Flowering Trees in Arizona
Arizona is a state with diverse climates ranging from dry, hot desert to cold, snowy mountainous areas. Flowering trees can be grown anywhere in Arizona, but you need to pick the right tree for the climate to ensure it will thrive. A variety of flowering trees with colorful blooms are available for any landscape. Does this Spark an idea?
Jacaranda
The dense clusters of fragrant, lavender-blue, trumpet-shaped flowers of the jacaranda tree brighten up the Arizona landscape for a short time every year. The jacaranda is hardy in zones 9b through 11, which covers parts of central and southern Arizona. Jacaranda trees are sensitive to cold and grow best in Arizona plant climate zones 4 and 5, which includes Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma. In Phoenix, the flowers bloom for about two weeks in May, surrounded by fern-like foliage. A jacaranda grows fast, reaching a height of 5 to 50 feet tall and a spread of 15 to 30 feet. The seeds are enclosed in woody capsules a little over 2 inches across with a flat, rounded tip. Jacarandas prefer full sun and deep, well-drained soil, with a deep watering every two weeks while it's actively growing and once or twice when the leaves fall off during dormancy.
Desert Ironwood
Desert ironwood trees are extremely hardy. Even after these trees die, they take centuries to break down from exposure to the elements of sun, rain and fluctuations in temperature, according to the Center for Sonoran Desert Studies. Ironwood trees can have multiple stems or may be pruned to a single trunk. Ironwood is an evergreen tree that grows 15 to 30 feet tall with a spread of 15 to 25 feet. It adapts to almost any soil that is well drained and prefers to be in full sun. Desert ironwood can survive on natural rainfall, but if given extra water, it will grow faster and produce more flowers. These trees can withstand temperatures between 17 and 20 degrees Fahrenheit in elevations up to 4,000 feet, which is Arizona plant climate zones 4, 5 and the lower elevations in zone 3. Foliage on the ironwood tree that turns yellow and falls off in April is a sign that the tree will bloom with lavender, pea-shaped flowers. In southern Arizona, the flowers appear in May. The white-gray leaves come back in the summer when it rains.
Desert Willow
Growing a desert willow tree will attract wildlife such as butterflies, birds and hummingbirds. From May to June, the tree blooms with clusters of ruffled, bell-shaped flowers that have a violet scent. The pale pink, white, dark rose and purple flowers may be recognized by the yellow tint in the center. Some flowers will have two colors such as white and purple, or pale pink and white. Flowers will bloom after it rains up to September. From early autumn and throughout the winter, green or brown seed pods hang from the drooping branches. Desert willow trees can grow 6 to 30 feet tall with multiple stems or be pruned to have a single trunk. New wood growth is smooth and has white spots called lenticils on it. It occurs naturally and isn't a sign of pests or disease. Willow trees are tolerant of drought, heat and cold in elevations up to 5,000 feet. Arizona plant climate zones 3, 4, 5 and lower elevations of zone 2 have the right weather for these flowering trees. The desert willow can be grown in full sun with partial shade in almost any type of soil.
Tags: Arizona plant, Arizona plant climate, climate zones, feet tall, plant climate