The English holly (Ilex aquifolium “Big Bull”) thrives in USDA zones 7 through 9, reaching 35 to 40 feet tall and 25 feet wide at maturity. Plant the Ocotillo in well-drained soil. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Majestic Beauty Olive, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Fraser Photinia, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Australian Willow, Friends of the Urban Forest: Australian Willow, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Big Bull English Holly, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Bronze Loquat, Friends of the Urban Forest: Bronze Loquat. When you need a small tree to fit into a bite-sized desert garden, the Ironwood tree might be just what you need. If you live in a scorching climate, water it even more frequently than that. Shade trees are a valuable addition to the Southwestern desert landscape, providing both shade from the scorching sun and bird nesting places. This tree doesn’t tolerate cold temperatures, so if you live in a climate that sees sub-freezing winter weather, leave your tree in a container and bring it indoors during cold snaps. The Australian willow (Geijira parviflora) gets its name because of its weeping habit, although it is not a true willow. You won’t find a better tree to use for carving, and its handsome looks will brighten your garden. If winter temperatures regularly drop below 26°F, grow your palm tree in a container so you can bring it inside during cold snaps. Revised 10/19. Fertilize your tree from time to time, and water it occasionally. Growing in USDA zones 9 through 11, the tree provides moderate shade, reaching 25 to 35 feet tall and 20 feet wide at maturity. The Triangle palm loves hot weather and is an ideal tree for hot desert environments. If you have everything ready to go for the planting season, wait until the season’s last frost has passed before you plant. This holly thrives in full sun to partial shade and requires moist soil, but tolerates highly acidic to slightly alkaline clay, loam or sand. Resistant to Texas root rot, it is susceptible to scales, anthracnose, oak root phytophthora, sooty mold and verticillium. Desert trees and plants don’t need to be dull. There are plenty of arid environments in colder climates as well, and it can be tough to find trees that have low water requirements but can survive harsher winters. You may not have realized that there are so many desert resistant plants available. If the plant sets fruit, which is unusual, it is yellow or green about one-half inch to 1 and one-half inch in diameter. The Sand palm likes full sun, but it can grow in part shade, as well. It turns red in autumn. This little tree offers all of the advantages of a large palm tree, including beauty and shade, but it tops out at about six feet, making it the perfect desert tree for small spaces and borders. While you can plant Triangle palm in full sun, they often do better in part shade. In non-desert climates, they can reach heights of up to 40 – 60 ft., but will not grow that large in the desert. Look over our list for some ideas. It remains attractive all year and provides shade for your yard. If you live in a climate that gets winter weather any lower, grow your date palm in a container and bring it inside during cold weather. This evergreen tree rewards your care with beauty and shade. az1482. We hope that you enjoyed our guide to the types of desert trees with pictures that work well in hot and arid conditions. It also likes regular watering, which makes it ideal for hot climates that enjoy a bit of rainfall. Plant the Mulga tree in full sunlight. 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