Provides historical information about the greening of the city of Ekaterinburg, since the mid-19TH century to our days. In the modern Ekaterinburg have been created and are in an optimal state of various types and categories of green plantings. Acknowledged the need to expand the range of the species composition of trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials originated of wild species, including protected ones. For the formation of the greenery assortment in addition to the main classical selection criteria are proposed to consider the physiological index – intensity of photosynthesis.