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Best Shade Trees for Phoenix Yards

For fast shade on little water, palo verde and mesquite are two of the most common Valley picks, like Desert Museum Palo Verde and Chilean Mesquite. If you can water more, Chinese Pistache, Evergreen Elm or Southern Live Oak give bigger, deeper shade. Plant in fall, about 15 to 20 feet from the house.

Shade trees by what you need

Tree Height x width Water Good to know
Desert Museum Palo Verde 20-30 x 20-30 ft Low Fast and thornless. Too much water can make limbs break.
Chilean Mesquite 30-40 x 30-40 ft Low Fast, wide shade. Drops pods in summer.
Desert Willow 15-30 x 20-25 ft Low Drops its leaves in winter. Pods can be messy.
Chinese Pistache 30-40 x 25-35 ft Moderate Red and yellow leaves around December, then bare for winter.
Evergreen Elm 30-60 x 30-60 ft Regular One of the best shade trees for watered yards. Not a desert tree.
Tipu Tree 35-50 x 35-50 ft Regular Fast, wide canopy with yellow flowers. Needs steady water.
Southern Live Oak 20-50 x 20-50 ft Moderate Deep shade. Keeps most of its leaves in winter.
Texas Ebony 20-30 x 15-30 ft Low Slow and green most of the year. Sharp spines and big pods.
Ironwood 20-30 x 20-30 ft Low Slow, light litter. Young branches have spines.
Fruitless Olive Tree 25-30 x 20-30 ft Low Green all year and slow growing.
Mastic Tree 15-25 x 20-30 ft Low Green all year with little litter.
Little Leaf Ash 15-20 x 10-15 ft Low to moderate Small and fits tight spaces.
Palo Blanco 15-25 x 10-15 ft Low Narrow and thornless. Light, airy shade.

How far from the house

  • Plan on about 15 to 20 feet from the house walls and windows. Use the far end for big trees.
  • Shade on the west side of the house helps most in summer.
  • Trees that drop their leaves in winter work well on the south and west. You get summer shade and winter sun.
  • Don't plant under power lines. Call Arizona 811 before you dig so buried lines get marked.
  • Check the full grown width before you pick a spot. Fast trees can outgrow a small space.

Planting tips that matter

  • Plant in fall. Mid September through November is the window, and October is a great month. Skip summer planting.
  • Pick the size for your goal. A box tree gives shade sooner. A smaller tree, like a 15 Gallon, tends to root in faster and handle its first summer better.
  • Don't plant too deep. Dig no deeper than the root ball, and keep the flare at the base of the trunk above the soil.
  • Water deep, then go easy. New trees need a lot of water at first. Desert trees given too much water later can grow weak limbs that break in storms.
  • Our new plant watering guide has a simple schedule.

Common questions

What is the fastest growing shade tree for Phoenix?

Desert Museum Palo Verde and Chilean Mesquite are two of the fastest, and both use little water. Fast growers can outgrow their space, so check the full size first.

How far from the house should I plant a shade tree?

About 15 to 20 feet from the walls and windows works for most shade trees. Give the biggest trees the full 20 feet.

When is the best time to plant a tree in Phoenix?

Fall is best, from mid September through November. Avoid planting in summer, since a new tree needs time to root before the heat.

What shade tree is best near a pool?

Pick a low litter tree like Mastic Tree or Ironwood. Mesquites and trees that drop their leaves in winter shed pods, leaves or pollen that can end up in the pool.

Should I buy a big box tree or a smaller one?

A box tree gives shade sooner. Smaller trees usually root in faster after planting, especially when planted in fall.

Is there a shade tree that stays green all year and uses little water?

Mastic Tree, Fruitless Olive Tree, Texas Ebony and Ironwood all stay green most of the year on low water. Texas Ebony and Ironwood have sharp spines.

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