Best Palm Trees for Arizona

Adapting to Arizona's hot, dry desert areas can be a challenge for many plants, we certainly know - as Tucson Arizona residents. But certain species of palms thrive in these desert conditions. We see many of these all around town, near our home & in our neighborhood.

A Palm Glowing Under a Rainbow Formation in our Neighborhood.

The Mule Palm, the Butia x Syagrus (xButiagrus nabonnandii) creation.  This is a wonderful hybrid palm. A cross between the Pindo Palm and the Queen Palm. Per it's "mule" nickname, it's sterile & can't reproduce. Occasionally, you may see it has Palm Fruit, but nothing grows from the seeds.

Adults will remind you of a Coconut Palm, of course without coconuts!

It takes the best of both of their parent palms: the pinnate (feather) single-trunked palms, becoming a great palm tree for Arizona.

Like the Queen...

• The growth rate is pretty quick. When Grown From Seed correctly, you'll likely have success.
• It's a suitable Palm for Full Sun.
• One of the types of palms with long flowing leaves.

Queen Palm Looking Pretty Scraggly!
Think it's Suffering From Starvation

Washingtonia robusta is known for its very tall, thin trunk and large, fan-shaped leaves. These are the ones famed in Southern California, Seen All Through Los Angeles. We also see many of them in the Phoenix area.

Before considering one as An Idea for Your Landscape, remember they really are tall - getting to 100 feet/30 meters. So, not recommended for tight spaces. Will it fit appropriately?

Washingtoni _robusta grouping in Barcelona Spain

Washingtonia filifera has other common names: the California Fan Palm & the Desert Fan Palm. It's the only palm tree native to California, as well as Arizona. So, no surprise it's among the best palm trees for Arizona, able to withstand extreme heat.

It's particularly hardy in Arizona Zones 7-11 & tolerant of drought. Needed maintenance is minimal, with watering according to lower needs. Leaf trimming unnecessary, as it keeps a "frond skirt" for awhile, eventually self-pruning the oldest dead leaves.

For those with enough room (gets 50-70'/15-21m tall), it's a simple choice for Arizona homeowners. Since the Desert Fan Palm can bravely face the Arizona sun.

W. filifera Growing in Joshua Tree National Park, California

Brahea armata is also called the Blue Hesper Palm. With its gorgeous round crown of bluish-tinged fan leaves, it maxes out at 60ft/18m. Its long inflorescences, the flower stems, branch outward gloriously amidst the fronds.

Magnificent Inflorescences Showing Off - Even More Awesome as the Blue Hesper Grows.

• In Arizona it's climate tolerance is for Zones 8b-11. It needs that full desert sun to avoid dulling fronds.
• Give it regular water which drains well through the soil. But when established, drought is tolerated.
• Use caution regarding the spiny petioles (leaf stems).

Chaemerops humilis is also called the Mediterranean Fan Palm. You might imagine it originates from coastal areas & islands of the Mediterranean Sea.

Different from those mentioned above, as it usually spreads out as a clumping palm (sometimes solitary, though, with one trunk). So in its clustering form it looks like a palm bush. However it grows, it's short, only to 30ft/9m at its peak.

A Stunning Example of the European Fan Palm

Bismarckia nobilis is a stunner with its full crown of dusky green fan palms. As a Madagascar desert palm, it's ready for planting in Arizona. Zones 9b-11; with care 9a can be tried.

A Young Bismarck Palm, Just Beginning its Upward Goal.
Growing in Else Kientzler Botanic Garden - Sarchi Norte, Costa Rica

Phoenix sylvestris, aka Toddy Palm. It resembles a smaller version of Phoenix canariensis, with an even thicker crown. It's generally a favorable Phoenix species for Arizona. Good for Zones 9-11. Worries would be its slight susceptibility to lethal yellowing & Graphiola false smut.

• Doesn't need a lot of water, but regularly give it a bit more & it responds by speeding up its growth.
• Can easily be started by seed.
• It wants that full Arizona sun! 🌞

The Toddy (a source for a wine) - Wild Date Palm on a Costa Rica Property.

Phoenix theophrasti has its good points. Originating from Eastern Europe near springs & intermittent streams. A clustering sort, up to 60ft/18m tall. Watch out for the orange, lower leaflet tip spines.

Preveli Palm Forest, W. Crete, has a large grove of Cretan palms. They all survived a devastating 2010 fire!

There is a slight worry for lethal yellowing. But why is it among the best palm trees for Arizona?

• In the Arizona deserts, it's good to go for Zones 8-11. And loves the sun.
• No fussiness about soil, with low water needs.
• Quite easily grown from seed. It has some variants.

Here's a variant of the Cretan Palm: Phoenix theophrasti var. Epidaurus

Some palms are widely seen throughout the Arizona desert. But there are more drawbacks for some than those above.

QUEEN PALM:

Syagrus romanzoffiana, which has been hybridized with the Pindo to create the Mule Palm, Mentioned Above. Some think it's suitable for Arizona. But really - do you want this?

• Quickly grows tall, providing very messy fruiting. Lots of them fall to the ground. With tons of seeds that sprout easily on their own.
• It's very thirsty - remember Arizona's water supply isn't ample.
• After 10 years of life, it gets quite scraggly looking.

A Queen in Ceret Park, Tatuapé, Sao Paulo in its Native Brazil

DATE PALMS: The Phoenixes have some knock-out looks. Consider their problems, if you're planning any for Arizona.

Phoenix dactylifera, the Edible Date Palm may be acceptable, if you're okay with heights of 90ft/27m. They're grown commercially in Arizona: Yuma & Dateland. Perhaps even more areas. They do well in Arizona Zones 7b-11. You'll have the benefits of your own true date palm fruits. However...

• The lowest pinnate fan-like leaflets have spiky tips. Ouch!
• A small danger is they can get Lethal Yellowing. Not fun, after the investment.

Commercial Grove of Phoenix dactylifera in Dateland, AZ

Phoenix canariensis, the Canary Island Date Palm is stunning with its round crown. When young it has a pineapple look. People often call it the Pineapple Palm. They're in many front yards of Tucson homes. But the drawbacks...

• Most successful, with proper care, only in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b.
• Leaflets turn from green into orangey spines on the lowest feather fronds.

Canary Island Palm with a Full Crown & Thicker Trunk

Phoenix reclinata - Senegal Date Palm is a handsome species. They cluster, with tall trunks going skyward. Trouble is...

• At the oldest fronds, the lowest leaflet tips turn into the most ruthless spikes. Not nice, when they're at the bush-like level! 😮
• They do require some good amount of watering. We don't generally go for that in AZ deserts.

Looking Up Into the Crown of the Senegal Date Palm - At Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami

Phoenix roebelinii, called the Miniature Date Palm & the Pygmy Date Palm. This one I've really liked, when I've seen them here & there around Tucson. Which is Zone 9b. In fact our neighbor has a wonderful one growing out front. Yet what's the problem?

• Mainly, it has high water requirements. Since it's origin is from Southeast Asian riversides.
• As with Phoenixes, it does have those spiky leaflet tips.

Almost a Fully Grown Miniature Date Palm in Hawaii.

Phoenix rupicola - Cliff Date Palm has a looker advantage. But beware...

• Its nourishment needs are particular: lots of water & needing organic additives for soil.
• There's a small chance it may contract lethal yellowing.
• It would need lots of nurturing in Zone 9b, but not suitable for cooler zones at all.

Phoenix rupicola at McKee Botanical Garden, Vero Beach, FL