Low-desert gardens, those areas that are below 4,000 feet in elevation and between zones 7 and 9, are suitable for these trees.
If you’re thinking about adding trees to your desert garden, along property lines, as windbreaks, or in special places around your home, here are five evergreens that will do very well in low-desert areas.
- Mediterranean Cypress, Cupressus sempervirens. These long-lived trees (some are reported to be over 1,000 years old) will grow up to 60 feet high, but only 8 feet wide, making them a striking addition to a garden. Native to southern Europe, they are the “bones” of classic Italian gardens. In addition to being grown in desert conditions, this tree has adapted well to the British Isles, New Zealand, and the Pacific Northwest, including British Columbia.
- Alligator Juniper, Juniperus deppeana. This small to medium-sized tree will grow to 20 feet high and have a spread of about15 feet. It will grow in higher and colder altitudes, but is native to central and northern Mexico and the southwestern U.S. It's called "alligator juniper" because the scaled bark of some trees resemble alligator skin.
- One-seed juniper, Juniperus monosperma. One-seed juniper will grow to 18 feet tall and have a 10-foot spread, but generally they tend to be a smaller, growing to about 10 feet tall with a 10-foot spread. Prevalent in scrub land throughout the southwestern and western U.S., as growing as far north as British Columbia and into Mexico, it provides habitat and food for a number of animals.
- Afghan Pine, also known as Mondel Pine, Pinus eldarica. This relatively fast-growing pine can reach 70 feet high and 30 feet wide. A great tree for border landscaping, it also needs little water once established.
- Aleppo Pine, Pinus halepensis. Also called the Jerusalem pine or the Mediterranean pine, this tree is incredibly distinctive in shape and in the characteristics of its needles. Considered by many to be the “first Christmas tree, it originated in the Levant, and was, in fact, used by European Christians as a religious symbol. It can grow to 40 feet high and 15 feet wide, and is one of the best, fastest-growing desert trees.
When to plant
Mid- to late winter is a great time to plant evergreens. This will give the roots a chance to grow and create a sustainable system before warmer weather sets in.
Related articles:
- Top 12 Evergreen Trees for High-Desert Gardens
- Top Low-Water-Use Desert Trees
- How to Plant Desert Trees: Pt I
- How to Plant Desert Trees: Pt II
The copyright of the article Top 5 Low Desert Evergreen Trees in Desert Gardens is owned by Robert Dailey. Permission to republish Top 5 Low Desert Evergreen Trees in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
