The Richmond City Council will consider Tuesday whether to designate the Coast Live Oak, or Quercus agrifolia, as the official native tree for the city.
The upcoming vote follows a months-long process of public input and expert selection. In June, the Council instructed city staff to embark on a process to adopt a native tree that would help foster a stronger connection between Richmond residents and the local environment. Working closely with the Urban Forest Advisory Committee (UFAC), staff developed a shortlist of candidate species and launched a city-wide survey to allow residents to choose the tree they would like to see represent Richmond.
The options provided in the survey included the California Buckeye, the Coast Live Oak, the Ray Hartman Ceanothus, and the Hollyleaf Cherry.
A total of 597 responses were collected and the results decisively favored the Coast Live Oak. The tree is championed not only for its longevity, strength and resilience, but also for its ecological importance. As a keystone species, the Coast Live Oak supports more than 160 species of moths and butterflies, offers habitat and sustenance to birds and mammals, and endures in drought conditions while remaining structurally striking, according to city staff.
On Tuesday, city staff will recommend the formal adoption of Coast Live Oak as the City of Richmond’s official native tree. Following adoption, the city will plan a ceremonial planting at Civic Center Plaza to mark the new designation, celebrate local ecology, and further anchor Richmond’s identity in its native landscapes.
