Palo verde trees are native to the desert regions of Africa, Southwest North America, and Northwest Mexico. The most common species to Arizona are known as the yellow palo verde and blue palo verde, but both qualify as Arizona’s state tree. To learn more about Arizona’s state tree, continue reading below.

The Description

Palo verde is Spanish for “green wood,” because all palo verde species have green trunks, branches, and leaves. However, the yellow palo verde and the blue palo verde both have slight variations on their bark color. The yellow palo verde will have a yellowish tint to its green bark, and the blue palo verde is blueish-green in color. Both tree species drop pods filled with one or more seeds. They can reach between 20 and 40 feet in height and will flower in the spring.

The Habitats

Palo verde trees can be found across the Sonoran Desert, from California to Arizona to Mexico. Blue palo verde are primarily found in washes, because these trees require more water and finer sand. The yellow palo verde, also known as the foothills palo verde, can be found higher up and in coarse sand. Yellow palo verde trees can live well over 100 years with proper care.

The Care

Palo verde trees are equipped to grow in the low-water, hot deserts of Arizona. They do not require much water or maintenance to ensure they survive and thrive for decades. However, many homeowners will overwater or incorrectly care for their trees. It is important to work with an experienced and knowledgeable landscaper to ensure that palo verde trees grow correctly and live for many years.

Trust the experts of Complete Landscaping to plant and maintain residential and commercial landscapes of Tucson, AZ. We specialize in tree maintenance, so we can care for native and nonnative trees. Please call us at (520) 323-8918 to speak with one of our Tucson landscapers.