Village to Replace Street Tree Affected by Root Rot
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In November 2025 a diseased street tree on Dunsmuir Avenue near First Street will be removed and replaced with a Japanese Stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamelia).
Stewartia are low growing trees (to avoid conflict with overhead services), climate resilient, and have minimal maintenance requirements once established. It also has attractive bark and within a couple of years should start producing interesting white flowers in the spring. This tree is also underrepresented in the Village and helps to diversify our urban canopy, which is one of the goals of the Urban Forest Management Plan.
The existing apple tree outside of 2692 Dunsmuir Ave has developed fungal bodies and root rot, which has been tracked over the last two years by Village Parks staff.
Two qualified tree risk assessors including a consulting arborist have assessed the tree and have concluded that while the top of the tree still produces leaves and fruits, the anchoring roots are rotting away and creating an increased hazard to the public as time goes on. This risk is further elevated by the fact that the area directly underneath the tree is permitted for a use as a sidewalk cafe.
The Urban Forest Management Plan is a review of the current urban forest in Cumberland and makes recommendations for managing trees on public and private land in the Village.
Japanese Stewartia