Trees (Phoenix, Tempe, Cottonwood: homes, landscaping, live)

[synapse]

Why are there are some really large trees in Phoenix - the gigantic oak looking trees around the Biltmore, the huge trees along Central Avenue south of Northern Avenue - but the vast majority of Phoenix has the same, small, bushy mesquite and palo verde trees? Do those larger trees just take more time to grow and are harder to sustain? Will the rest of Phoenix fill in with those kind of larger trees eventually, or are they quite rare? Why are they only along Central Avenue?

[crewbank]

Originally Posted by synapse

Why are there are some really large trees in Phoenix - the gigantic oak looking trees around the Biltmore, the huge trees along Central Avenue south of Northern Avenue - but the vast majority of Phoenix has the same, small, bushy mesquite and palo verde trees? Do those larger trees just take more time to grow and are harder to sustain? Will the rest of Phoenix fill in with those kind of larger trees eventually, or are they quite rare? Why are they only along Central Avenue?

Being a desert, phoenix doesn't really have any native vegetation bigger than a mesquite tree (cottonwoods used to grow by the river). The giant trees you see on central, as well as parts of old Tempe are a product of massive amounts of TLC and H2O. to maintain that kind of greenery requires a lot of water and care, and many of the old growth trees have died and were never replanted for that reason. I doubt that we will be replanting many oaks, although there are a number of heat-resistant low water large non-native species now used in landscaping (Arizona Ash, Lebanese Pine, and Jacaranda, to name a few). I do love those old trees, though.

[nitram]

Those large trees mentioned are probably eucalyptus trees that were planted 50+ years ago.
At one time eucalyptus trees, being popular & fast growing, were planted all around the valley. Some varieties can grow 2-4 feet per year and reach 120 feet tall.

[twiggy]

They are old trees. Nothing else has been here that long. lol They do take a lot of care, and their trunks are probably shaded well down there. A shaded trunk makes for a happy tree. There isn't much shade around.

[Ponderosa]

There's some cottonwoods along Mesquite Creek past Tortilla Flat that have trunks maybe 3 or more feet across. Also some really huge ones on Dry/Wet Beaver Cks near Montezuma Well and on Yellow Jacket creek off the Orme-Dugas exit of I-17 (you have to know where to look as the creek is not visible from the highway). Anyway, my point is cottonwoods get huge in natural riparian habitats. These flowing desert streams with the big trees are among my favorite places in the state.

[HX_Guy]

The reason you see those big old trees on Central and other older parts of Phoenix is because they were planted decades ago (obviously) when there really wasn't a concern about water conservation. The settlers of Phoenix, who all came from back east, were used to the vegetation of their former homes and tried to replicate it in Phoenix. It looks great...and I personally love the area, but it's not sustainable for the desert and I doubt you'll ever see it anywhere else in the newer parts of Phoenix.

By the way, a lot of those trees on Central are olive and mulberry trees.

[nitram]

Along the Central corridor 40-50 + years ago they planted primarily Eucalyptus, Salt Cedar, Cottonwood, Mulberries and Palm trees.There are a few other varieties scattered throughout. Several Eucalyptus varieties are the largest at over 100 feet. The rest grow on the average of 40-60 feet.
Most native type plants were not popular then.