What are the 10 most common trees in Calgary?

Trees serve a variety of purposes in urban settings. They clean the air, provide habitat for birds and other wildlife, and enhance the urban landscape.

The City of Calgary’s website provides the dataset with detailed information on the 554.000 trees found on sidewalks and streets across the city.
Here is the list of top 10 most common trees in Calgary.

1PungensColorado Spruce
2AmericanaAmerican Elm
3PennsylvanicaGreen Ash
4GlaucaWhite Spruce
5VirginianaVirginia Bird Cherry
6TremuloidesAmerican Aspen
7JackiiPopulus
8TremulaEuropean Aspen
9MacrocarpaMossycup White Oak
10PadusMayday tree

  1. Colorado Spruce (Picea pungens). The iconic "Blue Spruce." These are incredibly hardy evergreens known for their stiff, sharp needles and symmetrical, pyramidal shape. They provide excellent year-round color and wind protection.
  2. American Elm (Ulmus americana). Recognizable by its elegant, vase-like shape, the American Elm creates the stunning "archway" effect over older residential streets. Calgary has one of the largest Dutch Elm Disease-free populations in the world.
  3. Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica). A staple of many Calgary neighborhoods, the Green Ash is prized for its fast growth and durability. It has compound leaves that turn a brilliant, uniform yellow in the autumn.
  4. White Spruce (Picea glauca). Native to the boreal forest, the White Spruce is a rugged conifer. It is slightly more slender than the Colorado Spruce and features shorter, softer needles that are typically a deeper green.
  5. Virginia Bird Cherry (Prunus virginiana). Also known as Chokecherry, this tree is loved for its clusters of white flowers in late spring. It produces small, dark-purple fruits that are a favorite for local birds (and can be used for jellies).
  6. American Aspen (Populus tremuloides). Famous for its "trembling" leaves that flutter in the slightest breeze, the Aspen has smooth, pale bark. In the fall, these trees turn a vibrant, shimmering gold that defines the Alberta landscape.
  7. Jackii Populus (Populus x jackii). Often called the Northwest Poplar, this is a fast-growing hybrid. It is extremely large and robust, often used in parks and large boulevards where there is plenty of room for its massive root system.
  8. European Aspen (Populus tremula). A cousin to the American Aspen, this variety is often used in urban landscaping because it tends to grow in a more "columnar" or upright fashion, making it ideal for tight spaces between houses.
  9. Mossycup White Oak (Quercus macrocarpa). Commonly known as the Bur Oak, this is one of the few oak species that can thrive in Calgary’s climate. It is a slow-growing, incredibly long-lived tree with deeply furrowed bark and "mossy" caps on its acorns.
  10. Mayday Tree (Prunus padus). A relative of the cherry, the Mayday is one of the first trees to leaf out and bloom in Calgary. It produces drooping clusters of highly fragrant white flowers in May, signaling the true start of spring.