Grass in medians will be replaced with drought resistant plants as part of the proposed Master Streetscape Plan Update.
Photo credit Inna Safa
If you've driven through Irvine lately, you may have noticed that some of the grassy medians have changed. Drought-tolerant plants, native grasses and flowering shrubs flourish where grass once grew.
It's a change residents can expect to see more of as Irvine updates its Master Streetscape Plan for the first time since 1998. The proposed plan determines which trees and plants can be used near roads, in medians and around other landscaped areas. It also identifies preferred tree species for each of Irvine’s 31 neighborhoods, commercial districts and university properties.
Marika Poynter, Irvine's Chief of Planning and Policy, said the city hopes to preserve the familiar appearance of its neighborhoods while making its landscaping more sustainable.
"It's really not gonna be much of a change," Poynter said. "I think what people will notice is maybe the grass being gone."
Residents can already see what that looks like along portions of Barranca Parkway and Alton Parkway near City Hall. Grassy medians in those areas have been replaced with drought-tolerant shrubs and other plants.
The city also intends to preserve trees that have helped define its neighborhoods, even when those species might not be selected for a new development today. Eucalyptus trees remain on the proposed list for Turtle Rock, despite being nonnative and raising concerns about wildfire risk. City Arborist Aaron Reece explained that the plan reflects what is already growing in various areas in Irvine as well as what might be planted in the future.
"The reason that eucalyptus still kind of find their way into that master streetscape plan," said Reece, "is because they already exist there."
New species will be introduced alongside familiar trees to provide more variety without changing the look of established neighborhoods. The Torrey pine, a rare California native tree that has been included in the Turtle Rock plan, is of particular interest to Reece.
"They're really beautiful," Reece said. "Just majestic pine trees that are special to Southern California."
Torrey pines resemble other pines already growing in Turtle Rock, but offer additional benefits. Reece said they're relatively low maintenance and tolerate Irvine's salty soil and recycled irrigation water.
Introducing more tree species helps protect the city's urban forest against pests and diseases that can devastate a particular species. Reece pointed to the invasive shot hole borer, a beetle that has damaged trees throughout Southern California, including at UC Irvine, as an example of why diversity matters.
Irvine's varied microclimates also influence which trees are appropriate for different areas. While Turtle Rock benefits from cooler coastal conditions, areas around Great Park and Orchard Hills experience hotter, drier weather. Those areas can support trees like as palo verdes, which have green bark, bright yellow flowers and thrive in heat. Reece said the city's microclimates allow some trees to flourish in one neighborhood that might struggle in another.
A palo verde tree blooming in spring. The palo verde is well-suited to hotter, drier weather in more inland Irvine.
Photo credit Allison Astorga
The updated plan gives the city arborists more flexibility to select trees outside the official species lists. That means Irvine can respond to new pests, changing climate conditions and other challenges without having to revise the entire plan.
For Reece, the work is about more than selecting trees that will thrive today. It's also about what Irvine will look like decades from now. He said the city has planted approximately 2,000 trees since 2025, many of which won't reach their full potential for another 20 to 25 years or longer. Reece said he and his colleagues take pride in knowing that the trees they're planting today will continue growing and shaping Irvine's landscape long into the future.
"I definitely love that aspect of it," he said. "I think that's pretty cool."
Residents can review the proposed Master Streetscape Plan, including maps and proposed tree species for individual planning areas.
The public comment period closes Wednesday, November 4. Comments can be emailed to CD@cityofirvine.org.
The Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the plan Thursday, November 5.