The mountains of Arizona are famous for their trees, especially our coniferous forest of Ponderosa and Pinyon Pine, Red Oaks, and creeks full of Aspen. Good landscape design should always begin with the placement of the trees, which changes with the seasons. Here is a list of mountain trees that look better than others in the month they outshine all others.
January – Austrian pine (Black Pine) A resilient evergreen pine suited to poor soils and alkaline conditions. Remarkably tolerant of hot and cold mountain winds, it is essential in windbreaks and windbreaks. Adapts well to dry Arizona conditions, both in semi-desert and in mountain foothills where soils are thin and weak. Makes a graceful single specimen for front gardens, parks, or expansive estate-like landscapes.
February – Aspen (Populus tremuloides) is a superior tree for cold northern Arizona regions. It is most attractive in groves and is a component of windrows and windbreaks. It will stand alone as a columnar tree in a rural setting, where its tall, narrow form is ideal for filling gaps between tall buildings. Well suited for street and boulevard plantings. An excellent foreground tree against the dark background of evergreen conifers. Easy to grow, it is suitable for naturalistic plantings in prairies or open space habitats.
March – Thundercloud Purple Plum (Prunus cerasifera) In spring it provides a storm of color in a wave of pink blossoms reminiscent of a cherry tree in full bloom. As the flowers fade, royal purple leaves emerge, providing a shade tree for the summer. The purple leaves contrast sharply with the jewel-box yellows and reds of other fall foliage. It is incredibly hardy and thrives anywhere, but the best purple foliage color is found in full sun.
April – Crabapple (Malus) An excellent flowering tree with an upright habit that becomes rounded as it matures. Reddish new foliage matures to dark green. Beautiful deep pink flowers produce persistent small dark reddish purple fruits. A colorful accent for more small landscapes.
Be able to – Purple mantled grasshopper (Robinia) grows almost anywhere it is planted. It is a fast growing tree that thrives in rough, bare, even sandy soil. You can count on hundreds of purple wisteria-like flowers covering this tree every Mother’s Day, filling the garden with a heavenly scent that is sure to bring back memories of mom.
June – Golden honey tree (Gleditsia) has proven to be a hardy street and shade tree. It grows rapidly, is heat and drought tolerant, and is well suited to the demands of mountain landscapes. It grows with an open, spreading canopy of attractive, elegant, slightly weeping foliage. The ‘Sunburst’ variety is thornless, versatile, and distinctive for its color, with bright yellow shoots that turn yellow-green and yellow in fall.
July – Little Gem Mountain Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). The glossy, leathery foliage is rich, dark green on top and cinnamon brown on the underside. Large, 5-6″ creamy white flowers are exotically scented. This hardy magnolia transplants well and does not lose as many leaves as other varieties. It exhibits an evergreen cold tolerance.
August – Birch (Betula utilis) This tree far exceeds the Aspen in heat and drought tolerance. The dense pyramidal shape consists of glossy green leaves that turn bright yellow in the fall. Plant it as a large tree for a focal point that shades the area. It makes a great narrow front yard tree for areas with limited space. It is a natural tree around water gardens and dry streams. Used in mixed woodlands, the white bark adds striking, eye-catching interest.
September-Autumn Gold Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba) TThe leaves are an interesting fan shape that flutters in the slightest breeze. Green foliage turns a brilliant gold in the fall. Ginkgos have been known to live for over 1,000 years, and have been growing since the time of the dinosaurs.
October – Prescott Blaze Maple (Acer freemanii). The upright form has an excellent branching habit and is a favorite of local gardeners. It makes an excellent lawn, park or street tree that easily withstands mountain winds. The fastest growing of the red maples, it has a brilliant, long-lasting red fall foliage.
November – Aristocrat Peer (Pyrus calleryana) Vigorous and upright with a dominant central trunk, it is excellent for paving streets and driveways or as a specimen for smaller spaces. It adapts to a wide range of soils, including heavy mountain clay. Bridal white flowers in spring, disease resistant glossy green leaves with a unique wavy edge, and it is the last tree to turn red in autumn.
December-Thick Albert fir (Picea pungens) is a beautiful evergreen conifer with deep blue needles on a densely branched, naturally pyramidal shape. It makes an excellent landscape specimen. It is a slow grower that can become quite large over time. It is the only choice for use as a living Christmas tree during the holidays!
This is not a complete list, but it provides a starting point for your landscape.
Prescott Insider Tip—For those lucky enough to have a second home in Prescott and use it to escape the summer heat or the winter cold, I have an insider tip. If your mountain home is a way to escape the desert heat, focus on trees that will look their best during the months you’re in your summer home.
And if you’re staying in Prescott in the winter, far from the cold of Idaho or Alaska, focus on the trees that bring you joy during the winter months.
For those who live here all year round, a more balanced approach is best. It would be worth visiting the garden centre and looking at the trees so you can choose your favourites.
Free gardening lessons on Saturdays
July 20 at 9:30am – Living Walls and Privacy Barriers
We share the fastest growing plants for rapid screening. Block out unsightly neighbors, improve your view, and reduce noise and light pollution. Design experts are ready for unique situations.
July 27 @ 9:30 am – Top 10 Trees for Fresh Fruit
The strongest fruit trees are shared in this class with insider tips that produce bushels of apples, pears, cherries, apricots, plums, peaches and more. Special focus on cocktail trees and how to plant for success.
August 3 at 9:30 am – Successful planting of BIG trees
Privacy, shade, evergreen and flowering. We cover trees for every situation, especially small gardens and trees for difficult locations. Free tree planting guide for students after this class.
Ken Lain can be found all week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or reached through his websites at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Trees.com.
