Vancouver's first bylaw relating to the planting of street trees was passed in 1896. In 1916 the responsibility for street planting passed to the Board of Parks and Recreation. In early years the trend was to plant very large trees, such as elm and chestnut, on streets. In the 1950s and 1960s a planting campaign began to add smaller, ornamental trees to the boulevards. Most of these were flowering plum and cherries that still delight Vancouverites each spring with their billowy clouds of blossoms in every shade of pink and white.
Today Vancouver has more than 100,000 trees lining its streets. They add to the beauty and livability of our city, creating a sense of place and an emotional attachment to our neighborhoods. Up to 20 per cent of our street trees are more than 12 metres high—these include maples, chestnuts and elms. Flowering cherries and plums make up another 30 per cent. These trees, unfortunately, have reached their maturity. Many are plagued by disease and are in decline. The Park Board has a remedial program to plant a greater variety of species on our streets. Arboriculture staff plant thousands of trees on our streets every year to compensate for the loss of those in decline and to increase the total number of trees.
Here is a modest sampling of interesting trees to watch for in your travels. Look for the uncommon Japanese Pagoda Tree (Sophora japonica L.), also known as the Chinese Scholar Tree, at the foot of Cambie Street at Southeast Marine Drive and along the south side of 12th Avenue, east of Arbutus Street. It is native to China and Korea, with smooth bark and dark green, lacy, compound leaves. In the West End look for a magnificent Caucasian Wingnut (Pterocaryaa fraxinifolia) near the southwestern corner of Comox at Chilco. The massive, deeply etched, bulging trunk is its first notable characteristic; then look up and note the long graceful chains of small green nutlets that decorate the tree from summer through fall.
In the little triangular park created by the intersection of Kingsway, 15th Avenue and Fraser Street is a magnificent specimen of Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima Swingle). This one has a particularly large spreading canopy. Its smooth, grey bark resembles that of a beech. It has large compound leaves and, in midsummer, small yellow-green flowers in clusters.
Very few conifers have been planted on Vancouver streets, so it is well worth a side trip to see the block planting of the Lawson cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana erecta) on the north side of 16th Avenue, east of Arbutus Street. They are an imposing phalanx with their broad, dense pyramidal shape and soft, bright-green foliage. Although some have been infected with root rot caused by a fungus, most are still in good condition.
You can't miss the dramatic brilliance of the chartreuse colored leaves of the Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia Frisia) found along Yew Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues and on both sides of 8th Avenue from Scotia Street to Prince Edward Street. In the fall their leaves turn a beautiful golden yellow. They are fast becoming a popular choice for street tree planting.
These are just a few of the wonderful and interesting trees that line our boulevards. There are many more to be discovered. The Park Board has a data base of all its street trees. To learn more about a specific street tree, call "Street Trees" at 257-8600, or refer to Gerald Straley's book, Trees of Vancouver.
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