Acacia constricta: Whitethorn Acacia
This Oracle native grows at a moderate rate from 12' to 18' high and as wide. Fragrant, bright yellow puffball flowers bloom profusely in late spring. A repeat bloom may occur in mid-August. Small, green, fern-like leaves. New twigs have dark reddish bark. A few 1" white spines on new growth. Acacia farnesiana (Sweet Acacia) is similar in appearance but has weak branches that can break under Oracle's heavy snowfalls. Never fertilize*. Deciduous.

Acacia greggii: Cat-Claw Acacia
This tough, fast-growing Oracle native can be trained to grow 15' high and 20' wide with pruning and water. Tiny green leaves and slightly curved thorns. Prune off horizontal, inward-crossing and downward-pointing branches in January and August. Fragrant, cream-colored, rod-shaped flower spikes in spring. Never fertilize*. Deciduous.

Cercidium: Palo Verde
The variety Desert Museum grows to 20' tall and as wide within five years with supplemental water. Large yellow blossoms with a long blooming time; thornless and litter-free. The Blue Palo Verde grows rapidly to 35' tall and 30' wide. Both species provide a light, filtered shade. Native to elevations below Oracle, so at 4500 feet elevation flowers appear in June. Never fertilize*. Deciduous.

Cercis occidentalis: Western Redbud
This American southwest native has a moderate growth rate to 18' high and as wide. A shrub easily pruned to a small tree form, often multitrunked from the base. Known for magenta pea-shaped blossoms in spring. Attracts hummingbirds. Blue-green foliage turns yellow to red in fall. Young trees are hardy to 20°F, older trees to 10°F. Deciduous. Full sun or light shade.

Chilopsis linearis: Desert Willow
Flowers, which last from spring to fall, are purple to dark red to white depending on variety and individual plant. Attracts hummingbirds. Leaves are dark green, long and narrow. With water and pruning will grow rapidly into a spectacular 30' high and wide summer tree. Always a slow grower the first few years after transplant. Grows slowly without water to a sprawling, ungainly 6' shrub. Question nursery closely about varieties and characteristics. Some varieties keep leaves longer, others grow slower, still others have more flowers. Deciduous.

Ebenopsis ebano: Texas Ebony
Slow grower 15' to 30' high and 15' to 20' wide. Deep green tiny leaves and thorny, zigzag branches. Tree casts heavy shade. Creamy yellow fragrant flowers. Never fertilize*. Evergreen except cold-deciduous.

Fraxinus greggii: Little-leaf Ash
This Chihuahuan desert shrub or, with pruning, small tree, reaches 25' high and 20' wide. Growth rate, usually slow, depends upon water. Full sun. Evergreen except drought-deciduous.

**Juniperus deppeana: Alligator Juniper
Foliage is blue-gray to silvery. Bark is checked. Slow grower 10' to 60' high and as wide. Evergreen.

**Juniperus monosperma: One-Seed Juniper
Slowly grows 10' to 40' high and equally as wide. Bluish-green foliage. Aromatic wood. Separate male and female trees. Evergreen.

**Pinus: Pine species
Pines that grow well in Oracle are cold hardy to at least 10°F. They should be spaced at least their mature width plus ten feet apart. Level ground or an area near rainwater runoff is best so that sufficient water is available. Most pines will dwarf nearby houses when mature. Evergreen.

**Pinus edulis: Pinyon Pine

Populus fremontii: Western Cottonwood
A fast grower to 100' high and 50' wide. Loves hot summers and cold winters. Medium-green triangular leaves turn bright yellow in fall. Aggressive surface roots can invade sewer lines and heave pavement. Should be planted near low area where rainwater collects or runs by. This tree can outgrow its water sources and display a few leafless branches in summer. Male variety 'Nevada' does not disperse cottony seeds. Deciduous.

Prosopis chilensis or prosopis hybrid: "Chilean Mesquite"
A true desert survivor. A fast grower 8' to 25' high depending on water. Roots can grow to 45' from trunk and invade water, sewer or septic systems. Yellowish-green catkins in spring. Disliked by some because non-native pollens hybridize native species. This tree, however, is well established in Oracle. Thorny. Never fertilize*. Deciduous.

Prosopis glandulosa: Honey Mesquite
A Texas shrub or small tree with a weeping form. Creamy-white flowers in tassels each spring. 'Maverick' is thornless variety. Moderate growth rate. Height depends upon water. Never fertilize*. Deciduous.

Robinia: Locust
This Arizona native is a slow to moderate grower from 6' to 40' or higher depending on species. Tends to sucker profusely. Very aggressive roots. Never fertilize*. Attracts hummingbirds. Deciduous.
Robinia neomexicana: Desert Locust
Slow to moderate growth 6' to 25' high and 20' wide. Rose colored, pea-like flowers in drooping clusters. Very thorny branches.
Robinia x ambigua: a robinia hybrid. Some varieties are moderate to fast growers to 40' high and 30' wide or more; rose to purple flowers, few thorns.

Sambucus mexicana: Blue / Mexican Elderberry

Sapindus saponaria drummondii: Western Soapberry
This Oracle native is a slow to moderate grower, depending upon water, to 30' tall and 25' wide. Medium-green, lance-shaped leaves. Creamy-white, slightly fragrant, 1/8" to 1/4" flowers on spikes bloom late spring into summer. Attracts bees and butterflies. Produces translucent yellow, 1/2" round berries containing a mildly-poisonous soapy substance. Very drought resistant. Deep soak at least once a month in warm season to encourage growth. Deciduous. Full sun.

Sophora secundiflora: Texas Mountain Laurel
A slow grower becoming 15' to 25' high and 5' to 15' wide. Fragrant violet-blue flowers open from late winter to spring in drooping clusters. Hard, bright-red seeds are poisonous, but probably not digestible and therefore little harm to children. Aggressive roots. Deep soak every 2 weeks during warm season to speed growth. Evergreen. Full sun to part shade.

Vauquelinia californica: Arizona Rosewood
A slow grower to 20' high and 15' wide. Long, narrow, leathery leaves are dark green on top, grayish underneath. Clusters of small white flowers bloom in spring. Needs pruning and water to become a single-trunked tree. Evergreen. Reflected sun, full sun or part shade. Hardy to 15°F.

Vauquelinia corymbosa var. angustifolia: Slimleaf Rosewood
Grows to 20' high and as wide. Longer, narrower leaves and a weepier, sprawling form than Arizona Rosewood. Fragrant small white flowers in clusters bloom late spring or summer. Needs pruning and water to become a single-trunked tree instead of a large shrub. Prune in fall. Evergreen. Full sun. Hardy to 0°F.

Washingtonia filifera: California Fan Palm
This Arizona native slowly grows to 60' tall. Will dwarf a single-story house. Thicker trunk than similar Mexican palm. Drought-tolerant, cold-hardy palm species are rare and this one does well in Oracle. Evergreen.

**Cupressus sempervirens: Italian Cypress
A moderate grower to 60' high and 10' wide. Evergreen.

Olea europaea: Olive
A slow grower 15' to 30' high and nearly as wide. Only the fruitless cultivar "Swan Hill" is recommended. Other varieties have excessive pollen and messy fruit drop. Shallow roots can heave walkways and trip pedestrians. Evergreen.

Vitex agnus-castus: Monk's Pepper Tree / Chaste Tree
A fast growing tree 10' to 25' in height and width with warm temperatures and regular water. In Oracle, the tree may get no higher than 10' due to the cold. Aromatic leaves are green on top, gray underneath. Fragrant lavender-blue flowers on spikes in spring. Attracts hummingbirds. Seeds in dry capsules have peppery smell when bruised. Frost-tender. Deciduous. Full sun, southern or western exposure.

Ailanthus altissima: Tree of Heaven
An Asian import that rapidly grows with water to 50' high and 30' wide. Thrives under the most adverse conditions. An excellent shade tree in hot, sunny, dry areas where no other tree will grow. Often considered undesirable because in moist areas it suckers from roots and reseeds. Easily becomes a thicket unless controlled. Leaves form a canopy at top of tree. Separate male and female trees; flowers on male trees have strange odor. Deciduous.

**Eucalyptus microtheca: Coolibah Tree
A hardy Australian native. Moderate grower 30' to 60' high and 35' wide. May struggle first three years, and then become vigorous in fourth year. Evergreen.

Pistacia chinensis: Chinese Pistache
An ornamental with inedible fruit. Separate male and female trees. Slow to moderate grower 30' to 60' high and nearly as wide. Leaves turn red in fall. Needs well-drained soil. Deciduous.

**Schinus molle: California Pepper Tree
This Brazilian native is a fast grower 25' to 40' high and as wide. No other plants grow underneath because of aggressive, shallow roots which must be kept away from sewer lines and paving. Produces litter and drips sticky sap part of year. Red berries on female trees attract birds. Good for shading a gravel-covered space or a playground. Evergreen; bright green during winter drabness.