What is a native tree? A tree is considered native if it has occurred naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without human introduction.These trees have been in their native ecosystem long enough to establish intricate relationships with local wildlife, soil microbes, and other plant species. Over time, they’ve adapted to the climatic and soil conditions of their native region, making them an integral component of the local ecosystem.
Non-native trees are species introduced to new environments outside their distribution range, either intentionally or accidentally. These introductions can happen due to human activities such as landscaping, or agricultural practices. Natural processes like wind and animal dispersal can also bring these species into new territories. Non-native trees can compete for space, sunlight and water resources, threatening native species.
There are many benefits to utilizing native trees in your San Diego landscape. Here are just a few of them:
- Native trees have a better chance of survival, because they have already adapted to the climate and environment.
- Native trees provide food and habitat for birds, animals and pollinators.
- Native trees are easy to grow and often require minimal maintenance.
- Utilizing native trees in the landscape often results in lower maintenance costs as the need for supplemental irrigation, soil amendments, specialized fertilizers, and herbicides is typically unnecessary.
The Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute at Cal Poly website is an excellent resource for selecting the right tree for the right place, as well as identifying trees native to an area. The list below indicates trees that are native to San Diego:
What can I do?
Learn more about San Diego native trees, and incorporate some of these native trees into your landscape. The expert arborists at Atlas Tree Care Service can help! We provide design phase tree selection and consulting services to make sure the trees you choose thrive in your landscape.
Consider volunteering with an organization like the San Diego River Park Foundation to help eradicate non-native tree and plant species or get involved with San Diego Parks and Recreation’s Resident Tree Planting Program to plant healthy native saplings around San Diego.
