Will Argan Trees Survive in Las Vegas?

Q. Can argan trees thrive in Las Vegas climate? I live in Summerlin and am thinking about planting a few because they provide a nice shade canopy. Would rats be attracted to eat the fruit? I don’t want to encourage a rat population.

Argan tree (Sideroxylon spinosum) growing in Morocco on the fringe of the Sahara Desert. 

Argan is a multi-purpose tree and each part of it is usable as a food or economic resource.  The fruit can be eaten, oil can be extracted from the nuts and the tree’s wood can be used for fuel. (Wikipedia).

A. You have the right idea. The argan tree comes from the fringes of the Sahara Desert so potentially it could be used for lower amounts of applied water to a landscape. It has been reported to take the heat of the desert because of its deep roots. This is what tree gurus call a phreatophyte. Its water use is probably similar to other desert phreatophytic trees such as mesquites and palo verde, native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts respectively. Argon oil is popular right now. It’s pressed from the seeds of its fruit.

Fruit from aragan tree

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            This tree might be hard to find in the size you want. The tree is native to parts of Morocco, in the seasonally dry parts of sub-Saharan Africa. There has been some interest in propagating this tree for use in Africa. Research needs to be done before it’s available to the public elsewhere as trees. For instance, nothing is available on the best method of propagation to be used, the soil (microbiology), or selections preferred for landscapes.

            Make sure that trees with a similar water use are on the same irrigation line. “Water lines” turn the water on and shut it off, all at the same time. The depth that water penetrates is dictated by the number of irrigation emitters used.

            As far as attraction to rats, I would have to guess. Rats are omnivorous which means they will eat plants or animals. Like other animals they have food preferences and choices. My guess is that argon fruit might be low on their list of preferences. But if nothing is around for them to feed on, it should attract them.