Water Wise Trees

In addition to most desert varieties, there are many types of trees and palms that can thrive in drought-like conditions with minimal or no additional water. These varieties are ideal for water conscious gardeners yet can provide surprising greenery and color in most landscapes. Given our recent climate conditions, being waterwise is more important than ever.

Types of Water Wise Trees

Ficus Indian Laurel

Ficus nitida

Ficus nitida is one of the best trees you can plant. Great for any landscape. Our number one seller for over 20 years.

Indian Laurel Columns

Ficus nitida columns

A popular choice for making an evergreen privacy hedge to block out unwanted views, noise, and help create your own private escape.

Sissoo

Dalbergia sissoo

Drought tolerant, large shade-providing tree with bright green foliage. Sissoo has an Aspen-like look and thrives in warmer areas.

Tipu

Tipuana tipu

One of, if not the best shade tree you can plant on your property. Colorful, Tipu Tree's provide great shade and year-round beauty.

Manzanillo Olive

Olea europaea 'Manzanillo'

Manzanillo olives are a picturesque, high quality fruit producing tree with a billowing crown and a gnarled trunk that make it one of the most desirable plants for dry climates. These ancient trees have been grown since ancient times and thrive in the hea

Mission Olive

Olea europaea 'Mission'

Mission Olive trees originated in Southern California in the mid-1700’s and have grown in popularity for their Spanish style oil.

Fruitless Olive

Olea europaea 'Wilsonii'

Fruitless Olive trees produce large amounts of shade to any area, grow to be a hardy medium size and acclimate fantastically to Western climates.

Italian Cypress

Cupressus sempervirens 'Glauca'

Italian Cypress are native to the Mediterranean, grow tall, straight evergreen columns for an exceptionally formal look.

Museum Palo Verde

Cercidium-parkinsonia hybrid

A very fast growing water wise hybrid version of the classic Palo Verde. Bright yellow, showy blooms in spring.

Chilean Mesquite

Prosopis chilensis

Thornless Chilean Mesquite with a wide canopy that can provide light filtered shade. An excellent choice for a dry rock garden or planted near pathways and patios.

African Sumac

Rhus lancea

A wide spreading, durable & fast-growing shade provider that has a large, stately appearance and thrives in intense heat or cold.

Live Oak

Quercus virginiana

The Live Oak is a large evergreen shade tree noted for its beauty and extreme drought tolerance. A family favorite!

Eldarica Pine

Pinus eldarica

The Eldarica pine provides wonderful shade and ambiance to landscapes! They tolerate heat, wind and drought conditions. Plant in groupings for an effective windbreak or privacy screen.

Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia

This extremely colorful, stylish tree makes a perfect choice for color lovers! One of the very few landscape favorites that provide summer color.

Vitex

Vitex agnus-castus

Offers a gorgeous display of gray-green foliage and terminal clusters of fragrant lilac blooms. Thrive in the heat and also great for use as a hedge.

Willow Acacia

Acacia salicina

Unique silver-blue leaves with a slightly weeping appearance make this tree useful for many landscape styles.

Desert Willow

Chilopsis linearis

Desert Willow are small to medium trees with beautiful multi-colored flowers blooming in cycles spring through fall. Their airy foliage can cast light shade too!

Shoestring Acacia

Acacia stenophylla

Anyone living in an arid climate that wants the lush weeping willow look is sure to love this Shoestring Acacia tree. Waterwise with showy flowers spring to fall!

Mulga Acacia

Acacia aneura

The Mulga Acacia is an evergreen desert tree used in many landscape styles for its unique foliage, smaller size, and showy golden flowers

Sweet Acacia

Acacia smallii

This drought tolerant Sonoran native is well known for its beautiful and aromatic blooms during early spring.

Acacia Saligna

Acacia saligna

These Acacias grow a very wide umbrella-shaped canopy that provides filtered shade year round. They are a very fast growing tree with great durability to heat and cold.

California Pepper

Schinus molle

This large evergreen tree provides the incredible weeping appearance of a traditional Weeping Willow. It's a great shade tree that loves the heat!

Brazilian Pepper

Schinus terebinthifolius

Brazilian Pepper is an attractive medium to large shade tree with a dark green, dense, umbrella shaped canopy. Year-round beauty!

Sycamore

Platanus wrightii

The Sycamore Tree is a large, majestic tree with a spreading canopy, large deciduous leaves, and gorgeous white bark that peels back to reveal darker patches.

Strawberry Tree

Arbutus 'Marina'

A strikingly beautiful, medium sized tree that will bring year-round interest to your landscape. It's a waterwise tree with lots of beauty and character.

Australian Bottle

Brachychiton populneus

A hardy evergreen shade tree known for its distinctive canopy shape with bright green leaves. Drought tolerant variety fits almost any landscape.

Flowering Pear

Pyrus calleryana

This bright green tree features a cascade of snow white flowers during early spring with brilliant red fall foliage.

Camphor

Cinnamomum camphora

Camphor trees produce an unmistakable and pleasant fragrance while producing abundant amounts of year-round shade.

Carolina Cherry

Prunus caroliniana 'Compacta'

Carolina Cherry trees are easy to maintain and work vigorously to provide a year round, dense green foliage commonly used as a privacy hedge.

Carrotwood

Cupaniopsis anacardioides

Carrotwood trees are known for their unique carrot-like appearance, as the network of trunks twist and turn upwards forming a unique shape.

Arizona Ash

Fraxinus velutina

The Arizona Ash is a very large, fast growing tree, providing cooling shade in the summer followed by beautiful yellow leaves in the fall.

Chinese Elm 'True Green'

Ulmus parvifolia

For those searching for a large, stately tree that provides maximum shade, this is a tree you definitely want to consider.

Jacaranda

Jacaranda mimosifolia

The Jacaranda tree is a beautiful, large, and great-for-climbing shade tree grown and nurtured at Moon Valley Nurseries.

Chinese Pistache

Pistacia chinensis

Chinese Pistache are becoming increasingly popular in landscapes because of their distinctive fall color. Provides fantastic shade during the summer months.

Purple Orchid

Bauhinia purpurea

This beautifully structured, showy tropical tree offers rich, exotic pink/purple blooms and provides long-lasting beauty to landscapes.

Magnolia 'D.D. Blanchard'

Magnolia grandiflora 'D.D. Blanchard'

Magnolia trees add big color and shade anywhere they're planted. Bring a unique and tropical look to landscapes. Blooms produce a beautiful white aromatic flower.

Mimosa

Albizia julibrissin

This beautiful rainforest-style tree actually performs very well in the intense sun. Unique pink blooms highlight the tree throughout most of the late spring into early summer.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus Spp.

Ultra-fast growing tree native to Australia. Eucalyptus are suitable for many landscape applications and have proven durability, strength & growth.

Australian Willow

Geijera parviflora

This moderate grower can typically be seen lining streets and gracing neighborhood yards. Its ability to retain water in its leaves make it extremely drought resistant.

Chitalpa

Chitalpa tashkentensis

This is a great water wise choice for those desiring a tree with a softer, greener appearance. Beautiful pink blooms are present from summer through fall.

Liquid Amber

Liquidambar styraciflua

Also known as the 'Sweet Gum', this medium to fast grower is popular for its amazingly vibrant fall color and maple-like leaves. Good-looking tree all year.

Mexican Fan Palm

Washingtonia robusta

This is one of the best selling and easiest to grow palms that we carry. We have the largest quantity of Mexican Fan Palms.

Pomegranate

Punica granatum

One of the easiest fruit trees to grow. It's a drought tolerant tree that boasts showy flowers with fruit that's rich in anti-oxidants. Well suited to our environment.

Piru Queen Palm

Arecastrum romanzoffianum

Exclusively at Moon Valley Nurseries, Piru Queen Palms grow with thicker, harder trunks, greener fronds & fuller crowns.

Pindo Palm

Butia capitata

Interesting palm, easily recognized by its striking silver-green, graceful arching fronds. One of the easiest palms to plant and grow.

Sago Palm

Cycas revoluta

Sago palms add a fantastic and organized look just about anywhere they're planted. Plant multiple specimens for a tropical look.

Mediterranean Fan Palm

Chamaerops humilis

This dwarf palm usually features multiple trunks, but can also be grown as a single trunk palm. Great for planting in small areas.

Windmill Palm

Trachycarpus fortunei

Small to medium size palm with excellent tropical appeal. One of the most cold hardy palms available in the market.

Pineapple Palm (Canary Island Date Palm)

Phoenix canariensis

An extremely durable and hardy palm that looks like a pineapple during its first decade of growth. Elegant, tropical and waterwise!

Acacia Bailey

Acacia baileyana

A beautiful, drought tolerant, easy-to-care-for tree with green, feather-like foliage that grows out like an umbrella. A hardy shade tree ideal for landscapes.