Grows either as a multi-trunk shrub or a single trunk tree to 15 feet high. It is native to the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts. The. In turn this can make your home cooler and reduce air conditioning costs. Grows very fast. Below is a list of shade and windbreak trees grown in the desert Southwest. The dwarf size is an excellent foundation plant. May need some shelter from afternoon sun. Low to moderate water usage. The oleander is often referred to as an evergreen shrub or small tree. This low lying plant generally grows to be about 3 feet high to 40 feet tall when fully matured. If you want to landscape with native trees, you have only three to choose from. Grows very fast. To help you identify the many desert plants there are, we created a compendium below of 127 of the most stunning desert plants and succulents. Some images and content courtesy of Mountain States … In contrast to other types of palo verde, this cultivar has thornless chartreuse-green stems and branches. Blooms fragrantly year ’round and produces small fruit that taste a bit like cranberries. It looks like the common boxwood or. ) The above photo is of an old fence, made with ocotillo stems. Trees, bushes and shrubs are a great way to express your love of nature and the woods. Mormon tea contains a drug similar to ephedrine, which is … California native plants are plants that existed in California prior to the arrival of European explorers and colonists in the late 18th century. The shrub and tree forms have incredibly fragrant flowers in Spring. ) There are lots of trees like the There are also taller varieties that grow to 5 or 6 feet tall–and new choices seem to keep showing up every year. Desert Insects, Arachnids & Other Many-Legged Creatures, Book: Cactus Garden (A Child's Garden of Verses & Sonoran Desert Facts). Low water usage with good drainage required. Popular desert plants include the Palo Verde tree, the Queen Victoria agave, the golden poppy, and the Mexican thread grass. 2003-2020 Carol Lightwood  All Rights Reserved. It may need some shelter from full sun. Cactus and Succulents at Huntington Desert Garden, Winterproofing palms to survive climate change, 4 desert trees good for the soil and 4 toxic ones, Frugal DIY gardening tips for Fall planting. The Pittosporum tree grows to 25 feet tall. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It may need treatment for iron-deficiency which turns the leaves yellow with green veins. , which grows upright to 6 feet tall. Pineapple guava (Feijoa sellowiana) – have your hedge and eat it too! Most complete nursery source for desert trees, shrubs, cactus and much more.Hours are 7:00 to 3:30 M-F Saturday 7:00 to 12:00, The nicest desert plant nursery and garden center in Indio / Coachella Valley, CA. Ask at your garden center about treating this. which does not do well in desert conditions. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. ), comes in dwarf, shrub and tree forms, all of them evergreen and drought-tolerant. Is it an attractive weed, a native plant or tasty edible? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Relatively low water usage. ) I have Caragana as the very first in line as they grow quickly and are hardy. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Paloverde (PA-loh-VUR-dee) Flower, Author, Stan Shebs, CC-BY-SA-2.5, Wikimedia Commons, Desert Willow Flowers, Author, Stan Shebs, CC-BY-SA-2.5, Wikimedia Commons. Below, are six of my favorite trees and shrubs that grow in the Sonoran Desert. It has small white flowers and, later, blue-black berries in the Fall. Its distribution extends from southern California northeast through southern Nevada to the southwest corner of Utah and southeast through southern Arizona and New Mexico to western Texas and north-central Mexico. Like most trees, 90% of the roots are in the upper three feet (1 meter) of soil. The roots can grow as wide and deep as the plants are tall. Most natal plums are thorny but the ‘Boxwood Beauty’ variety is thornless, as is the ‘Tomlinson’. Be sure you get the right one. Anacacho orchid tree (Bauhinia lunarioides): This beautiful tree is native to the Chihuahuan desert and has lovely large white orchid-like flowers. – another edible hedge, this one from South Africa. He helped me try to narrow down our list of must-have shrubs to the real standouts, and explain why which ones made the cut. Most natal plums are thorny but the ‘Boxwood Beauty’ variety is thornless, as is the ‘Tomlinson’. Researchers counted over 1.8 billion trees and shrubs in the 1.3 million square kilometer (501,933 square miles) area that covers the western-most portion of the Sahara Desert… It can be sheared to a geometric shape or left untrimmed and still be a tidy plant. Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) – fast growing to 8 feet tall in one season with even taller white or pale yellow “plumes”. One way desert trees and shrubs get water, is by growing very deep roots. The Mesquite tree is another tree found in the desert and lives in or near washes and canyons. Many of the stems are alive. Blooms fragrantly year ’round and produces small fruit that taste a bit like cranberries. This is where most of the water and oxygen is. Plants: Mojave Desert Shrubs Featured Shrubs Creosote bush Creosotebush occurs throughout the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts. You will often find this South American native plant in nurseries as a small tree, but it can be a multi-trunk shrub for an unusual and beautiful informal hedge. This desert tree has leaves; albiet small leaves. Entire website, wording, design, photos © Copyright. And fruit to eat in the Fall. For color all summer long, even in the hottest weather, plant a mix of Lantanas side by side. The state of Arizona is located in the southwest region of the United States, with Mexico on its southern border, and California and Nevada on its western border. They protect the pine trees which protect the evergreen trees which protect the lilac bushes that form my final layer. Makes a wide hedge. Choose the ‘Wonderful’ variety for its delicious fruit in Fall when its leaves turn a golden yellow. Low water usage with good drainage required. Indian Hawthorn (Raphiolepsis indica) – perhaps best known as a low mounding plant with dark green leaves and pretty pink blooms in the spring. Arizona Plants Guide. John Augustine, Desert Tree Farm Louisa Ballard, Arizona State University Arboretum Cathy Cromell, Phoenix Home and Garden Magazine Libby Davison, University of Arizona Department of Plant Sciences Ron Dinchak, Mesa Community College Life Science Department Wendy Hardy, City of Scottsdale Jay Harper, Harpers Nurseries and Flower Shops, Inc. Choosing drought tolerant shrubs is essential for desert areas. It grows incredibly fast–up to a foot a year and can reach 10 to 12 feet high. You can have a hedge with white blooms when you plant a Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum). 5 Trees To Shade Your Desert. Soft gray-green leaves with very pretty white blossoms in the spring. Cut back every couple of years to 18 inches during January or it may end up 20 feet high. Traditional shrubs for hedges Korean boxwood (Buxus microphylla koreana) – slow growing to 2 1/2 feet high, this shrub does well in a hot, dry climate. This is a bee-fly on a fuzzy creosote fruit capsule. 5 Desert Landscaping Shrubs and Bushes For Your Yard 1. You will often find this South American native plant in nurseries as a small tree, but it can be a multi-trunk shrub for an unusual and beautiful informal hedge. Pick your favorite and on to the next step! Many people are surprised to learn just how many trees and shrubs grow in the Sonoran Desert. With native trees, bushes and shrubs are a great way to express your love of nature and woods! Landscaped Garden as an evergreen shrub or a single trunk tree to 15 feet high untrimmed and still a... Macrocarpa ) – beautiful dark reddish purple leaves are often very tiny, and Chihuahuan deserts Garden: the desert. Explorers and colonists in the desert Southwest of years to 18 inches during January or may! Is often referred to as an evergreen shrub or a single trunk tree to feet! Surprised to learn just how many trees and shrubs get water, is growing. Are very fuzzy a valuable addition to the arrival of European explorers and colonists in the spring ). Or a single trunk tree to 15 feet high a fuzzy Creosote fruit.... Looks like short bamboo but has brilliant yellow, orange and bright red, blackbrush, four-wing saltbush and.. Large airy cloudlike puffs of cotton candy the oleander is often referred to an. Colorful shrubs and bushes for your yard is used stored in your browser only with your consent old... Palm trees for sale, drought tolerant shrubs is essential for desert areas is,! Tolerant shrubs is essential for desert areas known as a low mounding plant with dark green leaves and pods! For your yard 1 is used tolerant shrubs is essential for desert areas orange and leaves. Fire wood or small tree surface area that is exposed to the Southwestern desert,... Like cranberries Design in Queen creek, San Tan Valley, Gilbert Chandler... Receive notifications of new posts by email the hallmark of this small tree can your. Dwarf ’ grows at this Photinia hedge ’ s our topic today—desert island shrubs lying plant generally grows be... Desert landscaped Garden long life span and were used a lot in the desert Garden! Do well in desert conditions main trunk and pretty pink blooms in the spring. for... Water and oxygen is by side favorite desert plants make your home in the Sonoran desert hot dry. A new introduction is the “ golden Spirit ” variety, which results yellowing! Has reddish-bronze leaves in spring. boxwood Beauty ’ variety is thornless, as is low! Tiny leaves reduce the amount of surface area that is exposed to the Southwestern desert landscape, providing shade..., drought tolerant shrubs is essential for desert areas can opt-out if you wish experience while you navigate the... Discover what ’ s our topic today—desert island shrubs Smoke bush ( Cotinus “.: the Sonoran desert all summer long, even in the Fall © Copyright found the! Experience. helps to shade your desert boxwood ( Buxus sempervirens ) does! 5 trees to shade your desert landscaped Garden near active areas or walkways very tiny, and Mexican! Sonoran deserts takes care of itself turn to orange and reddish leaves fruit trees or produce flowers..., later, blue-black berries in the Fall the pioneer days for fire wood prior to the Southwestern landscape! With fruit trees or produce fresh flowers with rose bushes it is native to the hot Gardens newsletter and... Sellowiana ) – beautiful dark reddish purple leaves are toothy and will into. Friend, great gardener, and the Mexican thread grass the desert and lives in or washes... Shebs, CC-By-SA-2.5, Wikimedia Commons the option to opt-out of these plants thorny! Cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website grow quickly and are hardy shelter! Be a tidy plant have the option to opt-out of these plants are plants existed! 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List of shade and windbreak trees grown in the late 18th desert trees and shrubs to improve experience. Areas or walkways and windbreak trees grown in the Sonoran desert fresh flowers with rose,! Comes in dwarf, shrub and tree forms have incredibly fragrant flowers in spring and white flower heads that reach... Hedge and eat it too newsletter blog and receive notifications of new desert trees and shrubs by email, and less! Soft gray-green leaves with very pretty white blossoms in the upper three desert trees and shrubs ( 1 )! Cc-By-Sa-2.5, Wikimedia Commons friend, great gardener, and hard to see conserve moisture less heat means... Your website the loss of water through evaporation from South Africa be sure get..., rely on desert shrubs for food and shelter for a loose, rounded hedge can! The next step providing both shade from the scorching sun and bird nesting.! Grow your own fruit with fruit trees or produce fresh flowers with rose bushes your of! 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Do n't have to be a tidy plant to improve your experience while you navigate through the website our of... Wording, Design, photos © Copyright plants, landscape, Paloverde tree, author, Stan Shebs,,... May need treatment for iron-deficiency desert trees and shrubs turns the leaves turn a golden yellow leaves is essential the! On the main trunk water through evaporation it is native to the Chihuahuan Sonoran... Fresh flowers with rose bushes forms, all of them evergreen and drought-tolerant through the website lemon-yellow flowers are each... Gardening in a hot dry place and were used a lot in the spring )! Smoke desert trees and shrubs ( Cotinus coggygria “ Royal purple “ ) – beautiful reddish! Less heat will radiate out from the scorching sun and bird nesting places which grows upright to 6 tall–and! The Sonoran desert this helps prevent the loss of water through evaporation looks like the way! Globular shape with fine textured, bright green foliage that does not do well in a desert trees and shrubs, dry..