Frequently Asked Questions

1. What kinds of trees have been selected? 

Several different varieties of trees have been selected including, Camphor, Magnolia, Chinese Elm, Jacaranda, Frontier Elm, Crepe Myrtle, Brisbane Box, Pioneer Elm and Deodar Cedar. You can see which of these trees have been assigned to your block by referring to the attached tree chart and profiles.

2. Was the Hancock Park Master Tree Plan approved by the City ?  

Yes. Parkways in residential areas are considered part of the Public Right of Way but are cared for by the property owner. The Hancock Park HPOZ requires approval for plantings and removals for our parkway trees, homeowners provide water for the trees and the HPHA'48  helps maintain and care for the  newly planted trees.  In 2018, the future trees to be planted on our parkways were approved by Urban Forestry, Hancock Park HPOZ Board and City Planner.

3. Can I choose a different tree for the parkway of my home?  Can I plant my own trees?  Can I remove my parkway tree? 

Only the tree species selected for your block can be planted on your parkway.  You can plant your own tree if you use a licensed arborist, crew and plant according to the City’s specifications.  Homeowners are not allowed to remove existing trees without City/ HPOZ approval which requires a certified arborist’s recommendation, a report on the health of the tree, and a current photograph of the tree.  No living, healthy tree should ever be removed.

4.  Does this mean that our streets will have a variety of trees in the near future?

Yes. Since our plantings will be done only to replace missing trees, it may take many years to establish a consistent look for streets where a new variety has been selected.  

5.  What size trees will be planted?  

The HPHA’48 will purchase and plant, healthy beautiful, and at least 15-gallon size trees.

6. What are the responsibilities of the homeowner?     

1. Water the tree and plantings in your parkway on a regular basis. The first year after planting deep water the tree twice a week. After the first year deep water once a week, and in the hot summer months deep water twice a week.
2. Inform the HPHA of death/damage/disease to any existing or newly planted trees.
3. Inform the HPHA of any missing parkway trees. 
4. You can contact the Association’s Tree Committee by emailing Deborah Trainer at Debtrainer@sbcglobal.net, or Cindy Chvatal-Keane at snorekel@gmail.com

8.  Where is the funding to upgrade and plant the trees coming from?

The funding is coming from the Hancock Park Homeowners Association, which means from your dues and donations.  Anyone not yet a dues paying member of the HP Homeowner Association should join us!  Please visit our website at:  www.Hancockparkhomeownersassociation.org and click on Membership/Dues. Donations are always welcome and can be specified to support our reforestation efforts.  

Profiles of the Parkway Street Trees approved for Hancock Park

Jacaranda - The Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) is a semi-deciduous, fast growing and spectacularly beautiful tree. In the spring it drops its foliage and fragrant, purple flowers cluster and bloom for a month.  Jacarandas get 35 feet tall and 25 feet wide and require little pruning, they are not demanding in terms of soil conditions and have proven themselves to perform well in urban conditions and extensive heat. They are fairly drought tolerant once established, yet have a lush appearance due to the elegant fern-like foliage.

The Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia) is native to eastern Asia, including China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Vietnam.  It is a splendid tree with a graceful shape.  It is deciduous with a slender trunk and crown.  The leaves are small and often stay on the tree until December.  Wind-pollinated flowers are produced in early autumn and are small and inconspicuous.  The trunk has a handsome, flaking bark of mottled greys.

The Frontier Elm (Ulmus ‘Frontier’) is a deciduous and fast growing street tree which has been developed to be resistant to the elm diseases and to thrive in parkways.  The Frontier elm reaches its mature size at 3o ft tall and 25 ft wide, It has shown excellent adaptability to urban conditions and is drought tolerant once established. Add disease and pest resistance and dramatic burgundy fall color and it becomes a near perfect street tree.

The Pioneer Elm (Ulmus ‘Pioneer’) is an American elm created by crossing two European elm species, the Sych Elm (U. Glabra) and Field Elm (U. Minor).  It is a fast growing tree distinguished by a dense, globular crown, which as it matures becomes more broad than tall, creating heavy shade.  The leaves are deep green, turning yellow and red in the fall.  Wind-pollinated flowers appear in early March.

The Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) is a genus of around 50 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs native to the Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, northern Australia and parts of Oceania.  It is cultivated in warmer climates and are known for their colorful nd long-lasting flowers with bloom in the summer.  They have sinewy, fluted stems and branches and the leaves provide autumn color. 

The camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) is a large and stately evergreen tree. It is fast growing, drought tolerant once established, and tolerates urban conditions such as heat and smog well. It has been successfully used as a street tree in southern California for decades and has weathered increasing heat and new diseases and pests fairly well. It is a very attractive tree with strong structural trunks and limbs, picturesque bark and light green foliage. A boulevard lined in mature camphor trees is one of the most beautiful sights to see. The large canopy provides excellent cooling and shading year round.

The Brisbane Box (Lophostemon confertus) is a handsome evergreen tree from Australia. It has proven itself to be tolerant of smog, heat, drought and poor soil conditions and to perform very well as a street tree. In its native Australia it has been widely and successfully used as a street tree for decades . It is fast growing and has high disease and pest resilience.  The dense canpoy provides year-round shade and cooling and the mature size is approximately 30-40 feet tall and 25 ft wide. A tried-and-true street tree for our changing climate.

Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara) is a species of cedar native to the western Himalayas and Eastern Afganistan.  It is a large, evergreen, coniferous tree which can reach over 100 feet in height.  It has a conic crown with level branches and drooping branchlets.  The leaves are needle-like and the cones are barrel-shaped.