What Trees handle the monsoon best? 

Plus they are great for shade and color!

While the monsoon season bring much-needed rain and cooler temperatures in the Valley of the Sun during the summer months, the excessive heavy rain and high winds can wreck havoc on the trees and palms in our landscapes. 

The morning after every storm, there are hundreds of trees and palms that have been uprooted, due to an over-saturation of the soil, or there are snapped limbs, due to high winds. Even one's best efforts cannot prepare a tree to withstand the fiercest of winds and rains accompanying monsoon storms. If you're a homeowner that has had enough with their tree or palms that suffer yearly damage from the monsoons consider planting a tree that has a hardier root system with stronger wood compared to a tree with a shallow root system and softer wood. 

You may have no idea what type of trees and palms can withstand the yearly monsoons and that is okay. Our nursery pros and here to help and below are the top monsoon trees they recommend to plant. All of them have strong wood and hardier root systems. Plus, they all have many landscape applications and will look great in any yard. 

Indian Laurel
You'd be hard pressed to find a Indian Laurel that has been damaged due to a monsoon and if you don't believe us there are many places around town where you can find very old Ficus trees. We're talking 30+ years old. A few spots that come to mind are the Ficus on Mill Avenue in Tempe, the Ficus in downtown that was planted in 1954, and the Ficus in front of Sunnyslope High School in 1988 by Moon Valley Nurseries owner Les Blake. That is due to the very deep and hardy roots the Ficus has.  Ficus are among the most beautiful and versatile trees for any landscape. They feature lush and dense foliage that provides dense canopies that can easily be pruned into any shape and size. Plus, they are some of the best trees for privacy. At Moon Valley Nurseries, we offer them in single trunk, multi-trunk, and column form for maximum privacy. 

Live Oak
This hardwood Southeast Texas native has found a home right here in the Valley. It can withstand nature's harshest elements including summer droughts, high winds, and any potential freezes we may get. Southeast Texas is prone to hurricanes and if these trees can hold up during a hurricane they can easily withstand a monsoon. The Live Oak is an evergreen that has very little pest of disease issues. It is clean nine months out of the year, requiring minimal maintenance and it provides dense shade shade. It is a perfect tree for any home in Phoenix. 

Mexican Fan Palm
We have all seen videos of palms trees in gale like conditions that always emerge unscathed. It truly is amazing and one of the best palms for the monsoon season in Arizona is the Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia robusta). This palm requires low water and thrives in our full sun and. A notable characteristic of the palm are its crown of large, fan-shaped, bright green fronds. Another unique aspect of this tree is that many homeowners choose to have the trunks skinned for a unique “cigar cut” effect that can create a more formal appearance. Did we also mention that it is cold hardy too! If you're looking for a palm that can handle;e everything Arizona has to throw at it this is the palm you are looking for. 

Ash
Majestic Ash | Modesto Ash | Raywood Ash | Shamel Ash | Arizona Ash | Fan Tex Ash | Berrinda Ash 
Many homeowners don't realize that Ash trees perform very well and thrive in the Valley. They are all fantastic trees that can withstand the monsoon season as they have have strong and stiff wood with good shock resistance and excellent bending qualities. Many Ash trees are used throughout the nation as a popular lumber. Point is, these deciduous trees are great choices. They do require some cleanup in the winter months, but this is after they all put on an amazing display of fall colors. Yes, fall colors in the Valley! Click on the names above to learn more about our Ash trees. 

Ironwood 
Ironwood (Olneya tesota) are Ironwood trees are known for being exceptionally hardy, known to handle extreme droughts and most inclement weather. These trees can handle the worst of the monsoon season, which has made them a favorite to both homeowners and commercial properties alike as they are often used in landscape designs as a focal point or specimen tree. They are very slow growing and many people may not know, but they have amazing purple blooms that can turn heads.