It won’t be a surprise to learn that concrete is not a natural environment for a tree, and the fact that they survive (sometimes flourish!) is worth being extremely grateful for, because it means we can bring the amazing benefits of trees close to the places we live. Trees face daily challenges such as pollution, poor soil quality and lack of water, and yet are still able to provide us with fresh oxygen, give us shade during hot weather and help with flood management. 

This means the trees we choose to plant have to be tough cookies. We take a different approach when planting in parks and green spaces, but today, let’s look at the troopers surviving in our toughest environments – our streets. 

Ornamental pear 

Pyrus calleryana Chanticleer 

This resilient little tree is a firm favourite for urban environments as it only grows about 12 meters tall and is a conical shape, making it perfect for narrow streets. Between March and May, its clouds of white flowers brighten up towns and cities across the country, providing nectar for insects and turning into a colourful display in autumn.  

Where to see them 

• Head over to this Alie Street in East London street in March to see some mature chanticleers we planted over 20 years ago transform this small side street into a blossoming garden!

Field maple 

Acer campestre 

The field maple is the UK’s only true native maple, though the ones often planted in streets and town centres are cultivars, such as Elsrijk, Elegant and Redshine, bred specifically to better survive urban environments. They suit almost any soil type and can deal with times of drought, a real asset due to the urban heat island effect, where cities suffer from hotter temperatures  

Where to see them 

• Head to Doddington Place, SE17 in London, on a sunny day to see the cooling shade these trees we planted back in 2009 are now providing this urban street. 
• For a vibrant red autumn display, Sheffield’s Peace Garden maples add a beautiful splash of colour around October. 

Maidenhair tree 

Ginkgo biloba  

A living fossil, the ginkgo is the last living species in the order Ginkgoales, which first appeared over 290 million years ago. If they could survive the dinosaurs, they can survive our cities!  

They hail from East Asia, where they’ve been known to grow over 50 metres tall and live for thousands of years. In our urban environments, they rarely grow above 30 metres, and can endure extreme weather temperatures and disease, making them fantastically hardy trees. Although they aren’t providing our native critters with much sustenance, their strong branches make for great homes for birds and squirrels seeking refuge from the roads. 

Where to see them 

• Check out the thriving ginkgos on Lamb Street outside of Spitalfields Market that we planted back in 2002. 
• Head to Old Market Square in Nottingham in late autumn for a glorious display of urban ginkgos in their golden autumnal colours. 

Small leafed lime 

Tilia cordata  

Whilst you won’t find citrus fruits growing on this tree, it is still a fantastic option for pollinators. It is loved by aphids, who in turn are loved by predators such as ladybirds and some bird species. 

For us humans, the flowers make a tea, which came in handy during World War II when tea leaves were scarce. The young leaves are also edible and can be used as a base for salads, or put in a sandwich! 

Disease-resistant elms 

Ulmus procera were once a common sight in our towns and cities, but Dutch elm disease has wiped out roughly 20 million of these beloved trees in the UK alone, so understandably were not the tree of choice for new planting projects for a long while.  

Fortunately, disease resistant cultivars have been around for many years and elms are becoming a more common sighting. 

Where to see them 

• We planted three elm cultivars in Yeo Street in East London in 2010, where they’ve been protected from the intensive development that part of London has seen over the last decade.
• The famous elm of Marylebone High Street still stands today, estimated to be over 150 years old. It’s survived Dutch elm disease and everything else inner city London has to throw at it! 

Supporting the trees 

As our climate changes, so do the species of trees we plant. This list may look very different in a decade or so!  

Do you know any examples of these trees you’d love to see listed here? Get in touch with us over on social media @TreesforCities 

Interested in sponsoring your own street tree? Find out about our Trees for Streets tree sponsorship scheme.

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