You may not think of flowering trees when you think of New Mexico, when in fact, several lovely native flowering trees already grow naturally in the hot, dry climate, and several more will thrive there.
When we plant flowering trees, we are rewarded with beautiful colors and often fragrant blossoms in spring or summer.
In NM, some trees will continue to bloom throughout the summer after rains or, if irrigated, extending your flowering season.
No matter which New Mexico hardiness zone you live in or how challenging your soil is, you can find a flowering tree to brighten your landscape.
10 Flowering Trees That Grow Well in New Mexico
1. Desert Willow – Chilopsis linearis
Desert Willow is my favorite native deciduous flowering tree in New Mexico, where it grows naturally throughout the arid and semi-arid desert foothills and lowlands, where most trees will not grow without irrigation.
In fact, these trees will do very poorly in areas that receive more than 30” of rainfall annually or in the mountains where the winters are too long.
Desert Willows are best grown in full sun and are perfect for xeriscaping once established. They will also tolerate highly alkaline, poor, and acidic soils and urban pollution and make great street trees.
The gorgeous tropical-looking trumpet-shaped pink and purple flowers bloom in late spring but will continue to bloom sporadically throughout the summer after rain (or irrigation).
Their long, thin, willow-like leaves also provide some shade and give them their common name.
You can also learn to identify Desert Willow in its native habitat.
Other Common Names: Bow Willow, Flowering Willow, Flor De Mimbre, Mimbre, Willowleaf Catalpa, and Willow-Leaved Catalapa
USDA Growing Zones: 7 – 11
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 30 ft tall, 10 – 20 ft spread
Flowering / Fruiting Season: Mostly blooms in May and June, but it will continue to bloom sporadically throughout the summer after it rains; seed pods mature in late summer and remain all winter
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
2. Fragrant Ash – Fraxinus cuspidata
Fragrant Ash is my second favorite New Mexico native tree for its intensely fragrant flowers and their graceful form.
These trees grow naturally on rocky slopes and desert foothills in full sun or partial shade, easily tolerating extended droughts and cold winters down to USDA Zone 5.
Fragrant Ash would make a lovely garden specimen anywhere in NM in the lowlands, foothills, and most mountainous regions as well.
These large shrubs or small trees also work exceptionally well in small gardens, where they can even be grown in a pot on your patio where the flowers can be enjoyed.
Fragrant Ash is tolerant of any soil type, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, sand, or clay, provided they are well-drained.
If you want to identify it in its native habitat, check out how to identify Fragrant Ash.
Other Common Names: None
USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 8 – 15 ft (to 20 ft) tall, 8 – 12 ft spread
Flowering / Fruiting Season: Flowers bloom in May and June, around the same time as the leaves emerge; seeds mature in mid-summer
3. Oklahoma Redbud – Cercis canadensis var texensis
Oklahoma Redbud is a variant of the Eastern Redbud with vibrant, bright pink-rose to wine-colored pea-like flowers that bloom profusely on its bare branches in early spring. In most areas of the US, these are the first flowers seen in the spring.
These are popular landscape trees throughout the American Southwest because their heart-shaped leaves are more heat and drought-tolerant than their eastern cousin.
Oklahoma Redbud thrives in full sun in well-drained fertile soils, and although somewhat drought tolerant, it would benefit from regular light watering. Topdress each spring with compost to keep the soil fertile.
These flowering trees have taproots, do not transplant well, and should be planted when young in a permanent location.
You can also learn to identify the Oklahoma Redbud.
Mexican Redbud is another flowering variety that will grow exceptionally well in NM but is much less common in cultivation, so it may be difficult to find.
Other Common Names: Texas Redbud
USDA Growing Zones: 6 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 20 ft tall, 10 – 15 ft spread
Flowering / Fruiting Season: Flowers appear before the leaves in March – April; legume pods mature in mid to late summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
4. Chaste Tree – Vitex agnus-castus
Chaste Tree is a moderately fast-growing tree that is a prolific bloomer with light purple lilac-like flowers that bloom all summer long.
In New Mexico, they perform well because they have low water requirements and can be grown in full sun to partial shade in poor, dry soils that are well-drained to prevent root rot.
Chaste Trees prefer acidic to neutral soils but are fairly adaptable. If you have moderately alkaline soil, you can add sulfur and mulch with pine needles, but they may not perform well in areas with highly alkaline soils with too much buffering capacity.
Although these flowering trees are moderately drought-tolerant once established, they may need occasional irrigation during hot, dry summers in more arid regions.
Chaste Trees will thrive anywhere in southern NM and the low northern foothills. However, they are not overly cold-tolerant and will not do well high in the mountains of northern NM.
Other Common Names: Lilac Chaste Tree, Chaste Berry, Monk’s Pepper Tree, Vitex, or Wild Lavender Tree
USDA Growing Zones: 7 (6 with protection) – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 8 – 20 ft tall, 5 – 20 ft spread
Flowering / Fruiting Season: Flowers appear in June and continue until September; berry-like drupes ripen in the fall
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
5. Royal Raindrops Crabapple – Malus x ‘JFS-KW5’
Royal Raindrops Crabapple has some of the most amazing magenta-pink blossoms for spectacular spring color.
The spring show is followed by purple leaves in summer that turn a vibrant orange-red in fall when their tiny red fruits mature and persist into winter, attracting birds to feast on them. This stunning flowering tree will give you an all-season aesthetic appeal.
In NM, this makes a great specimen or street tree thanks to its superior heat and drought tolerance and ability to tolerate windy climates. It is also tolerant of urban pollution and is resistant to all crabapple diseases.
While Royal Raindrops Crabapples prefer slightly acidic soil, they are highly tolerant of any soil type, provided it is well-drained, as they will not tolerate wet roots. If your soil is highly alkaline, I recommend using some sulfur and pine needle mulch.
For more information, you can learn to identify the Royal Raindrops Crabapple.
Other Common Names: Flowering Crabapple
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 8
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 20 ft tall, 10 – 15 ft spread
Flowering / Fruiting Season: Masses of flowers appear in mid-spring; small red fruits appear in mid-July and remain into late fall or early winter
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
6. Mexican Elder – Sambucus mexicana
Mexican Elder is a fast-growing, short-lived tree with large, flat-topped clusters of creamy white flowers. They provide great wildlife habitat and delicious fruits that feed birds or could be made into pies or wine.
These beautiful flowering trees are best grown in full sun to partial shade in any moist but well-drained soil. However, they are highly adaptable and will tolerate dry soils, acidic, alkaline, sand, or clay, as long as it is well-drained.
Mexican Elders are highly drought-tolerant once established and suitable for xeriscaping. However, occasionally, they may lose their leaves early during particularly hot, dry summers if not given a little irrigation, and berry production would be reduced.
They are healthy trees not prone to any diseases, and their wide climatic tolerance allows them to be grown anywhere in NM, from the high mountains with their cold winters to the southern lowlands with their hot summers and mild winters.
Other Common Names: Mexican Elderberry and Tapiro
USDA Growing Zones: 3 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 30 ft tall, 10 – 20 ft spread
Flowering / Fruiting Season: Flowers appear mostly from April – June but may rebloom in summer after heavy rain; berries mature around August
7. Golden Rain Tree – Koelreuteria paniculata
A few species from the same genus have the same common name, but this Golden Rain Tree is more cold-hardy and will perform better in New Mexico winters whether grown in the arid lowlands or in the mountains.
Once established, these tough, hardy, low-maintenance flowering trees have good drought tolerance and can be grown in xeriscape gardens.
Golden Rain Trees are best grown in moist, well-drained, acidic to alkaline soil but are highly adaptable and will grow in dry, rocky, poor, and highly alkaline soils. They also tolerate urban pollution and make good street trees.
Their showy yellow flowers bloom in the summer after most trees have finished blooming. Then, the Golden Rain Tree produces papery orange or pink lantern-like fruits for additional fall color.
While considered invasive in warm climates with higher rainfall, New Mexico State University recommends this tree for NM and is not known to be invasive there.
Other Common Names: Golden Raintree, Panicled Golden Raintree, Pride of India, and Varnish Tree.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 30 – 40 ft tall, 30 – 40 ft spread
Flowering / Fruiting Season: Flowers emerge in early to mid-summer; papery fruits mature late summer to early fall.
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
8. Texas Mountain Laurel – Dermatophyllum secundiflorum
Texas Mountain Laurel is a gorgeous flowering evergreen shrub or small tree native to southeastern New Mexico.
These are rapidly becoming popular ornamental trees throughout the American Southwest for their rich green leaves and their profuse early spring blooms of purple pea-like flowers with a delicious fragrance of fresh grapes.
In the fall, Texas Mountain Laurel produces brilliant red seeds that were prized by natives for ornamental and ceremonial uses, but be aware they are poisonous and should never be eaten.
These slow-growing flowering trees grow naturally in dry, rocky, alkaline soils, making them a perfect low-maintenance fit for anywhere in southern NM or the northern foothills.
Texas Mountain Laurel can be grown in full sun or partial shade but will not tolerate full shade.
While highly suited to xeriscaping once established, they will grow faster and bloom more profusely if watered once monthly during the long dry season.
Other Common Names: Texas Mount Laurel, Frijolillo, Mescal Bean, Mountain Laurel. Also called Sophora secundiflora in Latin, but this is a synonym of Dermatophyllum secundiflorum.
USDA Growing Zones: 7 – 10
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 25 ft (to 50 ft) tall, 8 – 10 ft spread
Flowering / Fruiting Season: Flowers emerge in late winter or early spring; poisonous legume seed pods mature in mid to late summer
9. New Mexico Locust – Robinia neomexicana
The New Mexico Locust is a lovely flowering deciduous shrub or small tree native throughout most of New Mexico, growing naturally in the mountain forests alongside Gambel Oak as an understory tree.
Their fragrant and edible bright pink to white pea-like flowers appear in drooping clusters from spring to early summer and are followed by poisonous bean-like seed pods that should never be eaten.
New Mexico Locust is best grown in full sun or light shade in any moist or dry, well-drained soil, including clay, sand, poor, limestone, and CaC03-rich soils that are mildly acidic to strongly alkaline.
Once established, these trees are mildly drought-tolerant but will need occasional irrigation during extended droughts when grown in the more arid lowlands. However, be careful never to overwater it, as it will weaken the tree and make it prone to root rot.
Other Common Names: New Mexican Locust, Southwest Locust, Desert Locust, Pink Locust, Rose Locust, and Hojalito
USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 5 – 25 ft tall, 5 – 15 ft spread
Flowering / Fruiting Season: Flowers appear in spring to early summer; legume seed pods mature in late summer
10. Northern Catalpa – Catalpa speciosa
Northern Catalpa is a big, beautiful flowering tree native to northwestern NM with tropical-looking trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom in late spring, followed by long, thin seed pods that mature in fall and remain on the tree all winter.
These easy-to-grow trees prefer moist, fertile loams but are highly tolerant and adaptable to various conditions, including wet, dry, clay, sand, acidic, and alkaline soils.
Northern Catalpa is best grown in full sun or partial shade, has moderate water requirements, and will tolerate hot and dry weather provided it receives occasional irrigation, making it unsuitable for xeriscaping.
However, in some years, the leaves may scorch and drop from the tree when the summer is particularly dry, although the tree should still flourish the following year. If you are growing Northern Catalpa in the more arid USDA Zone 8, I would recommend planting it in a location with some afternoon shade.
Other Common Names: Hardy Catalpa, Western Catalpa, Cigar Tree, Catawba-Tree, or Bois Chavanon
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 8
Average Size at Maturity: 40 – 60 ft (to 90 ft) tall, 30 – 50 ft spread
Flowering / Fruiting Season: Flowers bloom in late spring to early summer; long, slender seed pods mature in fall and remain all winter
Available at: Nature Hills
Table Comparing Flowering Trees in New Mexico
Here is a detailed table comparing each of the above flowering trees in New Mexico, including their bloom time, fruiting season, size at maturity, and USDA growing zones.
| Flowering Tree Type | Bloom Time | Size at Maturity | USDA Growing Zones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Willow | May and June, sporadically throughout summer | 15 – 30 ft tall, 10 – 20 ft spread | 7 – 11 |
| Fragrant Ash | May and June | 8 – 15 (to 20) ft tall, 8 – 12 ft spread | 5 – 9 |
| Oklahoma Redbud | March – April | 15 – 20 ft tall, 10 – 15 ft spread | 6 – 9 |
| Chaste Tree | June to September | 8 – 20 ft tall, 5 – 20 ft spread | 7 (6 with protection) – 9 |
| Royal Raindrops Crabapple | Mid-spring | 15 – 20 ft tall, 10 – 15 ft spread | 4 – 8 |
| Mexican Elder | April – June, may rebloom in summer | 15 – 30 ft tall, 10 – 20 ft spread | 3 – 9 |
| Golden Rain Tree | Early to mid-summer | 30 – 40 ft tall, 30 – 40 ft spread | 5 – 9 |
| Texas Mountain Laurel | Late winter or early spring | 15 – 25 (to 50) ft tall, 8 – 10 ft spread | 7 – 10 |
| New Mexico Locust | Spring to early summer | 5 – 25 ft tall, 5 – 15 ft spread | 5 – 9 |
| Northern Catalpa | Late spring to early summer | 40 – 60 (to 90) ft tall, 30 – 50 ft spread | 4 – 8 |
Fabulous Flowering Trees That Thrive in New Mexico
As you have seen, we have many options for flowering trees in New Mexico to brighten your landscape, including several native ones. Choosing native trees in NM is always a good idea since they are already adapted to the climate and soils, increasing their chance of successful establishment.
Regardless of your climate and soil challenges, you can find a flowering tree that will work for you.
One popular flowering tree that I strongly discourage planting due to its highly invasive nature is the Persian Silk (Albizia julibrissin). Choose one of our lovely native or non-invasive trees above instead.
I hope you have enjoyed learning about flowering trees that thrive in NM, and now you can plant some in your yard to enjoy for many years to come!
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