoice. Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia) at Ancil Hoffman Park in the American River Parkway. Photo by queerbychoice. Western sycamore (Platanus racemosa) in Ancil Hoffman Park in the American River Parkway. Photo by queerbychoice. A female sandbar willow (Salix exigua) sheds its seeds into the Yuba River in Timbuctoo. Photo by queerbychoice. San Joaquin black willow (Salix gooddingii) on the Feather River in Beckwourth Riverfront Park Complex. Photo by queerbychoice.