If I asked you to list plants that are native to Arizona, I’m willing to bet that a lot of the species on that list would be succulents and cacti. But there are also a surprising number of indigenous conifer and deciduous trees within the state.
In this article, I list 15 of the most notable native trees of Arizona and provide expert advice on incorporating them into your yard and garden.
Native Regions of Arizona
Arizona is the 6th largest state in the United States, consisting of over 100,000 square miles in all. It also contains elevations ranging from 70 to over 12,000 feet above sea level.
Because Arizona is so geographically varied, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the growing conditions for plants are also incredibly diverse. To put things into perspective, the state of Arizona includes USDA hardiness zones 4 (in the mountains) through 10 (in the southwestern desert).
Here’s a brief overview of Arizona’s three primary regions and how they affect native plant life:
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Desert
The desert is what most people think of when it comes to Arizona and the rest of the American Southwest. Arizona’s primary desert, the Sonoran Desert, covers much of the lower portion of the state.
The Sonoran Desert is characteristically dry and hot. However, it still supports a handful of native tree varieties, including Palo Verde, Mesquite, and Ironwood. Succulents and cacti make up a large percentage of the remaining flora.
Plateau
The plateau region is a flat, elevated portion of land that covers most of northern Arizona. It contains landmarks like the Grand Canyon and Humphrey’s Peak.
Unlike the desert, the plateau region receives regular rain and snowfall. It also experiences more dramatic seasonal changes.
Areas of the plateau region with higher elevations are home to dense Ponderosa pine forests. You can also find a variety of heat-adapted trees growing throughout the region.
Mountains
Arizona contains almost 200 mountain ranges. Most of these ranges are in the northern and eastern parts of the state.
The Arizona mountains are considerably cooler than the plateau or desert and receive quite a bit of precipitation throughout the year. As a result, the mountainous regions are home to a wide collection of evergreen and deciduous trees that often form thick forests at the base of the peaks.
Trees Native To Arizona
Native shrubs and trees are often the most sustainable option if you’re looking to upgrade your landscaping or fill in an empty parcel of land. While imported species often struggle to survive in this arid climate, the native trees of Arizona have no trouble thriving with limited resources.
Arizona Cypress
Cupressus arizonica
- Mature height: 40-60’
- Hardiness zone: 7-9
- State distribution: CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM, TX
The Arizona Cypress is incredibly widespread throughout the state. It’s also the only Cypress species native to the area. But — despite the tree’s common name — the Arizona Cypress is actually believed to have first evolved in Mexico.
This evergreen is dense and fast-growing, making it a popular choice for privacy screening around homes and businesses. The Arizona Cypress is also frequently grown for Christmas trees in warmer climates.
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa
- Mature height: 60-130’
- Hardiness zone: 3-7
- State distribution: CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM, TX, OR, CO, SD, ND, WA, MT, ID, WY, NE
The Ponderosa Pine is one of the most widely distributed species of the pine tree in North America. According to the U.S. Forest Service, it makes up a significant portion of Arizona forests, with most trees growing at elevations between 5,500 and 8,500 feet in the plateau and mountain regions.
Their classic, cone-shaped growth pattern makes them incredibly popular in home landscapes. While wild-grown trees can easily exceed 100 feet tall, the majority of those planted by people grow no taller than 60 feet.
Arizona Sycamore
Platanus wrightii
- Mature height: 50-80’
- Hardiness zone: 7-11
- State distribution: AZ, NM
The Arizona Sycamore is an attractive tree with ‘painted’ bark and a vital role to play in the local ecology. It’s also one of the largest deciduous trees capable of surviving in the American Southwest.
In nature, Arizona Sycamores primarily grow along river and stream beds. The trees’ roots significantly slow down soil erosion while the limbs and trunks provide shelter for desert birds and other wildlife.
These sycamores tend to have irregular growth habits that resist training but are still semi-popular as shade trees throughout the region.
Fremont Cottonwood
Populus fremontii
- Mature height: 70-90’
- Hardiness zone: 5-9
- State distribution: CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM, TX
The Fremont Cottonwood is another native species commonly found growing along river beds or around desert watering holes.
A healthy Fremont Cottonwood can grow an average of 15 feet in a single year. They make wonderful landscape trees when provided with adequate water and full sun.
Female trees are typically avoided in landscaping projects because of the messy seeds they produce in late spring. Most nurseries only sell male Fremont Cottonwoods for this exact reason.
Alligator Juniper
Juniperus deppeana
- Mature height: 30-50’
- Hardiness zone: 7-9
- State distribution: AZ, NM, TX
The Alligator Juniper gets its common name from the tree’s unique cracked bark that resembles the skin of a reptile.
Native Alligator Junipers tend to grow in harsh, rocky landscapes above 6,000 feet in elevation. But they can also be cultivated in the home garden, where they require minimal care to survive.
These trees are slow-growing, so you’ll need patience if you decide to plant one of your own. Alligator Junipers are also diecious, meaning that each tree is either male or female. Female specimens produce berry-like fruit that birds absolutely love.
Palo Verde
Parkinsonia florida & Parkinsonia microphylla
- Mature height: 15-30’
- Hardiness zone: 8-11
- State distribution: CA, NV, AZ
The Blue Palo Verde (P. florida) is Arizona’s official state tree, so it’s only appropriate to mention it here! The Foothill Palo Verde (P. microphylla) is a smaller relative that is also native to Arizona and the surrounding regions.
Palo Verde is a deciduous tree with spiny stems. Since their natural response to drought is to drop their leaves and they grow in the desert, they spend about half of the year completely bare.
The name ‘Palo Verde’ comes from the vibrant green bark that covers these trees’ limbs. In spring, the trees erupt in golden-yellow flowers.
As far as desert-adapted trees go, Palo Verde is fairly low-maintenance and attractive. According to the University of California, these trees prefer full sun, sandy soil, and deep but infrequent irrigation.
Arizona Walnut
Juglans major
- Mature height: 30-50’
- Hardiness zone: 7-9
- State distribution: AZ, NM, TX
The Arizona Walnut grows alongside fellow native species like Fremont Cottonwood and Arizona Sycamore in river beds and areas with shallow groundwater.
These trees have large, pinnate leaves characteristic of the Walnut family. It produces edible nuts in mid-summer and fall.
The Arizona Walnut is a close relative of the Black Walnut tree. While the former is occasionally used to make high-quality furniture, Arizona Walnut lumber tends to be far more scarce than that other varieties.
I think Arizona Walnuts are great shade trees for anyone looking to plant in the American Southwest.
Rocky Mountain Juniper
Juniperus scopulorum
- Mature height: 20-40’
- Hardiness zone: 4-9
- State distribution: NV, UT, AZ, NM, TX, CO, SD, ND, WA, MT, ID, WY, NE
The Rocky Mountain Juniper stands out from other Juniper species because of its tidy growth habit. These trees usually have one or two main trunks and a columnar shape overall.
This tree is well suited to mountain climates, something even its Latin name — ‘scopulorum’ means ‘of the mountains’ — pays homage to. It adapts easily to the cool, mountainous parts of the Southwest as well as in states further north.
According to Utah State University, the Rocky Mountain Juniper is a valuable food source for a variety of animals. I highly recommend planting this tree or shrub if you’re looking to attract more birds and wildlife to your property.
Two-Needle Pinyon
Pinus edulis
- Mature height: 10-30’
- Hardiness zone: 4-8
- State distribution: UT, AZ, NM, CO
The Two-Needle Pinyon, or Colorado Pinyon, is a pine tree native to Arizona’s plateau and mountainous regions.
This is a relatively small tree that grows well in high-elevation, drought-prone climates. It boasts a classic pine tree appearance with 2-inch needles that remain on the branches year-round. Most Two-Needle Pinyons have a shrubby shape overall.
Desert Ironwood
Olneya tesota
- Mature height: 15-30’
- Hardiness zone: 9-11
- State distribution: CA, AZ
The Desert Ironwood is a beautiful, multi-trunked tree that grows exclusively in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, California, and Mexico. It’s a member of the legume family and produces pinkish-purple flowers in the spring that resemble those of pea plants.
Desert Ironwood trees are well-known for being slow-growing but long-lived. Their wood is incredibly dense with a grey hue, which is where the name ‘ironwood’ originally came from.
At the moment, these trees are not considered threatened or endangered but the natural population is steadily declining. Cultivating a Desert Ironwood is only really possible for those living in the desert.
Netleaf Hackberry
Celtis laevigata var. Reticulata
- Mature height: 20-30’
- Hardiness zone: 5-9
- State distribution: CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM, TX, CO, WA, ID, NE, KS
The Netleaf Hackberry is a compact, deciduous tree that sometimes grows more like a shrub. It gets its name from the web-like veins in each leaf.
This native tree is fairly drought-tolerant and easy to grow. Because of its haphazard growth habit, however, it often requires heavy pruning as a landscape tree.
Desert Willow
Chilopsis linearis
- Mature height: 15-30’
- Hardiness zone: 7-9
- State distribution: CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM, TX, CO
The Desert Willow is technically a shrub but can grow larger than many ‘true’ trees. Note that this plant is not actually a member of the willow family.
As the name implies, this species is well suited to the arid parts of Arizona. It will grow vigorously in any area that receives full sun and minimal moisture.
The standout characteristic of the Desert Willow is its bright pink flowers that attract insects and birds. Blooming can last from spring through summer under the right growing conditions.
Arizona Ash
Fraxinus velutina
- Mature height: 30-45’
- Hardiness zone: 7-11
- State distribution: CA, NV, AZ, NM, TX, CO
The Arizona Ash is a versatile shade tree that grows well throughout the American Southwest. They’re both heat- and cold-tolerant and boast attractive, velvety foliage during the active growing season.
Since Arizona Ash trees are deciduous and drop their leaves each fall, they can be a great way to limit heating and cooling costs. The tree canopy will naturally block the sun in the summer but allow it to warm up your home in the winter.
New Mexico Locust
Robinia neomexicana
- Mature height: 8-30’
- Hardiness zone: 5-9
- State distribution: CA, NV, AZ, NM, TX, CO
The New Mexico Locust is another member of the legume family with attractive, sweet pea-like flowers. This species tends to adopt a dense, shrubby growth pattern rather than develop a central trunk.
Thickets of New Mexico Locusts grow along parts of the Grand Canyon, where they aid in natural erosion control. These trees are also quite popular as desert-adapted ornamentals.
Note that the seeds of the New Mexico Locust are extremely toxic.
Whitethorn Acacia
Vachellia constricta
- Mature height: 5-15’
- Hardiness zone: 8-11
- State distribution: AZ, NM, TX
The Whitethorn Acacia is a small tree or shrub native to the American Southwest. This semi-evergreen tree tends to drop its foliage during cool weather or extended drought.
It belongs to the legume family and is most famous for its yellow, ‘pom pom’ flowers that appear in spring. While the flowers produce a sweet fragrance, they don’t attract many pollinators.
You might also like to read 17 Wonderful Trees That Grow In Michigan
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Tree To Plant In Arizona?
Native trees are the best to plant in Arizona because they are naturally acclimated to the state’s unique climate and weather conditions. In most parts of Arizona, varieties of Palo Verde, Mesquite, Juniper, and Acacia will grow well.
What Is The Most Common Tree In Arizona?
Pinyon Pines are the most common trees in Arizona in terms of sheer numbers. However, the Ponderosa Pine is considered the most abundant Arizona tree species in terms of total biomass.