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Trees can easily reduce the temperature  in your xeriscape garden and on your home's exterior by  up to 10 degrees F. in the summer when they are planted on the south and west sides of your home.  So here are some fast-growing trees that do well in our desert climate and will add 2 to 4 feet in height every year.  Some are quite drought tolerant, some need regular watering.  All will help you reduce your air conditioning bill!

Another fast grower is the majestic Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia).  It can reach 30 feet tall within 5 years and ultimately grow to a height of 40 to 60 feet.  It has a graceful weeping shape at maturity. Can be planted in a lawn where it will receive regular irrigation, but also does well with less watering.

The Desert Willow (Chilopsis Linearis) grows fast and produces pink orchid-like flowers all summer long.  Come autumn, however, messy seed-pods develop.  Its cousin, the Chitalpa tree is a better choice unless you are a native plant purist.  Both trees are drought tolerant.

The Nichol’s Willow-leaf Peppermint tree (Eucalyptus nicholii) also has a weeping shape.  Again, you can count on growth of 2 feet or more per year with this low-water usage Eucalyptus which grows to 50 feet tall.  The flowers are small, the seed pods small, too.  The bark is reddish-brown and the leaves, when crushed, smell like peppermint!  Be sure to add iron chelate, such as Kerex, to the soil around this tree in spring and fall.  Many other eucalyptus grow rapidly, too.  Ask your nursery for more information or see our January 2004 newsletter.

The Los Angeles Arboretum has over 22 acres of eucalyptus and other Australian native plants.

The pyramid-shaped Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) grows 3 or 4 feet a year to a mature height of 35 to 75 feet tall.  Its bright green leaves are ferny so it does not cast a lot of shade allowing a lawn to grow beneath it.  The downside for this drought-tolerant tree is that there are sharp thorns on the trunk and branches so it should not be planted in an area where children or animals might bump up against it.  

Not only do Fig trees (Ficus carica) grow rapidly to 20 to 30 feet, they have big leaves which cast dark shade.  The fig produces delicious fruit and is not particular about soil quality.  The 'Black Mission' and 'Brown Turkey' are good varieties for the desert.  Most produce two crops of figs per year and need regular watering, especially when the fruit is growing.  Be sure to ask at your nursery how tall a specific variety will grow.  Some trees are much larger than others.  You may need to control the size by pruning.

Don't plant a Cottonwood.  It guzzles water, has roots at the surface, invades water pipes and sewage lines, and is subject to borer infestation.  It may grow fast, but there are other, better choices for a water-wise, xeriscape garden.

About Palms.  Yes, we know that some of them grow incredibly fast, but unless they are planted quite densely, they do not cast a lot of shade to help cool your home and garden in the summer.