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Vitex
Multi-stem ornamental tree.
Fast growing with beautiful lavender/purple blooms in summer.
Average size 15’ tall 12’ wide within 4 years. Looses leaves in
winter. Easy to grow. Very popular! |
Raywood Ash
Very fast growing. Perfect rounded crown. Good fall color.
Great shade tree with one fault-shallow root! Use away from
concrete. Can be used in gravel areas but not good in grass
areas. |
Purple Plum
Pink blooms in spring followed by dark purple leaves.
Average size 15’ tall 10’ wide. Looses leaves in winter. Very
striking. |
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New Mexico Locust
Native trees with an open crown. Produces pods and can be messy.
Beautiful purple blooms in spring followed by lacy foliage. Native
plant enthusiast love it. |
Crape Myrtle
“The tree of the South” but well adapted to Albuquerque.
Many colors available and sizes range from 2’ to 18’. The smooth
bark is interesting in winter even without leaves. Blooms in
summer. |
Washington Hawthorn
This ornamental tree has leaves like small maple leaves. Great
fall color. Usually multi-trunked to 15' tall. This tree has well
spaced and relatively harmless thorns but don't let this stop you
--This trees is one or my favorites. It needs very little pruning. |
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Desert Willow
Not a true willow so don't worry about the roots invading
pipes. Classic desert multi-trunked tree. Drought tolerant and
grows to 18'x15'. Bloom look like an orchid but has pods that
must be raked up once a year. Blooms in summer. |
Althea (Rose of Sharon)
Traditional look (won't fit in a true xeriscape). It is of the
Hibiscus family and has the same huge blooms in summer. Average
height around 10' tall and 6' wide. Full sun to part shade-- great
for small courtyards. Whites, purples, reds and an awful blue. How's
that for salesmanship! |
Butterfly Bush
Average height 12' tall x 8' wide. Loses its leaves in
winter with large spike type blooms in summer. Requires some pruning
but makes quite a show in bloom. Red and dark purples are the most
popular. Fast grower makes it a good screen. |
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Rocky Mountain Juniper
These are very similar evergreens of the high desert. Rocky
Mountain is larger and both grow slowly. Can not be planted in
Albuquerque due to allergens. Rio Rancho is OK ( I asked an
allergist about this and he said that was ridiculous since we
are surrounded by this species and it is in the air ---but we
want to make sure big brother get his say on the matter. ) |
Trimmed by the horticulturaly challenged.
No! No! No! |
Colorado Blue Spruce
Does OK but not if you compare it to ones in the wild. Give
it plenty of water and room. If you give it enough room to grow,
you can’t plant anywhere close to it. Very slow growing and
expensive but quite a statement for a large property. |
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Red Bud
Common ornamental tree that adds a touch of class to any
landscape. Large rounded leaves and wonderful spring blooms.
Seed pods can be a little messy but not bad. A few pods are a
small price to pay for a great courtyard tree. Avg size 15’x15’ |
Austrian Pine
Well adapted pine for large properties. Slow growing thus it
is fairly expensive. Evergreen and cold tolerant. Some people
don’t like the needles dropping so either clean them up or be
glad that something organic covers that gravel. |
Flowering Pear
Absolutely stunning in bloom, great fall color, straight trunk
and rounded crown. Fast grow but like all trees a little messy. Avg 20’x12’. |
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Cottonwood
This is why we don’t plant
Cottonwoods
in courtyards or close to the house.
After looking at the picture of the root system you probably
think this tree has no place in the landscape. But if you have a
large lot this might be the tree for you. Very fast growing (as
mush a 6' per year.) It's native to the river bank so it needs
lots of water. In all fairness those shallow root are due in
part to the fact that it was planted in grass and not deep
watered. All nursery grown trees are "cottonless" |
Lance Leaf Cottonwood
This "cottonless" variety is very fast growing (up to 6' per
year) It should only be used in areas away from grass and
concrete at the back of large properties. See photo of roots.
(that took about 15 years)
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