What is the best kind of tree used for aesthetic purposes in a city environment?
Give me your opinions and pics.

I've always admired the ginkgo tree since I've heard that they can withstand pollution and many diseases. Plus the leaves turn a rich gold color during autumn.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/images/2005/11/04/20051104_reuters%20tree.jpghttp://www.beta-aa.com/misc_photo_files/465_PICT0729A1.jpe

i like the monkey puzzle tree

http://www.jacksonsnurseries.co.uk/images/DetailConifers/Conifers-AraucariaImbricata.jpg

or Japanese Maple

http://z.about.com/d/gojapan/1/0/V/6/japanesemaple18.jpg

It would be hard to generalise as different cities are subject to different climates.

In Singapore, one of my favourite trees are those sprouting frangipani flowers. Not only do they add colour, they smell very fragrant!

Here are some pics

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/imf1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/imf2.jpg

Tall trees planted in a strip provide a nice canopy
(by hyacinthus)
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_1947.jpg

These look good when viewed from above
(by hyacinthus)
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/5344/dsc40452lg.jpg

Large tree-trunks can also serve as decorative street elements

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/och1.jpg

An article that explores how flowering trees will be used to give identity to future cityscape:


Creating a multi-sensory environment at Marina Bay

By Goh Kim Chai

URA and National Parks Board have drawn up a Landscape Master Plan to give each district in Marina Bay a different look and feel, with different planting schemes to bring out its distinctive character and identity.

http://www.ura.gov.sg/skyline/skyline06/skyline06-03/images/p4_image.jpg
Each district in Marina Bay will have its own colour scheme
under the Landscape Master Plan


IMAGINE WORKING IN a modern city decorated with lush greenery, flowering plants and beautiful landscapes. As you go to work every morning, a canopy of graceful raintrees on the East Coast expressway greets you. When you enter the city, you are further welcomed by formal boulevards with trees of different shapes and forms, and shrubs of vibrant colours. Approaching from Raffles Place, a view of the Integrated Resort is revealed across the glittering bay waters in the morning sun. Next, you travel pass a large linear park carpeted with blossoming flowers and its fragrance envelops you. Upon turning right at Bayfront Avenue, the type of trees and street planting changes to palms. This can well be your daily experience if your workplace or home is at the future Marina Bay.

Distinctive districts
Under the Landscape Master Plan for Marina Bay, trees and shrubs of various shapes and sizes as well as colours and fragrances will be planted along key roads and open spaces to create a sense of place and orientation.

Colours by the Bay
Each district will have its own colour scheme to enhance the visual senses. The Central subzone next to the existing Central Business District will have a yellow/gold theme to reflect the future financial activities there. Yellow raintrees and yellow flowering plants will be a regular feature in this district which will have mostly office and residential developments.

The district where the current Marina Bay MRT Station is located will adopt a different colour theme. Pink flowering trees such as the Frangipani and Pink Poui will be planted here to add to the vibrancy of the place. A formal public plaza about 3.2 ha in size, has been planned as a focal point for this area. This can be a vantage point to experience a flowering festival of blossoms.

Green, a colour that represents ‘harmony’, will distinguish the Bayfront area from the rest of Marina Bay. Palms of various forms will be planted here, extending the botanical planting scheme of the future Garden at Marina South to the district and the waterfront promenade around Marina Bay. This district, which houses the Integrated Resort, will have a more coastal feel.

http://www.ura.gov.sg/skyline/skyline06/skyline06-03/images/p5_image.jpg
Different trees, different looks. From left: rain tree, pink poui and palm

Fragrance along the streets
The Landscape Master Plan for Marina Bay goes beyond providing greenery and shades to further enliven your senses. Fragrant plants and flowers will be used to enhance the identity and feel of each district.

From the stunning fragrance of the Wild Water Plum to the pleasant Plumeria rubra cultivar, flowering plants will be used to layer each district with different scents. These plants will heighten the outdoor experience by engaging the most powerful of our senses – the sense of smell.

Multi-level visual experience
What you see as you walk along the street will be different from the view you have as you drive on the road. Similarly, these views will be different from the view you get of the same street from a tall building. In coming up with the landscaping schemes, much effort has been put into providing different spatial experiences for users at different levels. At the city level, the way in which the trees are planted and the colour of the crowns will give the area a unique recognisable image. At the vehicular and pedestrian level, the form of the crown as well as the colour and texture of the foliage will provide a delightful visual and sensory experience.

Former feel for boulevards
Large and wide-canopied trees will line the main boulevards such as the Marina Boulevard and Central Boulevard to create a distinctively formal feel. The Sepetir, which has a dome shaped crown capable of achieving spreads of up to 12 metres and heights of up to 30 metres, will be a regular feature on these roads. The walkways along these roads are also wider to create a sense of space and provide for street-based activities such as ‘al fresco dining’ and kiosks.

http://www.ura.gov.sg/skyline/skyline06/skyline06-03/images/p6_image.jpg
Artist’s impression of Marina and Central Boulevards

Signature streets
Bayfront Avenue will be a signature street lined with columnar-shaped trees such as the Jelutong and Chengal Pasir. The trees have been chosen to enhance the street’s north-south orientation and allow more sunlight to filter down to the street level. To create a ‘reddish carpet effect’, Pseuderanthemum Pink shrubs will be planted at this level. Side streets off Bayfront Avenue will be planted with palms.

Iconic gateway
To make driving in Marina Bay a memorable experience, the signature wide-canopied raintrees along the East Coast Parkway will be extended along Sheares Avenue. They will be complemented by brightly coloured flowering shrubs, such as Crinum spp. and Hippeastrum spp marking the gateway into Marina Bay.

When completed, a multicoloured, multi-sensory environment will be created at Marina Bay. It will reinforce its sense of place and further enhance its image as a “City-in-a-Garden”.

http://www.ura.gov.sg/skyline/skyline06/skyline06-03/images/p6_image2.jpg

I think you have to go a long way to beat a good old Maple tree in the autumn:

http://img289.imageshack.us/img289/3065/03nov2005duellingleavesqw9.jpg

http://img289.imageshack.us/img289/8799/03nov2005yellowleavesida7.jpg

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/3185/03nov2005fallcoloursxc5.jpg

some also go crimson red, as well. Last night in a thread about city tree coverage, I saw aerial photos of Capetown, I believe.... and they had the most gorgeous purple flowering trees!

Some more of my favourite decorative trees here in Toronto would include Japanese flowering
cherry trees:

http://img271.imageshack.us/img271/4638/april2806highparkblossomsiiihd1.jpg

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/2610/april2806highparkblossomsxiaj6.jpg

http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/6039/may0706osgoodehallidu2.jpg

Dogwood:

http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/5285/may2206riverdaledogwoodet4.jpg

Magnolias:

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/2371/april3006cabbagetownmagnoliauj6.jpg

and of course, apple trees!

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/9260/may0606stjamesthelesschapeliiiwx5.jpg

Source : http://www.pbase.com/rfcd100/

http://www.pbase.com/rfcd100/image/24097715.jpg

NICE!

Vancouver has Cherry Blossoms which are all over the city when they are over its like pink snow everywhere!

http://dslrexchange.com/photopostdslrx/data/514/Vancouver_Cherry_Blossoms_Shoot_2_-_1.jpg

http://www.urbanvancouver.com/images/thumbs/thumb_cherry_blossums_on_granville-75.jpg

http://www.bigrob66.info/images/v2005_blossoms.jpg

I litterally go crazy with marine pines

Unfortunately in my city there aren't, but in Central and Southern Italy they're part of the landscape of the cities (as Naples or Rome)

http://napolibella.bravepages.com/Image4/Panorama_Pino.jpg

http://www.romaonline.net/Contents/Luoghi_Txt/Ambiente/Pineto/pini.jpg

http://xdem.free.fr/uploaded_images/Pincio_Roma-780516.jpg

http://toon.heindl-internet.de/rom/b800/4A220128-rom-blick-vom-pincio.jpg

http://toon.heindl-internet.de/rom/b800/4A220113-rom-von-oben.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Roma-VialeEuropa02.JPG/799px-Roma-VialeEuropa02.JPG

http://www.tesoridiroma.net/galleria/as_roma/foto/vglorioso01.jpg