Citree: A database supporting tree selection for urban areas in temperate climate

•Development of a database for urban woody species selection.•The database supports planning and planting processes of urban trees.•It considers especially the heterogenic urban site conditions for tree growth.•Taking into account the needs of citizen to urban trees.•The database includes almost 400 woody plants to support diverse plantings. Choosing optimal and suitable trees and shrubs in urban areas can minimize the negative influences and increase the positive effects and the aesthetic acceptance by urban residents. Additional challenges in the selection of trees and shrubs are user requirements and growth conditions at urban sites. Therefore, the selection of planted trees and shrubs in cities has to incorporate these location-specific factors. Based on an extensive literature review, more than 390 woody plants were investigated to obtain a comprehensive assessment of specific characteristics by integrating specific urban aspects. Within this study, a database was developed that allows users to simultaneously consider site characteristics and natural distribution, tree appearance, ecosystem services, management activities, and the risks and interferences caused by urban woody plants. The developed Citree database is useful for preventing mistakes in planning, which would otherwise result in high ecologic and economic costs. Choosing the right species for the right location will also increase the floristic biodiversity within urban tree plantings and the sustainable uses of urban trees.