‘Joan Lionetti’ Oak: Hardy Hybrid for the Desert
‘Joan Lionetti’ is an oak hybrid that has been selected for its tolerance of desert heat, drought, and alkaline soil. Here’s everything you need to know about planting and caring … Read more
Desert Trees
Planting a tree is the single best investment you can make in your garden. A well-placed tree provides shade, a scarce commodity in the desert, and increases the value and curb appeal of your home. They add beauty and attract wildlife life to your yard.
We are fortunate here to have a wide range of beautiful trees that happily grow in the southwest desert, both native and desert-adapted.
Here at Southwest Gardener, you’ll find in-depth information to help you choose the best trees for your desert garden and how to care for them, too.
Mexican Blue Palm: ‘True Blue’ Native
Mexican blue is a magnificent palm tree that easily handles our extreme sun, wind, and temperature swings. It’s one of the few Sonoran Desert native palms, and it also happens … Read more
Chaste Tree: Profusion of Purple
Chaste “tree”, ironically, naturally grows as a large shrub. But it can be trained to grow as a small tree. Either way, it really stands out in the summer when … Read more
Bottle Tree: Straight & Narrow
Bottle tree is a unique tree that you can identify by simply looking at its trunk. Unlike most desert trees, it grows bean-pole straight and narrow. Here’s how to plant … Read more
Blue Palo Verde: Unmistakable Sign of Spring
Blue palo verde is a fast-growing, drought-tolerant tree with green bark. You know that spring has arrived when these trees put on their display of sunny yellow flowers. Here’s everything … Read more
Foothills Palo Verde: Keystone Desert Tree
Foothills palo verde is the most common tree in the Sonoran Desert, so it certainly will thrive in desert gardens with little-to-no care provided you get it off to the … Read more
Pomegranate: Much More Than a Fruit Tree
If you’re looking to grow fruit in the desert, pomegranate should be a top choice. As a Middle Eastern native, it thrives in hot, dry desert gardens. And it also … Read more
Featherbush: Spring Standout
Featherbush is a lovely, lacy tree that provides dappled shade all year. With its lime green foliage and delightful puffball flowers, it really stands out in the spring. Here’s everything … Read more
Ironwood: Tough, Lovely Keystone Tree
Ironwood is as tough as its name implies. It’s an important Sonoran Desert “keystone species” that also makes a beautiful addition to desert gardens, especially when in bloom. Learn how … Read more
Lemon Bottlebrush: Cascades of Crimson
Lemon bottlebrush is an exceptionally beautiful plant that positively drips with distinctive red flowers shaped like bottlebrushes. It can be grown in the desert southwest, but it’s not ideally suited. … Read more
Desert Museum Palo Verde: Unforeseen Flaw
Desert Museum palo verde is a fast-growing, drought-tolerant tree that looks like a wonderland when in bloom. But there’s a big problem with these ubiquitous landscape trees. Here’s what you … Read more
Leatherleaf Acacia: Tough as It Sounds
Leatherleaf acacia is an attractive, gray-green shrub that is often trained to grow as a small tree. It’s as tough as its name implies. Here’s how to plant and care … Read more