Dave MacArthur
05-24-2010, 4:41 AM
Hi all. I've wanted to make a thread on local trees and info for a while. I made a new "Group" under the community tab, up top there where I never noticed it until this week, for "AZ Woodworkers". I tried to post this thread there, but software is rejecting me saying the post is 4 times longer than allowed doh!
Thought I'd post it here then post a link to this in the AZ group, this seemed the best way to do it.
By the way, if you're an Arizona Woodworker and would like to join the group (don't know why, but might lead to some fun weekend visits), click the community tab up above and join up ;)
Mesquite:
Mesquite, Black
Mesquite, Chilean
East Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia Sissou). This sissou tree is planted all over Phoenix, and is recommended by the local nurseries as a fast growing nice tree. Turns out it is an actual rosewood (dalbergia group). Very fast growing, I have two that were planted in 2004 and now are 25' high with 7" trunks. Great shade tree for AZ.
"South American Rosewood". (Tipuana Tipu) Not a real rosewood (not dalbergia family), but nice looking tree. This is the one of the most recommended tree for Phoenix per my experience at local nurseries (sissou was #1). In Apr/May it drops all it's leaves and a TON of leaflet sticks, but it comes back strong in late may. Right now mine has yellow flowers all over it and lush green leaves.
Palo Verde-- these things are EVERYWHERE, right now 24 May they are completely covered with yellow flowers. I don't know anything about use of it's wood for flatwork or turning, if anyone has info or links, post away! Probably the most common tree I see planted in yards.
Acacia, willow: Tall fast growing tree, I see them break off quite often, as if they are fragile. Fastest growing tree I've seen in Phoenix, you get 30' high in just a few years.
Gum/Eucalyptus: These are the biggest trees I see in Phoenix. They are truly giants, 80-100 feet tall, with trunks 4-5 feet across at the base. There are quite a few planted along roads in the West Valley. I keep waiting for one to fall down as incentive to buy a chainsaw. I haven't seen anything made from these, and don't know their specific species, but definitely a eucalyptus from the leaves/smell/peeling bark.
Olive: You see these in older neighborhoods, Sun Cities area. Now they are mostly outlawed by newer HOAs due to huge pollen counts and litter.
Ash, Shemla: (also called Arizona Ash) This is a common tree in Glendale and Peoria, grows 50-60 feet, trunks 12", and nice straight trunks until it all branches out.
Elm, Chinese: This is another of the "most popular" recommendations by local nurseries. Surprise has these planted all over as street trees. Have never seen anything made from them.
Orange: These are everywhere in Phoenix, but I never see anything specifically made from them. Which is a shame, as there are dying groves all over the west valley just standing there drying out and rotting.
Grapefruit: Same as above, but much larger tree! 12-16" trunks, seems like a real resource. Used to be groves of these alllll over, now they are standing half dead. I saw a 160 acre grapefruit ranch get plowed under a few years ago, trees just smashed up by bulldozers making room for houses. Broke my heart. Never built the houses either as the market crashed, but there is a massive pile of dead/rotting trees... Maybe it's just perfectly spalted now in the dry heat? ;)
If you live in AZ, or have any info on use of these woods or links, post away!
Thanks,
Dave
Thought I'd post it here then post a link to this in the AZ group, this seemed the best way to do it.
By the way, if you're an Arizona Woodworker and would like to join the group (don't know why, but might lead to some fun weekend visits), click the community tab up above and join up ;)
Mesquite:
Mesquite, Black
Mesquite, Chilean
East Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia Sissou). This sissou tree is planted all over Phoenix, and is recommended by the local nurseries as a fast growing nice tree. Turns out it is an actual rosewood (dalbergia group). Very fast growing, I have two that were planted in 2004 and now are 25' high with 7" trunks. Great shade tree for AZ.
"South American Rosewood". (Tipuana Tipu) Not a real rosewood (not dalbergia family), but nice looking tree. This is the one of the most recommended tree for Phoenix per my experience at local nurseries (sissou was #1). In Apr/May it drops all it's leaves and a TON of leaflet sticks, but it comes back strong in late may. Right now mine has yellow flowers all over it and lush green leaves.
Palo Verde-- these things are EVERYWHERE, right now 24 May they are completely covered with yellow flowers. I don't know anything about use of it's wood for flatwork or turning, if anyone has info or links, post away! Probably the most common tree I see planted in yards.
Acacia, willow: Tall fast growing tree, I see them break off quite often, as if they are fragile. Fastest growing tree I've seen in Phoenix, you get 30' high in just a few years.
Gum/Eucalyptus: These are the biggest trees I see in Phoenix. They are truly giants, 80-100 feet tall, with trunks 4-5 feet across at the base. There are quite a few planted along roads in the West Valley. I keep waiting for one to fall down as incentive to buy a chainsaw. I haven't seen anything made from these, and don't know their specific species, but definitely a eucalyptus from the leaves/smell/peeling bark.
Olive: You see these in older neighborhoods, Sun Cities area. Now they are mostly outlawed by newer HOAs due to huge pollen counts and litter.
Ash, Shemla: (also called Arizona Ash) This is a common tree in Glendale and Peoria, grows 50-60 feet, trunks 12", and nice straight trunks until it all branches out.
Elm, Chinese: This is another of the "most popular" recommendations by local nurseries. Surprise has these planted all over as street trees. Have never seen anything made from them.
Orange: These are everywhere in Phoenix, but I never see anything specifically made from them. Which is a shame, as there are dying groves all over the west valley just standing there drying out and rotting.
Grapefruit: Same as above, but much larger tree! 12-16" trunks, seems like a real resource. Used to be groves of these alllll over, now they are standing half dead. I saw a 160 acre grapefruit ranch get plowed under a few years ago, trees just smashed up by bulldozers making room for houses. Broke my heart. Never built the houses either as the market crashed, but there is a massive pile of dead/rotting trees... Maybe it's just perfectly spalted now in the dry heat? ;)
If you live in AZ, or have any info on use of these woods or links, post away!
Thanks,
Dave