Palo Verde is the state tree of Arizona, and the name translates from Spanish to “green stick,” in reference to the tree’s branches that stay green year-round. This unique feature allows the tree to appear evergreen, even when the leaves have been shed in winter or summer drought. Blue Palo Verde is the first of…
Harvest time is August to January in Tucson. Height: 15 – 20 feet Width: 15 – 20 feet Bloom color: White Flowering season: Spring USDA minimum zone: 9 Cold hardiness: 26° F
Figs are mentioned in many of our earliest texts, and evidence suggests that these broad, deciduous trees have been in cultivation for thousands of years. The fig tree’s leaf, in particular, is a widely familiar shape that has provided some of the world’s most famous statues and paintings with strategic covering and a modicum of…
Maxing out at maturity between 15 and 25 feet, the Anna apple is a great tree for any garden, large or small. Exquisite pink and white blossoms emerge out of an entirely bare tree in early spring, followed by ripening fruit in early to midsummer. Anna apple’s fruit is medium sized with green skin kissed…
‘Aristocrat’ is an improved variety of Flowering Pear that features a strong and wide pyramidal branching structure with a distinct central leader, and superior disease resistance. These fruitless trees are notorious for their dramatic seasonal changes. Blooming begins in early spring as profuse clusters of pure white flowers decorate leafless branches, creating an enchanting white…
It’s easy to spot Arizona Ash in the fall, when cooler temperatures transform the tree’s bright green foliage to a glowing golden hue. This native tree is fast growing and deciduous, dropping its leaves for a brief period of winter dormancy after a spectacular show of autumn color. Small, non-ornamental flowers appear along the tree’s…
Arizona Cypress is the only Cypress native to the southwest, where its conical, Christmas tree shape stands out against the often irregular crowns of other desert trees. This conifer creates a cooling, woodsy effect in the landscape, and looks best when allowed to grow naturally with little or no pruning. With a moderate growth rate,…
The Arizona rosewood is one of the toughest evergreen shrubs around. It will take reflected heat or sun and is incredibly drought-tolerant. It makes a lovely screen or informal hedge without needing much maintenance or supplemental water. The slender, deep green leaves look very similar to Oleander, making this native shrub a non-toxic alternative that…
The large, velvety, star-shaped leaves of Arizona Sycamore turn golden-brown in fall, and are a truly unique sight in the arid southwest. This deciduous tree’s mottled white bark is equally distinctive, resembling camouflage as it peels in large patches; lending an uncommon brightness to desert winter landscapes that tend to be primarily brown and grey.…