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As heat waves, water restrictions, and longer dry spells become more common, interest in drought tolerant trees has exploded. Homeowners, farmers, and city planners alike are looking for trees that can survive on limited rainfall, shade the soil, cool buildings, and still look beautiful. But “drought tolerant” doesn’t mean “never needs water,” and not every “desert plant” is actually a tree. This guide explains what drought tolerant trees are, how much water they really need, and which species work best in places like the Southwest U.S., Australia, and the Middle East.
If you’re planning a new planting, see our general guide to planting trees for tips on soil prep, staking, and long-term care.
A drought tolerant tree is any tree species that can survive and grow with less water than typical landscape trees, once its roots are established. These trees have evolved in dry climates or seasonal drought and use a range of survival strategies:
Drought tolerance is a spectrum. Some trees are ideal for “xeriscaping” and hot, dry gardens. Others are only moderately drought tolerant and still need periodic deep watering during long dry spells, especially in poor or shallow soils.
A mistake many people make is assuming a drought tolerant tree never needs irrigation. In reality, almost all trees require:
As a rough guide, a newly planted drought tolerant tree often needs the equivalent of 5–15 gallons (20–60 L) of water per week during the first growing season if there is no soaking rain. The goal is to water deeply but infrequently, encouraging roots to grow down rather than staying at the surface.
Once established (after 2–3 years), many desert trees can get by on:
Remember: drought tolerant trees survive with less water, but they will look greener, grow faster, and live longer if they occasionally receive a slow, deep soak around the root zone.
Only a relatively small group of species qualify as true desert trees – those naturally found in regions with very low annual rainfall, high heat, and intense sun. Examples include:
By contrast, many “drought tolerant” trees come from semi-arid or Mediterranean climates. They may handle long dry summers but still rely on winter rains or deep soils, including:
Both groups are extremely valuable in water-smart landscaping. True desert trees are perfect for ultra-low-water sites, while Mediterranean-type trees thrive where winters are cool and moist but summers are hot and dry.
Many people look at a huge saguaro cactus and assume it’s a tree. Botanically, however, cacti are not trees. They belong to the plant family Cactaceae and are considered succulents, storing water in their spongy stems instead of woody trunks built from traditional tree rings.
A tree is generally defined as a long-lived perennial plant with:
While some cacti, such as the saguaro, cardón, or organ pipe cactus, can reach tree-like height and age, they lack true wood and behave differently in terms of growth and water use. That said, cacti and other succulents make excellent companions to drought tolerant trees in xeriscapes, desert gardens, and rock landscapes.
One of the secrets behind drought tolerant trees is their ability to grow deep taproots or extensive root systems that search out moisture far from the trunk.
Many desert trees, such as mesquite and acacia, develop:
Not all drought tolerant trees have a dramatic taproot, especially if they are grown in compacted soils or containers when young. But most successful dryland trees share:
When planting, avoid cutting or circling roots any more than necessary. Give roots room to spread by preparing a wide, loosened planting area, and water deeply but infrequently to encourage downward root growth.
Drought tolerant trees fall into several useful categories for landscaping and restoration projects:
In the Southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, West Texas, and inland California), summers are hot, soils are often alkaline, and water is scarce. Some of the best water-wise tree choices for this region include:
For a truly water-smart landscape, combine these trees with native shrubs, groundcovers, and xeriscape plants that match your local climate and soil.
Australia’s climate ranges from tropical to Mediterranean to arid interior. Many native trees are inherently drought adapted, making them ideal for low-water landscapes.
When choosing Australian drought tolerant trees, match species to your local rainfall, soil type, and fire conditions. Some eucalypts are extremely flammable and may not be suitable close to homes in high fire-risk zones.
The Middle East faces intense heat, low rainfall, and salinity issues. Traditional and modern planting schemes use trees that handle drought, salt, and poor soils while providing food, shade, and wind protection.
In modern cities, water-smart tree selection is often paired with drip irrigation, treated wastewater reuse, and careful soil improvement to make the most of every liter of water applied.
Whether you live in the desert Southwest, inland Australia, or a dry valley in the Middle East, a few principles apply to almost all drought tolerant tree plantings:
Choosing the right drought tolerant tree for your region—and planting it correctly—can deliver decades of shade, habitat, and beauty with surprisingly little water. Combined with smart mulching, strategic irrigation, and the right companion plants, these water-wise trees are a cornerstone of water-smart landscaping in a warming world.
A drought tolerant tree is a species that can survive and grow with much less supplemental water than typical landscape trees once it is established. Many evolved in deserts, Mediterranean climates, or seasonally dry woodlands. They often have smaller or waxy leaves, deep or wide-spreading roots, thicker bark, and the ability to slow growth or drop foliage during extreme drought. While they still need regular deep watering for the first 2–3 years after planting, mature drought tolerant trees can often rely mostly on rainfall in low-water landscapes and xeriscapes.
Even the toughest desert tree needs consistent moisture during establishment. Plan on deep watering newly planted drought tolerant trees with roughly 5–15 gallons (20–60 L) once or twice a week during hot, dry weather, depending on soil type and local climate. Once roots are well established (usually after 2–3 years), many species can switch to occasional deep soaks every 3–4 weeks, or even less often in mild climates. It’s always better to water deeply but infrequently than to sprinkle lightly—the goal is to encourage roots to grow down into the soil profile.
All true desert trees are drought tolerant, but not all drought tolerant trees are desert trees. Classic desert species such as mesquite, palo verde, ironwood, and some acacias evolved in climates with very low annual rainfall and intense heat. Many other species labeled “drought tolerant” come from Mediterranean, savanna, or steppe regions where they enjoy wetter cool seasons followed by dry summers. These trees still need some seasonal moisture or deeper soils. For ultra-low-water sites, focus on true desert trees; for general water-wise landscaping, Mediterranean-type drought tolerant trees are often ideal.
No. Large cacti like the iconic saguaro may look tree-like, but botanically they are succulents, not true trees. Trees are long-lived woody plants that form a trunk of true wood and growth rings. Cacti store water in fleshy, photosynthetic stems instead of broad leaves and generally do not form traditional bark and wood. That said, pairing drought tolerant trees with columnar cacti and other succulents is a common strategy in desert and xeriscape gardens, providing layered shade, structure, and habitat while still using very little water.
Taproots and deep root systems let trees access moisture that lies far below the quickly drying surface soil. Species with strong vertical taproots or sinker roots can pull water from deep cracks and subsoil layers long after the upper few inches have baked dry. Deep roots also anchor trees against strong desert winds and reduce the risk of uprooting during storms. When planting drought tolerant trees, deep but infrequent watering encourages this kind of root development, while frequent shallow watering keeps roots near the surface and makes trees more vulnerable to drought and heat.
In the low-desert and arid Southwest, proven drought tolerant choices include:
In hotter cities like Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, and El Paso, combining deep-rooted desert trees with drip irrigation and thick organic mulch around the root zone makes it easier to establish long-lived, shade-giving canopies with minimal long-term water use.
Many native Australian species are naturally adapted to drought, poor soils, and periodic fire. Regional favorites include:
Matching species to local soil type, rainfall pattern, and fire risk is essential. In many Australian suburbs, water-wise planting guidelines encourage the use of natives that support birds and pollinators while reducing pressure on municipal water supplies.
Across the Middle East and North Africa, traditional “water-smart” trees have been used for centuries to provide shade, food, and habitat with minimal irrigation. Common choices include:
In many of these regions, pairing drought tolerant trees with smart irrigation—drip lines, treated wastewater reuse, and heavy mulching—builds cooler, greener microclimates without putting unsustainable pressure on scarce freshwater resources.
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