Vegas’ scorching climate and meager four inches of rain per year mean that only the most resilient trees can survive in our inhospitable environment. And the list of potential trees homeowners can plant is shrinking.

“Many plants that were planted heavily in the past are no longer viable with the restrictive water usage, so desert-adapted trees are among the most durable and popular,” says professional Las Vegas arborist Ken Busse. Luckily, there are trees that thrive in the hot and harsh landscape of the Mojave. Busse recommends these five popular picks.

Mesquite 

Good for big yards, durable, shady

The strong mesquite is part of the legume family. Native dwellers used the hardwood for buildings, fences and tools. Its dark, amber sap was put in medicinal salves and mixed with water to soothe sore throats. It also makes black hair dye. The entire tree is edible, but the sweet bean pods are the tastiest.

Mesquites take the heat, don’t need much water, and are pretty pest-free, Busse says.

But this tree grows like a seventh grader when overwatered. It can damage sidewalks and driveways because of long roots. Without the space to root down, the tree can fall over in intense local winds, so mesquites are not suitable for many small lots in Las Vegas.

Palo Verde

Best in big spaces, unique green bark, visual centerpiece

The palo verde (meaning “green stick” in Spanish) has a vibrant canopy, and its lime green multi-trunk structure creates a striking silhouette. It has long-lasting blooms of yellow flowers, and the edible seeds taste like edamame. The palo verde also provides cooling shade and is well-adapted to high temperatures, Busse says.

The palo verde grows like the mesquite, so people who love to rollerblade should not plant them near sidewalks. It’s also susceptible to wind damage.

Desert Willow

Fits in small lots, beautiful blooms, easily managed

The desert willow has white, purple and pink flowers that bloom all summer long. They have unusual growth structures with twisted limbs, and tiny leaves that birds and desert tortoises like to feast on.

Vegas residents love the desert willow because it’s as trainable as a Labrador. Busse says they can grow in whatever shape people want. The desert willow can stay fairly small, so it’s well-suited for small lots.

“The likelihood of them causing excessive damage is much lower than ... the palo verde or the mesquite,” Busse says.

Mastic

Evergreen, good grower, special sap

Part of the pistachio family, the mastic tree is an unusual evergreen with a story.

In Greece, where the tree grows natively, it’s famous for its resin, called “white gold” or “the miracle tear,” used in beauty products, food and chewing gum. Roman emperors gave the sap to women in their harems for fresh breath. This ornamental tree only gets to be about 15 feet tall and 20 feet wide.

It has compound leaves, which means little leaflets make up an entire leaf. It’s also beautifully lush year-round and easy to grow.

The mastic can be a little messy in the spring and needs to be trimmed, but Busse says people who plant mastics are typically happy with them.

Chaste/Vitex

Suited for smaller landscapes, trainable, full of flowers

The magnificent chaste or vitex tree has bluish-purple scented flowers that also have long-lasting blooms. “People call it a summer lilac in our desert because it looks kind of like a lilac plant,” Busse says.

The tree’s other nickname, monk’s pepper, comes from the legend that chewing the leaves helped medieval monastics maintain their vows of celibacy.

They can grow wide but are easily managed. The chaste has dense foliage for a desert tree, and loses its leaves in the fall.

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