Low-water plants for Phoenix yards
Trees, shrubs, cacti and groundcovers for a desert yard, chosen from the ADWR Phoenix AMA Low-Water-Use/Drought-Tolerant Plant List. Useful even if you never hire us.
16 of 16 plants
Tree
Desert Museum palo verde
Parkinsonia 'Desert Museum'
- Size
- 20–25 ft tall and wide
- Bloom
- Spring, yellow
- Sun
- Full sun
- Styles
- Sonoran Native
Fast filtered shade; thornless hybrid.
Feeds pollinators
On the ADWR Phoenix AMA low-water list (opens in a new tab)Tree
Desert willow
Chilopsis linearis
- Size
- 15–25 ft tall
- Bloom
- Spring–fall, pink to purple
- Sun
- Full sun
- Styles
- Modern Desert, Pollinator Garden
Hummingbird favorite; deciduous in winter.
Feeds pollinators
On the ADWR Phoenix AMA low-water list (opens in a new tab)Tree
Velvet mesquite
Prosopis velutina
- Size
- 20–30 ft tall and wide
- Bloom
- Spring, cream
- Sun
- Full sun
- Styles
- Sonoran Native
Native shade tree with a broad canopy.
Feeds pollinators
On the ADWR Phoenix AMA low-water list (opens in a new tab)Shrub
Texas sage (Texas ranger)
Leucophyllum frutescens
- Size
- 4–6 ft tall and wide
- Bloom
- After summer rains, purple
- Sun
- Full sun
- Styles
- Pollinator Garden
Blooms after monsoon humidity; avoid shearing into boxes.
Feeds pollinators
On the ADWR Phoenix AMA low-water list (opens in a new tab)Shrub
Brittlebush
Encelia farinosa
- Size
- 3 ft tall and wide
- Bloom
- Late winter–spring, yellow
- Sun
- Full sun
- Styles
- Sonoran Native, Pollinator Garden
Silver leaves; native spring color.
Feeds pollinators
On the ADWR Phoenix AMA low-water list (opens in a new tab)Shrub
Creosote bush
Larrea tridentata
- Size
- 4–8 ft tall
- Bloom
- Spring, yellow
- Sun
- Full sun
- Styles
- Sonoran Native
The smell of desert rain.
Feeds pollinators
On the ADWR Phoenix AMA low-water list (opens in a new tab)Shrub
Autumn sage
Salvia greggii
- Size
- 2–3 ft tall and wide
- Bloom
- Spring and fall, red, pink or purple
- Sun
- Full sun, Part shade
- Styles
- Pollinator Garden
Hummingbirds love it; likes afternoon shade.
Feeds pollinators
On the ADWR Phoenix AMA low-water list (opens in a new tab)Cacti
Golden barrel cactus
Echinocactus grusonii
- Size
- 2–3 ft wide
- Bloom
- Summer, yellow
- Sun
- Full sun, Part shade
- Styles
- Sonoran Native, Modern Desert
Sculptural accent; protect young plants from harsh afternoon sun.
On the ADWR Phoenix AMA low-water list (opens in a new tab)Cacti
Prickly pear
Opuntia engelmannii
- Size
- 4–6 ft tall and wide
- Bloom
- Spring, yellow
- Sun
- Full sun
- Styles
- Sonoran Native
Native; edible fruit in summer.
Feeds pollinators
On the ADWR Phoenix AMA low-water list (opens in a new tab)Accent
Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens
- Size
- 10–20 ft tall
- Bloom
- Spring, red
- Sun
- Full sun
- Styles
- Sonoran Native, Modern Desert
Leafs out after rain; hummingbird magnet.
Feeds pollinators
On the ADWR Phoenix AMA low-water list (opens in a new tab)Accent
Agave (e.g., Parry's or Weber)
Agave spp.
- Size
- 2–5 ft wide by species
- Bloom
- Once, after many years, yellow
- Sun
- Full sun, Part shade
- Styles
- Modern Desert
Choose species sized for the space; keep sharp tips away from paths.
Feeds pollinators
On the ADWR Phoenix AMA low-water list (opens in a new tab)Accent
Red yucca
Hesperaloe parviflora
- Size
- 3 ft tall, 4 ft wide
- Bloom
- Spring–fall, coral red
- Sun
- Full sun
- Styles
- Modern Desert
Tough, tidy, hummingbird friendly.
Feeds pollinators
On the ADWR Phoenix AMA low-water list (opens in a new tab)Accent
Desert spoon
Dasylirion wheeleri
- Size
- 4–5 ft wide
- Bloom
- Summer, cream
- Sun
- Full sun
- Styles
- Sonoran Native, Modern Desert
Silvery spherical form.
On the ADWR Phoenix AMA low-water list (opens in a new tab)Groundcover
Parry's penstemon
Penstemon parryi
- Size
- 2–4 ft flower stalks
- Bloom
- Late winter–spring, pink
- Sun
- Full sun
- Styles
- Pollinator Garden
Reseeds; spring show.
Feeds pollinators
On the ADWR Phoenix AMA low-water list (opens in a new tab)Shrub
Globe mallow
Sphaeralcea ambigua
- Size
- 2–3 ft tall and wide
- Bloom
- Spring, orange
- Sun
- Full sun
- Styles
- Pollinator Garden
Native bee favorite.
Feeds pollinators
On the ADWR Phoenix AMA low-water list (opens in a new tab)Groundcover
Desert marigold
Baileya multiradiata
- Size
- 1 ft tall
- Bloom
- Spring–fall, yellow
- Sun
- Full sun
- Styles
- Sonoran Native, Pollinator Garden
Long bloom season; reseeds.
Feeds pollinators
On the ADWR Phoenix AMA low-water list (opens in a new tab)
Verified against the ADWR Phoenix AMA 5th Management Plan Low-Water-Use/Drought-Tolerant Plant List.