So, here's that list of trees again with a few more photos and some details! Keep in mind that this list isn't all-inclusive, there are many more trees or shrubs that could serve well as a holiday tree and look great in the garden afterwards. These are just some of my personal favorites. What trees or shrubs would you add to the list?
Doedar Cedar (Cedrus deodara) - This one is on the list for its smell and shape, though in the container it might look more like Charlie Brown's tree than some others on the list. It's also one of the more frost sensitive trees on the list, but it's hardy to 5 F. Mature trees are drought and heat tolerant.
Mature Height: around 40-50 feet in Tucson, much taller in its native habitat and warm climates
Mature Width: 20-30 feet
 |
| Arizona Cypress at the University of Arizona |
Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica) - This tree should be easy to find at local nurseries, but probably won't be displayed with the holiday trees. I think it has the right shape, though, and it makes a great screen or windbreak once it's in the landscape. It may not be exactly what you think of when you imagine a holiday tree, but it gets extra super cool points for being native!
Mature Height: 40-50 feet
Mature Width: 20-30 feet
 |
| I'd love to show a photo of this tree's beautiful bark, but, alas, you're going to have to google it... (I don't seem to have a bark photo on hand, but it's worth looking up!) |
Alligator Juniper (Juniperus deppeana) - This is another Charlie Brown favorite that won't be displayed with the holiday trees. In fact, there are probably only a few nurseries in town who carry it, but I had to add it to my list because I feel compelled to promote cool native plants whenever I can. Named for its distinctive bark, this drought-tolerant evergreen makes a big impression and needs plenty of room to grow, but will take its sweet time getting there.
Mature Height: 20-50 feet
Mature Width: 20-50 feet
Pinion Pine (Pinus edulis) - This is the smallest tree on the list. It doesn't enjoy the heat at lower elevations, so I'm recommending it only for those in the cooler microclimates of Tucson and surrounding areas. The seeds are edible and delicious!
Mature Height: 20-30 feet
Mature Width: 15-25 feet
 |
| Eldarica pine at the University of Arizona |
Eldarica Pine (Pinus eldarica) - Probably the most commonly found living tree for the holiday market in Tucson. The large mature canopy of this evergreen stays a bit more narrow than the other pine we commonly see around the Old Pueblo (Aleppo pine, or Pinus halepensis).
Mature Height: 30-50 feet
Mature Width: 15-30 feet
 |
| I bet you'll never guess where this photo of Aleppo Pine was taken... |
Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis) - Another evergreen that grows well here; the cloud-like canopy should be a very familiar sight to Tucsonans. It gives great shade, but needs a lot of space.
Mature Height: 30-60 feet
Mature Width: 20-40 feet
 |
| Italian Stone Pine keeps its pyramidal shape as it matures, but will eventually thin out at the bottom and become wider on top. |
Italian Stone Pine (Pinus pinea) - This one works great as a holiday tree, even in smaller sizes. The branches are numerous and full, and new needles on the branch tips are a beautiful blue-green color. The nuts are edible.
Mature Height: 30-50 feet in Tucson
Mature Width: 30-40 feet
 |
| Ponderosa pine on top of Mt. Lemmon |
Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) - I love the long, shaggy needles on this guy. Ponderosa pine likes higher elevations, so I wouldn't try planting one unless you're in one of those cooler microclimates. This tree grows quickly under the right conditions and can grow quite large. Its furrowed red bark and picturesque form get more beautiful as it ages.
Mature Height: 50-80 feet (probably on the smaller side in Tucson)
Mature Width: 20-30 feet
 |
| Japanese black pine is a non-conformist; it rarely grows with a straight trunk and evenly spaced branches. |
Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii) - This pine gets big in its natural habitat but stays on the smaller side of its size range here in Tucson, and is often pruned to be kept even smaller (there are some nice photos of bonsai specimens out there on the internet). It grows slowly, takes well to pruning, and tolerates Tucson's weather conditions, so long as it has adequate drainage. Because of its naturally twisted form, this is the tree to pick if you're really going for a Charlie Brown Christmas!
Mature Height: 20-50 feet in Tucson
Mature Width: 20-40 feet
 |
| The perfect little Christmas tree growing on Mt. Lemmon |
Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) - This species is often for sale as fresh cut or living trees, and it's easy to see why! In their youth, they're naturally shaped like perfect little holiday trees, with perfect branch spacing and strength for ornaments. However, they do better at higher elevations and in cooler microclimates.
Mature Height: 40 - 80 feet (much taller in cooler climates)
Mature Width: 20 - 30 feet
 |
| Upright rosemary growing in containers at the nursery |
Upright or Trailing Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) - Upright rosemary is more commonly seen sheared into table-top holiday trees, but trailing rosemary can be given the holiday treatment as well. This aromatic shrub doesn't mind being pruned, and does well in containers with excellent drainage. The upright form tends to have a more savory flavor for cooking, while the trailing varieties are often more useful for medicinal or cosmetic purposes.
Mature Height: 1-6 feet (depending on cultivar)
Mature Width: 3-6 feet (depending on cultivar)
