Illustration by Joel Holland   (Photo: Courtesy of Autan)

ZELKOVA SAPLING
Westchester Square, the Bronx
1454 Rowland St., nr. Tratman Ave.
When fully grown, this tree will have large, serrated leaves that will add to its value by cleaning more air than a similar-size tree with smaller leaves. Until then, this little guy, which sits in front of a two-family home, contributes just $60.44 a year to property values and $10.32 in energy savings.
Value to city: $75.67 a year
To homeowner: $3,630

Illustration by Joel Holland   (Photo: Alamy)

LONDON PLANE
Jamaica Estates, Queens
85-22 Wicklow Pl., nr. Grand Central Pkwy.
One of the most prevalent species in the city, this tree earns its keep by providing shade that saves $113.40 in cooling costs a year, $22.62 for filtering the air from the nearby Grand Central Parkway, and $190.20 for combating storm-water runoff.
Value to city: $446.69 a year
To homeowner: $7,480

Illustration by Joel Holland   (Photo: Nina Bassuk, Urban Horticulture Institute, Cornell University)

HONEY LOCUST
Upper East Side, Manhattan
238 E. 95th St., nr. Third Ave.
This gritty street tree saves $79.37 in energy costs each year by shading the nearby apartment building, which contains nineteen units of affordable housing. It also contributes $14.94 a year in air-quality benefits and $90.19 in stemming storm-water runoff.
Value to city: $300.97 a year
To building: $16,500

Illustration by Joel Holland   (Photo: Barry L. Runk/Alamy)

CALLERY PEAR
Park Slope, Brooklyn
527 Sixth Ave., nr. 14th St.
Most Brooklynites know this tree for its strong-smelling white flowers and propensity to drop small red fruit onto the sidewalk. The city says this one, in front of a brownstone, overcomes those negatives by contributing $152.35 to the area property values and saving $27.95 in energy costs.
Value to city: $223.04 a year
To homeowner: $15,840

Related:

• Archive: “VU”
• Table of Contents: Apr 16, 2007 issue of New York | Subscribe!