Tree Types in Arizona

Can you find a wide variety of trees growing in Arizona?

Are they native to the area, or are most non-native?

How important is it to choose the right tree types in Arizona landscaping?

Most of the trees that grow in Arizona are native to the area, although some are non-native. There are plenty of options to choose from when looking for an Arizona tree, and this makes it easier than ever to find the right option for your landscaping needs.

Read through the article below to find out more about the trees you can grow in Arizona.

1. African Sumac

Scientific name: Rhus lancea

This tree has a thick brown trunk and a full canopy. It grows full foliage with bright yellow-green leaves and branches low to the ground. The tree needs full sunlight to partial shade.

Pros

  • Drought tolerant
  • Grows well in poor soil

Cons

  • Needs to be fertilized

2. Aleppo Pine

Scientific name: Pinus halepensis

This tree has a windswept appearance with thin branches and a small amount of foliage. It needs direct sunlight and warm temperatures.

Pros

  • Heat tolerant
  • Drought tolerant

Cons

  • May be too large for some lawns

3. Arizona Ash

Scientific name: Fraxinus velutina

This large tree has a thick trunk and many branches. It grows with bright green leaves and can become extremely tall and wide. The tree needs to be established in full sunlight and requires fertilizer.

Pros

  • Excellent shade option
  • Wind resistant

Cons

  • Too large for many lawns

4. Arizona Cypress

Scientific name: Cupressus arizonica

This large tree has a full shape and branches that grow all the way down to the ground. It can be bright green to gray-green in color. The tree needs sandy, well-draining soil.

Pros

  • Tolerant of soil types
  • Drought tolerant

Cons

  • Needs to be pruned and shaped

5. Arizona Sycamore

Scientific name: Platanus wrightii

This tall tree grows several separate branching sections from a thin central trunk. It has bright green leaves and requires good watering as well as bright sunlight.

Pros

  • Cold tolerant
  • Easy to grow and propagate

Cons

  • Needs more water than most on this list

6. Arizona Walnut

Scientific name: Juglans major

This large tree has a round, full canopy and can reach tall heights. It features bright green leaves and several branching sections, and it can be grown in full sunlight to partial shade.

Pros

  • Tolerant of drought
  • Tolerant of cold and heat

Cons

  • Requires irrigation while establishing

7. Box Elder Maple Tree

Scientific name: Acer negundo

This tree has a dark brown trunk and vibrant green leaves. It grows full but stays low to the ground, and it enjoys growing in slightly moist conditions whenever possible.

Pros

  • Tolerant of almost any soil condition
  • Wind tolerant

Cons

  • Cannot handle salt spray in the air

8. Cat’s Claw Acacia

Scientific name: Senegalia greggii

This tree grows low to the ground but has a full canopy. It features bright yellow-green foliage and has delicate yellow flowers that bloom in clusters. The tree needs full sunlight and enjoys poor soil conditions.

Pros

  • Drought tolerant when established
  • Easy to care for

Cons

  • Requires pruning regualrly

9. Chinese Elm

Scientific name: Ulmus parvifolia

This tall tree has a full canopy that grows up and out from its central trunk. It likes full sunlight but can tolerate partial shade, and it is slightly cold tolerant as well.

Pros

  • Can be grown indoors or outside
  • Easy to care for when established

Cons

  • Must be pruned

10. Desert Fern

Scientific name: Chamaebatiaria millefolium

This small fern grows low to the ground and has long fronds. It may be green to gray-green in color, and it likes a hot, dry climate.

Pros

  • Ideal ground cover in the desert
  • Drought tolerant

Cons

  • Easy to overwater

11. Desert Willow

Scientific name: Chilopsis linearis

This tree is short with a thin trunk and bright green to green-yellow foliage. It grows delicate purple flowers with yellow centers, and it needs sandy and well-draining soil.

Pros

  • Tolerant of many soil conditions
  • Drought tolerant

Cons

  • Can be easily overwatered

12. Fan Palm

Scientific name: Washingtonia filifera

This tree has a distinctive palm tree shape with a thick trunk and big, sprawling green fronds on top of the plant. It requires full sunlight to partial shade, but should get at least six hours of light per day if possible.

Pros

  • Can be started indoors
  • Adds lots of aesthetic appeal to a lawn

Cons

  • Takes up a lot of space when mature

13. Indian Rosewood

Scientific name: Dalbergia sissoo

This large tree has a full canopy that grows low to the ground. It features dark green foliage and leaves with a somewhat leather-like texture. The tree needs full sunlight, but it can handle some shade as well.

Pros

  • Tolerant of any soil condition
  • Tolerant of drought when established

Cons

  • Requires irrigation while establishing

14. Ironwood

Scientific name: Olneya tesota

This tree has a short trunk and long, thin branches that are topped with dark green foliage. It requires moisture in its soil but is native to the Sonoran Desert, making it a good choice for desert climates.

Pros

  • Durable and hardy
  • Heat tolerant

Cons

  • Slow-growing

15. Joshua Tree

Scientific name: Yucca brevifolia

This tree has a unique shape with growth sections that form on top of each other. These are topped with dark green foliage similar to palm fronds. The plant needs bright, full sunlight and sandy soil.

Pros

  • Easy to propagate
  • Stunning aesthetic appeal

Cons

  • Can be difficult to establish

16. Velvet Mesquite Tree

Scientific name: Prosopis velutina

This tree stays low to the ground by branches out into separate sections. It has a dark brown trunk and rich, green foliage, and it requires alkaline soil and low humidity conditions.

Pros

  • Cold-hardy
  • Drought-tolerant when established

Cons

  • Does not like much humidity at all

17. Palo Blanco

Scientific name: Mariosousa heterophylla

This tree has a pale trunk and lots of separate branching sections. It grows deep green foliage and can become very tall. It requires full sunlight.

Pros

  • Grows well in desert climates
  • Easy to care for when established

Cons

  • Cannot handle too much water

18. Palo Brea

Scientific name: Parkinsonia praecox

This tree grows a large, full canopy with deep green leaves. When it flowers, it is full of delicate yellow floral blooms. It needs a lot of room to grow and full sunlight.

Pros

  • Handles infrequent watering when established
  • Can be planted year-round in deserts

Cons

  • Cannot grow well in lawns

19. Palo Verde

Scientific name: Parkinsonia spp.

This plant grows long, thin stalks of foliage and has delicate yellow flowers. It needs full sunlight all day and requires a lot of space.

Pros

  • Drought-tolerant
  • Heat-tolerant

Cons

  • Easy to overwater

20. Texas Ebony

Scientific name: Ebenopsis ebano

These trees are short and thin with bushy canopies and bright green foliage. They like full sunlight and hot temperatures, and they require loamy and well-draining soil.

Pros

  • Easy to grow when established
  • Good choice for beginners

Cons

  • Require pruning

21. Willow Acacia

Scientific name: Acacia salicina

This tree has long, thin, blue-green foliage and a scruffy appearance. It enjoys high temperatures and bright, full sunlight.

Pros

  • Fast-growing
  • Drought-tolerant

Cons

  • Requires pruning regularly

Conclusion

Here are a few tips to help you choose the right tree for your space:

  • Pay attention to the amount of space you have to work with. Choose a tree that can fit comfortably into your space.
  • Think about the other plants you have and choose a tree that will grow well with them.
  • Consider the aesthetic appeal of the tree you choose.