Landscaping in the desert requires the careful selection of trees that will thrive in the harsh conditions. None of the trees are perfect, if perfect means being in flower year round and never dropping leaves. Its long, soft needles are shed from the tree after seven years of growth and offer a natural and easy mulch underneath the area of the tree. The FanTex Ash ‘Rio Grande’ is especially good because it thrives in hot climates with alkaline soil. Trimming may result in the tree having an unnatural appearance. Its biggest benefit is its surprising shade tolerance it will thrive even under the canopy of other trees but will be happiest in partial shade. They’re just plain pretty. Please note that I said "some". Many homeowners don't realize that Ash trees perform very well and thrive in the Valley. Although the desert regions of the Grand Canyon State are known for their warm climate, early winter often brings heavy rainfall and snow is not uncommon in certain areas. Arizona Ash. Spaces under the canopy of a dense tree, a roof, or an overhang are the most difficult areas to find suitable plants for. 'Shademaster' is an excellent nursery variety. Many Ash trees are used throughout the nation as a … Chaste Tree. It’s not as showy in fall as the maples and gums, but you’ll get a decent performance of yellow before the leaves drop for winter. It’s a deciduous shade tree that will keep it’s leaves most of the year, especially during the hot months. 3. Arizona residents can choose from a wide range of evergreen trees to beautify their homes and businesses. Fast growing Shumard Oak Trees can reach mature height quickly, providing you with an outstanding shade tree in a fraction of the time that most Red Oaks would require. Arizona Trees. Arizonians are often on the look out for fast growing trees to provide color and shade to their gardens. As a bonus, Scotch Pine has a nice, lasting aroma. The 4-8 inch pointed, deep-lobed leaves are shiny and dark green. Saucer magnolia grows at a moderate rate but comes out on the short end of shade-tree status – about 30 feet tall and wide after 25 years. The Shade from this Thornless Chilean Mesquite, Prosopis chilensis, creates a 10-15 degree cooler temperature in our yard. Below in the photo is a Hybrid Mesquite that is Thornless, called the Chilean Mesquite. Apr 2, 2017 - Moon Valley Nurseries has a wide selection of fast growing trees to choose from. Tree Care. In a gardener's world not all shade is alike. If there are obstacles, like sidewalks, close to your planting site, pick a tree with a non-invasive, small root system. The Southern magnolia tree (Magnolia grandiflora) is the suitable shade tree if you like flowers, as it produces large, foot-long, creamy-white flowers in the late spring and early summer. Shaping by pruning may be necessary. NOTE: Any tree located under or near utility lines is subject to trimming or removal by utility company. American Hornbeam are a pleasing small-to-medium tree with green summer foliage and yellow to fire engine red fall colors. They don't drop off the tree, even when they dry out. No matter what size yard you have, there's a colorful type of maple tree to fit your needs . 5. Kauri Tree (Agathis australis) – Unique Tree with a Towering Appearance (rndms/123rf.com) With the addition of shade trees, we now had microclimates that were able to protect our fruit trees from sun, wind, and even frost! That means that you’ll have plenty of new shade in a hurry with the Arizona Ash tree. These common names refer to … Trees with Roots that Don’t Spread (By Zone) Tree roots want all the water they can get! DEEP OR FULL SHADE indicates that there is no direct sunlight. From evergreens to trees with showy flowers or bright fall color, you have lots of options when choosing fast-growing shade trees. Its large leaves are dark green and leathery. Analyze the shade pattern and the types of shade in your landscape. The branches are stiff with ridged, 1 inch long, bright green needles that hold for weeks. We love trees. By providing abundant shade, a lush green leaf canopy and graceful fissured brown trunks, Thornless Mesquites are another … The dogs use the shade from the Mesquites to stay cool. Evergreen Trees That Thrive in Arizona. The Live Oak is a large evergreen shade tree noted for its beauty and extreme drought tolerance. It needs a well-draining soil and tolerates moist locations. They are all fantastic trees that can withstand the monsoon season as they have have strong and stiff wood with good shock resistance and excellent bending qualities. "They're evergreen and very, very clean. Weeping Willow Cypress, Arizona Common Name: Arizona Cypress Cupressus arizonica Tree Size: Large Leaf ... Will shed limbs to survive drought. One of the most dazzling shade trees for fall color is the maple. The foliage turns different shades of gold, crimson, and orange in the fall, while the new leaves that emerge in early spring will eventually offer plenty of shade in summer. Excellent native shade tree for a variety of planting situations. They’re habitats for our avian neighbors. These trees are also ideal because they offer welcome shade from the hot sun. Prefers moist sites. When mature the shape can range from rounded to a broader, elliptical form. Certain types of willow, crabapple, and mulberry have been popular choices and they look somewhat like an umbrella. As you can see by the photo at the top of this page, the leaves turn a lovely golden yellow in Fall. It grows 40 to 80 feet tall with a 30- to 40-foot spread. If you don't insist on native trees, Eichinger said the evergreen pistache is a good tree for small gardens. A yard without trees is a forlorn space indeed—however, there are more than a few tree species that are more trouble than they’re worth. It grows anywhere between 40’ and 80’ tall with a spread of 20’ to 40’ and tolerates almost any soil condition, although … These trees are known for their aesthetic beauty, especially in autumn, but they also fall into the category of least messy trees. The Arizona Ash tree grows fast, grows wide, and grows up to about 30’ tall. Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) has long been one of the most popular Christmas trees. They can provide shade; fall, spring, or year-round color; and plenty of visual interest no matter where they're planted. Come shop the best and biggest selections for fast growing trees today! Maple. Ash (Fraxinus) – whether you select an Arizona Ash, Modesto Ash or Fan-Tex Ash tree, you will have shade in your garden rapidly. 4. A triangle denotes trees which are native to the Sonoran Desert or which are visually compatible with Sonoran Desert landscapes. While not really one of the Arizona shade trees that don’t shed, if placed in the right location, it can shield small areas from the hot sun. If you want a wall to block the sun then an evergreen hedge may be the way to go. In addition to their showy leaves, some types (such as the paperbark maple and coral bark Japanese maple) display intriguing branch color and texture. Mature Height: 10 to 20 feet Dwarf Height: 3 to 4 feet Zones: 7–9 The chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) grows to 10 ft. or 20 ft. tall and produces lavender-purple flowers in early or mid-spring.The flowers give off a spicy aroma and the leaves smell faintly of sage. (more desert gardening tips from Desert Bloom)The following is a list of what I feel to be some of the very best trees for Southern Nevada. In early summer, purple and red flowers brighten up this desert tree. With the proper pruning, you can grow the ironwood tree as a desert bush or small shade tree. We truly believe that natural shade is the way to go, and if we had to start all over again, we would start with shade trees. Once listed in the botanical genus Cercidium, Parkinsonia comprises three trees of note to cast shade on southern Arizona's dry landscapes. Nonetheless, there are a number which, though falling short of this ideal, have, by reason of their adaptability, great value as shade trees. Below, learn the benefits of these trees and discover which tree is best for you! Shumard's canopy can … Other names for this desert tree are musclewood and hornbeam. They will need maintenance though to ensure the branches don't grow onto your car and to pick up the leaves in autumn. Those discussed in this article are outstanding in this respect. The blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida) grows quickly to about 30 feet tall and wide and is seasonally partially deciduous and provides attractive yellow flowers in spring. 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