Antoine St. Exupéry, French author of The Little Prince, points out: “It is useless to plant an acorn in the morning and hope that that afternoon it will sit in the shade of an oak tree.”
As a manager of a tree company in Arizona for the past several years, the idea of a fast-growing tree conjures up a slightly negative image. As I consider why, I realize that my impression of the Phoenix metro area has been jaded by the recent home buying frenzy and the resulting precariousness, both homeowners and home seekers have found themselves here. I was born and raised in Tempe / Mesa, and my paternal family has been native to Arizona for several generations. For some elusive reason, learning about the urban sprawl that has characterized this area and witnessing it personally throughout my life often leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
I must admit that if someone were to ask me which trees grow the fastest, I would wonder if their only intention is to increase the value of their property quickly. It is true that an aesthetically landscaped garden that includes large, mature-looking trees increases a property’s value. People just don’t stay long in one place anymore, so it’s hard to imagine putting a lot of effort into the trees in their yard for the benefit of a future buyer. The idea of a ‘heritage tree’ seems like a myth these days.
Property value, of course, is not the only motivation for planting fast-growing trees. One of the most wonderful gifts a tree offers us is shade. As Warren Buffet once said, “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” Naturally, in a desert climate with predominant sun, we want shade. We want it as quickly as possible.
Regarding growth rate, an article found on the Arbor Day Foundation website states that: “Slow-growing species tend to outlive fast-growing species.” Somehow it makes sense that there is a natural commitment there. Several of the trees listed below are taken from an article in the Houston Chronicle. Its author warns: “Many fast-growing trees are problematic. They can be weak trees and prone to disease and insects. […] But there are exceptions, so get as much information as you can before planting. “
Below are some examples of trees that are known to grow relatively fast. The first listed are the most appropriate for the climate and soil conditions in the Phoenix area:
o Varieties of palo verde (genus: Cercidium): among the fastest growing are the palo verde sonoran or the palo verde hybrids such as the desert museum or the palo verde sonora emerald.
o Mesquite varieties: the fastest growing is the Argentine mesquite (Prosopis alba)
or willow acaciaAcacia salicin)
o Desert willowChilopsis linearis)
or Chinese elmUlmus parvifolia)
or Arizona ashFraxinus velutina)
or Mexican sycamorePlatanus mexicana)
o Montezuma cypressTaxodium mucronatum)
o Drummond Red Maple (Acer rubrum drummondii)
o Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
or Chinese umbrella tree (Firmiana simplex)
o Sequoia of dawnMetasequoia glyptostroboides)
or Monterrey OakQuercus polymorpha)
or cherry laurelPrunus caroliniana)
or Paulownia varieties (including Paulownia tomentosa, Paulownia kawakamii, etc.) – some of the many common names are: sapphire dragon tree, Chinese empress tree, Japanese pagoda tree, and miracle tree; all are very fast growing.
Alternatively, some examples of slow-growing trees grown in the Phoenix area are: Chinese pistachio, live oak, desert ironwood, and mangosteen. There are many others, of course, and they all have advantages and disadvantages depending on what you have in mind for your garden.
I hope you found this article on fast growing Arizona trees beneficial. If you don’t get anything more from this article, I hope you understand the importance of doing your research before purchasing and planting any new trees in your garden. Know what you want and what you are likely to be successful with. I conclude with a Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
SOURCES (in order of citation within the article):
Web Garden
Arbor Day Foundation: The right tree in the right place.
Chet Boddy article (from the monthly real estate column, Back to Earth, from Mendocino Coast Real Estate magazine)
10 fast-growing trees worth considering from the Houston Chronicle
