Desert With Palm Trees

Let's find some deserts with palm trees.

Look to subtropical desert, coastal desert (cool & mild), & temperate desert categories - fitting for palm tree growth.

Rule out polar ice/tundra deserts & cold winter deserts - these typically won't sustain palm tree life.

The Saharan Desert is the 3rd largest in the world. A subtropical desert.

• Recently it's been getting lots more rain, refilling lakes & ponds
• Rain helped revive palms making a palm desert oasis.
• A regular tourist from France said "...the plants and palm trees came back to life,"  according to Hicham Rafih at Science Alert.

Grove of Palm Trees in the Saharan Desert. Some Sort of Water Must Be Nearby!

Adjacent, to the East is the next largest: Arabian Desert. Also categorized subtropical.

• Covers the Middle East. Like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, etc.
• Historical & economical palm tree in desert climates: the Edible Date Palm.
• Other drought hardy palms grow, too. Especially in resorts.

Al-Rajhi palm groves in al-Bukayriyya of the Qasim Region of Saudi Arabia

Down under is another subtropical desert: Simpson Desert.

• Palms grow in Finke Gorge National Park, west of Alice Springs & north of Yulara

1. The palm native here (not anywhere else) is called the Red Cabbage Palm: Livistona mariae
2. Found in Palm Valley. Or see a few at Alice Springs Desert Park.

Livistona mariae
Can Grow in Deserts With Palm Trees

The Sonoran Desert is considered subtropical. Ideal to find your palm tree in the desert.

• This desert is quite diverse in flora & fauna. Because twice a year there is a "rainy season" (an arid type, that is!). Summer Monsoon Rainstorms and some Winter Rain/Snow.
• There are several palms native to the region. Including Washingtonia species.
• Location is:

Besides the Sonoran Desert, Where We Live, there are three more deserts in the USA.

• Great Basin, Mojave, and Chihuahuan.
• Each of which have some Possibility for Palm Trees Desert Growth.
• These are Temperate Deserts, where Hardy Palms for Cold Weather can be grown by residents.

This Sonoran Desert Palm Tree in Tucson AZ is Glowing During a Winter Rainstorm!
As Seen From Our Backyard Patio.

About 35-40% of Arizona can grow palm trees.

The north, northern-central & northeast geography has mountains and plateaus. Difficult, if not impossible for palm tree life.

The south, southeast, and southwest areas are deserts with palm trees.

Nighttime View of the Arizona State Capital Building With Palms

In Arizona's Sonoran Desert, Phoenix has palm trees. And cactus, too. 85% of the year it's totally sunny. And usually it's warm or hot.

Wintertime temperatures can drop overnight. Even to near freezing. But rarely gets below that.

Phoenix is a Desert City With Palm Trees Growing Adjacent to Saguaro Cactus

Drive around Tucson Arizona (about 2-hours south of Phoenix) & you'll see home after home and business after business with palms. Parks, too!

A Tucson Neighborhood With Palms
Many Tucson Palm Trees are Washingtonia - as Seen Here

Many more desert cities and towns have palm trees growing. Throughout the state of Arizona. Some are:

• Sonoran Desert

1. Casa Grande - Between Phoenix & Tucson
   
2. All the Suburbs of Phoenix

• Mojave Desert

1. Kingman - About 35 miles east of Lake Mojave
2. Bullhead City - Sits on the Colorado riverfront

Palms At the Crossing Into Laughlin Nevada at North End of Bullhead City
Adjacent to Davis Camp Park

Are You Entranced as You Enter Palm Springs? With Palm Trees All Around!

Palm trees in Palm Springs are all along the main street.

That's Palm Canyon Drive. With those names, how could there not be palm trees in this California city?!

Rainmaker Fountain in Palm Springs California
Corner of Alejo Road & Palm Canyon Dr in Frances Stevens Park

Strange to think that the city's not originally named for palm trees.

When Spanish explorers José María Estudillo & Brevet Captain José Romero came through this area - they called it La Palma de la Mano de Dios. In English: The Palm of God's Hand.

So originally it was an altogether different palm!

Another California City with arid conditions is Los Angeles where a Desert Palm Plant grows.

Phoenix canariensis is native to the Canary Islands. Majestic, with round crown of 100+ fronds. Among the tallest palm trees.

• Native to the island's coastal desert scrub.
• Loves the sun, but limitedly tolerates temps to 15^oF/-9^oC.
• If you get one, for great looks give it a bit more watering than its desert does!

Canary Island Date Palms Grow Quite Large With a Stately Aura

Bismarckia nobilis has bluish tinged fronds that love full sun. But not temps going to freezing level. If too long, they can Suffer Cold Damage.

• Endemic to the "Spiny Desert" & open grasslands of southern Madagascar. Where it can get 80ft/26m tall. Planted locally elsewhere, about half that size.
• The full crown has wonderful palmate fronds, that stiffly rise 9ft/3m from the trunk. 
• When established, it's drought tolerant.

You can stop In to See This Amazing Palm House, when traveling through Australia.

Stunning Looker inside the Palm House at Adelaide Botanic Garden,
South Australia

Phoenix dactylifera has historically been the palm most cultivated for date Fruit Production. It's sustained many in Middle Eastern cultures since time immemorial. 

• It's a true desert sun & heat lover. But can tolerate low temps of 18^oF/-7.8C, for a bit.
• Today in the USA, they grow in Southern California & Arizona deserts. Helping local economies.
• In its native territories, it often pops up around oases. Knowing how to seek out water!

Grove of Date Palms Along I-8 in Arizona. Adjacent to an Interesting Fuel Stop.

Nannorrhops ritcheana is a pretty clustering palm. Small, slowly getting up to 20ft/6m.

• A sun-lover, Mazari Palms are drought tolerant. Dry USDA Zone 7 is ideal. 
• And very hardy. Fleetingly tolerates lowest temps of 15F/-9.4C.
• Its difference is it grows in rainier Zones of 8-11. Like in Florida, where extra water won't be needed. Like the specimen below.

See it along with many other palms at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, In Sarasota Florida.

Desert Loving Mazari Palm Here Tolerating a Different Clime in Florida

Brahea armata loves the dry desert's (Zones 8b-11) full sun & heat. AKA Blue Hesper Palm. With a stunning flower & fruit display.

• Can take momentary plunges to about 16^oF/-8.9C.
• Native to northwestern Mexico. In canyons & streamside. It's first year, up Your Watering Plan. After, it's drought tolerant.
• Slowly gets 30ft/9.14m tall. 

Mexican Blue Palm Enthralling With its Flowery Display!

Washingtonia filifera is a sun-loving desert palm tree.

Like those of Arizona & Southern California, where it's native. White threads amidst the fronds give it the Cotton Palm common name in England.

• With thick trunks & palmate leaves. And thick trunk, often seen holding its old fronds.
• Suitable for Zones 7-11 in dry climates Might go as low as 15^oF/-9.4C when mature. Seedlings Need Good Protection.
• Grows to 50ft/15m kinda quickly.

California Fan Palm in Tucson's Sonoran Desert Neighborhood.
Surrounded by its Desert Palm Trees - Mexican Fan Palms.