Douglas Fir

Genus / species: Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca
Family: Pinaceae

Species characteristics
Size: 100' x 30'
Flowers: Cone bearing
Leaves: Dark green needles, 1" - 1-1/2" long
Bark: Reddish brown, very thick when mature
Fruit: Reddish brown, 3" long oval shaped cones

Comments/tree care:
• Sharply pyramidal form when young
• Moderate growth rate
• Recommended for parklike areas or large yards
• Prefers coarse, well drained soils
• Wind tolerant

 

Colorado Blue Spruce

Genus / species: Picea pungens glauca
Family: Pinaceae

Species characteristics
Size: 100' x 40'
Flowers: Cone bearing
Leaves: Bluish-gray or green, 1-1/2" long, stiff
Bark: Gray or brown and scaly
Fruit: Light brown papery cones, 2" - 4" long

Comments/tree care:
• Densely branched
• Slow growth rate
• Pyramidal shape
• Recommended for parklike areas or large yards
• Sensitive to soil compaction
• Drought sensitive

 

Arizona Sycamore

Genus / species: Acer saccharinum
Family: Aceraceae

Species characteristics
Size: 40' - 80' x 60' x 80'
Flowers: Inconspicuous spherical flowers
Leaves: Palmately veined, three to fi ve lobes, 4" - 8" wide
Bark: Grayish to white
Fruit: 1" bristly brown spheres on long stalks

Comments/tree care:
• Recommended for park-like areas or large yards
• Fast growth rate
• Prefers rich, moist soil
• Long lived
• Needs ample water

 

Boxelder

Genus / species: Acer negundo
Family: Aceraceae

Species characteristics
Size: 30' - 50' x 30' x 40'
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Leaves: Pinnately compound with 3-7 leaflets
Bark: Light gray brown bark
Fruit: Double-winged samara, 1-1/2" long

Comments/tree care:
• Irregular shaped crown
• Fast growth rate
• Early yellow fall color
• Tolerant of nearly all soils
• Tolerates windy areas

 

Flowering Pear

Genus / species: Pyrus calleryana
Family: Rosaceae

Species characteristics
Size: 25' tall x 15' wide
Flowers: Small, 3/8" showy white flowers
Leaves: Dark green, glossy, leathery, oval
Bark: Dark gray with scaly ridges
Fruit: Small inedible

Comments/tree care:
• Prune to create central leader
• Moderate growth rate
• Tolerates wind and frost
• Roots are deep and spreading

 

Red Oak

Genus / species: Quercus rubra
Family: Fagaceae

Species characteristics
Size: 90' x 60'
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Leaves: Dark green, slender lobed 5" x 3"
Bark: Gray, smooth
Fruit: Large acorns up to 1-1/4"

Comments/tree care:
• Young trees pyramidal, spreading when older
• Moderate growth rate
• Dark red, brown or orange fall color
• Deep rooted
• Recommended for large yards

 

Black Locust

Genus / species: Robinia pseudoacacia
Family: Fabaceae

Species characteristics
Size: 75' x 40' x 50'
Flowers: White, fragrant, pea-like in clusters
Leaves: Pinnate, 12" long with oval leaflets
Bark: Light gray to brown, thick
Fruit: Bean pods 4" long

Comments/tree care:
• Open, sparse branching
• Fast growth rate
• Shallow, aggressive roots
• Tolerant of coarse soils

 

Thornless Honey Locust

Genus / species: Gleditsia triacanthos
Family: Caesalpiniaceae

Species characteristics
Size: 35' - 70' x 20' - 50'
Flowers: Inconspicuous bell-shaped
Leaves: Bipinnately compound, 15 - 30 leaflets Bark: Gray-brown or black
Fruit: 12" long seed pods

Comments/tree care:
• Round spreading shape
• Fast growth rate
• Yellow fall color
• Tolerates most soils if well drained
• Light shade

 

Siberian Elm

Genus / species: Ulmus pumila
Family: Ulmaceae

Species characteristics
Size: 60' tall x 30' wide
Flowers: Insignificant flowers
Leaves: 1"-2" long, dark green, smooth
Bark: Dark gray bark with deep crevices
Fruit: Papery, winged seeds

Comments/tree care:
• Resistant to Dutch elm disease
• Moderate - fast growth rate
• Suitable for difficult sites
• Brittle wood

 

Atlas Cedar

Genus / species: Cedrus atlantica
Family: Pinaceae

Species characteristics
Size: 60' x 30'
Flowers: Cone bearing
Leaves: Bluish green 1" needles
Bark: Silvery gray and fissured
Fruit: Brown 3" cones

Comments/tree care:
• Pyramidal when young, flat crown at maturity
• Moderate growth rate
• Evergreen
• Tolerates most soils if well drained
• Drought tolerant

 

Arizona Cypress

Genus / species: Cupressus arizonica
Family: Cupressaceae

Species characteristics
Size: 40' - 50' x 20' x 25'
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Leaves: Dark green, scale like
Bark: Dark brown
Fruit: Smooth cone

Comments/tree care:
• Tall pyramidal form
• Fast growth rate
• Heat and drought tolerant
• Use as focal or accent plant

 

Netleaf Hackberry

Genus / species: Celtis reticulata
Family: Ulmaceae
Species characteristics
Size: 30' x 30'
Flowers: Gray green, thick, rough
Leaves: Dark green, scalelike
Bark: Reddish brown to ash gray, rough
Fruit: 1/2" drupe, relished by birds

Comments/tree care:
• Tall pyramidal form
• Fast growth rate
• Heat and drought tolerant
• Use as focal or accent plant
Netleaf Hackberry makes for an excellent native shade tree in the urban areas of the Sonoran Desert.

 

Chinese Pistache

Genus / species: Pistacia chinensis
Family: Anacardiaceae

Species characteristics
Size: 30' - 60' x 30' x 50'
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Leaves: Dark green, compound
Bark: Gray brown
Fruit: Red berry

Comments/tree care:
• Rounded crown
• Moderate growth rate
• Brilliant fall color
• Tolerates heat and alkaline soils
• Dioecious

 

Evergreen Elm

Genus / species: Ulmus parvifolia
Family: Ulmaceae

Species characteristics
Size: 35' x 35'
Flowers: Inconspicuous green
Leaves: Dark green, serrated
Bark: Reddish, peeling
Fruit: Flat, papery, winged samara

Comments/tree care:
• Umbrella-like crown
• Fast growth rate
• Provides high, deep shade
• Semi-evergreen
• Tolerates heat and alkaline soils
• Accepts lawn conditions

 

Mesquite

Genus / species: Prosopis spp
Family: Fabaceae

Species characteristics
Size: 25' - 30' x 25' x 30'
Flowers: Yellow catkins
Leaves: Bipinnately compound oval leaflets
Bark: Dark reddish brown to black
Fruit: Tan pods, 5" - 7" long

Comments/tree care:
• Wide crown
• Fast growth rate
• Good choice for shade
• Limit water to control growth and wind throw
• Edible seed pods

 

Chitalpa

Genus / species: Pinus eldarica
Family: Pinaceae

Species characteristics
Size: 30' - 60', 15' - 25'
Flowers: Cone bearing
Leaves: Dark green needles in bundles of two
Bark: Reddish brown
Fruit: Cones 2" - 4" long

Comments/tree care:
• Pyramidal shape
• Fast growth rate
• Uniform branching habit
• Tolerates heat and alkaline soils
• Drought tolerant

 

Palo Verde

Genus / species: Parkinsonia spp
Family: Fabaceae

Species characteristics
Size: 25' x 25'
Flowers: Bright yellow
Leaves: Bipinnately compound 1-1/2" long
Bark: Green when young, woody when mature
Fruit: Tan, flat 3" - 4" long

Comments/tree care:
• Vase shaped
• Fast growth rate
• Provides high, light shade
• Multi-trunk individuals are common
• Drought tolerant
• Thornless hybrids are available

 

Desert Willow

Genus / species: Chilopsis linearis
Family: Bignoniaceae

Species characteristics
Size: 25' x 20'
Flowers: White, pink-purple tubular
Leaves: Medium green, 3" - 6" long
Bark: Dark gray
Fruit: Thin capsule with papery seeds

Comments/tree care:
• Upright, sprawling form
• Fast growth rate
• Deciduous in winter
• Tolerant of any well drained soil
• Flowers are slightly fragrant
• Attracts hummingbirds