HomeMy WebLinkAbouttreesTREES:Growth Rate Height Width Frost ToleranceWater Needs Description/Comments1 Acacia aneura Mulga Slow 20'-25' 12'-15'15FLow Excellent small scale tree. Foliage is grey.Produces beautiful yellow flowers.2 Acacia craspedocarpa Leather Leaf Acacia Slow/Mod 10'-15' equal20FLowUse as a windbreak,screen.Little maintenance required. Soak tree once per month after the tree has established. Foliage is round and thick. Makes a good small tree.3 Acacia salicina Coba, Weeping Wattle Rapid 25'-30' 10'-15'20FLow Use where branches can droop naturally.Leaves on this Acacia are long, narrow, and willowy in form. Very graceful tree. 4 Acacia saligna Golden Wreath Wattle Rapid 20'-30' 15'-20'20FModerate Do not overwater this tree! Too rapid a growth will cause it to become top heavy and susceptible to failure in the wind. It has the same graceful look as the A. salicina but with stiffer branches and wider, darker leaves.Eradic growth pattern. 5 Acacia smallii Desert Sweet Acacia Moderate 15'-20' 15'-20'10FLow Thorny horizontal branching. Use as background tree. Accent tree. Sweet Acacia has fragrant gold puff ball flowers. 6 Acacia stenophylla Shoestring Acacia Rapid 25'-30' 15'-20'18FLowAn upright vertical tree with willowy branches of long thread like leaves up to 16" long. Very little maintenance is required and is not messy like some of the other Acacias. 7 Acacia willardiana Palo Blanco Moderate 15'-20' 10'-15'25FLowWhite, papery peeling bark make this small tree an interesting addition to the landscape.This tree takes little maintenance. As with all Acacia species watch the water. 8 Albizia julibrissin Silk or Mimosa Tree Slow/Mod 20'-30' 25'-30'15FModerate Pink flowering in summer. Allow for development of spreading canopy.A graceful/tropical looking tree. Somewhat messy, do not plant near pools. 9 Bauhinia purpurea Purple Orchid Tree Very Slow 15'-25' equal10FModerate Semi-evergreen, hardy to 25F.Produces an orchid type flower. Messy, do not plant near pools. Beautiful specimen tree.10 Brahea armata Mexican Blue Palm Very Slow 30'-40' 10'-15'15FLow/ModSlow growing palm. Beautiful grey-blue fronds. Great accent palm. Drought tolerant once established.
11 Butia capitata Pindo Palm Slow 15' 8'-10'15FLow/ModA moderate size palm with arching fronds grey green in color. Trunk somewhat stubby looking with old leaf bases. Looks better if the stubs are cut to the same length when removing old fronds.12 Callistemon viminalis Bottlebrush Tree Rapid 20'-30' 15'30FModerate A medium size vertical tree. Pendulous branching. Blooms profusely with red bottlebrush flower clusters. Use as an accent tree.13 Caesalpinia cacalaco Cascalote Slow/Mod 15' 10'-15'20FLowAn attractive small to medium size tree. Branches have stubby thorns use as an accent, as a buffer. The tree flowers in spring/summer yellow 5 petaled flowers approximately 1 inch long in spikes at the tips of the branches. 14 Cercidium floridum Blue Palo Verde Slow/Mod 15'-30' 30'-35'20FLowThorny widespread canopy. The trunk, branches and leaves have a "blue-green" color. The trunk is very smooth. The tree is semi-deciduous.It has attractive yellow flowers in spring. A desert native. Do not overwater this tree!15Cercidium hybrid 'Desert Museum'Hybrid Palo Verde Moderate 20'-25' 30'-35'15FLowThornless.Semi-evergreen to deciduous with tiny lime green foliage. Slender weeping branches. Blooms April - June.16 Cercidium praecox Sonora Palo Verde Moderate 20'-25' 25'-30'25FLowA popular tree due to its high branching form. It has smooth lime green trunk. The branches have small compound leaves and it does have small 1/2" size thorns. It produces bright yellow flowers March through May. Pruning requirements are minimal.No fertilizing is needed. 17 Chamaerops humilis Mediterranean Fan Palm Moderate 8'-12' 6'-10'10FModerate Ideal for small areas.Very tropical looking. 18 Chilopsis linearis Desert Willow Rapid 20'-25' 15'-20'0FLow/Mod Native deciduous tree found growing in washes. Use as a background tree. It flowers April - September. This shrubby tree can messy but the flowers are a welcome splash of color in the landscape. 19 Chitalpa tashkentenis Chitalpa Mod/Rapid 20'-30' 20'-25'10FModerate A relatively fast growing flowering tree with trumpet shaped flowers; lavender in color. The leaves are broader than its parent the Desert Willow.Giving this tree a decidedly lush appearance.
Chorisia speciosa Floss Silk Tree Moderate 50'-60' 25'-30'25FModerate A spectacular flowering tree with a range of color from pink to deep pink to violet-red. Large deciduous tree. Give this specimen plenty of room to grow. The trunk of this tree is green with thorns which disappear as the tree ages.(some times the thorns do persist).20 Citrus sp. (standard) Citrus Moderate 20'-30' equal25FMod/HighProtect trunk from sunscald, do not prune during the hot summer months. Water the tree consistently avoid over watering or drying out of the soil. Citrus trees need nitrogen so fertilizing is necessary.Keep grass away from the trunk, add mulch under the canopy.21 Dalbergia sissoo Sissoo Tree Rapid 30'-50' 30'30FModerate Semi-deciduous tree with a rounded canopy.Good shade tree.Hosts nitrogen fixing bacteria on its roots which stimulates its rapid growth. Flower blossoms are cream colored but not showy. 22 Dalea spinosa Smoke Tree Slow 10'-15' 10'15FLowNative tree found growing in washes in the desert of California and Arizona, Baja California, Sonora. This striking shrubby tree has spiny branches of a silver grey color. It flowers in April-June a deep purple color that is extremely fragant. This is a sensitive plant as it does not survive most attempts to dig it up. It makes a striking specimen tree.23 Eysenhardtia orthocarpa Kidneywood Moderate 10'-20' 10'-15'0FLow/ModThis small tree can be used near a patio or pool to create a somewhat tropical appearance. It produces vanilla scented white flowers in spring and sporatically during the fall. Attracts butterflies(and bees).Prune to shape the tree when young.24 Fraxinus uhdei Majestic Beauty Ash Mod/Rapid 30'-45' 30'-45'25FHighEvergreen to semi-evergreen tree. Upright form spreading to 15 feet but may spread to 60 feet as it matures. Good shade tree.This tree can tolerate the desert climate but not suggested for those areas in the windier portions of the valley.25 Fraxinus velutina Arizona Ash Mod/Rapid 25'-40' 20'-30' -10FModerate Deciduous tree. This ash can withstand the hot,dry conditions of the desert. A moderate size tree that is as broad as it is tall. 26 Koelreuteria bipinnata Chinese Lantern Tree Moderate 20'-35' 30'-40'0FModerate Deciduous tree with colorful fall foliage. It flowers late in the summer with bright yellow clusters of blooms and capsules that turn orange, red or salmon. These capsules persist on the tree well into fall.
27 Lagerstroemia indica Crape Myrtle Moderate 15'-20' 10'-15'20FModerate A small tree known for its spectacular summer flowers. This native to China grows well in the desert easily adapting to the hot,dry conditions. Prune this tree in the fall or spring to increase the next summer bloom. Powdery mildew is a problem on some varieties. Do not overwater.28 Lysiloma microphylla Feather Tree Slow/Mod 12'-15' 15'-20'25FModerate A small tree with a distinctive fern like appearance. It produces small cream colored flowers similar to the Acacia sp.. Irregular shaped tree. Good for use on a patio, or as an accent tree. Once established this tree will not require regular watering. Rather, it prefers a deep soaking every few months.29 Melaleuca quinquenervia Cajeput Tree Moderate 30'-40' 20'-25'25FModerate An evergreen, upright tree. Grows well in the desert. Not much pruning required. A spongy, peeling bark makes this tree focal point to any landscape.30 Olea europaea 'Swan Hill' Swan Hill Olive Moderate 20'-30' 25'-35'15FModerate Versatile tree for use in most landscape situations. This fruitless variety does not produce pollen or the fruit drop the olive tree is known for. As the tree matures the trunk becomes darker and gnarled. Do not top this tree rather, selectively prune for structure and shape. 31 Olneya tesota Desert Ironwood Very Slow 25'-30' 25'-30'20FLowA desert native found in rocky foothills, near washes. This thorny tree has dense hard wood giving this tree its common name. It produces a sweet smelling pea-shaped flower in spring lavender in color. There is leaf drop just before the tree blooms. There are small thorns at the base of each leaf. Give this tree plenty of room to grow. 32 Phoenix dactylifera Date Palm Slow/Mod 80' 25'20FHighA recognized symbol of the desert. A striking palm for some landscapes. Maintenance becomes an issue as the tree matures. The trees requires deep watering during the growing season. 33 Pinus canariensis Canary Island Pine Rapid 40'-60' 20'-30'25FModerate Good tree for windscreen or a vertical accent. This is not the pine for a small landscape. It can tolerate desert heat as long as it has moisture. This pine has 9"to12" long needles. It is somewhat messy as needles do drop. Remove bushy twigs along the interior may be done but overall this pine does not require pruning.
34 Pinus eldarica Afgan (Mondale) Pine Rapid 30'-60' 25'-40'20FModerate This dense, cone shaped pine has dark green soft needles, 5-6" long in bundles of 2. Planted successfully in the desert as it is heat tolerant and drought resistant. This pine has a recognizable growth habit of sweeping upward branches.35 Pinus halepensis Allepo Pine Mod/Rapid 40'-60' 35'-40'15FModerate A striking pine, columnar shaped, open and rather billowy as it matures. The needles are a light green color 2" to 4" with 2 per bundle. This is a large tree so space is critical. Not suggested for small patios, courtyards. Pruning as with most pines is limited to some structural pruning when young.36 Pinus pinea Italian Stone Pine Moderate 40'-60' 30'-50'20FModerate Distinctly rounded, broad spreading form as it reaches maturity. Use in open areas such as a park as it does need a lot of space to grow. Needles are 3" to 7" long with 2 needles per fascicle. 37 Pistacia chinensis Chinese Pistache Slow/Mod 40'-60' 40'-50'10FModerate Deciduous tree whose leaves turn orange to red even in the milder climates. Good tree for large planting areas. Leaves are 12" long with 12 to 14 leaflets approximately 4" in size. 38 Pithecellobium flexicaule Texas Ebony Slow 20'-25' 15'-20'10FLowSmall to moderate size tree. Easily recognized by its glossy green foliage and cream colored flowers. Branches on this tree are thorny with the canopy becoming dense and spreading. Due to its thorny branches keep this tree out of pedestrian traffic areas. Very attractive landscape tree.39 Pithecellobium mexicanum Mexican Ebony Moderate 30' 25'-30'10FLowAn upright tree with small comound grey green leaves. The tree has an open somewhat delicate appearance. This tree is deciduous. It has puff balls of flowers in spring that are fragrant. A good tree for most landscapes.40 Prosopis glandulosa Texas Honey Mesquite Rapid 20'-25' 30'-35'15FLowResembles the California Pepper tree. Bright green foliage and cream colored tassle-like flowers in spring. It is deciduous. Use in most landscape designs.
41 Quercus agrifolia Coast Live Oak Slow 30'-60' 40'-70'10FModerate While not a desert native, this oak does grow in the desert with supplemental watering during the hot summer months. A slow growing oak, this tree develops a wide spreading crown. The leaves are dark green and slightly curved with edges. Do not overwater! 42 Quercus ilex Holly Oak Slow/Mod 30'-50' 30'-50'25FModerate An upright evergreen tree with a round or dome shaped crown at maturity. The leaves are grey green, oval with smooth or serrated edges. Use as a shade tree, street tree. Do not overwater!43 Quercus virginiana Southern Live Oak Moderate 40'-50' 40'-100'10FModerate This oak, especially the variety 'Heritage', does well in the desert. It is somewhat drought tolerant and heat tolerant. The leaves of this oak are dark green, shiny with smooth margins. Use this tree in most landscape designs.44 Tipuana tipu Tipu Tree Moderate 25'-40' 40'-60'25FModerate This subtropical tree adapts well to the desert conditions. It has a broad, open canopy. The leaves are pinnately compound with up to eleven pair of oval shaped leaflets approximately 2" long and 3/4" wide. The tree produces yellow flowers in the summer. Use this shade tree where leaf and flower debris is not a problem. 45 Ulmus parvifolia 'Drake' Drake Elm Rapid 40'-60' 50'-70'25FModerate Evergreen tree with a rounded form. This variety has a more weeping habit. The bark on the trunk sheds. The leaves are small, evenly toothed, dark green and leathery. Use this tree in most landscape designs keeping in mind its rapid growth and spread.46 Washingtonia filifera California Fan Palm Mod/Rapid 40'-60' 15'20FHighA desert native usually found near springs. This palm tree has a much thicker trunk than the Mexican fan palm and has a broader canopy. Flower stalks tend to reach out beyond the fronds. Remove these seed stalks. The old petioles may also be removed, or left on to form the skirt or beard. Use this palm where it has plenty of room to grow.
47 Washingtonia robusta Mexican Fan Palm Mod/Rapid 40'-100' 15'25FHigh The Mexican fan palm is another familiar palm used in the desert. It can grow beyond most landscapes. Therefore, use this palm where height is needed. The old petioles can slough off causing a hazard. These become difficult to remove as the palm gets older and taller. The trunk on this palm is much narrower than W.filifera