Arizona Desert Palm Trees
Overview to Choosing the Best

Where Do Palm Trees Grow in the Arizona desert? And what palms are they?

Species in about 28 palm tree Genera can be suitable for arid regions.

• 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?
• Are you just interested in the varieties of palm environments?

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 most practical to grow.

Because Arizona desert palm trees enhance our desert landscapes.

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 as the sun lowers to the horizon.

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

When young, robustas need a Regular Watering Plan. 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

Overall, the Mexican Fan Palm is hardy. But some Palm Problems are Possible.

• Beware of the leaf stems (petioles), they're armed with spines.
• In humid areas, palmetto weevils could attack. Especially in southeastern US States, like Florida, SE Texas & Georgia.
• Scale Insects may be a problem for robusta palms. Prevention and Attention can handle it.

Evidence of Severe Scale Insect Infestation

The Date Palm's 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.

A Date Palm Grove in Arizona

Its towering height gets to 70ft/21.3m, with a slow to medium growth rate. It adds side-trunks by clustering as it ages. Offsets grow, which Can Be Propagated.

Line-up of fruiting date palms.

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 in other places like in Southern California & Nevada.

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. There are several varietals like Medjool, Khadrawi & Zahidi.

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 looks like 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 quickly to 45ft/13.5m before you blink an eye!

Caring for it properly will speed it up more. 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 Palms are 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, messy to some people. Its Seeds Grow Easily.

Inflorescence packed with fruit.

The Canary Island Date Palm 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 40-70ft/12-21m height.
• This palm's 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. 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 8b 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 P. canariensis is only getting started in life!

Although mostly hardy, Canary Palm disease rarely can occur.

• Lethal Yellowing happens when leafhoppers spread bacteria. It is fatal.

1. Named for bright yellow color on oldest fronds. 
2. Yet the P.canariensis (and a few other species) leaf tips turn brown, then the whole frond, also.

• Fusarium Wilt is also a concern. Mostly spread by pruning shears used on infected palms.
• Palmetto Weevils Can Attack if it notes a distressed palm.

Palmetto Weevil grubs cause the harm.

What is a Pygmy Date Palm?

P.roebelenii is adaptable for Desert Palm Tree Types. Fabulous for those looking for Arizona desert palm trees that aren't huge, but are still attractive. For hardiness zones: 9b-11, and arid climates of 8b-9a.

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, and inedible.

Some of the best places to plant Miniature Date Palms is your front yard, along walkways or pool-sides. Great Palm for Smaller Spaces. Or try Container Planting on patios, or as an Indoor Palm with proper light & care.

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. So, consider if it's really worth the trouble as an Arizona desert palm tree.

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 detect a rare lovely fragrance.
• The trunk looks heftier than it is, because of retained fibrous leaf bases.

It 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's scientific name is Cycas revoluta. Similarities to true palms are:

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

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

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

Bismarckia nobilis is a gorgeous, sturdy-looking palm. It can reach 60ft/18m tall, somewhat quickly.

Best suited for USDA zones 9b-11. With caution in 9a.

We're hoping to plant one in our backyard soon. Because of its gorgeous, sturdy look. And the stunning coloration of its 10ft/3m wide, stiff costapalmate fronds.

WATER: Medium when young, then mostly drought-tolerant.

SUN: Loves sunlight all day. Making them suitable as Arizona desert palm trees.

Two Bismarck Palms in a desert park.

B.capitata nicknamed Jelly Palm because its fruit can be used to make jam, jelly, etc.

A more compact palm, reaching 35ft/10.5m tall. It doesn't fully shed its pinnate fronds, hanging onto a bit of the petioles.

It's very hardy, good for Zones 8-11 in dry areas, but not 8 in damp, humid zones.

WATER: Usually needs regular watering but can tolerate less.

SUN: Likes sunny spots, but a little shade won't hurt.

Pindo palm growing well in a grassy landscape.