Trees

At the Masonic Reforestation Project, we have planted a wide variety of native tree species and have had great success reintroducing native species into the environment through scientific, strategic, and focused reforestation and restoration. Here is an introduction to the trees and shrubs planted at the Masonic Reforestation Project that once would have ruled the East Bay Hills.

Trees
Coast Live Oak Quercus agrifolia An evergreen tree which grows to 10-25 meters tall. It has a broad, dense crown and spreading branches. The acorns are eaten and stored by many animals.
Valley Oak Quercus lobata The largest of North American oaks, can live up to 600 years. Leaves are deciduous with deep lobes. The bark is thick and ridged on mature species. Acorns larger than the coast live oak.
Black Oak Quercus kelloggii Leaves are deciduous, alternate, with 7-9 lobes. Bark is thick, furrowed and blackish. Grows up to 9-24 meters and can live up to 500 years.
Blue Oak Quercus douglasii A slow growing oak that can live to 400 years with a thick grayish flaky bark. Leaves are deciduous, simple 4-10 cm with 5-7 irregular lobes.
Black Walnut Juglans californica var. hindsii This tree is considered rare and endangered. Compound leaves have numerous leaflets that are alternate (about 12-21). The bark is deeply ridged and grows up to 60 feet tall.
Big-leave Maple Acer macrophyllum Maples are easily recognized by their large 3 to 5 palmately lobed deciduous leaves that are arranged opposite to each other. It produces double winged fruits, resembling helicopter blades.
California Bay Laurel Umbellularia californica This evergreen bay tree has simple leathery lance-shaped leaves. When crushed, the leaves produce a pungent odor which were used by Native Americans for medicine and cooking.
Western Sycamore Platanus racemosa This large tree grows along creek beds. It has peeling bark that is smooth and ashy-white with greenish-gray and tan patches. The light green palmate leaves are very soft.
Fremont Cottonwood Populus fremontii Cottonwoods are common trees found in local creeks within Alameda County. The deciduous leaves are spade-shaped and become golden in fall.
Red Bud Cercis occidentalis Flower is very showy, light to dark pink in color, ½ inch long, appearing in clusters in March to May before the leaves. Bark is dark in color, smooth, later scaly with faint ridges. Fruits are flattened, dry, brown, pea-like pods.
Blue Elderberry Sambucus mexicana Elderberry stems have a soft white central pith that can be removed. Blue berries can be used for wine and jams. The leaves are compound and young trees usually have several trunks.
Hollyleaf Cherry Prunus ilicifolia Dense, evergreen that is uniformly branched. Leaves are ovate to round, thick, glossy, rich, bright green, with spine-toothed extensions on margins.
Shrubs
California Lilac Ceanothus thyrsiflorus This shrub has purplish-blue flowers that are small but showy and attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. The early Indians would use the flowers as soap.
Coyote Brush Baccharis pilularis This is an evergreen shrub growing up to 4 meters. Male and female flowers are borne on separate plants in late fall. It is an important pioneer species in the process of plant succession.
Black Sage Salvia mellifera A 1-2 meter high, erect, open branched perennial shrub, with elliptical oblong leaves with fine hairs. Foliage has a distinct aromatic fragrance that gives a minty smell when crushed.
Toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia This is a large evergreen shrub or small tree up to 3 meters tall. Leaves are dark green, serrated with flat clusters of small white flowers turning to brilliant red berries in the winter.
Coffeeberry Rhamnus californica This is a medium to large evergreen shrub which bears black fruit that gives the name of coffee berry. Clusters of berries are green, changing colors from red-orange to black.
Tropical Milkweed Asclepias curassavica This is a naturalized plant from Mexico. Grows recognizable red and orange/yellow flowers along with having milky white sap. This serves as a host plant for monarch butterfly eggs.
Pride of Madeira Echium candicans This is a drought tolerant plant with large leaves and clusters of purple flowers. Endemic to the island of Madeira, this plant can grow into a very large shrub. This plant serves as a succession plant.
Flowers
California Poppy Eschscholzia californica An upright, compact perennial plant that is drought tolerant. The flowers are a brilliant orange and cup-shaped. The flowers are borne individually on long stalks turning to long, narrow seed heads in summer.
California Fushia Epilobium canum This perennial plant has red flowers in late summer and autumn. Also known as a hummingbird flower. Leaves are ovate and light green.

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Trees

Trees

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