Top 5 Most Popular Trees, Shrubs, and Grasses

Trees, Shrubs, and Grasses

Beyond cacti, succulents, and wildflowers, the rest of the desert landscape is inhabited by trees, shrubs, and grasses. Like cacti and succulents, this subgroup of desert plants does not require much care and tends to be slow-growing. From the green Palo Verde tree, to the flowering ocotillo shrub, many of these plants are popular choices for desert garden landscapes. 

Trees play a very important role in the desert, as they are one of the tallest plant species and provide necessary shade and protection for other desert plants. It is amazing to see how such large trees have evolved to survive in the desert, with some species that can live for over 100 years! Shrubs and grasses are suited to withstand the harsh dry winds of the desert, with some shrubs that can grow into the size of trees. Here we’ve outlined the top 5 most popular desert trees, shrubs, and grasses.

Top 5 Most Popular Trees, Shrubs, and Grasses

1. Palo Verde

This popular desert tree is known for its striking green trunk and bright yellow flowers. The green trunk is due to the presence of chlorophyll. Because there is so much chlorophyll in the trunk, much of the tree’s photosynthesis occurs there. There are two common types of Palo Verde trees, the Blue Palo Verde, which has a blue-green trunk, and the Foothills Palo Verde, which has a yellow-green trunk. Shop flowers at FTD.com and Check out FTD offers 10% OFF Sitewide. Automatically Applied!!! Click here

The Palo Verde is the “nurse” plant of the Saguaro cactus, as the two species are often found inhabiting the same areas. In the wild desert, the tree plays a key role in the procreation of new plant life as it provides necessary shade and protection for young Saguaro cacti and other vulnerable desert plants to grow. In a garden setting, the majestic Palo Verde makes for a striking focal point and is a popular choice amongst xeriscape landscapers.

2. Joshua Tree

The Joshua tree is the largest of the yucca species, and is scientifically known as Yucca brevifolia. This tree is so rare that it only grows in the Mojave desert. One reason for its scarcity is that it completely relies on the female pronuba moth for survival. In fact, this symbiotic relationship has caused the moth to evolve specialized organs to help collect and distribute the Joshua tree’s pollen as it travels from tree to tree. The female moth lays its eggs in the Joshua tree’s flowers where the hatched larvae eat the seeds to survive.

This fascinating tree is extremely slow-growing, and only grows about 2-3 inches a year. It can take up to 60 years for a Joshua tree to mature, and it can live up to 150 years.

3. Tree Aloe

The tree aloe is native to Africa, where it is the continent’s largest species of aloe. Its dark green leaves form dense rosettes, with tips that curve and are lined with sharp teeth. Also known as Aloe barberae, the tree blooms in June and July and bears pink flowers. Unlike many common desert trees, the tree aloe is fast-growing. When tree aloe is planted in a garden, it should have ample space and be planted away from nearby buildings.

4. Ocotillo

The ocotillo is a common desert shrub that bears striking red tubular-shaped flowers from its spiny, leaf-covered stem. Its sharply-toothed stem makes this shrub a popular choice as fencing in the garden. This shrub is native to the Sonoran desert where it prefers rocky terrain. Its bloom time occurs from March to June. Also known as Candlewood, the ocotillo can live a long life of 60 years, with studies suggesting that some can live well over 100 years.

5. Mexican Thread Grass

This perennial bears long thread-like leaves that feather at the ends. The leaves sprout from a middle base from which they cascade outward and downward. The Mexican thread grass is a popular choice amongst landscapers not only for its drought-tolerance, but for its tendency to be naturally pest free. It can be used as a border or as ground cover, and although it does reseed it isn’t aggressive and will not invade the garden.

The Mexican thread grass will sprout new leaves in the spring. In the summer, if deprived too much of water, the grass may enter a dormant stage and continue its growth once temperatures cool down.