The Modesto Ash is a fast-growing deciduous tree native to the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico. A male tree produces small flowers in the spring and a female produces winged fruit resembling a maple as shown above. The tree features a rounded canopy with deep green leaves that turn bright golden-yellow in the fall.

The Raywood Ash is a beautiful deciduous tree known for its rich red-purple foliage in the fall. It grows rapidly and is often used for shade in residential and urban areas. This tree can reach impressive heights and provides a dense canopy, offering excellent shade in the warmer months. The Raywood Ash is highly sought after here at Jericho Nursery.

Patmore Ash, a rounded and seedless variety of the Green Ash, is particularly well-suited for colder climates and is often planted in urban and suburban areas for its resilience and excellent shade. Planted anywhere from NE heights to the South Valley, it has a strong, upright structure and a broad canopy, making it ideal for providing shade and as a windbreak.

Beautiful fall foliage, cold hardiness, and carefree growth make the Autumn Purple Ash an easy pick for a no-hassle shade tree. In fact, this variety of ash can do well from coast to coast in an array of different soil types and climates making it perfect for the wide range of temperatures we see here in New Mexico. The Autumn Purple Ash holds its fall color longer than almost any other tree in North America.

The Valley Cottonwood, or Wenzei, is a Southwestern native with a broad heart-shaped leaf and an upright, rounded growth form. This fast-growing riparian tree thrives in river valleys and floodplains, offering lush summer foliage and golden fall color. Its slightly more compact size and leathery leaves make it suitable for Albuquerque’s climate if planted near irrigation or along natural water features. It supports pollinators and offers valuable shade and habitat in regional ecosystems.

The Rio Grande Cottonwood is a large deciduous tree native to the southwestern U.S. and New Mexico. Often found along the Rio Grande River and the Boqsue here in Albuquerque, it is known for its quick growth, towering heights, and heart-shaped foliage that turns yellow in the fall. It is one of the largest native trees in North America. Cottonwoods sold in Albuquerque must be a seedless or cottonless variety, to cut down on pesky cotton that rains down from these giants in late summer.

The Narrowleaf Cottonwood is a fast-growing deciduous tree native to the western United States, including New Mexico. It thrives along rivers and streams, reaching heights of 40-60 feet with a narrow, upright form. Its slender, lance-shaped leaves have finely serrated edges and turn golden yellow in the fall. Adapted to moist soils, it provides habitat for wildlife and stabilizes riverbanks. While drought-tolerant once established, it prefers full sun and consistent water.

The Fremont Cottonwood is a large, fast-growing deciduous tree native to the southwestern U.S and New Mexico. It thrives in riparian habitats, particularly along streams and rivers, and is known for its broad, heart-shaped leaves. Even though this tree is not as ecologically important as its Rio Grande counterpart, it is considered more heat and drought-tolerant and does not rely on seasonal flooding like the Rio Grand Cottonwood.

With a more upright and uniform growth and branch habit, this male cottonwood grows well in western plains and southwestern states alike. The red stems from the base of the leaves to their corresponding branches mark a unique identifier for this variety of cottonwood. Albuquerque gardeners may have better luck fitting the Jeronimus Sargent Cottonwood in their yards as it was cultivated with straight upward growth in mind, atypical of its counterparts, making it easier to fit into your landscaping projects.

The Accolade Elm is a hybrid elm known for its graceful vase shape, glossy dark green leaves, and strong resistance to Dutch elm disease. Furthermore, this elm has been cultivated to spread very little elm seeds while retaining its fast growth rate, making it a great choice for quick shade in your yard or garden. It tolerates heat, drought, and alkaline soils, while offering stunning yellow fall foliage and arching branches that provide ample shade.

The Emerald Sunshine Elm is a compact, drought-tolerant elm with a sturdy structure and excellent pest resistance. Its thick, sandpapery leaves emerge with a reddish tint in spring, mature to rich green in summer, and turn yellow to bronze in fall. This tree was bred for resilience in tough climates, making it a strong performer in Albuquerque landscapes. Its smaller size, tolerance to heat, wind, and urban conditions, and freedom from elm diseases make it an ideal shade tree for smaller yards and street plantings. Also a huge plus, low elm seeds.

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 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 American Elm is a large, deciduous tree native to eastern North America. It is known for its graceful, arching branches that form a high, broad canopy, providing ample shade. Historically, the American Elm was a dominant shade tree in urban areas, although its population has declined due to Dutch elm disease. Many cultivars in this list do better in New Mexico due to their regional ancestry and resilience to Dutch Elm Disease and Elm Leaf Beetles. Despite this, it remains a popular tree for landscaping due to its beauty and fast growth.

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 Globe Willow is a fast-growing tree known for its rounded, globe-like canopy and bright green, narrow leaves. It is commonly planted in urban areas for its ability to provide quick shade. The tree's flexible branches can withstand strong winds, making it great for areas with high winds such as Rio Rancho, Carlsbad and Tucumcari . The Globe Willow has a moderate water requirement and is generally drought-tolerant once established.

The Weeping Willow is a deciduous tree known for its graceful, pendulous branches that hang down, creating a flowing, waterfall-like effect. It is native to China but is widely planted in temperate regions for its beauty and ability to provide dense shade. Weeping Willows thrive in moist soil and require lots of water, making it a good choice for areas near ponds, rivers, or pools. Seen mostly in the North Valley of Albuquerque, careful for the outreach of its root system, which commonly taps into ponds, pools or wells to get the water it needs.

The Bigtooth Maple is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree native to the southwestern United States. It is known for its large, deeply lobed leaves that have serrated edges, resembling those of the sugar maple. The Bigtooth Maple is drought-tolerant once established and thrives in rocky, well-drained soils perfect for a New Mexico shade tree. It is often found in canyons and foothills, offering shade and beauty in urban and rural settings.

The Autumn Blaze Maple is a fast-growing, drought-tolerant hybrid that thrives in Albuquerque’s climate while delivering stunning seasonal color. It develops a strong, symmetrical canopy that provides excellent shade. In fall, its brilliant red-orange foliage stands out against the desert landscape, making it a popular choice for yards and streets. It adapts well to various soil types, though it prefers well-draining soil and occasional deep watering to withstand Albuquerque’s dry conditions.

The Red Maple thrives in Albuquerque when grown in partial sun, adding stunning orange-red fall foliage to any backyard or landscape. While not nearly as delicate as the Japanese Maple, this tree can sometimes burn up in the intense New Mexico sun, so consider it for a partial shade option in your landscapes. Although it does require 6-8 hours of sunlight, it thrives with a bit of a break from the afternoon sun. It requires regular watering, particularly in dry periods, but can tolerate some drought once established.

Developed here in New Mexico, the Mesa Glow Maple is a heat-tolerant hybrid known for its brilliant red and orange fall color. Thriving in Albuquerque’s intense sun and dry climate, it grows to about 35 feet tall and 25 feet wide, providing excellent shade. Its resilience to pests and low maintenance needs make it a great choice for urban and residential landscapes.

The Hot Wings Tatarian Maple is a small, drought-tolerant tree that thrives in Albuquerque’s dry climate while adding striking visual interest. Its standout feature is the bright red, winged samaras (helicopter seeds) that appear in summer, creating a bold contrast against its green foliage, which turns yellow to orange-red in fall. Adaptable to poor soils and urban conditions, it prefers well-draining soil and occasional deep watering for optimal growth. With excellent pest and disease resistance, the Hot Wings Maple is a low-maintenance, ornamental choice for adding year-round beauty to Albuquerque gardens.

The Japanese Maple is a small to medium-sized stunning deciduous tree known for its delicate, deeply lobed leaves and amazing fall colors. It thrives in temperate climates and is often used in ornamental landscapes. In Albuquerque, Japanese Maples MUST HAVE full shade and lots of care and attention. It can easily burn in the New Mexico sun and must be kept out of the western afternoon light, especially during summer months. Adventurous Albuquerque gardeners may try this ornamental tree in a large pot where it can be sequestered from the sun, or in a very shady eastern-facing courtyard.

The Arizona Sycamore is a striking, deciduous tree known for its mottled bark and broad, maple-like leaves. Thriving in full sun, it withstands Albuquerque’s intense heat but requires significant amounts of water. Its massive, spreading canopy provides excellent summer shade, making it ideal for larger landscapes. Once established, it tolerates the Southwest’s arid conditions.

The Mexican Sycamore is a large, deciduous tree native to northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. This tree is known for its attractive, peeling bark and large, lobed leaves. It thrives in areas with ample water but can tolerate dry conditions once established. It provides excellent shade with its broad canopy, making it an ideal tree for larger landscapes and urban settings.

The American Sycamore is one of the largest native deciduous trees in North America, known for its distinctive white, peeling bark and broad, lobed leaves that turn yellowish-brown in fall. Thriving in full sun, it requires moderate to high water and grows well near rivers or in urban areas with sufficient moisture. A unique characteristic of this tree is its rough, itchy seed balls, which can be a nuisance.

The Bur Oak is a hardy, long-lived deciduous tree renowned for its thick, deeply furrowed bark and large acorns with distinctive fringed caps. One of the most drought-tolerant oaks, it’s well-suited to New Mexico’s climate. However, like many oaks, the Bur Oak can struggle in Albuquerque’s intense sun, often burning until it is larger and well-established. Native to the state, it thrives better in the cooler East Mountains or Santa Fe, much like Aspens.

The Chinquapin Oak is a medium to large deciduous tree with distinctive serrated leaves that resemble those of a chestnut. It is highly adaptable and thrives in well-drained soils, making it a great choice for New Mexico landscapes. The tree produces sweet acorns that are favored by wildlife but like other oaks struggle in intense sunlight of Albuquerque until well established.

The Gambel Oak, also known as the Rocky Mountain Oak, is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree that forms dense thickets, providing excellent habitat for wildlife. It is highly drought-tolerant and thrives in the arid conditions of New Mexico. It can be used in xeriscaping but like all oaks in New Mexico, can struggle with the intense summer sun in places like Albuquerque and Las Cruces until well established.

The Sunburst Honey Locust is a fast-growing deciduous tree that offers striking yellow foliage in spring, turning golden in fall. Its airy canopy provides filtered shade, making it perfect for patios or gardens. Thornless and heat-tolerant, it thrives in Albuquerque's climate and requires occasional deep watering. This tree is a popular choice for urban landscapes due to its beauty and low-maintenance care.

The Skyline Honey Locust is a fast-growing, pyramidal tree with a strong central leader. Its small leaflets provide filtered shade, supporting healthy grass and plants underneath. Thornless and podless, it thrives in Albuquerque’s tough conditions, including drought and alkaline soils. Its vibrant yellow fall color and deep roots make it resistant to wind, perfect for urban landscapes.

The Shademaster Honey Locust is a thornless, seedless tree with strong, upright growth and a broad, spreading canopy. Its delicate leaflets cast dappled shade, ideal for lawns and patios. Adaptable to Albuquerque’s heat, wind, and poor soils, it requires minimal care. In fall, its golden-yellow foliage adds beauty before dropping to create easy-to-clean-up leaf litter.

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.

Catalpa trees are fast-growing with large, heart-shaped leaves and trumpet-like flowers that bloom in late spring. The flowers attract pollinators, and the long, bean-like seed pods add ornamental value. Although popular throughout New Mexico, Catalpas have an uncurable virus that we imagine will get to your tree sooner or later. Some may take this risk for this uniquely showy tree.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mimosa, with its unique, pink, fluffy flowers, is an attractive tree that thrives in warmer, sunnier climates. In New Mexico, it’s an exotic addition to gardens but can be a bit finicky due to the state's variable climate. Though it is drought-tolerant once established, Mimosa prefers well-drained soil and moderate water, especially during the hot, dry summer months. While it's not as cold-hardy as other trees, it can perform well in areas with milder winters or protected microclimates. Its fast-growing nature and striking blooms make it a popular choice for xeriscaping in the right conditions.

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 Russian Hawthorn is a striking, small deciduous tree native to Eastern Europe and Asia. With its unique, compact growth habit, this tree features low, sturdy branches that stretch outward and upward in a graceful U-shape, giving it a nearly shrub-like appearance. In early spring, it bursts into a profusion of delicate white flowers, which transform into vibrant red ornamental berries as the season progresses. This tree can even be added to an Albuquerque xeric landscape given its drought tolerance and cold hardiness.

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.

Mulberry trees can be found all over the state and are recognizable by their broad, waxy, and dark green leaves that create huge canopies. Mulberries are edible but produce so much pollen that an Albuquerque ordinance prevents them from being planted. Enter the Fruitless Mulberry. Originally developed for silk production in the United States, the Fruitless Mulberry produces no pollen or fruit, allowing us to enjoy them under here in Albuquerque and throughout the state of New Mexico.

With robust purple blooms in the spring, this tree will surely be listed in our ornamental trees section as well. But with a towering height of up to 50 feet with a 30-foot spread, the Purple Robe Locust is a great option for shade as well. It is very well adapted to dry, hot climates making it perfect for New Mexico gardens, yards, and parks. Unlike Honey Locusts on this list (Gleditsias), this tree is a true member of the locust genus, (Robinias).