Trees
We recommend the following trees for Tucson, AZ and surrounding communities. Property owners should choose a tree for its function, whether it’s providing cool shade, screening for privacy or enhancing landscape views. The following trees were selected primarily for their low maintenance requirements, drought tolerance, and their proven ability to thrive in Southern Arizona.
*Our plant guide provides informational resources regarding plants that we commonly use. We obtain necessary materials for installation purposes only, and recommend consulting a nursery or supplier for direct purchasing needs.
HORTICULTURE UNLIMITED IS NOT A NURSERY OR SUPPLIER.
**The scientific names of plants may periodically change. While we attempt to update our Plant Guide to reflect this, there may still be multiple names found for these plants in other directories.
Acacia aneura
MulgaMulga is a striking evergreen that grows to a moderate fifteen to twenty feet with a ten- to twelve-foot spread…
The mulga prefers full sun and reflected heat. It is drought-resistant but likes regular water to increase its growth rate…
Acacia berlandieri
Guajillo TreeGuajillo is a small, spreading tree that grows to 12 feet tall by 12 feet wide. It is very shrub-like…
Plant Guajillo tree in the fall in full sunlight and in well-drained soil. Guajillo is drought-tolerant, surviving on low amounts…
Acacia farnesiana
Sweet Acacia TreeSweet acacia is a small to medium-sized tree that grows to 20 ft. tall and develops a 20 foot canopy…
Sweet acacia tree does require a good deal of maintenance. Although drought-tolerant, this highly decorative tree will benefit from a…
Acacia pendula
Weeping MyallThe graceful medium-sized evergreen grows twenty feet tall and fifteen feet wide with pendulous, weeping branches and multiple trunks. It…
Weeping myall tolerates a wide range of soils from acidic to alkaline, is drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and does not produce litter…
Acacia salicina
Willow Acacia TreeWillow acacia is an Australian tree that provides refreshing shade in low desert regions of Southern Arizona. It has narrow…
Willow acacia tree requires relatively little care and can withstand long periods of drought. It does not require supplemental fertilizer…
Brachychiton populneus
Bottle TreeThe bottle tree is a fast-growing evergreen with poplar-like, dark green, dense, pointed foliage. It has a broad trunk that…
The species prefers full sun, withstands reflected heat, and grows best in well-draining soils that are not rocky. This tree…
Calia secundiflora (formerly Sophora secundiflora)
Texas Mountain LaurelThe Texas Mountain Laurel (Calia secundiflora) is well-known for its pendulous clusters of purple, fragrant flowers that look as good…
Texas Mountain Laurel has a slow growth rate. Purchase a 15-gallon specimen from a nursery to enjoy its immediate beauty…
Chilopsis linearis
Desert Willow TreeDesert willow trees come in many varieties. Native to southwest U.S. and northern Mexico, this small, deciduous tree has narrow…
Plant desert willow tree in full sun or partial shade. It will tolerate various soil conditions but does best in…
Cordia boissieri
Texas OliveTexas olive is an evergreen to semi-deciduous tree reaching fifteen to twenty feet tall and about twenty-five feet wide. It…
Plant this tree in full sun with plenty of reflected heat. It is hardy to about twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit. If…
Ebenopsis ebano
Texas Ebony TreeTexas ebony tree grows quite well in Southern Arizona. Native to the Chihuahuan desert, this highly decorative tree is remarkably…
Plant Texas ebony tree in the fall or spring in full or partial sunlight. It tolerates almost all soil conditions…
Ficus carica
Common FigThe common fig tree is a deciduous, spreading, multi-trunk tree with smooth, gray bark that grows to heights of fifteen…
The common fig is drought-resistant once established, but likes regular, deep irrigations for the first few years after planting. It…
Fraxinus greggi
Little Leaf AshThe hardy evergreen is a multi-trunk tree that grows quickly to eighteen feet with a spread of twelve to fifteen…
This tree likes well-draining soil and full sun or partial shade. It is drought-tolerant but prefers supplemental irrigation during the…
Fraxinus velutina
Arizona AshThis fast-growing, deciduous tree reaches thirty to forty-five feet and spreads twenty-five to forty-five feet or more, depending on conditions…
It is drought-resistant, but grows best with occasional, deep irrigation during the hot, dry season. This tree is hardy to…
Jacaranda mimosifolia
JacarandaThis magnificent, tropical beauty grows twenty-five to forty feet with an equal spread. Its tall canopy has an open, irregular…
It is a fast-growing tree that needs full sun and reflected heat. This tree is resistant to most pests and…
Lagerstroemia indica
Crape MyrtleThis deciduous tree grows quickly to heights of fifteen to twenty feet and six to fifteen feet wide, with single…
Plant it in full sun or reflected heat and provide plenty of supplemental irrigation. It is hardy to ten degrees…
Lysiloma watsonii
Feather BushFeather bush is a graceful, single- or multi-trunk evergreen or semi-deciduous tree with a wide, spreading growth habit to heights…
The feather bush requires minimal water to survive, but grows faster with additional irrigation, especially during the hot, dry season…
Oleo europaea
Fruitless OliveThe fruitless olive is a distinctive evergreen that grows at a slow to medium rate to twenty-five to thirty feet…
Olive trees are hardy to fifteen to twenty degrees Fahrenheit, enjoy full sun and reflected heat, and require little water…
Olneya tesota
Desert IronwoodDesert ironwood is a member of the pea family and its leaves and flowers resemble the sweet pea. This single…
The tree is drought-resistant, prefers well-draining soil, full sun, and reflected heat. It is hardy to about twenty degrees Fahrenheit…
Parkinsonia florida
Blue Palo Verde TreeBlue palo verde tree is easily distinguished by its blue-green bark and brilliant yellow flower display. It can grow to…
Blue palo verde tree should be planted in full or reflected sun and in soil with good drainage. This tree…
Parkinsonia praecox
Palo Brea TreeSometimes called Sonoran palo verde, the palo brea tree has a wide, open and spreading crown, making it a favorite…
Plant palo brea tree in the fall, spring or summer in full sun locations. It grows best in deep, well-drained…
Parkinsonia x
Desert Museum Palo VerdeThis semi-deciduous, “thorn-less” tree has characteristics of the foothills, blue, and Mexican palo verde. It is quite similar to the…
It is hardy to about fifteen degrees Fahrenheit or lower, produces lightly filtered shade and is a great tree for…
Pistacia lentiscus
Evergreen PistacheThis dense evergreen makes an excellent screen, growing twenty to twenty-five feet high and wide. It can be trained as…
The mastic is hardy into the mid teens with leaf and stem damage at lower temperatures. This plant loves full…
Prosopis alba
Argentine Mesquite TreeNative to South America, the Argentine mesquite is a beautiful tree with darker bark and a more vigorous growth rate…
Plant this mesquite tree almost anytime, though it establishes best when planted in the fall. It tolerates most soil conditions…
Prosopis chilensis
Chilean Mesquite TreeChilean mesquite tree is popular in Southern Arizona because of its rapid growth, lower water requirement and ability to provide…
Plant the Chilean mesquite tree in full sun. Water it every 7 to 10 days during the first year after…
Prosopis glandulosa
Honey MesquiteHoney mesquite is a willow-like, deciduous tree with an open, spreading crown and low growing, twisted branches. It reaches heights…
It likes full sun and reflected heat, and is hardy to ten degrees Fahrenheit or lower. The honey mesquite grows…
Prosopis velutina
Velvet Mesquite TreeNative to Southern Arizona, the velvet mesquite is a low branching, open tree with dark, almost black, shaggy bark. It…
Velvet mesquite tree tolerates almost any soil type from well-drained, fertile soil to rocky, native soil. It can even be…
Prunus cerasifera
Purple Leaf PlumThe attractive, deciduous tree has an upright, spreading habit with a rounded crown, and is a moderate- to fast-grower reaching…
The tree enjoys full sun and well-draining soils that are slightly alkaline, and does not do well with compacted soils…
Pyrus kawakamii
Evergreen Pear TreeThe Evergreen Pear Tree (Pyrus kawakamii) is prized for its beautiful winter color. It grows moderately from fifteen to thirty…
The Evergreen Pear Tree likes plenty of sunlight, but it is best suited for eastern and northern exposures in Arizona…
Quercus virginiana
Southern Live OakThis majestic evergreen grows forty to fifty feet tall and almost as wide with a broad, rounded canopy, horizontal branches…
It takes full to partial shade, likes moist, well-draining, sandy soil, and tolerates drought conditions when established. It needs supplemental…
Ulmus parvifolia
Chinese ElmThis fast-growing shade tree grows thirty to forty feet tall with an equal spread and develops a broad, vase-like shape…
It likes full sun and is adaptable to most soil types as long as they are well-draining. This tree is…
Vitex agnus-castus
Chaste TreeChaste tree grows quite well in Southern Arizona, though it has its origins in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean. Very…
Plant chaste tree in the spring, after all danger of frost is past, in full sun or partial shade. Chaste…