Why are the trees so small in Phoenix?

Most of the city is new, especially the outlying areas. The North Central, and around the Biltmore area have been there for years. If you notice, the homes in those areas are 40's and 50's models, so all the trees in those areas have been there since, and the newer areas encourage people to plant more desert like trees, so you don't get huge trunks and big green leaves.

Its too hot to sustain large trees in most areas since it takes a lot of water to support them (we are in drought!). The richer areas dont care too much and want to look like California so they plant huge tress that werent meant for the desert and use up water to look like another place.

And then they plant artificial lakes that just create mosquitos, smell gross, and create humidity.

the small trees are younger, it's a young city the original settlers weren't big on planting things that needed precious water in the desert

We live in a desert so the bigger trees need more water and were never planted.

why do you think? have you seen the weather there? it is like 100 percent dry! all they get is sunlight. i like that because i live in florida but what kind of question is this?

because of the lack of rain. they evolved to live off less water.