After basking in several glorious autumn days in San Francisco, the tree geeks braved the coolth to chalk a tree walk on Lake Street, which has been a popular “slow street” since early in the pandemic. We were somewhat surprised by the diversity of trees in our short walk. However, one of the highlights of this stretch of Lake has always been the array of red-flowering gums, in a variety of colors beyond red. Specimens of this species (Corymbia ficifolia), along with its close relative marri (Corymbia calophylla) and likely hybrids of the two species, are among the largest and showiest in the city. We firmly believe that this is the city’s most beautiful flowering tree and wish the city would plant more of it.

Today’s walk begins at the northwest corner of Lake Street and 7th Avenue. It leads west to 11th Avenue, with a side excursion north on 9th Avenue. At 11th, it crosses to the south side of Lake and returns to 7th Avenue, with a couple of side excursions along the way. This walk is about a mile in length.

Numbered trees are labeled with common and scientific names and country of origin, all written in white chalk on the sidewalk; accompanying numbers, in blue, run from 1 to 23. White arrows on the pavement provide directions whenever a turn is needed.

Lake Street, 7th to 8th, north side

1. 628 Lake Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), SE USA

2. 628 Lake Carolina cherry laurel (Prunus caroliniana), SE USA (usually grown as a shrub or in a hedge)

Lake Street, 8th to 9th, north side

3. 700 Lake Italian bay tree or Grecian laurel (Laurus nobilis), Mediterranean Basin (leaves of this tree are the bay leaves used in cooking)

4. 700 Lake Elegant water gum (Tristaniopsis laurina ‘Elegant’), E Australia

5. 726 Lake Hollywood juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Torulosa’ or ‘Kaizuka’), E Asia

**Turn right on 9th Avenue and continue north to the end of the sidewalk**

End of 9th, just inside Mountain Lake Park

6. Lacebark or houhere in Mãori (Hoheria populnea), New Zealand/Aotearoa (trees are on the north side of the walking trail that parallels Lake; note the white flowers that appear in autumn; an undeservedly rare plant in SF gardens and parks)

Lake Street, 9th to 10th, north side

7. 814 Lake Willow-leaf peppermint (Eucalyptus nicholii), SE Australia (one of the largest specimens of this tree in the city)

8. 830 Lake Marri (Corymbia calophylla), SW Australia (looks like a white-flowered version of Corymbia ficifolia, #10, but this is a distinct species with white flowers and differently shaped fruits

Lake Street, 10th to 11th, north side

9. 944 Lake Brazilian pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolia), Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay

Lake Street, 11th to 12th, north side

10. 1016 Lake Red-flowering gum (Corymbia ficifolia), SW Australia (many beautiful specimens on this street, in a variety of colors other than red; usually flowers in summer, but some produce a few flowers at other seasons in the city; we do not understand why the city is no longer planting this amazing tree; note the garden of succulents around the base of this tree and in front of the next house)

*The beautiful pale pink gum at 1040 Lake may be a hybrid of Corymbia ficifolia and C. calophylla.

11. 1050 Lake Blackwood acacia (Acacia melanoxylon), SE Australia (tree is on 12th Avenue at the corner)

***Cross Lake to the south side; despite this being a slow street, be wary of the occasional automobile***

Lake Street, 12th to 11th, south side

12. 1041 Lake New Zealand Christmas tree, pōhutukawa in Māori (Metrosideros excelsa), New Zealand

13. 1021 Lake Brisbane box (Lophostemon confertus), E Australia

14. 1011 Lake Indian laurel fig (Ficus microcarpa ‘Nitida’), S Asia to N Australia

15. 107 - 11th Red-flowering gum (Corymbia ficifolia), SW Australia (tree is on Lake; this specimen has bright pink flowers)

Lake Street, 11th to 10th, south side

16. 937 Lake English hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata), W & C Europe (this will have pink flowers in late spring)

17. 937 Lake Princess tree (Tibouchina urvilleana), SE Brazil (usually a shrub, sometimes a tree; notable for its intense purple flowers; loves San Francisco’s climate)

18. 901 Lake Coast silk tassel (Garrya elliptica), coastal CA native, from Big Sur to central Oregon (tree is in the rear garden, visible over the fence on Lake Street; watch for the flowers in winter, long pendant creamy white tassels; normally a large shrub, this has been shaped into a small tree)

*Note the soft crimson flowers on another specimen of red-flowering gum along Lake Street; the flowers are conveniently just above eye level.

10th Avenue, just south of Lake, west side

19. 111 - 10th London plane tree (Platanus x hispanica), hybrid of E USA species and European species; it is among the most commonly planted trees in cities around the world)

20. 127 - 10th Washington thorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum) E USA (white flowers in late spring; beware of the long thorns on the branches)

***Cross 10th carefully; this is not a slow street***

10th Avenue, just south of Lake, east side

21. 134 - 10th Victorian box (Pittosporum undulatum), E Australia (among the largest specimens of this tree in the city; intensely fragrant white flowers cycle through the year)

**Return to Lake and head east to 9th Avenue**

9th Avenue, just south of Lake, west side

22. 109 - 9th Saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana), hybrid of E Asian species, developed in France (note the fuzzy flower buds; they will open during winter with big pink flowers

23. 100 - 9th Evergreen pear (Pyrus kawakamii), Taiwan

Closeup of the bark of evergreen pear (*Pyrus kawakamii*)

**Return to Lake and head east to 7th Avenue, noting more red-flowering gums along the way**

Today’s walk ends at Lake Street and 7th Avenue, where it began.

This walking tour of Noe Valley’s street trees was organized by Mike Sullivan, author of The Trees of San Francisco and webmaster of www.sftrees.com; Jason Dewees, horticulturist at Flora Grubb Gardens and author of Designing with Palms; and Richard Turner, retired editor of Pacific Horticulture magazine . You can follow Mike and Jason on their tree-themed Instagram pages at @sftreeguy and @loulufan. One other great book on San Francisco trees, while you’re at it: Elizabeth McClintock’s Trees of Golden Gate Park, edited by Richard Turner. If you’re a tree enthusiast, buy all three books!”