New Mexico Olive, also known as Desert Olive, is a native, drought-tolerant shrub or small tree that thrives in arid landscapes. Unlike true olives, it produces small yellow flowers in early spring, followed by blue-black berries that attract birds and wildlife. Its dense, bright green foliage provides excellent cover and seasonal interest. Adapted to full sun and well-draining soil, New Mexico Olive is a hardy, low-maintenance choice for windbreaks, wildlife gardens, and xeriscapes.

Mediterranean Fan Palm is a cold-hardy, drought-tolerant palm that thrives in arid climates like New Mexico. This slow-growing, clumping palm features multiple trunks and fan-shaped, blue-green to deep green leaves, adding a tropical feel to xeriscapes. It is highly adaptable, tolerating poor soils, wind, and occasional cold snaps. Its compact size and low-maintenance nature make it an excellent choice for courtyards, patios, and accent plantings.

The Velvet Mesquite is a hardy, drought-tolerant tree native to the southwestern U.S. It thrives in Full Sun and requires minimal water, often surviving on rainwater alone. The tree’s feathery leaves provide light shade, and it produces long seed pods that were traditionally used as food. Its deep roots help prevent soil erosion, making it ideal for xeric landscaping in Albuquerque.

The Lacebark Elm is a medium-sized deciduous tree known for its unique and striking bark, which peels off in patches, revealing a camouflage of gray, green, and white. The tree has an upright, symmetrical shape and small, dark green leaves that turn yellow in the fall. It is highly resistant to diseases such as Dutch elm disease and is a popular ornamental tree for urban areas. Sometimes known as a Chinese Elm, this is not the same invasive Siberian Elm that many Albuquerque residents consider problematic.

The Frontier Elm is a moderate-sized, drought-tolerant tree well-suited to Albuquerque’s dry climate. Reaching 30–40 feet tall with a vase-like canopy, it provides ample shade while fitting into urban landscapes. Unlike many elms, it offers brilliant red to burgundy fall color, adding seasonal interest to the city’s greenery. With strong resistance to Dutch Elm Disease and Elm Leaf Beetles, the Frontier Elm is a low-maintenance, hardy choice for streets, yards, and parks in Albuquerque and other New Mexico areas.

The Chinese Pistache is a small to medium-sized tree known for its vibrant fall colors, ranging from yellow to red to purple. Chinese Pistache has a unique narrow leaf shape making it easily distinguishable from other trees. It thrives in Albuquerque’s dry climate, flourishing in full sun and tolerating moderate drought once established. Its rounded canopy provides excellent shade, making it a popular choice for urban streetscapes and parks.

A small, low-branching tree, the Washington Hawthorn serves as a great ornamental tree, but can also develop a dense and dome shaped canopy that can be desireable for small amounts of shade in a pinch. White flowers in the spring transition to beatiful red berries that are coveted by wildlife, as long as they stay clear of its large thorns. This is the most heat tolerant Hawthorn, making it another great choice for an Albuquerque garden.

The Western Hackberry is a hardy, drought-tolerant tree native to the Southwestern U.S. With rough, gray bark and simple, serrated leaves, it thrives in Albuquerque’s arid climate. This tree can be perfect for xeriscaping as once it is established it requires only small amounts of water and can tolerate poor soils and strong winds. It produces small round fruit that attracts some wildlife.

The Smoketree is a small tree or shrub with unique, fluffy, smoke-like flower clusters that bloom in late spring to summer. Smoketree foliage is known for its vibrant colors ranging from pink, to purple to green and even red. Perfect for Albuquerque’s dry climate, it thrives in full sun with minimal water once established. Its vibrant autumn color and pollinator-friendly nature make it a favorite in xeriscaping.

The Golden Rain Tree is known for its striking yellow flowers that bloom in late spring to summer, creating a vibrant canopy. It also produces papery, lantern-like seed pods that add visual interest into fall. Well-suited to Albuquerque’s dry climate, it requires minimal water once established and tolerates various soil types and environmental conditions.

Arizona Rosewood is a hardy, evergreen shrub or small tree native to the Southwest, ideal for xeriscaping. It features dense, dark green foliage and clusters of small white flowers in late spring, attracting pollinators. Its durable wood and drought tolerance make it an excellent choice for windbreaks, privacy screens, or specimen plantings. Thriving in full sun and well-draining soil, Arizona Rosewood is a low-maintenance, water-wise option for New Mexico gardens.

Krauter Vesuvius Purple Leaf Plum is a striking ornamental tree known for its deep purple foliage that lasts throughout the growing season. In early spring, it bursts into pale pink flowers, creating a beautiful contrast before the leaves emerge. Unlike many fruiting plums, this variety produces little to no fruit, making it a low-maintenance choice for landscapes. Well-suited to full sun and well-draining soil, it adds bold color and elegance to gardens, especially in arid climates like New Mexico.

Desert Willow is a native southwestern tree, thriving in New Mexico’s arid climate. Unlike Chitalpa, a hybrid with Northern Catalpa, Desert Willow occurs naturally and is well-adapted to heat and drought. Its showy pink to purple trumpet-shaped flowers bloom from late spring to summer, attracting hummingbirds and pollinators. With slender, green leaves and a graceful, weeping form, it provides light shade without overwhelming nearby plants. Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, it’s a perfect choice for water-wise landscapes.

The Japanese Pagoda Tree is a graceful tree known for its compound leaves and clusters of creamy-white flowers in late summer. It thrives in full sun is highly resistant to pollution and can withstand colder temperatures, making it a triple threat and a great choice for those residing in Northern New Mexico given its range in temperature resistance. Its distinctive seed pods and drought tolerance add to its appeal.

The Mexican Bird of Paradise is an exotic, drought-tolerant plant known for its striking, bird-like flowers in shades of orange and yellow. It thrives in New Mexico’s sunny, dry climate and adds a dramatic flair to gardens with its upright, lush foliage. While it prefers full sun, it’s adaptable to other growing conditions if needed. Jericho recommends using this plant as a xeric tree or shrub to enhance the color in your xeriscaped sections of yard or garden.

The Wonderful Pomegranate tree is the most popular variety for New Mexico gardeners, known for its large, vibrant red fruit with sweet-tart arils. It thrives in New Mexico’s sunny, dry climate and requires full sun, well-draining soil, and deep watering. Pomegranates are drought-tolerant once established but perform best with consistent moisture during the growing season. The Wonderful variety is heat-tolerant and hardy enough for the state’s warmer regions, making it an excellent choice for home orchards.

The Shoal Creek Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus ‘Shoal Creek’) is a heat- and drought-tolerant ornamental tree that thrives in Albuquerque’s arid climate. Growing 10–15 feet tall and wide, it forms a multi-trunked, vase-like shape with fragrant, gray-green foliage. From late spring through summer, it produces showy spikes of violet-blue flowers, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. It prefers full sun and well-draining soil, requiring low to moderate water once established.

Chitalpa is a hybrid tree combining Desert Willow and Catalpa, known for its trumpet-shaped flowers in pink, white, or lavender. Two main varieties exist: ‘Morning Cloud’ and ‘Pink Dawn,’ both were originally thought to descend from southern catalpa, but later discovered they differ in their Catalpa lineage. It has slender, lance-shaped leaves in whorls of three and produces long seed pods. Drought-tolerant and thriving in full sun, it is a great choice for any Albuquerque landscape and even works in xeriscaping.

Chanticlear Pears are small to medium-sized trees with showy white blossoms in the spring and vibrant fall colors. While similar to other ornamental pear varieties, they are more resistant to diseases like fire blight. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it suitable for Albuquerque’s dry climate. Although drought-tolerant once established, it may benefit from occasional deep watering during extended dry spells, particularly during summer heat. Its compact size and attractive shape make it ideal for urban landscapes and smaller yards.

Indian Magic Crabapple is the more drought tolerant crabapple on this list, making it a great choice for New Mexico gardeners. Known for its stellar fall colors and fruits that start bright red and change to a golden orange throughout the year, this crabapple would be perfect for a splash of color in any yard. Just watch out as their fruits are toxic to dogs, cats and other pets, which is somewhat typical for crabapples. Find the Indian Magic Crabapple here at Jericho Nursery while its still in stock.

Austrian pines are hardy evergreens well-suited to Albuquerque, growing 40 to 60 feet tall and providing excellent windbreaks, shade, and privacy. Their long, dark green needles form a dense canopy that withstands harsh sun and urban conditions. Drought-tolerant once established, they thrive in well-drained soils, making them a low-maintenance choice for adding greenery and structure to the high desert landscape.

Pinyon pines are a staple of New Mexico’s landscape and culture, prized for their rich, buttery piñon nuts harvested for generations. Native to the Four Corners region, these hardy evergreens thrive in the high desert with minimal water, making them ideal for xeriscaping. Their rounded canopies and dense foliage provide year-round greenery, shade, and privacy, while deep roots help stabilize soil. From Farmington to Las Cruces, the pinyon pine remains a cherished symbol of the state’s rugged beauty and resilience.

Following the mountain range down from Colorado, Rocky Mountain junipers are hardy evergreens that flourish in Albuquerque’s high desert. With their dense, blue-green foliage and distinctive, twisted branches, they offer a rugged, picturesque presence in any landscape. Known for their resilience, these junipers thrive in poor soils, intense sun, and low water conditions, making them an excellent choice for xeriscaping. Their small, berry-like cones attract wildlife, while their deep roots help stabilize soil, making them a practical and visually appealing addition to New Mexico’s rugged terrain.

One-seed junipers, also known as the New Mexico Juniper, are tough, drought-tolerant evergreens native to the high desert of New Mexico. Preferring higher altitudes, this resilient tree is found in limited areas outside of the state. With its bushy, upright form that grows from the ground up, the One-seed juniper offers a unique, striking shape that adds character to any yard or landscape. Well-suited for Albuquerque's intense sun, poor soils, and minimal water, it is an ideal choice for xeriscaping.

Utah junipers are rugged, drought-tolerant evergreens that thrive in Albuquerque’s harsh high desert. With their gnarly, twisted, and irregular growth, they stand out with dense, gray-green foliage and small, berry-like cones. These trees feature thick, woody trunks and branches, resilient to poor soils, intense sun, and minimal water. Often seen growing seemingly straight through rocks and mountainsides, Utah junipers create a striking spectacle, their enduring presence adding a dramatic touch to the landscape.

Afghan pines are fast-growing evergreens that thrive in Albuquerque’s arid climate, reaching 30 to 60 feet tall. Native to the Middle East and Central Asia, they feature long, slender needles and a pyramidal shape, making them a popular choice for windbreaks, shade, and landscaping. Highly drought-tolerant once established, Afghan pines adapt well to poor soils and intense sun, requiring minimal maintenance.

The Arizona Cypress is a hardy, drought-tolerant evergreen that thrives in Albuquerque’s dry climate, offering a fast-growing option for windbreaks, privacy screens, or specimen plantings. It requires full sun and well-draining soil, with low to moderate water needs once established. More cold-hardy than Italian Cypress, it has a distinctive blue-green color and dense foliage that provides excellent coverage. Resistant to pests and deer, this low-maintenance tree is perfect for adding year-round texture and resilience to Albuquerque landscapes.

The Leyland Cypress is a fast-growing evergreen prized for its dense, feathery foliage and rapid growth, making it a top choice for windbreaks and privacy screens. While highly adaptable, it benefits from occasional pruning to maintain its shape and prevent overcrowding. Though not as drought-hardy as some native species, it establishes quickly and provides lush, year-round greenery, making it a popular option for Southwestern landscapes.