Scottsdale’s high desert climate means the plants in your landscape need to handle extreme heat, intense UV exposure, and limited rainfall. The good news: dozens of beautiful, tough plants thrive in these conditions, creating landscapes that are stunning, low-maintenance, and water-efficient.
Here are our top recommendations for Scottsdale yards, organized by type.
Flowering Shrubs
Red Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima)
One of Scottsdale’s most popular landscape plants for good reason. Produces brilliant orange-red flower clusters from late spring through fall. Grows 6-8 feet tall and wide. Frost-sensitive but recovers quickly in spring. Minimal supplemental water once established.
Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens)
Also called “barometer bush” because it blooms after rain. Purple, pink, or white flowers appear throughout the monsoon season. Extremely drought-tolerant — overwatering is actually more harmful than underwatering. Several cultivars available in compact and full sizes.
Yellow Bells (Tecoma stans)
Bright yellow trumpet flowers from spring through fall. Fast-growing, heat-loving, and nearly indestructible. Reaches 6-10 feet. Can be trimmed as a shrub or trained as a small tree. One of the toughest flowering plants for Arizona landscapes.
Desert Ruellia (Ruellia peninsularis)
Purple flowers on compact, mounding plants. Excellent as a mass planting or border. Spreads naturally, filling in spaces over time. Very low water needs and tolerates reflected heat from walls and pavement.
Trees
Palo Verde (Parkinsonia species)
Arizona’s state tree — and the perfect shade tree for Scottsdale landscapes. Green bark, bright yellow spring blooms, and filtered shade that allows desert plants to grow underneath. Both native Blue Palo Verde and the cultivated ‘Desert Museum’ variety are excellent choices.
Mesquite (Prosopis species)
Fast-growing shade trees with graceful, spreading canopies. Native Velvet Mesquite and Chilean Mesquite are both commonly used. Mesquite trees are remarkably drought-tolerant, surviving on rainfall alone once mature. Provide substantial shade for outdoor living areas.
Ironwood (Olneya tesota)
Slow-growing but worth the wait. Ironwood is one of the most beautiful native desert trees, with blue-green foliage, lavender spring flowers, and an extremely long lifespan. Protected species — cannot be removed without a permit in many Arizona jurisdictions.
Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)
A deciduous tree with showy trumpet flowers in pink, purple, or white. Blooms heavily from May through September. Drops leaves in winter, allowing sun to warm your home during cooler months. Moderate size (15-25 feet) makes it suitable for smaller yards.
Succulents and Cacti
Agave (multiple species)
Architectural plants that add dramatic structure to any landscape. Popular species include Agave americana (Century Plant), Agave parryi, and Agave weberi. Ranging from 1-foot rosettes to 6-foot specimens, agaves provide year-round sculptural interest with essentially zero water needs.
Golden Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus grusonii)
Round, golden-spined cacti that look striking planted in groups of 3, 5, or 7. Slow-growing and low-maintenance. Excellent focal points or accent plantings. Best in areas away from foot traffic due to their dense spines.
Prickly Pear (Opuntia species)
Flat-padded cacti with yellow flowers and colorful fruit. Several species are native to the Scottsdale area. Santa Rita prickly pear (purple pads) and Engelmann’s prickly pear are especially attractive landscape choices. Wildlife value: birds and javelina eat the fruit.
Groundcovers and Accent Plants
Damianita (Chrysactinia mexicana)
A compact, mounding groundcover with small yellow daisy flowers. Excellent aromatic foliage. Reaches about 2 feet tall and wide. Perfect for borders and mass plantings. Very drought-tolerant.
Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum)
Small white daisy flowers on compact, drought-tolerant plants. Blooms prolifically from spring through fall. Native to the desert Southwest. Works well as a low border or rock garden accent.
Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata)
Bright yellow flowers nearly year-round. A true desert native that thrives on neglect. Reseeds naturally, creating drifts of color. Short-lived individual plants but self-sustaining populations.
Planting Tips for Scottsdale
Water deeply but infrequently. Desert plants develop deep root systems when watered deeply. Frequent shallow watering encourages surface roots that are vulnerable to heat.
Amend soil minimally. Most desert plants actually prefer lean soil. Heavy soil amendment can hold too much moisture and cause root rot. Exception: if you have solid caliche, break through it to provide drainage.
Plant in fall if possible. October through December planting gives roots time to establish before summer heat arrives. Spring planting (February-March) is the second-best option.
Respect mature sizes. Desert plants are often small in nursery containers but grow significantly. Check mature height and width before planting — spacing is important for long-term health and appearance.
Use rock mulch, not bark. In Arizona, bark mulch retains moisture that can cause root rot in desert plants. Decomposed granite or gravel in natural desert tones is the appropriate mulch for our climate.
Need Help Choosing Plants?
PTL Landscaping Services designs custom plant palettes for Scottsdale properties, selecting species that match your aesthetic preferences, water budget, and site conditions. Call (480) 717-7376 for a free consultation.
PTL Landscaping Services
Serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, and the greater Phoenix area with premium landscaping services.