Nature's Masterpieces: Unveiling the Prettiest Trees through the Year
by Ken Lain, Watters Garden Center, Owner
The mountains of Arizona are famous for their trees, especially our conifer forest of Ponderosa and Pinyon Pine, Red Oaks, and creeks full of Aspen. A good landscape design should always start with tree placement, which changes with the season. Here is a list of mountain trees that look better than others by the month they outshine all others.
January – Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra) A resilient evergreen pine amenable to poor soils and alkaline conditions. It's remarkably tolerant of hot and cold mountain winds and is crucial in shelterbelts and windbreaks. It adapts well to dry conditions in Arizona, both in semidesert and mountain foothill regions where soils are thin and weak. Makes a graceful single specimen for front yards, parks, or expansive estate-sized landscapes.
February – Aspen (Populus tremuloides) is a superior tree for cold northern Arizona regions. It is most attractive in groves and is a component of windrows and shelterbelts. It will stand alone as a columnar tree in a rural environment, where its tall, narrow form is ideal for filling gaps between tall buildings. Well suited for street and boulevard planting. An excellent foreground tree against the dark background of evergreen conifers. Ease of cultivation is suited to naturalistic plantings in prairies or open space habitats.
March – Thunder Cloud Purple Plum (Prunus cerasifera) In spring, it delivers a storm of color in a surge of pink blossoms reminiscent of a cherry tree in full bloom. As the flowers fade, royal purple leaves emerge, producing a shade tree for the summer. Its purple leaves contrast sharply against the jewel box yellows and reds of other autumn leaves. It is incredibly hardy and thrives anywhere, but the best purple leaf color is to be had in full sun.
April – Crabapple (Malus) An outstanding flowering tree with an upright form that becomes rounded with age. Reddish new foliage matures to dark green. Gorgeous, deep pink flowers produce persistent, small, dark, red-purple fruit. A colorful accent for more diminutive landscapes.
May - Purple Robe Locust (Robinia) grows just about anywhere it's planted. It is a fast-growing tree that thrives in harsh, barren, even sandy soils. You can count on hundreds of purple wisteria-like flowers covering this tree every Mother's Day, filling the yard with a heavenly scent bound to bring back memories of Mom.
June - Golden Honey Locust (Gleditsia) is proven to be a hardy street and shade tree. It is fast-growing, heat—and drought-tolerant, and well-suited for the demands of mountain landscapes. It grows with an open, spreading canopy with attractive, elegant, somewhat weeping foliage. The 'Sunburst' variety is thornless, versatile, and distinctive for its color, with bright yellow shoots turning to yellow-green and yellow autumn colors.
July - Little Gem Mountain Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). Its lustrous, leathery foliage is rich, dark green on top and cinnamon brown underneath. Large, 5-6" creamy white flowers are exotically fragrant. This hardy magnolia transplants well and does not lose as many leaves as other varieties. It exhibits an evergreen-like cold tolerance.
August - Birch (Betula utilis) This tree is far superior to the Aspen in heat and drought tolerance. Its densely pyramidal form is comprised of glossy green leaves that fade to clear yellow in autumn. Plant as a large tree for a focal point that will shade its surroundings. It makes a superb narrow front yard tree for areas with limited space. It is a natural around water gardens and dry streams. Used in mixed forest groves, its white bark adds striking, eye-catching interest.
September—Autumn Gold Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba) the leaves are an interesting fan shape that flutters in the slightest breeze. Green foliage turns brilliant golden in the fall. Ginkgos have been known to live 1,000+ years, having grown since the time of dinosaurs.
October - Prescott Blaze Maple (Acer freemanii). Its upright form has a perfect branching habit, and it is a favorite of local gardeners. It is an excellent lawn, park, or street tree that easily withstands mountain winds. The fastest-growing of the red maples, it boasts brilliant, long-lasting red Fall foliage.
November - Aristocrat Pear (Pyrus calleryana) Vigorous and upright with a dominant central trunk, it's excellent for lining streets and drives or as a specimen for smaller spaces. It adapts to a wide range of soils, including heavy mountain clays. Bridal-white flowers in spring, disease-resistant glossy green leaves with a unique wavy edge, and it is the last tree that turns red in autumn.
December—Fat Albert Spruce (Picea pungens) is a superb evergreen conifer with rich blue needles on a densely branched, naturally pyramidal form. It is an outstanding landscape specimen. It is a slow grower that can become quite large over time. It is the only choice for use as a living Christmas tree through the holidays!
This is not an exhaustive list, but it allows a starting point for your landscape.
Prescott Insider Tip—For those lucky enough to have second homes in Prescott and use them to escape the summer heat or winter cold, I have an insider tip. When your mountain home is a way to escape the desert heat, focus on trees that look their best in the months you will be staying in your summer home.
Likewise, when Prescott is your winter home away from the cold of Idaho or Alaska, focus on those trees that bring enjoyment in the winter months.
For those who live here year-round, a more balanced approach is best. It would be worthwhile visiting the garden center and touring the trees so you can pick your favorites.
