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Palo Verde Tree

Everything You Should Know About the State Tree of Arizona- The Palo Verde

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The state tree of Arizona, the Palo Verde, is set to bloom in late March-adding some color to our desert this season! With this tree being such a hit here in Arizona, we have decided to share some amazing facts about this special, native tree!

The Palo Verde Tree was designated as the state tree of Arizona in the year 1954.

There are two main species of Palo Verde here in our desert, commonly known as the Foothills Palo Verde and the Blue Palo Verde. The Foothills Palo Verde is known for its yellow flowers during bloom as well as for its tiny leaves and ability to grow in dry conditions. The Blue Palo Verde is more likely to be found near a water source, such as a wash, and typically has a blue-green colored trunk.

The leaves of the Palo Verde are present on the tree from Mid-Spring until around November, at which time these trees drop their leaves for the cooler months.

The Palo Verde trees have a deep root system which allows them to access ground water and helps them survive dry climates, droughts, and even flash flooding that can occur during our Arizona monsoon season.

Due to the small flowers on the tree, it does most of its photosynthesizing through its bark/trunk. This is why the trunk of both species of Palo Verde is typically a green/blue color rather than brown or tan.

The seeds and flowers of the Palo Verde tree are actually edible. In fact, it is known that they are quite sweet to taste.

Interested in installation of Palo Verdes in your master-planned community or commercial landscape? ELS is here to help!

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Arizona Arbor

Arizona Arbor Care; Tree Planting

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Trees are a great addition to any landscape as they protect soil underneath them, provide shade for surrounding plants, and mitigate wind effects. However, it is important to consider that in the Arizona desert landscape, the choice of which trees to use may be quite a bit different than that of a cooler climate.

In Arizona, we have a variety of native trees that look great in a community landscape and thrive in the desert climate. Trees such as Mesquite, Palo Verde, and Acacia are recommended as they typically adjust better to the local environment and are much healthier to use in an Arizona landscape in comparison to their non-native counterparts.

When planting a new tree, make sure to do your research and refer to professionals such as certified arborists or landscape architects to help you make the best decision when it comes to species of tree.

Planting How-to

Once you’ve decided the type of tree/trees you want to plant in your landscape, it’s time to get started!

When planting new trees make sure to:

  • Plant them in a space that they can grow in! Plant trees in areas large enough for them to grow to their projected full size.
  • Leave temporary/small branches on the new tree if possible
  • Dig a large enough plant pit for the new tree (This should be anywhere from 1/2-2 times the width of the tree’s root ball, according to ALCA)
  • Loosen outside of the root ball to help with growth into the new soil of the planting pit
  • Backfill the planting pit with soil that was previously removed, while ensuring not to mix with any decomposed granite surrounding the area
  • Cover the backfill with granite or mulch

Arizona Arbor Care Specialists

It is always a good idea to work with an arborist or landscape management company when looking to plant multiple new trees, especially in the case of a larger landscape project such as a commercial property or HOA community.

For trusted and certified arbor care, contact the ELS Arbor team today!

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