Arid Zone Trees: 40 Years of Quality and Innovation
What began as a casual conversation between Cliff Douglas, President of Harris Cattle Company, and Steve Martino, FASLA, led to the creation of what became Arid Zone Trees. While some Arizona wholesale growers were producing desert-adapted trees and shrubs in smaller container sizes, large specimen trees, other than desert salvage trees, were difficult to find. Cliff had been growing cotton, tree and vine fruits in the Queen Creek area for decades and had a wealth of production experience to bring to this new venture. Both men share an abiding affection for the unique beauty of the Sonoran Desert and a philosophy that the built environment should reflect and embrace the desert that surrounds us.
In 1982 Douglas planted several hundred desert-adapted trees on 10 acres. The intention was then, as it remained, to produce and sell trees in 24” box size and larger. This would allow sufficient production time for pruning and shaping desert species to amplify and complement their natural beauty. Over the next 40 years, AZT expanded to 160 acres of production space and an inventory of over 90,000 trees in sizes from #25 containers to 48” boxes. Along the way AZT built a reputation for quality, integrity, and innovation.
As difficult as it is to imagine now, introducing desert-adapted tree species to skeptical landscape construction and design communities would be no small task. In 1984 AZT hired Ed Mulrean, Ph.D. (formerly an Extension Specialist Plant Pathologist with the U of A), to be responsible for sales and marketing. Cliff’s intention was to, initially, build a marketing program that focused on familiarizing the design community with the aesthetics of desert tree species, and informing landscape contractors on the proper care and maintenance of these species.
Four years later, Kevin Salamandra was hired to be responsible for tree production, and propagation. Kevin brought a background in business and practical experience, having run his own successful landscape maintenance company. Over the years the staff expanded to include Todd Power, who handled customer service, order management and shipping, Justin Morrow, who coordinated field and greenhouse operations and Tricia Smith who oversaw office operations and human resources.
In his years as a cotton grower, Douglas recognized and embraced the importance of innovation and research and encouraged the staff to always look for ways to improve the quality of the trees AZT grew. At a time when most growers germinated collected native seed to produce desert trees species, Kevin saw the need to develop cloned desert tree varieties that would exhibit greater physical uniformity and had predictable, reliable horticultural qualities. Over the next 20 years he selected mother trees and developed propagation and production methods that became the 11 ‘Variety AZT’ tree selections.
Having brought uniformity to ‘Variety AZT’ selections, Salamandra restructured AZT’s entire production scheme, from greenhouse cuttings to 48” box trees, to promote a healthy, vigorous, well distributed root system. This required the use of “root trainer” growing containers and educating field staff on root pruning all trees prior to transplanting them into larger containers (bumping). Once fully implemented, this process became AZT’s Root Management System.
By the early 90’s the nursery was distributing trees throughout southern Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. At about this time Cliff retained FAIA Architect John Douglas to design an office/operations center for AZT and hired Steve Martino to design the 7 acres of gardens that would surround the new building. The gardens would serve two purposes: 1) to showcase desert-adapted trees in professionally designed settings and to serve as a resource for the landscape design community and 2) be a place for AZT to field test and evaluate new tree selections and production and maintenance techniques. The office and gardens opened in 1996 and have received numerous awards for designs, energy conservation, and education. The gardens have hosted tours for AzASLA, ANA, ASU Landscape Architecture and plant propagation classes, and the International Society of Plant Propagators (IPPS).
As a member of the Arizona Cotton Growers Association and as a member and then President of Electric District 6, Cliff understood the importance of supporting industry organizations and encouraged the AZT staff to follow that example. Douglas served on the Desert Botanical Garden’s Board of Trustees and was elected its President in 1989 and 1990. Ed Mulrean was a member of the ANA Board Directors from 1989 to 1997 and served as President from 1992 to 1994. Kevin Salamandra has sat on the ANA Board from 2018 to the present serving on the Executive, ANA/ANA Fund Investment, and Shade Conference committees and currently serves as ANA’s Treasurer. In addition, the nursery has provided material and financial support to ALCA, AzASLA, IPPS, ISA, Arizona Native Plant Society, Western Growers Association, Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Desert Botanical Garden, Tohono Chul Park, and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
Douglas, Salamandra, and Mulrean have collaborated in the writing and publication of Arid Zone Times and Arid Zone Tree-Mail and an array of educational content on the AZT website www.aridzonetrees.com since 1990.
AZT will cease operations as a wholesale grower of desert-adapted landscape trees in early 2023 ending 40 years in business. They will preserve their commitment to education and horticultural excellence by continuing the publication of new and timely Arid Zone Tree-Mail issues and making archived and new horticultural research materials available at www.aridzonetrees.com for years to come.
(Excerpts of this article were published in
Southwest Horticulture).
