Palm Trees & Arizona Landscapes

Arizonans love palm trees. Perhaps it’s the heat: palm trees are reminiscent of a Middle Eastern desert oasis. Perhaps they simply look darn good next to pools. Given their popularity and how readily they grow here, it’s hard to believe that most palms used in Arizona landscaping are not native species. Here’s our take on palms:

They’re Tenacious

Palms have a unique root system that allows them to thrive in low-water environments, making them low-maintenance for homeowners and low-cost for business owners. They’re quite heat-tolerant and pest-resistant, and they seed easily. If you weed your own property, you will notice tiny little palms sprouting around the parent. They’re easy to pull up, but wear gloves as they can have sharp edges.

They Add Interest to Your Property

Nothing is quite like a palm tree. Whether standing alone, bordering a property, or anchoring other plants and landscape features, palms have tremendous aesthetic value.

They Add Diversity

Look around, and you’ll see skyscraper palms dwarfing multistory buildings. You’ll also see little palms squatting politely next to a house, or perfectly shading a patio. Palm species come from all around the world, from the Middle East to South America, California to Florida. In addition to the natural varieties, breeders have come up with additional landscape-friendly options.

They Can be Dizzily Tall

We hesitate to say that palms are low-maintenance, because there is a caveat: if you have very tall palms, they should be periodically pruned. Getting up there to perform maintenance and removing branches without causing damage or injury takes expertise and experience. You should definitely hire a professional team to trim or remove large trees.