Green Connections is a long-term planning project to improve 115 miles of San Francisco streets. The Green Connections Ecology Guides has neighborhood routes and recommendations for plants that promote target species and habitats. These green connection routes will be improved to better connect people to parks, open spaces and natural areas.
San Francisco Green Connections Network map, SF Planning Department
View links to each ecology route and related resources below, or download the Green Connections Ecology Guides (26 page PDF) for all routes across the city.
BUTTERFLIES & OTHER POLLINATORS (BEES & BATS)
Anise Swallowtail Butterfly
Route 6 - Mission to Peaks
Other Species: Wild Aster, Yarrow, Holly Leaf Cherry/Islay Cherry, Cow Parsnip
Green Hairstreak Butterfly
Route 15 - West of Twin Peaks
Route Highlights: 15th Avenue Steps Park, Hawk Hill Park
Related Articles: Green Hairstreak Butterfly, California Poppy, Beneficial Plant List
Monarch Butterfly
Route 1 - Presidio to Bay
Route Highlights: Fort Mason, Russian Hill Open Space, Telegraph Hill, Filbert Steps, Coit Tower
Other Species: Dune Goldenrod, California Thistle, Narrowleaf Milkweed, Wild Aster
Pollinators
Route 20 - Folsom, Mission Creek to McLaren
Other Species: Coast Buckwheat, California Sagebrush, Coyote Mint, Hooker’s Evening Primrose
Route Highlights: Bernal Heights Park, Precita Park, Garfield Park, Yerba Buena Gardens
Related Articles: Beekeeping in the City; Smarty Plants, The Power of Pollinators
West Coast Painted Lady Butterfly
Route 16 - Marina Green to Dolores Park
Other Species: Wild Aster, Whitetip Clover, Checkerbloom
Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
Route 18: Tenderloin to Potrero
Other Species: Holly Leaf Cherry/Islay Cherry, California Buckeye, Bigleaf Maple, Yellow Willow
BIRDS
Anna's Hummingbird
Route 3 - Market to Beach
Other Species: Hummingbird Sage, California Fuchsia, Cleveland Sage, Red Flowering Currant
Neighborhoods: Outer Richmond, Western Addition, Tenderloin, Downtown, Yerba Buena
Related Articles: Springtime Stirrings, The Avian Changing of the Guard
Bushtit
Route 8 - Noe Valley to Central Waterfront
Other Species: Red Elderberry, Coyotebrush, Western Chokecherry, Coast Live Oak
Route Highlights: Diamond Heights, SF General Hospital, Potrero Hill Recreation Center, Warm Water Cove Park
Related Articles: Springtime Stirrings
Cedar Waxwing
Route 4 – Page, Stanyan to Market
Other Species: Holly Leaf Cherry/Islay Cherry, Toyon, Red Elderberry, Twinberry Honeysuckle
Cliff Swallow
Route 17 - Excelsior
Other Species: California Brome, Western Service Berry, Coyotebrush
Route Highlights: Crosstown Trail, Cayuga and Lamartine Mini Park, Balboa High School, Cayuga Playground
Nuttall's White-Crowned Sparrow
Route 22 - Ridge Trail
Other Species: California Blackberry, Coyotebrush, Sticky Monkeyflower
Route Highlights: Ridge Trail, Lake Merced, Stern Grove, Edgehill Mountain, Twin Peaks, Buena Vista Park, the Panhandle, Angelo J Rossi Playground, the Presidio
Related Articles: Nutall's White-Crowned Sparrow
Pygmy Nuthatch
Route 2 – China Beach to Bay
Other Species: Shore Pine, Redwood, Bishop Pine, Douglas Fir
Related Articles: The Next Generation - Birds Raising Their Young in the City
Red-Winged Blackbird
Route 10 - Yosemite Creek
Other Species: California Oatgrass, Arroyo Willow, Bush Sunflower, Southern Cattail, Broadleaf Cattail
Route Highlights: McLaren Park, Martin Luther King Junior Pool, Candlestick Point State Recreation Area
Ecosystems: Salt Water Wetlands, Fresh Water Wetlands
Western Gull
Route 19 – Downtown to Mission Bay: Western Gull
Related Articles: Birds Raising Their Young in the City
Western Snowy Plover & Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse
Route 24 - Shoreline
Other Species: Coast Strawberry, Mock Heather, Saltgrass, Alkali-heath
Route Highlights: Candlestick Point Recreation Area, India Basin Shoreline Park, Heron's Head Park
Related Articles: Rare and Endangered Species, San Francisco’s Annual Bird Count Tallies 183 Species
ANIMALS
Black Tailed Jackrabbit
Route 21 - Bay View to Bay Trail
Other Species: Cobweb Thistle, Deer Weed, Coyotebrush
Coyote
Route 23 - Crosstown Trail
Other Species: Blue Wild-Rye, California Blackberry, Toyon, Coyotebrush
Route Highlights: Islais Creek Park, Bayview Opera House, Bayview Playground, Martin Luther King Pool, Bay Trail
Related Articles: Coyotes in the City
Western Fence Lizard
Route 12 – Lake Merced to Candlestick
Other Species: Coyote Mint, Hooker’s Evening Primrose, Coyotebrush, California Wild Grape
PLANTS
American Dune Grass
Route 13 - Lincoln Park to Zoo
Other Species: Coast Buckwheat, Dune Tansy, Mock Heather
Coast Buckwheat
Route 14 - Presidio to Park Merced
Other Species: Coast Buckwheat, Seaside Daisy, Wild Cucumber/Manroot, Broadleaf Stonecrop
Coastal Dune Scrub
Route 9 - Vicente, 20th to Beach
Other Species: Lizardtail, Mock Heather, Pacific Dune Sedge, Coffeeberry
Coastal Prairie
Route 7 - Ortega, 14th to Beach
Other Species: Idaho Fescue, Purple Needlegrass
Coyote Brush
Route 5 - Kirkham, Sutro to Beach
Other Species: Coast Buckwheat, Coast Strawberry, Dune Tansy
Related Articles: Coastal Scrub
TREES
Coast Live Oak/California Buckeye
Route 11 – Ingleside
Other Species: Western Scrub Jay; California Dogwood, California Wild Grape, Mountain Lilac, Twinberry Honeysuckle
Related Articles: Oak Woodlands, List of Landmarked Trees
