Information on Trees in Flagstaff

Arizona is home to the world’s largest Ponderosa Pine Forest. This makes the Ponderosa Pine the most common tree in Arizona. This Pine Forest begins close to Flagstaff which makes these trees very common. The Ponderosa Pine can grow up to 200 feet tall and have trunks up to 4 feet wide. Though most of these mature trees will only be around 40 feet tall. The Ponderosa Pine typically grows between 12-24” per year. The Ponderosa Pine has an incredibly long lifespan and usually will reach full maturity at around 150 years old and can live to be up to 400 years old. Because of how common the Ponderosa Pine is to the Southwest area that makes it the major lumber resource for many of the Southwestern States in the U.S.

For the most part the Engelmann Spruce grows in the Northern part of Arizona, but can still be found near Flagstaff, Arizona. The eldest Engelmann Spruce can grow to be 100 feet tall while some of the much younger trees may only be 5-6 feet tall after about 20 years. The Engelmann Spruce reaches maturity after about 150 years but can live up to 400-600 years old. The Engelmann Spruce typically grows between 12-24” per year depending on the conditions. Engelmann Spruce’s wood is commonly used for construction purposes but has also been used to make food containers and musical instruments. The Engelmann Spruce is also widely used for Christmas Trees.

Another common tree found in Arizona and other western states is the Subalpine Fir. The Subalpine Fir ranges from parts of Arizona and New Mexico all the way up to Canada. The Subalpine Fir can grow up to 150 feet tall, but most will never reach this height. Most will only be around 100 feet tall at full maturity. In its natural habitat this tree may only grow a few inches per year and can take over 100 years to fully mature. The Subalpine Fir can live to be 150 years old and perhaps even older. Though most of the tree’s wood is used as a lumber resource for construction, the Subalpine Fir is also commonly used for decoration and landscaping purposes.

Arizona is also home to a beautiful area known as Aspen Corner just north of Flagstaff. This area consists of White Aspens that got the nickname “Golden Aspens” due to their yellowish, golden leaves that appear in the fall time around October. White Aspens can grow to be 80 feet in height and 2 feet in diameter but are more commonly around 30-50 feet tall. White Aspen grows at a very fast rate and grow 24” or more per year. Aspens usually reach full maturity at around 50-60 years old and typically only live to be around 150 years old which is much younger than most other tree species. Aspens are commonly used in a variety food products and preservations. They are also used in certain medicines.

There are so many other trees in Flagstaff that it would take dozens of pages just to name them all. From the Rocky Mountain Juniper, White Fir, and the Blue Spruce just to name a few more. All these trees being unique in their own ways and having their own incredible details. Arizona is not just some desert in the middle of nowhere but is a beautiful landscape with a huge amount of diversity from shrub looking deserts to the beautiful tree filled Coconino National Forest.