What Are Bad Trees to Plant in Arizona?

Some trees aren’t meant to be in Arizona. This might be because they can’t survive in the harsh climate that covers so much of the state. This can also be because they can only survive at the cost of the indigenous trees in our region. Some trees are just too much hassle to have on your property and only belong on wide open ranges or in wild forests. To protect your lawn and the environment around you, here are some bad trees you should avoid planting in your yard.

5 Bad Trees You Don’t Want In Your Arizona Yard

#1. Sissoo Tree

This tree is common across Arizona, well known for its large size and the shade it provides. In many places, they go untouched and unbothered, leaving behind an impressive sight wherever they can be found. They also live for a long time, thanks to being drought-resistant, preferring direct sunlight, liking poor desert soils, and being sturdy against light frosts.

The problem is, their root systems are huge, long, and sit close to the surface. They ruin sidewalks, curbs, and underground pipes whenever they grow in someone’s yard, even years after their trunk first grew. 

Even worse, if you have one in your yard and it's starting to destroy your property, they’re incredibly expensive to remove. They may be gorgeous, but if you live in the suburbs, this is not a tree you want to plant.

#2. Olive Trees

Who doesn’t like a good olive? Then again, who likes all the pollen? Olive trees used to be incredibly popular in Arizona, but it became illegal to plant any more of them across several municipalities because of the vast amount of people having allergy issues due to their pollen. 

These trees prefer the hot and dry climate of Arizona and don’t take up the enormous space that the Sissoo tree does. If it weren’t for the pollen, it wouldn’t be a bad tree to plant in your yard. 

If you do like their aesthetics, there are olive tree varieties that the state allows because they don’t produce much pollen. Sadly, these varieties don’t grow olives, so don’t expect to cultivate them next October.

#3. Mulberry Trees

The Mulberry tree is another bad tree that causes such bad allergies that it's banned in several places across the state. They appear to be the perfect tree at first, being able to stand up against the unbearable heat and cold nights while requiring little maintenance.

Then comes allergy season and suddenly you, your household, and your neighbors are all sneezing up a storm. Unlike olive trees, there aren’t varieties that don’t produce a lot of pollen.

#4. Sitka Spruce

These trees are comfortably in thick, wet rainforests, where they number in the hundreds for miles, with their roots growing all over each other. This seems like the last tree that people would think belongs in Arizona, but there are a significant number of homeowners who plant them in their yards. 

This tree isn’t illegal and doesn’t produce a lot of pollen, but also doesn’t belong in Arizona. It can survive our state’s hot climates, but it can’t thrive. It’s never as lively here as it would be in its native climate. If you’re considering a tree to plant in your yard, this is a bad tree to plant. You’d be bringing the tree more harm than anything.

#5. White Ash

This tree is native to the eastern and central regions of the United States. It doesn’t belong in the southwest. We mention this tree because it is easily confused with its native cousin, the Arizona Ash.

Where the Arizona Ash is large, fast-growing, with a non-competitive root system, the White Ash is only some of those things. Unlike our native ash tree, the White Ash has sprawling and invasive root systems that kill off other plants and damage structures under the ground and at the surface like sidewalks and curbs. Don’t mix up these two trees that look frighteningly similar.

Avoid Planting These Bad Trees with Pioneer Landscape Centers

Just because a tree can survive in Arizona’s climate doesn’t mean that it belongs. If you’re looking for a tree to improve the aesthetics of your yard, make sure you don’t try to plant anything illegal. It’s not difficult to order seeds from out of state and get yourself in trouble.

If you’re unsure what kind of trees you can or should be planting, check out your local Pioneer Landscape Center. Our experts can help you figure out what supplies you need and how much for your tree project. Contact us today.