Arizona Desert Palm Trees
Essential Tips for Growth & Care

What palm trees grow in the Arizona desert?

Species in about 26 palm tree Genera can be suitable for arid regions. Arizona desert palm trees enhance a desert landscapes.

• Are you a desert dweller desiring some tropic-like charm in your yard?
• Are you a visitor to the desert curious about the local flora?

As drought tolerant palms those in Arizona deserts don't need frequent watering. We'll show you the "Need to Knows" about the Best Arizona Palm Trees that are practical to grow.

Palm in the Arizona desert overlooking saguaro cacti.

The Mexican Fan will pretty quickly reach an impressive 70ft/21.3m. Along with Its tall, slender trunk it could even grow to 100ft/30.5m!

Its mostly round crown has around 30 bright deep green leaves way up. That helps it look full with those nice fan Types of Fronds.

Line-up of tall Mexican Fan Palms in California

It's relatively low-maintenance. Excellent for a busy lifestyle.

When young, robustas need a bit of additional watering. Once established, taper water back. It is drought tolerant. In fact, too much moisture and/or humidity can cause problems.

It needs a full day of sunlight. It's not concerned with soil type, but can use Periodic Fertilizing to look best.

It keeps its dead fronds for awhile, especially when young. But eventually they'll ditch them. If you don't like that look, you can get in a landscaper to trim them.

But please, ensure they Prune It Correctly.

Somewhat Over-trimmed Mexican Palms in Yuma AZ

Be aware of The Palm Problem that the leaf stems (petioles) are armed with spines.

• One organic problem is attack by palmetto weevils in more humid areas. Especially US States in the Southeast. Like Florida, SE Texas & Georgia.
• Scale Insect Infestation may be a problem for palms. But Prevention and Attention can handle it.

Evidence of Severe Scale Insect Infestation

The Date Palm scientific name: Phoenix dactylifera.

It not only provides yummy dates, but it's often a local wildlife habitat. This drought-tolerant palm does well in the harsh desert full sun. Best in dry climes of USDA zones 7-11.

An average Watering Schedule does it good, as it's naturally found near oases or intermittent streams with groundwater.

How tall does the Date Palm get? Its towering height gets to 70ft/21.3m.

The Date Palm growth rate trots at a slow to medium clip. It adds side-trunks by clustering as it ages. Offsets grow, which Can Be Propagated.

Botanists believe their original roots were in North Africa and/or the Middle East.

But haven't pin-pointed their origins.

These days they're an Arizona Desert Palm Tree. And other places like in Southern California.

They're still grown throughout the Middle East, where growing the Medjool Date Palm is a lucrative business. 

Four Date Palms keeping company in the UAE.

The sweet date palm fruit is edible.

If you learn how to Germinate Date Palm Seeds, you could have your own date harvest right in your backyard!

One commercial Arizona date palm farm is in Dateland. Stop by if you're traveling Interstate-8, and try their delicious date shake!

The Syagrus romanzofiana palm has the essential look of a beautiful tropical palm tree.

We see it all around us in Tucson AZ. It's excellent for Zones 9b-11, even has done fine in 8b-9a.

• Were you wondering about Queen Palms surviving in the hot clime of Phoenix? They're in Zone 9a, so it's good with proper care.
• Despite that it has some cold-weather tolerance.

This Queen has been suffering over the past few years. In our neighbor's yard.

The Queen will grow to 45ft/13.5m before you blink an eye!

Since the Queen Palm tree growth rate is fast. Caring for it properly will speed it up more, even enabling it to reach 75ft/23m high.

If you're looking for a palm to establish itself quickly, here it is!

Why are Queen Palms bad?

Let's evaluate several reasons:

• Roots don't strongly lodge into soil. A big storm, like a hurricane, can more easily knock it down.
• Wondered if Queen Palm is poisonous to dogs? No. 😊 But if one bites into fruit, there's a slight chance of mouth & throat irritation.
• Queen palm drops large quantities of fruit pods, messy to some people. Its Seeds Grow Easily, evaluate if you want that.

Inflorescence packed with fruit.

The Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis) does quite well as an Arizona desert palm tree. This species is seen in Tucson, looking fantastic with its full round crown of at least 100 fronds.

How big do Canary Island Date Palms get?

• You can't miss them, with their full grown 80ft/24m height.
• And the Canary Island Palm growth rate is fairly slow.

A nice one in the Canary Islands

The Canary Island Date Palm fruit is technically edible.

But would you want to eat it? The fleshy area of the fruit is quite thin, so not much to it. But most important, they're usually considered nasty to the taste buds!

Canary island date palm care isn't overwhelming, when you know its needs.

CLIMATE - Zones 9-11 is fine. Add in 8 for dry climes. It is drought tolerant. And needs full sun.

NUTRITION - It's not fussy for soil, as long as it drains well. Overwatering can attract fungus. Ensure fertilizer supplies macronutrients like Magnesium to avoid Nutritional Problems.

NATURAL LIFE - If you're wondering what is the lifespan of a Canary Island date palm - quite long! When not affected by any Palm Problems, it's known to reach between 200-300 years old!

This one's only getting started in life!

Canary Palm disease can occur.

• A subgroup of Lethal Yellowing caused by a phytoplasma (bacteria without cell walls) can Infect. One Sign: Fronds turn bright yellow. A prevention is quarterly injection with oxytetracycline.
• Fusarium Wilt is also a concern. Mostly spread by pruning shears used on infected palms.
• Palmetto Weevils Can Attack.

Palmetto Weevil grubs cause the harm.

What is a Pygmy Date Palm?

Phoenix roebelenii, aka Miniature Date Palm, is adaptable for Desert Palm Tree Types. Fabulous for those looking for Arizona desert palm trees that aren't huge, but are still attractive. Pygmy Date Palm zones: 9b-11, 8b-9a works with arid climates.

How big will Pygmy Date Palm get? Pygmy Palms, full grown, get about 10-15ft/3-4.5m tall. But somewhat slow growth rate.

Ripe fruits of the Pygmy Palm are black, 1/2in/1.3cm egg-shaped. Its thin pulp isn't edible.

Some of the best places to plant Miniature Date Palms is your front yard, especially along a walkway or poolside. Great for smaller spaces or Container Planting.

A trio growing together in front of a solitary - a bit over-trimmed.
On the grounds of a Southern California winery.

European Fan Palm is another common name for Chamaerops humilis.

This multi-trunk (clustering) Mediterranean Fan Palm size can reach to 20ft/6m in height. Ideal for creating a lush, tropical bush or hedge, as it spreads out 6-30ft/8-9m. The growth rate is kind-of slow, good growing conditions can speed it up.

Can you picture it as a border hedge for your yard?

Mediterranean Fan Palm diseases aren't too common with proper care. But some insects attack.

• For southern Europe, beware of planthoppers that feed on sap.
• The Palm Borer Moth attack this Genera, as does the Banana Moth larvae.

The Opogona sacchari adult (Banana Moth) specimen & its larva container.

Trachycarpus fortunei is a trooper, with its excellent cold tolerance.

It endures occasional Arizona frostiness without flinching. Your go-to palm if you're in cooler zones like 7/8. But also doable for Climate Zones 9-11. Cool Mediterranean climates suite it best.

What does a windmill palm look like?

• It's a palmate (fan) palm, averaging 25 fronds in the round crown. 
• When it flowers with yellow blooms, you'll find a rare lovely fragrance.
• The trunk looks heftier than it is, because of retaining a portion of fibrous leaf bases.

And looks like this:

Windmill Palms are Quite Tolerant & Usually Do Well.

The Sago Palm is a unique choice.

It's not a palm, not even a relative, despite the name. The Sago Palm scientific name is Cycas revoluta. Similarities to true palms are:

• It has a palmy appearance
• New leaves grow from the top.

As gymnosperms, the Sago Palm blooms with cones or globes, not flowers. They produce inedible seeds. The Sago Palm growth rate is exceedingly slow.

Two other types of Sago Palms are the Sago Palm King & Japanese Sago Palm Tree.

See how the Sago Palm has the pinnate palm look.
This one grows slowly near our daughter's front door.