Plant These Trees to Help Battle Climate Change Across New Mexico
Find and plant the trees that use less water and can better withstand global warming in your neighborhood.
Find the best tree species for you!
Trees often stay with us physically and emotionally throughout our lives. In our youth, we look up at towering trees that cool temperatures in the summer and beautifully blossom in the spring. As we age, those same trees may mesmerize us with a kaleidoscope of color in the fall or the gentle frosted snow on branches that melts our hearts in the winter.
Throughout the decades, one’s love of trees grows with gratefulness while their roots take hold and trunks climb toward the sky. These beautiful giants clean and filter our air and water. They conserve energy by regulating temperatures and provide a safe home for wildlife. They help us unwind and beautify our neighborhoods. They are also one of the best tools to combat climate change, so they're known as a nature-based solution: nature helping nature.
Right Tree, Right Place
Thinking about planting a tree? Find out some of the key things to keep in mind.
Download the PDFTo address warmer and drier temperatures, The Nature Conservancy in New Mexico recently led a collaborative research effort—along with the State Forestry Department, Tree New Mexico and many researchers—to develop the first-ever climate-ready trees list in Albuquerque. It’s a guide to help nurseries stock and for people to buy native trees that survive, even thrive in our warming future.
Due to the overwhelming positive response from the Albuquerque list, the same group developed new climate-ready tree lists for 50 cities across the state—from Farmington to Las Cruces and Santa Fe to Alamogordo. These trees can handle the heat and use less water.
How to plant a tree
New to tree planting? No problem! Jump to a video showing how to plant a tree in four easy steps.
New Mexico Hardiness Zones
The tree lists are categorized into USDA Hardiness Zones, which are designed to help growers identify the best conditions to plant. The tree collaborative first identified the best native trees for New Mexico, then applied the Hardiness Zones and used future climate forecasting to determine which ones are most ready for our warmer, drier weather.
Of the four Hardiness Zones—7B, 8A, 8B, and 9B—9B was identified as containing the largest number of climate-ready tree species in New Mexico. And while these trees are best for planting in Zone 9B areas throughout the state, we've identified key cities where they work the best.
Climate-Ready Trees in Zone 9B
Click into the tree images to learn more about their growth details. And keep checking back for updates as more trees are added to the list!
Atlas Cedar
Cedrus atlantica
About: Aromatic oil that is an insect deterrent, slow to moderate growth rate, 50 feet tall.
Where to plant: Parks and neighborhoods 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation, xeriscape.
Needs: Any kind of soil, average water, sun.
Risks: Prone to borers and bark beetles.
Deodar Cedar
Cedrus deodar
About: Aromatic oil that is an insect deterrent, fast-growing, low invasive potential, 50 feet tall, 1,000-year lifespan.
Where to plant: Sidewalks, on-street parking, medians and parkways 4-6 feet wide, parks or neighborhoods 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation.
Needs: Any kind of soil, sun.
Risks: Prone to borers and bark beetles, may need a protected location.
Cedar of Lebanon
Cedrus libani
About: Slow growth rate, low water use, 30 feet tall, 600-year lifespan, may be overplanted.
Where to plant: Parks and neighborhoods 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation, xeriscape.
Needs: Sun, any kind of soil.
Risks: Prone to borers and bark beetles.
Netleaf Hackberry
Celtis reticulata
About: Moderate growth rate, good for wildlife, low-branching and gangly when young but grows up to be a nice tree, 150-year lifespan.
Where to plant: Sidewalks, on-street parking, medians and parkways 4-6 feet wide, parks and neighborhoods 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation, xeriscape.
Needs: Low to moderate water use, prefers well-drained soils, sun, part shade and shade.
Risks: Prone to suckering and galls.
Redbud
Cercis canadensis
About: Moderate to fast growth rate, 25 feet tall, 60-year lifespan.
Where to plant: Sidewalks, on-street parking, bike paths, medians and parkways 4-6 feet wide, parks and neighborhoods 10 feet from buildings with access to irrigation, xeriscape.
Needs: Any soil, sun, part shade.
Risks: None.
Mediterranean Fan Palm
Chamaerops humilis
About: Slow growth rate, low invasive potential, powerline friendly, 10 feet tall, 75-year lifespan.
Where to plant: Xeriscape, streetscape, under powerline, restricted growing areas, sidewalk, parking lot, medians, parks, residential areas.
Needs: Does well in a variety of soil conditions including both alkaline and acidic soils, sun, part shade.
Risks: Texas root rot.
Desert Willow
Chilopsis linearis
About: Moderate growth rate; flowering shrub; attracts butterflies, bees and birds; fire tolerant; 75-year lifespan.
Where to plant: Sidewalks, on-street parking, medians and parkways 4-6 feet wide, 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation, xeriscape.
Needs: Good in clay, loam and sand; sun; part shade; low to medium water use.
Risks: Texas root rot.
Arizona Cypress
Cupressus arizonica
About: Fast growing; low water use; declines as it ages, likely due to insect issues; check with city ordinances for pollen regulations before planting.
Where to plant: Xeriscape, parks, residential areas.
Needs: Sun; likes well-drained soils, not heavy wet clay.
Risks: Leaf blight.
Italian Cypress
Cupressus sempervirens
About: Moderate growth rate, 40x50 feet, wood is used for the doors of the St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
Where to plant: Xeriscape, residential, parks, streetscape.
Needs: Sun, medium water use, any soil.
Risks: Gummosis, phytophthora, root rot, spider mites, canker.
Texas Persimmon
Diospyros texana
About: Slow growth rate, 30x15 feet, females produce black fruits that are messy but a good food source for wildlife.
Where to plant: Parks, residential.
Needs: Low to medium water use, sun, any soil.
Risks: None; not prone to disease.
Coolibah Tree
Eucalyptus microtheca
About: Moderate growth rate, 30x30 feet, Australian tree, "Blue Ghost" varietal performs well, very cold-hardy, low invasive potential.
Where to plant: GSI features, xeriscape, residential, streetscape.
Needs: Low water use, sun, any soil.
Risks: None; not prone to disease.
Fig (Edible)
Ficus carica
About: Fruit tree, moderate growth rate, more like a shrub than a tree, 20x10 feet, moderately firewise, cultivated since 5000 BCE (before common era).
Where to plant: Parks, residential.
Needs: Medium water use, sun, any soil.
Risks: Prone to canker, fusarium, armillaria, and root rot.
New Mexico Olive
Forestiera neomexicana
About: Moderate growth rate, requires lots of pruning to take on tree shape, 15 feet, white bark, female fruits provide valuable wildlife food source, firewise, can get frost damage but adaptable, powerline friendly.
Where to plant: Parks or neighborhoods, 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and with access to irrigation, xeriscape.
Needs: Sun to part shade, low water use.
Risks: None; not prone to disease.
Evergreen Ash
Fraxinus uhdei
About: Low water use, tolerates flooding, not firewise, fast growth rate, medium-weak branch strength, roots damage pavement.
Where to plant: GSI features, parks, xeriscape.
Needs: Sun to part shade, any soil.
Risks: Prone to fusarium, root rot, sooty mold, verticillium and aphids, scales, white fly.
Yaupon Holly
Ilex vomitoria
About: Moderate to fast growth rate, 15x10 feet, one of two native North American plants to make caffeine, makes good tea, good tree for courtyards of south-facing areas, berries can be toxic, powerline friendly.
Where to plant: Xeriscape, residential, parks, streetscape, restricted areas, parking lots, under powerlines.
Needs: Moderate water use, sun to part shade, any soil.
Risks: Prone to armillaria, leaf miner.
Chinese Juniper
Juniperus chinensis
About: Slow growth rate, 40x10 feet, often used in Japanese bonsai, check your local pollen ordinance before planting; high allergen potential for juniper species.
Where to plant: Xeriscape, residential, streetscape.
Needs: Low water use, sun to part shade, any soil.
Risks: Prone to armillaria, root rot, rust and aphids, beetle borers, spider mites.
Alligator Juniper
Juniperus deppeana
About: Slow growth rate, 40x10 feet, bark looks like alligator skin, check local pollen ordinance before planting, high allergen potential for juniper species.
Where to plant: Xeriscape areas, consider existing utilities, setbacks vary.
Needs: Sun to part shade, low water use, any soil.
Risks: Prone to armillaria, root rot, rust and aphids, beetle borers, spider mites.
One-seed Juniper
Juniperus monosperma
About: Slow growth rate, 20x10 feet, check your local pollen ordinance before planting.
Where to plant: Xeriscape areas, consider existing utilities, setbacks.
Needs: Sun to part shade, low water use.
Risks: Prone to armillaria, root rot, rust and aphids, beetle borers, spider mites.
Eastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana
About: Slow growth rate, 30x12 feet, not a good match for xeriscaping.
Where to plant: Parks and neighborhoods 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation.
Needs: Low to medium, sun to part shade, well-drained soils.
Risks: Prone to spider mites and western cedar borer, particularly when stressed.
Golden-ball Lead Tree
Leucaena retusa
About: Moderate growth rate; 20x15 feet; weedy; very good tree for future; can be brittle, causing broken limbs; firewise.
Where to plant: Sidewalks, on-street parking, medians and parkways 4-6 feet wide, 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation, xeriscape.
Needs: Low water use, sun, any soil.
Risks: None; not prone to disease.
Osage Orange
Maclura pomifera
About: Fast growth rate, 30x20 feet, males and thornless cultivars are best for city use, "White Shield" cultivar is good option, firewise.
Where to plant: Sidewalks, on-street parking, medians and parkways 4-6 feet wide, parks and neighborhoods 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation, xeriscape.
Needs: Moderate water use, sun, any soil.
Risks: Rust.
Fruitless Olive
Olea europaea
About: Slow to moderate growth rate; 30x30 feet; invasive; leaves are medicinal, but tree can be an allergen; "Swan Hill" is a good fruitless variety.
Where to plant: Xeriscape, streetscape, residential, parks.
Needs: Low water use, sun to part shade, any soil.
Risks: Prone to anthracnose, armillaria, phytophthora, root rot and scales, psyllid.
Palo Verde species and cultivars
Parkinsonia spp.
About: Fast growth rate, 20x20 feet, cold tender, Blue Palo Verde (Parkinsonia florida) may perform well in future.
Where to plant: Sidewalks, on-street parking, medians and parkways 4-6 feet wide, 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts.
Needs: Low water use, sun, any soil.
Risks: None; not prone to disease.
Afghan Pine
Pinus eldarica
About: Moderate growth rate, 60x20 feet, low invasive potential.
Where to plant: Xeriscape.
Needs: Sufficient water use, sun to part shade, any soil.
Risks: Prone to borers, bark beetles, and pine tip moths.
Aleppo Pine
Pinus halepensis
About: Moderate growth rate, 50x20 feet, can take a hit in very cold weather, low invasive potential.
Where to plant: Residential, xeriscape, parks.
Needs: Low to medium water use, sun to part shade, any soil.
Risks: Prone to armillaria, phytophthora, root rot, pitch canker and aphids, spider mites.
Italian Stone Pine
Pinus pinea
About: Fast growing with sufficient water, 60x30 feet, great tree, more drought tolerant and less borer risk than Afghan pine.
Where to plant: Parks and neighborhoods 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation, xeriscape.
Needs: More than moderate water use, sun to part shade, no clay.
Risks: Prone to armillaria, phytophthora, root rot, pitch canker and aphids.
Chinese Pistache
Pistacia chinensis
About: Moderate growth rate; 30x25 feet; firewise; males are great, but females are invasive and should not be used; "Keith Davey" variety is really beautiful with great fall color.
Where to plant: Sidewalks, on-street parking, medians and parkways 4-6 feet wide, parks and neighborhoods 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation, xeriscape.
Needs: Low water use, sun to part shade, any soil.
Risks: Prone to verticillium, root rot.
Pistachio
Pistacia vera
About: Slow growth rate, 20x25 feet, males can be big with low branches, may need protection in the winter months, may not produce fruit reliably without additional water.
Where to plant: Xeriscape areas, consider utilities, setbacks vary.
Needs: Low water use, sun, any soil.
Risks: Prone to crown rot, armillaria, root rot, verticillium; males susceptible to fungi and navel orange worm.
Honey Mesquite
Prosopis glandulosa
About: Slow growth rate, 30x30 feet, low branches which are prone to breakage, requires a lot of pruning, Argentinian mesquite (Prosopis chilensis) may perform better.
Where to plant: Sidewalks, on-street parking, medians and parkways 4-6 feet wide, 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation, xeriscape.
Needs: Low water use, sun, no clay.
Risks: None; not prone to disease.
Screwbean Mesquite
Prosopis pubescens
About: Slow growth rate, 18x18 feet, supports lots of wildlife and pollinators.
Where to plant: Low areas that collect stormwater runoff, soil decompacted to a depth > 18 inches.
Needs: Low water use, sun, no clay.
Risks: None; not prone to disease.
Pomegranate
Punica granatum
About: Fruit tree, moderate growth rate, 18x8 feet, more of a shrub than a tree, low invasive potential, currently cold tolerant if planted in protected area.
Where to plant: Xeriscape, residential, street, powerlines.
Needs: Low to moderate water use, sun to part shade, any soil.
Risks: Prone to chlorosis, sooty mold and plant bug, white fly.
White Oak
Quercus arizonica
About: Slow growth rate, 50x30 feet, can become root bound when grown in containers, firewise.
Where to plant: Sidewalks, on-street parking, medians and parkways 4-6 feet wide, parks and neighborhoods 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation, xeriscape.
Needs: Low water use, sun to part shade, any soil.
Risks: None; not prone to disease.
Southern Red Oak
Quercus falcata
About: Moderate growth rate, 60x60 feet, firewise.
Where to plant: Parks, xeriscape, residential, street.
Needs: Moderate water use, sun, no alkaline soil.
Risks: Prone to armillaria, root twisting leads to problems that mimic heat scorch.
Escarpment Live Oak
Quercus fusiformis
About: Slow growth rate, moderate water, 40x30 feet, firewise, do not plant in winter.
Where to plant: Sidewalks, on-street parking, medians and parkways 4-6 feet wide, parks and neighborhoods 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation, xeriscape.
Needs: Moderate water use, sun to part shade, any soil.
Risks: Prone to armillaria, phytophthora, live oak wilt, root rot, insect galls.
Valley Oak
Quercus lobata
About: Fast growth rate, 70x50 feet, a few of these trees are doing well in Las Cruces.
Where to plant: Residential, park.
Needs: Moderate water use, sun to part shade, no clay.
Risks: Prone to armillaria, crown rot, mistletoe, root rot, invasive shot hole borer, beetle borers, caterpillars, insect galls.
Burr Oak
Quercus macrocarpa
About: Slow growth rate, 80x30 feet, leaves can see scorching because they are big, huge seeding variability.
Where to plant: Parks or turf, residential, streetscape, parks.
Needs: Moderate water use, sun to part shade, any soil.
Risks: Prone to armillaria and aphids, spider mites.
Chinquapin Oak
Quercus muehlenbergii
About: Moderate growth rate, 460x30 feet, great tree, does better in heat than early indications.
Where to plant: Sidewalks, on-street parking, medians and parkways 4-6 feet wide, parks and neighborhoods 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation, xeriscape.
Needs: Moderate water, sun, any soil.
Risks: Prone to armillaria.
Cork Oak
Quercus suber
About: Moderate growth rate, 30x30, seed source needs to be from mountains to be cold hardy, avoid planting in containers.
Where to plant: Sidewalks, on-street parking, medians and parkways 4-6 feet wide, 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation, xeriscape.
Needs: Low water use, sun or part shade, any soil.
Risks: Prone to armillaria, phytophthora, root rot, invasive shot hole borer.
Southern Live Oak
Quercus virginiana
About: Moderate growth rate, 60x60 feet, tough tree, requires structural pruning when young to create strong branch attachments, state tree of Georgia.
Where to plant: Parks and neighborhoods 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation.
Needs: Low water use, sun to part shade, can tolerate many soil types but prefers well-drained soil.
Risks: Prone to weeping branch structure, spider mites, root sucker.
Interior Live Oak
Quercus wislizeni
About: Slow growth rate, 60x40 feet, good choice for Las Cruces.
Where to plant: Residential, parks.
Needs: Moderate water use, sun to part shade, can tolerate both alkaline and slightly acidic soils.
Risks: Prone to armillaria, crown rot, mistletoe, powdery mildew, caterpillars, coddling moths, insect galls, white fly, verticillium.
Mexican Elder
Sambucus mexicana
About: Fast growth rate; weak-wooded, short-lived tree that provides wildlife habitat; good food source for birds; powerline friendly; fruit makes wine, dye or pie.
Where to plant: Streets, residential, parks.
Needs: Low water use, sun, any soil.
Risks: None; not prone to disease.
Western Soapberry
Sapindus saponaria var. Drummondii
About: Moderate growth rate, 30x30 feet, good fall color, produces non-edible (poisonous) seeds.
Where to plant: Sidewalks, on-street parking, medians and parkways 4-6 feet wide, parks and neighborhoods 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation, xeriscape.
Needs: Low water use, sun, any soil.
Risks: Prone to box elder bugs and root suckering.
Texas Mount Laurel
Sophora secundiflora
About: Slow growth rate, 25x10 feet, large shrub but can be pruned up as a tree, powerline friendly, poisonous seeds.
Where to plant: Sidewalks, on-street parking, medians and parkways 4-6 feet wide, 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation, xeriscape.
Needs: Low water use, sun to part shade, any soil.
Risks: Prone to sophora moth larvae.
Cedar Elm
Ulmus crassifolia
About: Moderate growth rate, 50x50 feet, does well in Las Cruces, flood tolerant, other elms may be better choice.
Where to plant: GSI features, parks, residential, streetscape.
Needs: Moderate water use, sun to part shade.
Risks: Prone to Dutch elm disease and mistletoe.
Lacebark Elm
Ulmus parvifolia
About: Moderate to fast growth rate, 45x45 feet, currently doing well in Santa Fe, low invasive potential, loved by many experts.
Where to plant: Sidewalks, on-street parking, medians and parkways 4-6 feet wide, parks and neighborhoods 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation, xeriscape.
Needs: Moderate water use, sun to part shade, any soil.
Risks: Prone to Dutch elm disease, cankers, armillaria, phytophthora, root rot and aphids, beetle borers, elm yellows.
Chaste Tree
Vitex agnus castus
About: Moderate growth rate, 15x15 feet, powerline friendly.
Where to plant: Sidewalks, on-street parking, medians and parkways 4-6 feet wide, parks and neighborhoods 10 feet from buildings with no utility conflicts and access to irrigation, xeriscape.
Needs: Low water use, sun to part shade, any soil.
Risks: Prone to armillaria, leaf spot, root rot.
Jujube
Ziziphus jujuba
About: Moderate growth rate, 25x18 feet, spines on leaf base, fruit on young trees (two years).
Where to plant: Sufficient soil, no utility conflicts.
Needs: Low to moderate water use, sun to part shade, any soil.
Risks: Prone to invasives due to suckering.
How to Plant a Tree
You can help make your neighborhood greener by planting your own tree! But knowing which tree to buy is only half the battle. It’s also important to put trees in the right place so there is enough above- and below-ground space so the tree can reach its full potential.
Watch the video below for a step-by-step guide on how to plant a tree.
Join Albuquerque to Increase Tree Canopies
Depending on where you live, research shows trees can lower temperatures from 5 to 13 degrees. Albuquerque’s campaign, Let’s Plant ABQ, commits to planting 100,000 trees by 2030—to cool and improve the city by increasing the urban tree canopy while also replacing old and dying trees.
Many cities across the state face similar threats. With the new climate-ready trees lists, municipalities, developers, schools, Homeowner Associations, apartment owners and more can join the effort to mitigate climate change. These trees will act as nature’s air conditioner for warm neighborhoods, cooling the air and improving the quality of life for people across the state.
Download
Check out which climate-ready trees will work best in four Hardiness Zones across New Mexico. Download the PDF today!
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Meet the team that's identifying climate-ready trees!
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