Overview
Arizona's trees range from desert legumes that photosynthesize through green bark to one of the largest ponderosa pine forests on Earth up on the Mogollon Rim. Elevation and water tell you what to expect.
This guide covers common and iconic Arizona trees — how to tell them apart by leaf, bark, and habit. Pair it with a photo of the foliage or bark and the app to confirm any tree you find.
Key Species to Know
Blue Palo Verde
Parkinsonia florida
A desert tree with smooth blue-green bark that photosynthesizes, tiny leaflets, and a blaze of yellow flowers in spring. Arizona's state tree is the palo verde.
Velvet Mesquite
Prosopis velutina
A thorny desert tree with lacy, twice-divided leaves and long seed pods, casting light shade over the Sonoran Desert. Deep-rooted and drought-hardy.
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa
A tall pine with long needles in bundles of three and orange, jigsaw-plated bark that smells of vanilla. Forms vast forests on the Mogollon Rim and northern plateau.
Fremont Cottonwood
Populus fremontii
A large streamside tree with broad, triangular toothed leaves that flutter and turn gold in fall. Marks water in an otherwise dry landscape.
Quaking Aspen
Populus tremuloides
A slender tree with smooth white-green bark and round, trembling leaves that turn gold in fall. Grows in high mountain groves in the north.
Arizona Sycamore
Platanus wrightii
A streamside tree with large, deeply cut lobed leaves and pale, mottled bark that flakes to near-white. Lines canyon creeks and riparian corridors.
Seasonal Guide
- Spring: palo verde and desert legumes flood the desert with yellow bloom.
- Fall: cottonwoods, sycamores, and high-country aspen mark the water and mountains in gold.
- Look for orange, vanilla-scented plated bark to pick out ponderosa pine up on the rim.
Safety Reminder
This is an identification guide only — it does not cover edibility or foraging. In the desert, carry water and watch for thorns and spines; observe trees without damaging bark or breaking limbs.
Identify it instantly
Found something and not sure what it is? Point your camera with Spotter and get a species identification in seconds — with detailed reference info and species notes.