Pasadena : Official Street Trees Named

Queen palms and ginko biloba (maidenhair) trees will become the official street trees of Old Pasadena along Colorado Boulevard between Pasadena Avenue and Arroyo Parkway.

An amendment to the city’s Master Street Tree Plan approved Tuesday by the Board of Directors officially recognizes the planned change from the carrotwood trees now growing along the boulevard. However, the board, concerned about future costs to the city, approved the policy but no expenditure of public funds.

The plan calls for a five-year planting period during which new trees would be planted along the boulevard alternately every 15 feet. During the same time, one-fifth of the healthy carrotwood trees would be removed each year.

Old Pasadena merchants have donated $23,000 toward the purchase and installation of new trees, but the full costs are not known.

The change is intended to blend Old Pasadena with the overall city street landscaping and to restore the queen palm, the original tree used along the stretch of boulevard.