Shade Trees & Other Plants
Reduce the effects of heat, both indoors and out
Plan a pleasant environment for clients, customers and staff. Planting the right types of trees and plants can make your business stand out. Use hardy native plants that will thrive with minimal maintenance.
Choosing trees that provide shade will not only make the outside more pleasant in hot weather, but can reduce the total heat load on buildings by cooling the air and limiting direct insolation (solar impact). Studies have shown that the right combination of shade-giving vegetation can reduce power bills. Shade trees can also keep parked cars cool - something your customers will be thankful for.
The lists below provide some examples of Sonoran natives. Woody desert trees, like the Foothills Palo Verde, thrive with less water than high-water exotics.
Shade and other trees
Caption plum:Create your own shade and cooling with a native-Arizona tree
- Blue Palo Verde
Parkinsonia florida - Feather Bush
Lysiloma microphylla v. thornberi - Foothills Palo Verde
Parkinsonia microphylla - Ironwood
Olneya tesota - Velvet Mesquite
Prosopis velutina - White Thorn Acacia
Acacia constricta
Other plants
Caption plum:Use low-water native plants to enhance your landscape
- Brittlebush
Encelia farinosa - Engelmann's Hedgehog
Echinocereus engelmannii - Jojoba
Simmondsia chinensis - Little-leaf Cordia
Cordia parvifolia - Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens - Purple Prickly Pear
Opuntia santa-rita
Where can I find out more?
- Consult City of Phoenix Building Codes and Ordinances to comply with the latest rules governing street trees and planting distances from water mains.
- Arizona Municipal Water Users Association plant list.
- Visit the library.
- See additional links at the bottom of the left navigation bar.
