I'd go for an apple tree. Very versatile fruit... jams, juices, pies, sauces, plain old apples.. and their beautiful trees too with good shade.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rB-G-WeWgJI/SZe2LxdfVAI/AAAAAAAAGYU/I7Ej4IcViaI/s400/LovedAppleTree.jpg

At first I thought an apple tree wouldn't survive in the desert, but I'm from Alaska what do I know?

Internet says they would with proper care.

http://www.suite101.com/blog/bobcajun/you_can_have_fruit_trees_in_your_desert_garden
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I do live in the desert!

I live in the Mojave Desert of Southern California. The most valuable trees here are shade trees. We have this huge Ash tree in our yard. It provides lots of shade.
Source(s):
My life.

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Of course the tree of life, a fig tree (ficus carica). would grow and thrive just fine within a desert climate. A fig tree will support many types of life and will provide nutritious fruit for me to eat that is delicious and nutritious.



Have a look at the Food Uses the fig tree will provide.



I can camp out and live right under this massive trees boughs and enjoy my coffee with fresh figs watching the sunrise everyday. A breakfast like the one below would just make everyday a little better right from the start.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_fig
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/fig.html

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Although it doesn't provide much shade, the Horseradish Tree (aka moringa oleifera, aka malunggay) grows like a weed (up to 5 meters in the first year) in desert climates. The leaves "contain more Vitamin A than carrots, more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach, more Vitamin C than oranges, and more potassium than bananas, and that the protein quality of Moringa leaves rivals that of milk and eggs". Its taste is a cross between spinach and lettuce, so you can use it in any recipe that calls for that.


Almost every part of it is edible.

You can squeeze the oil out of the seeds to make "ben oil", which is a clear edible oil you can also use as fuel (burns with a clear light, without smoke)
The Seed Cake (what's left over) can be used as fertilizer OR as a flocculent to purify water.


The tree is being implemented widely in Africa to combat malnutrition.

The flowers are highly nutritious and are often used in teas and medicines. You can use parts as antiseptics, treating rheumatism, snake bites, and other conditions.


From many souces I've read, you can plant a branch and that will start growing, so you really don't need to worry about maintaining it.

A lot of people call it the tree of life or the miracle tree because of its various uses and healthiness.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseradish_tree

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