Updated 11.1.2022
ATTENTION: To apply for the SDG&E Sustainable Tree Program, please use the "Sign Up Form" located at the top of this page. You can email sdgetreeprogram@davey.com with any questions.
2022 has been another awesome year for this program. Thank you all for being a part of this and welcoming new trees into your life. As we continue to grow, we are constantly learning and getting data; Specifically, we have started auditing trees that we gave out last year, and are finding that we have quite a good success rate! So, good job folks for adopting and caring for trees successfully.
On our wait list, we are currently working on applications from around mid-August 2021 (there were over 1,500 applicants in August 2021, and almost that many in September 2021).
Please keep in mind that trees are a limited and valuable resource. It takes years of growing and care before a tree is ready to be sold at a nursery. We want to give out healthy, quality trees, so we only select specific nurseries to source our trees from. Our demand for trees is much higher than the supply, so our program is paced to make sure tree supply is kept at a sustainable level.
For those still waiting, we do appreciate your patience. For those who wish to apply, please do! Apply once using the form, and we will get to you in order. Thank you!
Plant the right tree in the right place
You can help to prevent fires, electric shock hazards and power outages by planting the right tree in the right place - clear of electric lines. Use the following tips to plan before you plant.
Check the tree height zone
Consider how tall and wide a tree will grow so that you can plant it in the right zone
Trees that grow too close to power lines must be pruned to maintain clearances, as required by law. SDG&E aims to reduce required annual maintenance by only allowing proper sized trees to be planted as part of our program.
CURRENT TREE LISTS
You are allowed up to 10 trees per property
Utility Friendly Tree List
General Tree List
Native Trees
Regionally Friendly Trees
Fruit Trees
**Use the linked website at the bottom of the list, "SelecTree", to help with deciding which trees will go best on your property**
Utility Friendly Tree List
African Sumac (Rhus lancea)
30 ft. tall, 20-35 ft. wide
Growth: 24 in/year
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstoemia indica)
25 ft. tall, 25 ft. wide
Growth: 12-24 in/year
Desert Museum Palo Verde (Parkinsonia 'Desert Museum'
Cercidium microphyllum 'Desert Museum')
20 ft. tall, 20-25 ft. wide
Growth: 24-36 in/year
Gold Medallion (Cassia leptophylla)
25 ft. tall, 30 ft. wide
Growth: 36 in/year
Little Gem Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem')
20 ft. tall, 10 ft. wide
Growth: 12 in/year
Newport Purple-Leaf Plum (Prunus cerasifera)
20 ft. tall, 15-20 ft. wide
"Krauter Vesuvius" Plum
25 ft. tall, 15-20 ft. wide
Growth: 36 in/year
Ornamental / Non-fruiting
Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis)
15-40 ft. tall, 15-30 ft. wide
Growth: 12-24 in/year
Can be kept compact with annual pruning, do not plant directly beneath power lines!
Purple Orchid (Bauhinia purpurea)
15-25 ft. tall, 15 ft. wide
Growth: 12-24 in/year
General Tree List
Please refer to the "Right Tree Right Place" guide at the top of this webpage when considering planting locations for any trees taller than 20-40 ft. maximum height. Trees that have the ability to grow into contact with power lines create safety hazards for everyone involved, disrupt the life of the tree through utility-focused pruning, and can generally be avoided by choosing proper planting locations.
Native Trees
Please inquire before requesting
Limited Availability
The trees in this section are specifically native to San Diego County. These trees are well adapted to the environmental conditions of our service territory. Native trees are drought-tolerant, require less water than non-native species, and support local biodiversity.
Western Sycamore (Platanus racemosa)
80 ft. tall, 20-50 ft. wide
Growth: 36 in/year
Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia)
70 ft. tall, 20-70 ft. wide
Growth: 24 in/year
Fremont Cottonwood (Populus fremontii)
80 ft. tall, 30-50 ft. wide
Growth: 36 in/year
Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)
30 ft. tall, 10-20 ft. wide
Growth: 24-36 in/year
Not Available
Blue Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea)
20 ft. tall, 10-20 ft. wide
Growth: 36 in/year
Regionally Friendly Trees
These trees are well suited for San Diego County, and will make a great addition to most landscapes!
African Fern Pine (Podocarpus gracilior)
40-65 ft. tall, 35 ft. wide
Growth: 12-36 in/year
Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis)
60 ft. tall, 20-40 ft. wide
Growth: 24-36 in/year
Canary Island Pine (Pinus canariensis)
80 ft. tall, 20-35 ft. wide
Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
60-80 ft. tall, 40 ft. wide
Growth: 24-36 in/year
Do not plant near sidewalks or other pavement.
Australian Willow (Geijera parviflora)
35 ft. tall, 20 ft. wide
Growth: 24-36 in/year
Fruitless Mulberry (Morus alba 'Fruitless')
30 ft. tall, 30-45 ft. wide
Growth: 26-127 in/year
"Semi Fruitless" Olive (Olea europea Wilsonii)
30 ft. tall, 25-30 ft. wide
Growth: 12-24 in/year
Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara)
40-70 ft. tall, 20-40 ft. wide
Growth: 24 in/year
Strawberry Tree (Arbutus 'Marina')
50 ft. tall, 40 ft. wide
Growth: 12-24 in/year
Indian Laurel Fig (Ficus microcarpa var. nitida)
35 ft. tall, 35-40 ft. wide
Growth: 24 in/year
Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia)
50 ft. tall, 15-30 ft. wide
Growth: 36 in/year
Brisbane Box (Lophostemon confertus, Tristania conferta)
50 ft. tall, 15-30 ft. wide
Growth: 24-36 in/year
Purple Leaf Eastern Redbud - Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansey'
25 ft. tall, 25 ft. wide
Growth: 36 in/year
Fruit Trees - Limit 5 per property - ** Please note ** We highly encourage the planting of the shade trees listed above as they are going to provide the most environmental benefits for generations to come. Fruit trees are great, but please consider adding other trees to your request if you have not done so yet.
Fig (Ficus carica)
30 ft. tall, 10-20 ft. wide
Growth: 36 in/year
Guava (Psidium guajava)
25 ft. tall, 20-25 ft. wide
Growth: 24 in/year
Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica)
30 ft. tall, 15-30 ft. wide
Growth: 36 in/year
Nectarine (Prunus persica)
25 ft. tall, 25 ft. wide
Growth: 36 in/year
Peach (Prunus persica)
25 ft. tall, 25 ft. wide
Growth: 36 in/year
Plum (Prunus salicina)
30 ft. tall, 15-20 ft. wide
Growth: 36 in/year
Pomegranate (Prunus granatum)
15-20ft. tall, 10 ft. wide
Growth: 36 in/year
Cherry (Prunus avium)
35 ft. tall, 25 ft. wide
Growth: 12-24 in/year
Apple (Malus domestic)
25 ft. tall, 25 ft. wide
Growth: 36 in/year
Apricot (Prunus armeniaca)
25 ft. tall, 25 ft. wide
Growth: 36 in/year
Use this SelecTree guide to help decide which trees will go best on your property. You can simply type in the name of one of the trees from our list above, and find it on the website to view the tree's characteristics!
Know what's below before you dig
Before you break ground:
Contact DigAlert at 811 or digalert.org at least two working days in advance. DigAlert will arrange to locate and mark underground utility-owned lines – free – so you can avoid dangerous and costly damage.
Have a qualified professional locate gas lines that belong to you
