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Small Trees for the Arizona Desert

by Mike Mekelburg,
Master Gardener

Where landscape trees are concerned, the best time to avoid pruning problems is before the tree is even put in the ground. The key is to know how much area you have to work with, so you don't purchase a tree that overfills its space as it matures.

Tucson Botanical Gardens has compiled an extensive list of small trees for urban spaces in southern Arizona. The following is a list of a few highly recommended examples:

MULGA
(Acacia aneura)
Praised for its compact, up-right growth habit, this attractive gray tree from Australia looks good with Sonoran plants.

BLACKBRUSH
(Acacia rigidula)
Slow growing to 10 or 12 feet and long-lived, this tree resembles Texas Ebony.

PALO BLANCO
(Acacia willardiana)
Excellent for planting close to structures, because it is slow growing and does not produce lateral branches.


TEXAS OLIVE
(Cordia boissieri)
This attractive tree has large evergreen leaves and long-blooming white flowers. It tends to stay under 15 feet in height.


TEXAS EBONY
(Ebano ebenopsis)
Very thorny, but its glossy dark foliage lends a tropical effect to a garden.

DESERT FERN TREE
(Lysiloma watsoni)
This is a clean native tree with lush, fern-like foliage.

DESERT MUSEUM PALO VERDE
(Parkinsonia)
A very fast grower that will reach 20 feet. It blooms heavily with yellow and orange flowers.

TEXAS MOUNTAIN LAUREL
(Sophora secundiflora)
A shrub-like tree with glossy leaves and purple flowers that smell like grape Kool-Aid.


CHASTE TREE
(Vitex agnus-castus)
A deciduous tree with purple or white flowers in sum-mer. It should be kept away from sidewalks due to its BB-like fruit litter.

FUCHSIA GUM
(Eucalyptus forrestiana)
A very small tree, good for patios or large pots.

Maricopa County Master Gardener Volunteer Information
Last Updated January 23, 2004
Author: Lucy K. Bradley, Extension Agent Urban Horticulture, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County
© 1997 The University of Arizona, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cooperative Extension in Maricopa County
Comments to Maricopa-hort@ag.arizona.edu 4341 E. Broadway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85040,
Voice: (602) 470-8086 ext. 301, Fax (602) 470-8092