With its arid climate and relentless sunshine, Phoenix and the surrounding communities attract newcomers from all over the U.S. But this climate isn’t for everyone, as many area gardeners discover. Plants from other areas of the country can wilt in this scorching heat, while native plants thrive. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the best native plants for gardeners in Phoenix, Mesa and Scottsdale.
Desert ironwood
Desert ironwood, also known as Olneya tesota, is a native tree common along the borders of California and Arizona, stretching to the mesas of the Sonoran desert.
Desert ironwood is a drought-tolerant evergreen plant found in the bottom of dry rivers where frost is rare. The plant grows slowly and tolerates sandy and rocky soils.
Desert ironwood has thorny branches with pinnately grayish, compound leaves that form a canopy covered with small hairs. The canopy provides shade for Arizona homeowners and animals.
This hardy woody plant blooms during March, producing pink, white, and lavender flowers. The flowers form hairy summer seed pods containing one to four edible seeds.
Plant Type: Tree
Mature height: 15 to 35 feet
Hardiness zones: 3 to 9
Conditions: sunny and dry
Use: Its wood is used to make knife handles and carvings.
Desert Fairy Duster
The fairy duster has delicate, deep green leaflets and blooms all year round to produce vibrant red flowers. The flowers attract hummingbirds, wrens, and finches.
This drought-resistant evergreen shrub grows at elevations of 2,000 to 5,000 feet. Also known as the false mesquite or the calliandra eriophylla, it thrives in the sun and heat and requires little water.
One of the endearing qualities of the fairy duster is that it requires no maintenance. It is not affected by pests and diseases, and is not toxic to pets or humans.
Plant Type: Perennial shrub
Mature height: 1 to 5 feet
Hardiness zones: 7 to 11
Conditions: Sun and heat
Use: Used to decorate gardens and landscapes
Desert marigold
The desert marigold is a drought-resistant herbaceous perennial plant that thrives in full sun after it’s established. It blooms from early spring to summer, beautifying the landscape with bright yellow, daisy-like blossoms. For more flowers, ensure you trim the old blooms.
The seeds of the desert marigold germinate in disturbed rocky soils with no organic matter, and the plant thrives in well-drained rocky soils with little water.
The plant is common in elevations below 5,000 feet and can be grown in containers to add a colorful touch to yards and can be grown together with the cactus, verbena, and penstemon in the Arizona deserts.
Plant Type: Perennial annual
Mature height: 4 to 48 feet
Hardiness zones: 2 to 11
Conditions: Full sun
Use: In wildflower gardens
Desert willow
The desert willow is a fast-growing drought-resistant plant that thrives in hot, dry climates and requires occasional deep watering, which makes it ideal for arid areas of Arizona.
The desert willow, also known as Chilopsis linearis, grows to 20 feet and forms a canopy that provides shade. For privacy and storm shielding, plant the desert willow in groups.
The plant blooms from early spring to fall, producing fragrant funnel-shaped flowers of pink, violet, and white with yellow throats. The flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, and the seeds are a source of food for many mammals.
Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
Mature height: 12 to 18 feet
Hardiness zones: 6 to 9
Conditions: Full sun
Use: Adds color and provides shade
Arizona walnut
The Arizona walnut is a deciduous desert plant native to Arizona. It tolerates drought moderately and thrives in partial sun.
The Arizona walnut blooms in spring, producing green female flowers and brownish-yellow male flowers. It does well in rocky upland canyons, mountains, and the upper desert of Arizona.
The Arizona walnut requires little water and thrives in partial shade.
Plant Type: Deciduous perennial
Mature height: 48 to 59 feet.
Hardiness zones: 4b to 10b
Conditions: Partial sun
Use: Provide shade, and the nuts are a food source for animals
Gregg ash or Libby Davison ash
The Gregg ash and Libby Davison ash are common evergreens in the rocky limestone slopes and canyon areas of Maricopa County in Texas. They grow to a height of about 20 feet and produce clusters of tiny flowers with no petals.
These little leaf ash trees are ideal for landscaping around pool areas, for framing patios and walkways, and enhancing the architecture.
Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
Mature height: 20 feet
Hardiness zones: 7
Conditions: Full sun
Use: Used in landscaping around pools and entrances
Prickly pear cactus
The prickly pear plant is a hardy cactus common in the western United States. Its stems are divided into flat paddle-like segments of green to pale blue, and its flowers produce purple and red fruits.
The prickly pear cactus is drought tolerant and thrives in full sun with sandy soils.
Plant Type: Cactus
Mature height: 6 to 12 feet
Hardiness zones: 4a to 9a
Conditions: Full sun
Uses: The tuna fruit is used for food
Saguaro
The saguaro plant is a slow-growing, drought-tolerant cactus commonly found in Mexico, Arizona, and California. It is tree-like in appearance, reaching more than 30 feet in some cases.
The saguaro blooms for the first time when it’s 50 to 75 years old, producing white flowers on top of the trunks and branches. The flowers attract pollinators such as birds, insects, and bats that enjoy the nectar. The flowers later produce red fleshy fruits.
Plant Type: Cactus
Mature height: 2 to 3
Hardiness zones: 8a to 11b
Conditions: Full sun
Use: The fruits are used as a food source
Desert agave
The desert agave is a drought-tolerant succulent found in Southern California and the Arizona desert. The agave plant thrives in full sun in well-drained soils. It grows to a height of four feet, producing grayish-blue to green, thick, sword-like leaves. The leaves are a fiber source used to make clothes, ropes, and other items.
The desert agave blooms after 10 to 20 years, from May to July, developing a flower stalk 10 feet tall that produces bright yellow, funnel-shaped flowers with many branches.
Locals roast the flower stalk and consume the heart of the plant. The juice of the desert agave is also harvested to form juice for tequila.
Plant Type: Accent
Mature height: 2 feet
Hardiness zones: 8 to 10
Conditions: Hot and dry
Use: The juice is used as an ingredient in alcohol making
FAQ
A: Some of the native flower varieties that thrive in Arizona are Mexican poppies, black-eyed Susans, cosmos, desert marigolds, sunflowers, bee balm, and blue sand lilies.
A: Plants that do well in Arizona adapt well to the region’s soils, heat, and arid climate, and require little maintenance.
Need help?
If you need help identifying and planting good native plants for Phoenix,, you can contact our Lawn Love gardening professionals for help.
Main photo credit: Wikimedia | CC-BY-SA-4.0
