Maybe, but how much better? Exotic trees are also vital to urban forest wildlife habitats.
Ryan Gilpin, Consulting Ecological Arborist. HortScience/Bartlett Consulting.
Urban trees are important to wildlife and humans. Native trees are thought to provide better wildlife habitat than non-native trees. However, there is little scientific evidence that supports this claim, especially in California. And while native trees may be better habitat, non-native trees provide habitat as well. It can be difficult to directly compare how much habitat each provide.
Although planting native trees makes sense for creating locally adapted landscape, it can have some downsides. Many California native trees do not perform well in urban areas because they are not tolerant to the urban heat island, compacted soils, root and crown pruning and many other difficulties of growing in cities. Few nurseries grow a diverse array of native trees ready to be planted as street trees, in parks and on private property. There may not be enough locally native tree species to meet the diversity objectives that urban foresters strive for. Urban forest diversity is important for many reasons; it is our main tool for managing the risk of pests and diseases destroying a high percentage of our urban forest.
The belief that native trees provide better wildlife habitat than non-native trees is relatively intuitive: plants and animals that evolved together are more likely to be better ecologically interconnected. Many publications represent this idea as fact such as Re-Oaking Silicon Valley and Integrating Nature into the Urban Landscape. When we go birding in California, we tend to choose locations with high native plant cover. Oak woodlands make up some of the most popular birding hotspots for upland birds.
A Western Screech Owl is roosting in a California native pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii).
An Acorn Woodpecker is foraging in a California native valley oak (Quercus lobata).
Comparisons of the habitat value of landscapes that are primarily non-native plants (above) with those of primarily native plants (below) need to consider other associated factors such as human use and previous disturbance.
In the scientific literature, the relationship between native trees and birds seems to be relatively complicated. Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott published a recent literature review and lay article on the topic. This review found that of the 120 papers across 30 countries available, the vast majority determined many factors such as tree density, site disturbance and habitat connectivity were more important than whether trees were native or non-native. The literature analysis revealed that for the most part, wildlife diversity was not dependent on whether or not the plants were native.
These scientific studies and our birding trips don’t only compare native and non-native trees; they compare totally different habitats. High non-native plant areas have often been highly disturbed by humans. A sports park typically has very few native species, while a remnant forest typically has a relatively high percentage of native trees. But a remnant forest likely also has an intact ecology because of the comparatively low level of disturbance it has experienced. Even if a sports park was planted with 100% native species, it is unlikely that it will provide as good bird habitat as the remnant forest because the sports park is an entirely created landscape without an established ecology.
Historically, urban foresters have been trying to keep no more than 10% of their urban forests one species, 20% one genus and 30% one family. We have not done a great job at this goal and are now understanding that this guideline was not based on much hard science. More conservative recommendations are calling for 5% genus limits or as low as possible. In California we have a huge array of trees that we can grow. For information about tree species that grow in California, I often use SelecTree. It lists over 1,400 trees (and large shrubs) that grow in California. SelecTree lists 75 California native tree species that grow taller than 25 feet. Of these trees, 51 have enough drought tolerance to grow in the water stressed California landscapes of our present and likely future. Of these trees, 17 are relatively commonly available in nurseries. Typically, each of these trees have other factors limiting where and how they can be planted. For example:
- Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) is short-lived primarily because it has many pest problems in the California.
- California bay (Umbellularia californica) is a host to Sudden Oak Death and shouldn’t be planted in areas being managed for that disease.
- Several of these trees (such as island oak, Quercus tomentella) are native to only a very small range of California or typically at higher elevations (blue oak, Quercus douglasii) rather than low areas where most urban trees are planted.
Until recently, California urban forests have largely avoided large scale losses from pests and diseases, but other communities have not been so lucky. The most destructive current example is the Emerald Ash Borer in the mid-west. An innocuous insect from Asia was transported to Detroit through wood packing and has since killed millions of trees and cost communities hundreds of millions of dollars. Ash trees comprised between 5-29% of most mid-west cities urban forests. Based on studies of this pest, there is evidence that large scale tree removal related to emerald ash borer increased crime, increased deaths due to cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses and decreased leisure time.
In southern California, the goldspotted oak borer is killing many coast live oak trees. Boring insects tend to spread through firewood which is why so many regulations exist in California against transporting firewood long distances. But even if we keep these two insects away from the Bay Area, others will likely arrive. We should be as prepared as possible by planting as diverse of urban forests as possible, both native and non-native. I support planting native trees when they increase urban forest diversity.
When planting native trees does not increase diversity, I support planting more native shrubs, grasses and forbs. The bulk of the diversity of California native plants are in these smaller-statured species. We can increase native plant cover in so many ways that will not increase our chances of catastrophic losses to the canopy cover that is so important to our cities.
No trees are native to the highly compacted soils and reflected heat of typical California streets. Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) is one of the few native trees that does well in highly urbanized environments. But over-planting coast live oak in urban forests is risky when pests arrive.
Sales Force Park is on the top floor of the transit terminal in San Francisco. It was planted with a mix of native and non-native plants.
8 Comments on “Are California native trees better wildlife habitat?”
We are dealing with an example of this right now (mid-April, southern California). An Anna’s hummingbird built her nest in a Brazilian Tipu tree (Tipuana tipu) in our yard. Unlike our native trees that are increasing their foliage density at this time, the tipu (native to the southern hemisphere) is dropping its leaves. When the nest was built, the leaves were dense and the nest was well shaded and concealed. Now, though, with unfledged young in the nest, the leaves are gone and the nestlings were fully exposed to sun and potential predators. We created an artificial shade and attached it to the branch to protect the babies, and they are doing well; but without our intervention they would have died.
Thank you for pointing out that native trees are not adapted to the changed environment of urban and suburban developed areas. Even less-developed areas of California are undergoing such rapid climatic change that many native species are less suited than some non-natives.
Several “non-native” trees have been established in California long enough to be fully functional parts of the ecosystem. Eucalyptus for example are preferred nesting habitat for raptors and owls, and vital food sources for bees and many birds. When do they become naturalized residents?
We should plant species that are well-adapted to the conditions they will experience, that provide useful habitat values, and that contribute to biodiversity – with little regard for their origins.
The recent May 2019 landmark United Nations report validates Mr. Gilpin’s reluctant admission that native California trees DO surpass nonnative trees as wildlife habitat and discredits his characterization that “little scientific evidence” supports the “relatively intuitive” “belief” that native trees are superior. The report’s scientific evidence includes data from 145 experts from 50 countries, 310 contributing authors, systematic review of 15,000 scientific/government sources, & indigenous/local input.
The UN report concluded native ecosystems ARE superior & are the key to our future.
A takeaway is comparing nonnative and native California tree habitat is unwarranted. The loss & decline of “natural ecosystems” – described as “unprecedented” – threatens every sphere of human life throughout the entire Earth. (A “natural” ecosystem means freedom from human activity & includes birds & other wildlife, not just trees.)
Only 6 percent of the state’s urban trees are native to California. But none of the 17 native California trees listed by Mr. Gilpin meet his requirements.
UN scientists conclude a plant’s origins are key.
Urban Californians can & must stick with the California native trees that DO tolerate drought & heat, stop root & crown pruning, & start removing compacted soil & improving soil. For helpful information, access:
1 Calscape, 201 Trees Native to California
2 California Native Plant Society & chapters
3 Wikipedia- California Native Plants
thanks, Charlotte. Proof that arborists and horticulturists should not be giving biological advice.
Apparently , She does not understand that trees grow best in unimproved soil since when a planting pit is amended, it behaves to the tree as a container that roots do no grow beyond very well. Certified Arborist are vital in this conversation. There is plenty wrong with what she has written here , but YES, Natives should be used as a vital part of the Urban Forest, with the understanding that “Urban” is not a normal ecosystem and cannot realistically be seen as a type of ecosystem and pretend that is is a normal part of nature.
What a terrific and well written summary of the urban forest species selection process.
Here in Berkeley, we strive for both. Maximize native plants, big and small, in all of our parks, medians, and open spaces. However, in our built areas, where it is a downright hostile environment to grow a tree or anything, we seek a strategic and world wide approach to species selection. Our sidewalk planting strips are so narrow, as well, that a native coast live oak, redwood, bigleaf maple, or California buckeye, even if given perfect soil and water requirements, would break up the sidewalk. Ironically, our native trees are the highest water users on any species list I can generate, and depending on the project, may eliminate them based on our ability to establish in an urban heat island.
Linking this article will save me plenty of explanation time in the future. Thanks!
One of the questions that i have is ,wich native trees are good for being stablished close to a house? how close? ,or a sidewalk (how wide?).
I live in Ensenada Baja California and the trees that we usually have around are Platanus racemosa, Quercus agrifolia, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Aesculus parryi,Sambucus nigra, Salix, Fraxinus parryi.
Love the website, thx.
One should not take biological advice from arborists or horticulturists. Just because you see a bird in a tree, it does not mean that the tree actually does a good job at supporting the bird. The science is very clear that natives are best for birds and for biodiversity. Anyone who questions this fact should check out published peer reviewed research from the real experts like avian ecologist Eric Wood and entomologist and wildlife ecologist, Douglas Tallamy who has authored several best-selling books on the subject.