Silk tree's fragrant showy flowers attract hummingbirds.
Sometimes a low shade tree is required for specific landscaping situations, such as a small patio, beneath utility lines, or in a scaled-down area like beside a children's playhouse, where a large tree would be overwhelming. In most of Arizona, arid climates prevail, so drought-tolerant, heat-tolerant trees make ecological sense. A low tree that doesn't outgrow its space also makes maintenance easier. Ornamental features such as showy flowers and interesting seed pods are closer to the viewer.
Deciduous Trees
Site deciduous trees on the south side of structures to help cool buildings in summer and to admit the sun for winter warmth. Native screwbean mesquite (Prosopis pubescens) is smaller than other mesquite species, with finer foliage and gray bark. Often multi-trunked, it is usually around 20 feet tall. Yellow fluffy spring flowers produce interesting coiled pods in summer. It grows in USDA zones 7 through 9. Monk's pepper (Vitex agnus-castus), also called chaste tree, quickly attains mature heights of 15 to 25 feet tall and spreads equally wide. Trees produce deeply lobed leaves in spring, followed by blue, lavender, pink or white flower clusters at branch ends in summer. It is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9.
Attractive Foliage
Graceful, ferny leaves grace the feather tree (Lysiloma watsoni, formerly Lysiloma thornberi), which grows to about 20 feet tall with white, round, puffball flowers in late spring. Flat, brown seed pods follow. It grows in USDA zones 9 through 10. Usually growing to 15 feet tall in USDA zones 6 through 9, western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) is often multi-trunked. Glossy, heart-shaped leaves are light green when young, changing to blue-green. New growth is often tinged purple. Clouds of small magenta flowers cover the bare branches in spring before leaves emerge.
Showy Flowers
The spreading, dome-shaped canopy of silk tree (Albizia julibrissin), also called mimosa, bears conspicuous large pink to red puffball flowers in summer. Fragrant blooms attract hummingbirds and bees. Fast-growing trees range from 15 to 30 feet tall and are hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9. Bearing trumpet-shaped flowers that resemble small orchids, desert willow trees (Chilopsis linearis) are native to the American Southwest. Normal flower colors are pink, white or lavender, but striking red-purple, bicolored and burgundy cultivars are available. Long, slender leaves and a weeping growth habit characterize this drought-tolerant tree that grows 20 to 30 feet tall in USDA zones 7b through 11.
Fragrant Flowers
Yellow puffball flowers of sweet acacia (Acacia farnesiana) have a sweet fragrance used in perfumery. One of the earliest trees to bloom in late winter to early spring, sweet acacia can have several trunks and rises to 15 or 25 feet tall. This native tree grows in USDA zones 9a through 11. A choice but slow-growing evergreen plant native to Texas, Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora) takes a while to grow into a small tree rather than a large bush. In spring, clusters of sweet-pea-shaped purple flowers with a fragrance of grape soda appear at branch ends. Drought-tolerant trees are 10 to 15 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide, growing in USDA zones 8 through 11.
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