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Dull it may be, but reliability counts for something in San Francisco’s harsh (for trees) urban environment, which explains the Brisbane box’s increasing popularity on city streets, as the seventh most frequently planted tree in San Francisco. Native to the forests of eastern Australia, the Brisbane box is also a common street tree in Sydney, Melbourne, and other cities Down Under.

Eriobotrya deflexa

BRONZE LOQUAT

LOCATION: Northeast corner of Frederick St. and Stanyan St. in Cole Valley; also at 316 Moraga St./9th Ave. in the Sunset

Bronze loquats are recognizable by the coppery bronze color of their new foliage, which eventually fades to green, giving the trees an attractive two-tone appearance for much of the year. The tree, which grows to 25–30 feet, has creamy white flower clusters March–May, but it often does not bear fruit. A related loquat, Eriobotrya japonica, is also found in the Bay Area (but more often in backyards) and bears edible, orangeyellow fruit 1–2 inches in length. The bronze loquat is native to Taiwan; its edible relative is from China and southern Japan. All loquats are from the rose family (Rosaceae ), which includes apples and pears, and a close examination of loquat fruits will show the resemblance to their more popular relatives.