If you’ve been to Arizona, then you know you’re bound to see palm trees lining the downtowns, yards, literally all throughout the state. Whether you’re looking for a tree that will work in your drought-tolerant landscape design, or are just curious – we’ve got some different types of palm trees in Arizona below!
If you liked this article, read Drought-Tolerant Landscaping Ideas here. Or, read Types of Palm Trees in California or Types of Palm Trees in Florida.
Table of Contents
What type of palm tree grows in Arizona?
If you’re wondering how many native palms there are in Arizona – then you’ll be interested to hear that there is only 1. Interestingly enough, the California Fan Palm is the only type of palm tree that grows naturally in Arizona.
However, that doesn’t mean that you won’t see thousands of different palm tree types scattered throughout Arizona valleys. If you’re still curious about your palm tree options – go talk to a landscaping professional near you. They will be able to help you find a perfect palm tree, all dependent on your region and your specific tree needs. However, if you want a general list of palm trees that do well in Arizona climates – keep on reading below!
What is a palm tree’s life span?
There are a few different factors that influence how long a palm tree will live. Obviously, it needs to be in the right region and habitat to thrive. However, the average palm tree’s life span is about 7 to 8 decades – that’s 70-80 years!
Life span also depends on the specific palm tree you’re looking at. Some only live for forty years, while others can live up to 100 or 115 years. Therefore, it’s really dependent on the specific tree that you are dealing with.
In addition, there are also diseases that a palm tree can succumb to – such as lethal bronzing – which is fatal and has been found in places such as Florida and Jamaica. Obviously, being exposed to lethal bronzing can significantly lower a palm tree’s life span.
What are the most common palm trees in Arizona?
Now, let’s take a look at some of the different types of palm trees in Arizona! Whether you’re looking for a low-maintenance palm for your front yard, want a slow-growing indoor houseplant, or are just curious – you’ll learn it all below!
We’ve identified both the common name and scientific name for the different species of palm trees below.
Pygmy Date Palm (Phoenix Roebelenii)
The Pygmy Date Palm can be spotted by their small stature – they rarely grow over 10 feet tall! Because of their small size, they’re perfect for large pots, around pools – anywhere in your yard! They definitely provide that tropical look to your Arizona landscaping – with little mess and little maintenance. Typically, they tend to thrive in sandy, well-drained soils with an area that has full sun and also partial shade at times.
Mexican Blue Palm (Brahea Armata)
The Mexican Blue Palm is known for its beautiful silver-blue color. Hailing from Baja, Mexico, they’re known to be slow-growing and do best in full sun. Typically, they’ll grow up to 30 feet in height and about 10 feet in width. This slow grower is not only stunning – it’s also cold hardy and can tolerate almost any climate!
Mediterranean Fan Palm (Chamaerops Humilis)
The Mediterranean Fan Palm is pretty adaptable depending on the climate they’re grown in. They can be as small as 5 feet tall or can grow up to 18 feet tall. Interestingly enough, they’re a multi-trunk palm with green leaf clusters found at the bottom of each trunk. They’re known for being a pretty hardy palm and highly adaptable.
Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix Canariensis)
The Canary Island Date Palm (also known as a Pineapple Palm) is a large tree that’s extremely slow-growing. They can grow anywhere from 40-60 feet tall and 20-40 feet wide. Typically, they do best in fertile, medium-moisture in well-drained soils and full sun. However, if needed – date palm trees can survive in partial shade.
Queen Palm (Syagrus Romanzoffiana)
The Queen Palm is a popular ornamental garden tree, native to South America. They’re known to be fast-growing, reaching upwards of 30 feet in height. They feature bright green leaves and upright single trunks that are typically gray in color.
Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia Robusta)
The Mexican Fan Palm is a big tree – growing up to 95 feet in height (typically they sit at around 80 feet, though). They’re closely related with the California Fan Palm (Washingtonia Filifera), but the Mexican Fan Palm is known to have a thicker trunk and dark green leaves. I find these palm trees really pretty because of their upright branches and fanning leaves.
Chinese Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus Fortunei)
The Chinese Windmill Palm is a small, slow-growing palm tree that does well in both warmer and colder temperatures. It features fan-shaped leaves that spread out like a windmill (hence its name). However, strong winds can damage their leaves – so if you live in a high wind area, it might be best to make them an indoor houseplant.
Sago Palm (Cycas Revoluta)
While the Sago Palm is not a true palm, rather, a cycad – it still looks extremely similar to a palm tree. It’s a very small, compact plant that looks great in both front and backyards. They love full sun, making them well suited to the Arizona climate!
Pindo Palm (Butia Capitata)
The Pindo Palm is a slow-growing palm that eats up sun! Typically, they grow 10-15 feet in height and have yellow flowers and red fruits on their leaves. Personally, I love their gray-green arching leaves that twist around their trunk – making them really beautiful.
Bismarck Palm (Bismarckia Nobilis)
The Bismarck Palm does best in desert and low water landscapes (they’re extremely drought-tolerant). They feature gray-green leaves that remain erect throughout their life – they don’t droop down with age. The Bismarck Palm hails from Madagascar and is now found in many different countries – typically used as a specimen tree. They’re a really different looking palm tree which makes them fun and exciting in landscape designs!
In conclusion, if you liked this article, check out these:
Firstly…
Front Yard Landscaping Ideas of 2022
Secondly…
