ADWR Phoenix AMA Approved Plants
ADWR Phoenix AMA Low Water Use Plant List
The master Phoenix-metro reference. Every plant on the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) Phoenix Active Management Area Low Water Use/Drought Tolerant Plant List — matched to Three Timbers’ in-stock catalog. If a plant is here, it’s legal to install throughout the Phoenix AMA.
on orders $200+ in the Phoenix Valley
trees, shrubs & flowering plants
we handle the HOA submittal too
Call or text 612-214-1955
The master plant list the whole Phoenix metro references.
ADWR’s Phoenix AMA Low Water Use/Drought Tolerant Plant List (LWUPL) is the authoritative source most Valley cities — Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Glendale, Peoria, Goodyear and others — cite in their landscape ordinances. If a plant appears on this list, you can install it anywhere in the Phoenix Active Management Area without water-code concerns. Below are the ADWR-approved species Three Timbers currently carries, organized by category.
Every plant below is clickable with current pricing. Free delivery across the Phoenix Valley on orders over $200.
About This Plant List
| Governing list | ADWR Phoenix AMA Low Water Use/Drought Tolerant Plant List (4th Management Plan) |
| Jurisdiction | Arizona Department of Water Resources — applies to all cities within the Phoenix Active Management Area |
| Cities covered | Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Glendale, Peoria, Goodyear, Avondale, Surprise, Buckeye, Queen Creek, Fountain Hills, Paradise Valley, Apache Junction, and more |
| Why it matters | Nearly every city landscape ordinance in the Valley references this list. HOAs that specify ‘ADWR-approved’ mean these species. |
| Source document | ADWR Phoenix AMA LWUPL — also mirrored by AMWUA’s Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert (2024 edition). |
| Three Timbers carries | Species below — a working subset of the full ADWR list, cross-matched to our live inventory. |
The ADWR LWUPL contains ~200 species. Three Timbers carries the vast majority of practical landscape species on the list. Some rare desert species may not be stocked year-round — call 612-214-1955 if you need a specific plant and don’t see it below.
Jump to a Plant Category
- Approved Trees — 29 plants
- Approved Shrubs — 22 plants
- Approved Cacti, Agaves & Architectural Accents — 28 plants
- Approved Groundcovers & Perennials — 10 plants
- Approved Vines & Ornamental Grasses — 7 plants
- Planting & watering guide
- Want it installed for you?
Trees (29 approved)
Three Timbers picks — best of trees
All approved trees (29 species)
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Starting Price | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mulga | Acacia aneura | From $31.68 | Shop → |
| Leatherleaf Acacia | Acacia craspedocarpa | From $31.68 | Shop → |
| Sweet Acacia | Acacia farnesiana | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Catclaw Acacia | Acacia greggii | From $8.98 | Shop → |
| Willow Acacia | Acacia salicina | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Shoestring Acacia | Acacia stenophylla | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Anacacho Orchid Tree | Bauhinia lunarioides | From $36.96 | Shop → |
| Cascalote | Caesalpinia cacalaco | From $316.80 | Shop → |
| Mexican Bird of Paradise | Caesalpinia mexicana | From $17.60 | Shop → |
| Desert Hackberry | Celtis pallida | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Desert Willow | Chilopsis linearis | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Texas Olive | Cordia boissieri | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Arizona Cypress | Cupressus arizonica | From $34.85 | Shop → |
| Sissoo | Dalbergia sissoo | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Texas Ebony | Ebenopsis ebano | From $31.68 | Shop → |
| Arizona Ash | Fraxinus velutina | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Fruitless Olive | Olea europaea | From $8.71 | Shop → |
| Ironwood | Olneya tesota | From $31.68 | Shop → |
| Blue Palo Verde | Parkinsonia florida | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Foothill Palo Verde | Parkinsonia microphylla | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Palo Brea | Parkinsonia praecox | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Chinese Pistache | Pistacia chinensis | From $36.96 | Shop → |
| Mastic Tree | Pistacia lentiscus | From $86.24 | Shop → |
| Chilean Mesquite | Prosopis chilensis | From $36.96 | Shop → |
| Honey Mesquite | Prosopis glandulosa | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Screwbean Mesquite | Prosopis pubescens | From $86.24 | Shop → |
| Velvet Mesquite | Prosopis velutina | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Escarpment Live Oak | Quercus virginiana | From $31.68 | Shop → |
| Texas Mountain Laurel | Sophora secundiflora | From $31.68 | Shop → |
Shrubs (22 approved)
Three Timbers picks — best of shrubs
All approved shrubs (22 species)
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Starting Price | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairy Duster | Calliandra eriophylla | From $7.48 | Shop → |
| Baja Fairy Duster | Calliandra californica | From $7.48 | Shop → |
| Red Bird of Paradise | Caesalpinia pulcherrima | From $6.25 | Shop → |
| Yellow Bird of Paradise | Caesalpinia gilliesii | From $6.78 | Shop → |
| Little-leaf Cordia | Cordia parvifolia | From $7.48 | Shop → |
| Feathery Senna | Senna artemisioides | From $6.16 | Shop → |
| Shrubby Senna | Senna wislizeni | From $6.16 | Shop → |
| Hopbush | Dodonaea viscosa | From $5.54 | Shop → |
| Brittlebush | Encelia farinosa | From $5.54 | Shop → |
| Chuparosa | Justicia californica | From $5.98 | Shop → |
| Mexican Honeysuckle | Justicia spicigera | From $6.60 | Shop → |
| Creosote | Larrea tridentata | From $10.56 | Shop → |
| Texas Ranger | Leucophyllum frutescens | From $6.34 | Shop → |
| Compact Texas Sage | Leucophyllum langmaniae | From $6.34 | Shop → |
| Jojoba | Simmondsia chinensis | From $7.57 | Shop → |
| Autumn Sage | Salvia greggii | From $5.54 | Shop → |
| Cleveland Sage | Salvia clevelandii | From $6.60 | Shop → |
| Arizona Yellow Bells | Tecoma stans | From $6.95 | Shop → |
| Orange Jubilee | Tecoma 'Orange Jubilee' | From $6.95 | Shop → |
| Damianita | Chrysactinia mexicana | From $7.74 | Shop → |
| Woolly Butterfly Bush | Buddleja marrubiifolia | From $8.71 | Shop → |
| Rosemary | Rosmarinus officinalis | From $6.16 | Shop → |
Cacti, Agaves & Architectural Accents (28 approved)
Three Timbers picks — best of cacti, agaves & architectural accents
All approved cacti, agaves & architectural accents (28 species)
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Starting Price | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agave Americana | Agave americana | From $9.68 | Shop → |
| Blue Glow Agave | Agave 'Blue Glow' | From $8.80 | Shop → |
| Ocahui Agave | Agave ocahui | From $14.96 | Shop → |
| Octopus Agave | Agave vilmoriniana | From $9.24 | Shop → |
| Weber's Agave | Agave weberi | From $52.80 | Shop → |
| Artichoke Agave | Agave parryi var. truncata | From $9.24 | Shop → |
| Queen Victoria Agave | Agave victoriae-reginae | From $59.84 | Shop → |
| Aloe Vera | Aloe barbadensis | From $8.80 | Shop → |
| Saguaro | Carnegiea gigantea | — | Shop → |
| Desert Spoon | Dasylirion wheeleri | From $8.18 | Shop → |
| Hedgehog Cactus | Echinocereus engelmannii | From $10.56 | Shop → |
| Golden Barrel Cactus | Echinocactus grusonii | From $13.20 | Shop → |
| Fishhook Barrel | Ferocactus wislizeni | From $13.20 | Shop → |
| Compass Barrel | Ferocactus acanthodes | From $10.56 | Shop → |
| Ocotillo | Fouquieria splendens | From $56.32 | Shop → |
| Red Yucca | Hesperaloe parviflora | From $7.66 | Shop → |
| Giant Hesperaloe | Hesperaloe funifera | From $8.71 | Shop → |
| Beargrass | Nolina microcarpa | From $9.15 | Shop → |
| Beavertail Prickly Pear | Opuntia basilaris | From $8.80 | Shop → |
| Engelmann Prickly Pear | Opuntia engelmannii | From $8.80 | Shop → |
| Purple Prickly Pear | Opuntia santa-rita | From $8.80 | Shop → |
| Prickly Pear | Opuntia robusta | From $11.44 | Shop → |
| Elephant's Food | Portulacaria afra | From $6.60 | Shop → |
| Banana Yucca | Yucca baccata | From $11.09 | Shop → |
| Soaptree Yucca | Yucca elata | From $11.09 | Shop → |
| Beaked Yucca | Yucca rostrata | From $11.09 | Shop → |
| Totem Pole Cactus | Lophocereus schottii | From $14.08 | Shop → |
| Mexican Fence Post | Pachycereus marginatus | From $59.84 | Shop → |
Groundcovers & Perennials (10 approved)
Three Timbers picks — best of groundcovers & perennials
All approved groundcovers & perennials (10 species)
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Starting Price | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trailing Smoke Bush | Dalea greggii | From $7.48 | Shop → |
| Trailing Lantana | Lantana montevidensis | From $5.19 | Shop → |
| Blackfoot Daisy | Melampodium leucanthum | From $6.60 | Shop → |
| Mexican Primrose | Oenothera berlandieri | From $6.60 | Shop → |
| Globe Mallow | Sphaeralcea ambigua | From $6.60 | Shop → |
| Angelita Daisy | Tetraneuris acaulis | From $6.60 | Shop → |
| Desert Marigold | Baileya multiradiata | From $7.13 | Shop → |
| Penstemon | Penstemon parryi | From $6.16 | Shop → |
| Firecracker Penstemon | Penstemon eatonii | From $6.16 | Shop → |
| Chocolate Flower | Berlandiera lyrata | From $6.16 | Shop → |
Vines & Ornamental Grasses (7 approved)
Three Timbers picks — best of vines & ornamental grasses
All approved vines & ornamental grasses (7 species)
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Starting Price | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen's Wreath | Antigonon leptopus | From $9.68 | Shop → |
| Yellow Trumpet Vine | Macfadyena unguis-cati | From $9.68 | Shop → |
| Lady Banks Rose | Rosa banksiae | From $9.68 | Shop → |
| Pink Trumpet Vine | Podranea ricasoliana | From $9.68 | Shop → |
| Deer Grass | Muhlenbergia rigens | From $6.16 | Shop → |
| Pink Muhly | Muhlenbergia capillaris | From $6.16 | Shop → |
| Bull Grass | Muhlenbergia emersleyi | From $7.13 | Shop → |
Planting & Watering Guide for the Phoenix Valley
Best time to plant
- Trees & shrubs: October through March. Avoid June, July, August.
- Cacti, agaves & ocotillo: April through October. They need warm soil to root in.
- Groundcovers & perennials: Spring (Feb–April) or fall (Sep–Nov).
Watering schedule
- Year 1, summer: Every 3–4 days, deep soak.
- Year 1, winter: Every 10–14 days, light watering.
- After year 1, established: Every 10–14 days in summer, every 3–4 weeks in winter. Cacti, agaves, ocotillo need far less.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Phoenix-area cities use the ADWR LWUPL?
Every city within the Phoenix Active Management Area — which includes virtually all of Maricopa County’s urban footprint. Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Glendale, Peoria, Goodyear, Surprise, Buckeye, Queen Creek, Fountain Hills, and more all reference ADWR’s list for their landscape codes.
Is this the same as the AMWUA plant list?
Yes — AMWUA (Arizona Municipal Water Users Association) publishes Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert, which is the public-facing edition of the ADWR LWUPL. The 2024 edition is the current reference.
Does my HOA automatically approve anything on this list?
Most HOAs reference the ADWR list but add their own prohibited species or require specific varieties. Always check your community’s approved plant palette — or browse our HOA-specific pages linked from the master guide.
How fast can you deliver across the Phoenix Valley?
Same-day or next-day for orders received before 1pm. Free delivery on orders $200+ anywhere in the Phoenix metro.
Want your landscape installed for you?
We’re the only Phoenix Valley online nursery with our own install crew
Three Timbers handles design, selection from the ADWR-approved palette, HOA/ACC paperwork, delivery, and installation — all in one workflow. Same-day quotes. 30-day plant warranty on every install.
Why Phoenix Valley homeowners choose Three Timbers
Three Timbers is the Phoenix Valley’s only online nursery with our own delivery and install crew. We carry 820+ desert-adapted species — nearly every practical plant on the ADWR Phoenix AMA Low Water Use Plant List. Browse the full master HOA plant guide to compare across all Phoenix Valley communities, or call 612-214-1955 for a same-day quote.
