Southern Live OakPhoenix's Best Evergreen Shade Tree Southern Live Oak Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) is the most iconic evergreen shade tree you can plant in a Phoenix landscape. Unlike most oaks, it keeps its leaves year round, delivering a dense, sweeping canopy of dark green foliage through every season. Once established, it's remarkably drought tolerant and handles the Valley's brutal summers without flinching. Whether you're shading a backyard in

so site it away from constant foot traffic and barefoot areas

minimal organic amendment needed

It thrives in bright morning sun with light afternoon shade

use a matched pair

Collector Specimen & Focal Point

Gold Tooth Aloe: golden-toothed margins and tall orange spikes that add height behind the low border

In the unlikely event of a hard freeze

since it drops its leaves in winter: pair it with an evergreen like Texas Sage or Green Hopseed for structure through the cold months

not deep — 2x the root ball width

Honey Mesquite Mature Height 20–30 feet Mature Width 20–30 feet Growth Rate Fast — 3–5 feet per year in Phoenix with regular water Sun Full sun (6+ hrs)

fast groundcover

The blooms are similar in shape but generally larger and more clustered