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| Tipu tree growing in Las Vegas. Will we get winter temps below 25F? Plant this tree and you are betting we wont. |
wanting to plant a tipuana tree since I saw one in person (those pinnate leaves
are gorgeous!) and I love the idea of a wide canopy. You mentioned in a December 2013 blog that
here the potential for damage from the roots would not be as concerning in Las
Vegas as in other places as long as it was planted “several feet away from
foundations, etc.” The location where I would like to plant is between the pool
and the block wall. The wall and the
pool are separated by 19 feet. Would
planting 4 feet from the wall and 15 feet from the pool be reasonably safe? I
have citrus, duranta repens, and some other cold sensitive plants that I dress
in old school Christmas lights and wrap in frost cloth, so I understand it will
take extra work to protect from the cold.
What do you think of my chances for success?
A. Just to be a little more clear than the
section you read in my article. I am not a big fan of this tree but it has been
pushed for planting in the Las Vegas area by a local nursery. You should read
some of the comments from Arizona State University (Mesa, AZ) about its use in
Phoenix.
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| Winter dieback of tipu in Las Vegas. |
Comments about Tipu tree from ASU
I am always seeing the downside of plants
because I get hit with problems all the time. The Purple Robe Locust is a good
tree. It is also not desert adapted but it can handle the low temperatures with
no problems.
But it should be grown with woodchips as a mulch and use compost
mixed in the planting soil at planting time. It is a medium water user and it
will get about 35 feet tall and oval to round in shape. It is not a fast
grower, not slow either but about 12 to 18 inches per year if you fertilize and
water it well.
Avoid putting it in very hot locations with lots of direct
sunlight beating down on its trunk and limbs. Keep it full and keep the lower
limbs shading the trunk as long as possible. Surround it with lots of other
plants that like a similar irrigation.
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| Texas Mountain Laurel in Las Vegas. Can have a spring insect problem but easily controlled. |
Olive, Desert Museum palo verde, Red Push Pistache, etc. Even ornamental pear
aka Callery pear. A better fit for our climate. All trees have problems but
these would have fewer tree life threatening problems.