Prohibited Plants List

The City of Springfield follows state guidance on PROHIBITED plants. Please refer to the Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List.

Approved Species List

This Approved Species List is for use when selecting a tree species for planting on the City tree belts, within the City Right-of-way and other municipal properties. If you are interested in planting your own tree on the tree belt, please contact the Forestry Division. 

This is not an exhaustive list and other species not listed may be used at the discretion of the City Forester. If there is another desired species not listed, please contact the Forestry Division. 

Medium to Tall Tree Species

Common NameScientific Name
Abies balsamea
Abies concolor
Abies fraseri
Acer rubrum
Acer saccharum
Aesculus hippocastanum
Aesculus hippocastanum ‘Baumannii’
Aesculus x carnea
Betula nigra 'Heritage'
Carpinus betulus
Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca'
Celtis occidentalis
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Cladrastis kentukea
Corylus colurna
Eucommia ulmoides
Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo biloba 'Princeton Sentry'
Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis
Gymnocladus dioicus ‘Espresso’
Ilex opaca
Juglans nigra
Juniperus virginiana
Koelreuteria paniculata
Laburnum x watereri
Larix decidua
Liquidambar styraciflua
Liquidambar styraciflua 'Happidaze'
Liquidambar styraciflua 'Slender Silhouette'
Liriodendron tulipifera
Liriodendron tulipifera 'Emerald city'
Maclura pomifera 'White Shield'
Magnolia acuminata
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Nyssa sylvatica
Ostrya virginiana
Picea abies
Picea glauca
Picea omorika 
Picea orientalis
Picea pungens
Pinus nigra
Pinus strobus
Platanus x acerifolia
Pseudotsuga menziessii
Quercus acutissima
Quercus alba
Quercus bicolor
Quercus coccinea
Quercus imbricaria
Quercus × warei 'Long' REGAL PRINCE
Quercus macrocarpa
Quercus palustris
Quercus palustris 'Green Pillar'
Quercus robur
Quercus rubra
Sciadopytus verticillata
Styphnolobium japonicum
Taxodium distichum
Thuja plicata
Tilia americana
Tilia cordata
Tilia tomentosa
Ulmus americana
Ulmus parvifolia
  • Elm hybrids
Ulmus x 
Zelkova serrata

Small and Underwire Tree Species

Common NameScientific Name
Acer griseum
Acer miyabei
Amelanchier arborea ‘Robin Hill’
Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance'
Carpinus caroliniana
Cercis canadensis
Cornus florida
Cornus kousa
Cornus mas
Cornus x rutgersensis
Crataegus viridis 'Winter King'
Cretaegus laevigata
Halesia carolinia / Halesia tetraptera
Maackia amurensis
Magnolia x loebneri ''Leonard Messel'
Magnolia x soulangiana
Malus Spp.
Oxydendrum arboreum
Parrotia persica
  • Ornamental Cherry (and cultivars)
Prunus (varieties)
Prunus cerasifera ‘KV’
Prunus sargentii
Prunus subhirtella 'autumnalis'
Sorbus alnifolia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Styrax japonicus
Syringa reticulata
Zelkova serrata 'City Sprite'
Page last updated:  Thursday, February 27, 2025 10:34 am