The dry and desert like climate in Arizona makes the city of Phoenix perfect for certain plants and wildlife. With average temperatures in the 90s and an annual rainfall of only 8 inches, Phoenix isn’t going to be the best for your typical great oaks and a lawn of green grass.
With its desert-like conditions, Phoenix has the perfect conditions for plants that dwell in dry weather and have built in system of storing water in roots and thorns for an extended period of time.
Common Trees in Phoenix
Despite the dry weather, Phoenix has plenty different types of native trees. The most common trees that populate large areas of Phoenix, Arizona are pines and palm trees. The pine trees that are native to Phoenix are less populated in comparison to pines in colder climate. They grow further apart from each other.
The pines are also different in that the needles tend to be smaller and the branches are scarcer. Date palms are one of the most frequently spotted trees that are part of the palm family. They grow to be around only 6 feet tall with leaves grouped on top of the tree.
Other types of common trees include ones that have flowers and pods. Common flowering trees include the Indian rosewood, carob, and desert fern tree. Arborists approach Phoenix tree service with special care, to ensure that these native plants are taken care of properly.
The cactus plant is one of the sturdiest plants, able to survive long droughts of water and protect itself from various animals. Their hard exterior and interior makes it the perfect plant in the hot, dry climate of Phoenix. Cacti are usually covered with spikes and spines. Some spikes are thick and spread out, while some are tiny and highly condensed. Some cacti are poisonous, while some are edible.
The barrel cactus, jumping cactus, and teddy bear cactus are all native to Arizona. Barrel cacti are large, often growing up to at least 10 feet. They are both majestic and beautiful, especially with the flowers that grow on top of it. There are many other different types of cacti that are native to Arizona. Many Phoenix residents either love or hate the cactus. No matter how prickly the plants can be, they certainly do add a flair to the plant wildlife in Arizona.
Besides pines and cacti, Phoenix has many different types of flowering shrubs and other flower plants that are native to the desert. Most people have the misconception that only non flowering plants are able to survive the dry heat.
However, Phoenix has many different native flowers of all shapes and sizes. Unlike flowers of colder climates, these desert flowers are stronger, more vibrant in color, and more exotic in appearance. Similar to other flowers, they usually bloom around early spring in April.
Small smalls with thick leaves are also pretty common in desert climates. Some of these shrubs are laden with flowers. The variety of shrubs and flowers that bloom in Phoenix are absolutely breathtaking. They can be small and delicate or large and bright in color. The white thorn shrub is native to Phoenix and very common in many areas.