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 PLANT
LIST: TREES
The
following trees are well adapted for use in the High Desert. There
are many more water efficient plants carried by local nurseries,
or ones you have had good success with that expand your plant choices.
Using
the following plants will help save High Desert water resources
only if you combine them with thoughtful garden planning and proper
watering strategies.
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Albizia
julibrissen, Silk Tree, highly recommended,
30 feet with 30 foot spread, deciduous, with showy pink summer
flowers, fern-like leaves, stake until established, makes a
good patio tree. |
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Arbutus
unedo, Strawberry Tree, highly recommended,
use as a shade shrub or on north exposures, slow growth to 20
feet, dark green attractive leaves, white flowers and red fruit
in fall and winter. |
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Calocedrus
decurreus, Incense Cedar, native to California, 60
feet tall, 20 foot spread, symmetrical, good for windbreaks,
water deeply, grows slowly when young. |
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Cedrus
deodora, Deodar Cedar, moderate growth to 60 feet,
20 foot spread, evergreen. Moderate water when young, stake
until established. Takes full sun. |
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Cercidium
floridum, Blue Palo Verde, native to western deserts,
deciduous with fast growth to 30 feet with equal spread, yellow
flowers in spring. Takes full sun in the toughest exposures. |
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Cupressus
arizonica, Arizona Cypress, fast to 30 feet, 15 foot
spread, used as screen or windbreak, evergreen. Full sun on
the south and west exposure. |
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Fraxinus
velutina, Arizona Ash, highly recommended,
deciduous, excellent shade, 30 or more feet high. A native of
Arizona, withstands hot, dry conditions. Beware, roots can affect
plumbing or septic systems and may lift sidewalks or patios,
water deeply to control roots. Full sun. |
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Fraxinus
velutina, Modesto Ash, highly recommended,
a vigorous Arizona ash variety, fast growth to 50 feet, 30 foot
spread, deciduous, yellow fall color. Beware, roots can affect
plumbing or septic systems and may lift sidewalks or patios,
water deeply to control roots. Full sun. |
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Gleditsia
triacanthus, Honey Locust, small tree to 25 feet,
20 foot spread, deciduous, good in lawns, patios, stake until
established. Attractive lime yellow spring leaf color. Suckers
profusely and must be trimmed often. Particularly recommended
in the High Desert is the "Moraine" variety. Full
sun. |
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Koelreuteria
paniculata, Goldenrain Tree, highly recommended,
moderate growth to 30 feet, 25 foot spread, deciduous, white
or cream flowers in summer turning to pink seed clusters, needs
consistent water when young. Excellent for shade, street, or
patio tree. Full sun. |
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Parkinsonia
aculata, Mexican Palo Verde, fast to 30 feet, 25
foot spread, semi-deciduous with spiny branches, tiny leaves,
profuse yellow blooms in spring and summer. Good desert naturalizer.
Use as accent or transition to natural surroundings. Full sun. |
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Pinus
halepensis, Aleppo Pine, moderate to 50 feet, 25
foot spread, evergreen, use near lawns and for windswept look.
Full sun. Water deeply to prevent shallow rooting. Also recommended
is Pinus eldarica, slightly smaller than the Aleppo Pine,
and with a more conical shape. |
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Pistacia
chinensis, Chinese Pistache, highly recommended,
moderate growth to 50 feet, 30 foot spread, deciduous, brilliant
orange fall color, use near street, lawn or as a patio tree. |
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Prosopis
glandulosa, Texas Mesquite or Honey Mesquite,
deciduous, multi-trunked fast growth to 20 feet, 25 foot spread,
native to the southwestern deserts. Use as accent or as a tree
transitioning to the natural surroundings. Full sun. |
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Rhus
lancea, African Sumac, evergreen shrub, slow growing
to 20 feet, 15 foot spread, attractive leaf and form, needs
fall planting time. Full sun or partial shade. |
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Robinia
pseudoacacia, Idaho Locust, deciduous, moderately
fast-growing to 35 feet, 20 foot spread. Clusters of white or
pink flowers in the spring. Likes heat and full sun. Roots are
aggressive and may send up suckers. Use as an accent tree, away
from lawn. |
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