Deserts, naturally, have very few trees. All are short and have small and/or waxy leaves. We treat only four here: Palo Verde; Ironwood; Mesquite; and Desert Willow.

Palo Verde	Ironwood	Desert Willow	Mesquite
Palo Verde (Cercidium floridum and C. microphyllumis; Yellow and Blue Paloverde, respectively) easily identified by the green bark. In springtime, covered with many yellow blossoms. Leaves are made up of many smaller leaflets (a compound leaf). Twigs have spines. Two kinds in Arizona.		Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) has narrow stiff leaves, with pointed tips. In spring it has lovely pinkish/white blooms. It grows along desert washes, but is not a true willow.	Mesquite (Prosopsis velutina and others) grows not only in the desert but in the foothills as well. In desert areas it tends to be short, but if it has a plentiful supply of water, as near a wash or stream, it can grow to a large size. Its bark is dark and scaly/stringy. Branches have long, very sharp spines.