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If you have a spacious low-desert yard in Phoenix or Tucson and want a shade tree that belongs here, velvet mesquite is worth a serious look. It is native to central and southern Arizona, handles blistering summer heat, and can grow large enough to shade a patio or outdoor living area.
Before you plant one, though, there are real tradeoffs to understand, from the kind of shade it gives to how much water it actually needs.
The ficus comparison needs a closer look
“Ficus” is a broad label that gets applied to many different plants, from the edible common fig grown for fruit to ornamental species used as landscape screens or shade trees. When someone says ficus trees are thirsty, it is worth asking which ficus they mean, because the water needs of one species do not automatically apply to another…