Trees to plant in AZ

[Mattman]

My parents live in Tucson and would like to know what kind of evergreen tree they can plant in their back patio that will provide good shade, and not grow over twenty feet tall. Any suggestions? They don't want a mesquite ( I hope I spelled it correctly) or pine. Thanks.

Matt

 

[Sylvatica]

http://lsvl.la.asu.edu/herbarium/treeshrub/pages/spplist.html

Maybe you could browse through a site like this and narrow it down with them. Sorry I can't be of more help, xeric plants are not my strongest area and I'm not from that region (but I'm trying to learn. ) I once saw a Texas Ebony that was a nice specimen, but it might get to big for your location.

Here's a local firm (which I know absolutely nothing about) that came up on a search but they do have a gallery to look at.

http://www.aridplantdesigns.com/tucson-landscape-design5.html

There may be an Arizona tree expert on the forum here, or you should talk with a horticulturist from the Tucson area.

 

[M.D. Vaden]

So do you have any Arizona cypress down there?

 

[Stumper]

Yeah but they grow over 20' tall. How about Citrus? They get taller to but would be relavely easy to suppress through pruning.

 

[M.D. Vaden]

How about Hollywood juniper then? Its probably easier to supress by cutting back to laterals like a giant bonsai.

I think it's Juniperus chinesis 'Torulosa'

 

[Stumper]

Sounds good but I'd wager even money that Mattman's parents really meant no conifers of any sort when they said "no pines".

 

[Stumper]

True Brian, but I did work for a week in Tucson 10 years ago and there are some Oranges and Lemons there. Not nearly as many as in the Phoenix area though. Phoenix has irrigation and lower frost incidence.