Arizona Landscape Palms and their Management

Palm trees offer versatility and dramatic impact unparalleled among other desert adapted plants for low and mid elevation landscapes in Arizona. They broaden the plant palette for designers, contributing dramatic foliage, flower and fruit structures, bold shapes, diverse textures, and sizes. Palms are treasured for creating a feeling of relaxed luxury and infusing the landscape with exotic and tropical flavor. Although usually associated with iconic California landscapes, many palm species work well in Arizona when selected and managed judiciously to ensure long-term health and landscape sustainability. Palms suitable for Arizona climates need to tolerate freezing temperatures, high heat, and low humidity. This publication covers 18 palm species that can be successfully cultivated in Arizona given appropriate growing conditions. We describe how palms differ in form and growth from other trees as a result of their unique biology, considerations for using them effectively in the landscape, and cultural practices for planting, transplanting, maintaining, and controlling their pests and diseases. This content provides a basis for understanding suitability of various palm species for Arizona climate and microclimates, and the long-term commitment required to ensure performance, longevity and aesthetic contribution to a landscape.