Carefree Ranch Approved Plants

HOA-Approved Plant Guide β€” Carefree, AZ

Carefree Ranch Approved Plants

Every plant below is officially approved on Carefree Ranch's landscape guidelines and available from Three Timbers. No guesswork. No ACC rejections. Just plants that will get approved and thrive in your Carefree yard.

🚚 Free delivery
on orders $150+ in the Phoenix Valley
🌡 30-day plant warranty
trees, shrubs & flowering plants
🏠 Pro installation available
we handle the ACC submittal too
πŸ“ž Same-day response
Call or text 612-214-1955
Seeing β€œSold out” on a plant you want? Our inventory rotates weekly β€” most species are back within days. Text or call us at 612-214-1955 and we’ll let you know exactly when it’ll be back.

If you live in Carefree Ranch, this is the only plant list you need.

Carefree Ranch enforces a specific approved plant palette β€” getting it wrong means rework, fines, or a rejected ACC application. We pulled the official guidelines, extracted every plant, and matched it against our nursery catalog. 122 of Carefree Ranch's approved species are carried by Three Timbers β€” organized below by the same categories the ACC uses.

Every plant below is clickable. Click any plant to see sizes, current pricing, and our 30-day plant warranty terms. Free delivery to Carefree on orders over $150.

About Carefree Ranch’s Approved Plant List

Community Carefree Ranch
City Carefree, AZ 85377 (Scottsdale / Far North (Carefree))
Households ~80 custom lots / ~108 acres (low-density Sonoran preserve estates)
Developer Carefree Ranch Development / managed by Goth HOA Management
Management Goth HOA Management (gothoa.com) Ҁ” Carefree Ranch Owners Association (CROA)
Source document Carefree Ranch Design Guidelines Ҁ” Appendix C Approved Plant List + Appendix D Prohibited Plant List. View the source
Landscape themes Strict Sonoran-Desert / indigenous preserve. Indigenous species marked with asterisk are the ONLY plants permitted in Natural Areas and Transitional Areas outside site walls. Non-indigenous plants with mature height > 20' are flat-out prohibited.
Three Timbers carries 122 of Carefree Ranch’s approved species (29 trees, 39 shrubs, 25 accents, 26 groundcovers/perennials, 3 grasses & vines)
A note on Carefree Ranch:

One of the most restrictive Sonoran-purist HOAs in the Valley. Includes a revegetation plant mix AND a revegetation seed mix in the guidelines (Appendix C) for recommended replanting densities. Private courtyards behind site walls can use a wider palette (citrus, dwarf palms, dwarf cypress allowed only there). Palms over 6' tall Ҁ” totally prohibited. Olive trees, oleander, citrus, fountain grass, common Bermuda grass, Mexican palo verde, and female desert broom all explicitly banned.

⚠️ Heads up β€” plants we carry that Carefree Ranch prohibits:

Carefree Ranch's guidelines specifically prohibit: Olive trees (all), Oleander, Fountain Grass, Citrus (all). We carry them for non-HOA gardens β€” but don't plant them here.

Jump to a Plant Category

Trees (29 approved)

Three Timbers picks β€” best of trees

Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia platyloba)
Mexican Poinciana (Caesalpinia mexicana)
Lemonade Bush / Skunkbush Sumac (Rhus trilobata)

All cross-HOA approved trees (29 species)

Common Name Botanical Name Starting Price Shop
Desert Hackberry (indigenous) Celtis pallida From $28.16 Shop β†’
Net Leaf Hackberry (indigenous) Celtis reticulata From $28.16 Shop β†’
Palo Brea Cercidium praecox From $28.16 Shop β†’
Desert Willow (indigenous) Chilopsis linearis From $28.16 Shop β†’
Ironwood Olneya tesota From $31.68 Shop β†’
Argentine Mesquite Prosopis alba From $96.80 Shop β†’
Chilean Mesquite Prosopis chilensis From $36.96 Shop β†’
Honey Mesquite Prosopis glandulosa From $28.16 Shop β†’
Screwbean Mesquite Prosopis pubescens From $86.24 Shop β†’
Velvet Mesquite (indigenous) Prosopis velutina (juliflora) From $28.16 Shop β†’
Leather Leaf Acacia Acacia craspedocarpa From $31.68 Shop β†’
Mexican Poinciana Caesalpinia mexicana From $17.60 Shop β†’
Texas Mountain Laurel Sophora secundiflora From $31.68 Shop β†’
Abyssinian Acacia Acacia abyssinia From $28.16 Shop β†’
Shoestring Acacia Acacia cavenia From $28.16 Shop β†’
Needle Acacia Acacia eburnea From $28.16 Shop β†’
Sweet Acacia Acacia farnesiana (smallii) From $28.16 Shop β†’
Shoestring Acacia Acacia occidentalis From $28.16 Shop β†’
Shoestring Acacia Acacia schaffneri From $28.16 Shop β†’
Acacia (various species) Acacia species From $28.16 Shop β†’
Bird of Paradise Caesalpinia platyloba From $6.25 Shop β†’
Blue Palo Verde (indigenous) Cercidium floridum From $28.16 Shop β†’
Foothills Palo Verde (indigenous) Cercidium microphyllum From $28.16 Shop β†’
Fern Acacia Acacia angustissima From $28.16 Shop β†’
White Thorn Acacia Acacia constricta From $28.16 Shop β†’
Catclaw Acacia (indigenous) Acacia greggii From $28.16 Shop β†’
Shrub Live Oak (indigenous) Quercus turbinella From $31.68 Shop β†’
Lemonade Bush / Skunkbush Sumac Rhus trilobata From $25.52 Shop β†’
Arizona Sophora Sophora arizonica From $31.68 Shop β†’

Shrubs (39 approved)

Three Timbers picks β€” best of shrubs

Hopbush (indigenous) (Dodonaea viscosa)
Brittlebush (indigenous) (Encelia farinosa)
Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii)

All cross-HOA approved shrubs (39 species)

Common Name Botanical Name Starting Price Shop
Bursage (indigenous) Ambrosia deltoidea From $6.60 Shop β†’
Desert Honeysuckle (indigenous) Anisacanthus thurberi From $6.78 Shop β†’
Desert Milkweed Asclepias subulata From $8.36 Shop β†’
Yellow Bird of Paradise Caesalpinia gilliesii From $6.78 Shop β†’
Mexican Bird of Paradise Caesalpinia pulcherrima From $6.25 Shop β†’
Pink Fairy Duster (indigenous) Calliandra eriophylla From $7.48 Shop β†’
Red Fairy Duster Calliandra californica From $7.48 Shop β†’
Silver Cassia Cassia phyllodinea From $6.16 Shop β†’
Little-leaf Cordia Cordia parvifolia From $7.48 Shop β†’
Hopbush (indigenous) Dodonaea viscosa From $5.54 Shop β†’
Brittlebush (indigenous) Encelia farinosa From $5.54 Shop β†’
Turpentine Bush (indigenous) Ericameria laricifolia From $7.13 Shop β†’
Desert Buckwheat (indigenous) Eriogonum fasciculatum From $7.48 Shop β†’
Desert Lavender (indigenous) Hyptis emoryi From $6.60 Shop β†’
Chuparosa (indigenous) Justicia californica From $5.98 Shop β†’
Mexican Honeysuckle Justicia spicigera From $6.60 Shop β†’
Creosote Bush (indigenous) Larrea tridentata From $10.56 Shop β†’
Texas Sage / Texas Ranger Leucophyllum frutescens From $6.34 Shop β†’
Sugar Sumac (indigenous) Rhus ovata From $25.52 Shop β†’
Baja Ruellia / Desert Ruellia Ruellia peninsularis From $6.60 Shop β†’
Autumn Sage Salvia greggii From $5.54 Shop β†’
Jojoba (indigenous) Simmondsia chinensis From $7.57 Shop β†’
Arizona Yellow Bells / Esperanza Tecoma stans From $6.95 Shop β†’
Canyon Ragweed (indigenous) Ambrosia ambrosioides From $6.60 Shop β†’
White Bursage Ambrosia dumosa From $6.60 Shop β†’
Feathery Cassia Cassia artemisioides From $6.16 Shop β†’
Texas Cassia Cassia biflora From $6.16 Shop β†’
Silvery Cassia Cassia circinnata From $6.16 Shop β†’
Silvery Cassia Cassia goldmannii From $6.16 Shop β†’
Silvery Cassia Cassia leptophylla From $6.16 Shop β†’
Green Feathery Cassia Cassia nemophylla From $6.16 Shop β†’
Shrubby Cassia Cassia wislizenii From $6.16 Shop β†’
Flat-topped Buckwheat Eriogonum inflatum var. polifolium From $7.48 Shop β†’
Wright's Buckwheat (indigenous) Eriogonum wrightii From $7.48 Shop β†’
One-seed Juniper (indigenous) Juniperus monosperma From $6.51 Shop β†’
Firecracker Bush Justicia candicans From $5.98 Shop β†’
Chihuahuan Sage Leucophyllum laevigatum From $6.34 Shop β†’
Leucophyllum (other species) Leucophyllum species From $6.34 Shop β†’
Goldeneye (indigenous) Viguiera deltoidea From $6.42 Shop β†’

Cacti, Agaves & Architectural Accents (25 approved)

Three Timbers picks β€” best of cacti, agaves & architectural accents

Saguaro (indigenous) (Carnegiea gigantea)
Red Yucca / Coral Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora)
Desert Spoon (indigenous) (Dasylirion wheeleri)

All cross-HOA approved cacti, agaves & architectural accents (25 species)

Common Name Botanical Name Starting Price Shop
Ocotillo (indigenous) Fouquieria splendens From $56.32 Shop β†’
Saguaro (indigenous) Carnegiea gigantea β€” Shop β†’
Desert Spoon (indigenous) Dasylirion wheeleri From $8.18 Shop β†’
Golden Barrel Cactus Echinocactus grusonii From $13.20 Shop β†’
Red Yucca / Coral Yucca Hesperaloe parviflora From $7.66 Shop β†’
Beavertail Prickly Pear Opuntia basilaris From $8.80 Shop β†’
Desert Prickly Pear (indigenous) Opuntia engelmannii From $8.80 Shop β†’
Banana Yucca (indigenous) Yucca baccata From $11.09 Shop β†’
Soaptree Yucca (indigenous) Yucca elata From $11.09 Shop β†’
Agave (indigenous) Agave species (Parryi, Toumeyi) From $8.80 Shop β†’
Bigelow Nolina Nolina bigelovii From $22.88 Shop β†’
Willow-leaf Groundsel Senecio salignus From $10.56 Shop β†’
Threadleaf Groundsel Senecio douglasii From $10.56 Shop β†’
Aloe Aloe species From $8.80 Shop β†’
Night Blooming Cereus (indigenous) Cereus greggii (Peniocereus greggii) From $13.20 Shop β†’
Engelmann's Hedgehog (indigenous) Echinocereus engelmannii From $10.56 Shop β†’
Compass Barrel Cactus (indigenous) Ferocactus acanthodes (cylindraceus) From $10.56 Shop β†’
Fishhook Barrel Cactus Ferocactus wislizenii From $10.56 Shop β†’
Fishhook Pincushion (indigenous) Mammillaria microcarpa From $17.60 Shop β†’
Buckhorn Cholla (indigenous) Opuntia acanthocarpa From $8.80 Shop β†’
Teddy Bear Cholla (indigenous) Opuntia bigelovii From $8.80 Shop β†’
Pancake Prickly Pear (indigenous) Opuntia chlorotica From $8.80 Shop β†’
Chain Fruit Cholla (indigenous) Opuntia fulgida From $8.80 Shop β†’
Desert Christmas Cholla (indigenous) Opuntia leptocaulis From $8.80 Shop β†’
Santa Rita Purple Prickly Pear Opuntia violacea (santa-rita) From $8.80 Shop β†’

Groundcovers & Perennials (26 approved)

Three Timbers picks β€” best of groundcovers & perennials

Blue Sage / Germander Sage (Salvia chamaedryoides)
Salvia (various species) (Salvia species)
Moss Verbena (Verbena pulchella)

All cross-HOA approved groundcovers & perennials (26 species)

Common Name Botanical Name Starting Price Shop
Trailing Indigo Bush / Prostrate Indigo Bush Dalea greggii From $7.48 Shop β†’
Peruvian Verbena Verbena peruviana From $5.98 Shop β†’
Desert Marigold (indigenous) Baileya multiradiata From $7.13 Shop β†’
Blackfoot Daisy (indigenous) Melampodium leucanthum From $6.60 Shop β†’
Firecracker Penstemon (indigenous) Penstemon eatonii From $6.16 Shop β†’
Parry's Penstemon (indigenous) Penstemon parryi From $6.16 Shop β†’
Paperflower (indigenous) Psilostrophe cooperi From $19.36 Shop β†’
Mealycup / Blue Salvia Salvia farinacea From $6.60 Shop β†’
Goodding's Verbena Verbena gooddingii From $6.42 Shop β†’
Sandpaper Verbena / Vervain Verbena rigida From $6.42 Shop β†’
Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa From $7.92 Shop β†’
Indigo Bush Dalea bicolor From $7.48 Shop β†’
Feather Dalea Dalea formosa From $7.48 Shop β†’
Gregg Dalea (indigenous) Dalea pulchra From $7.48 Shop β†’
Indigo Bush Dalea wislizeni From $7.48 Shop β†’
Blue Sage / Germander Sage Salvia chamaedryoides From $5.54 Shop β†’
Salvia (various species) Salvia species From $5.54 Shop β†’
Trailing Acacia / Desert Carpet Acacia redolens From $28.16 Shop β†’
Moss Verbena Verbena pulchella From $5.54 Shop β†’
Desert Senna (indigenous) Cassia covesii From $6.16 Shop β†’
Mexican Evening Primrose Oenothera speciosa From $6.42 Shop β†’
Penstemon (various species) Penstemon species From $6.16 Shop β†’
Superb Beardtongue Penstemon superbus From $6.16 Shop β†’
Desert Globemallow Sphaeralcea ambigua From $6.60 Shop β†’
Evening Primrose Oenothera species From $6.42 Shop β†’
Chia (indigenous) Salvia columbariae From $5.54 Shop β†’

Vines & Ornamental Grasses (3 approved)

Three Timbers picks β€” best of vines & ornamental grasses

Deer Grass (Muhlenbergia rigens)
Coral Vine / Queen's Wreath (Antigonon leptopus)

All cross-HOA approved vines & ornamental grasses (3 species)

Common Name Botanical Name Starting Price Shop
Bear Grass (indigenous) Nolina microcarpa From $9.15 Shop β†’
Coral Vine / Queen's Wreath Antigonon leptopus From $9.68 Shop β†’
Deer Grass Muhlenbergia rigens From $6.16 Shop β†’

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 (June–September): Every 3–4 days, deep soak (run drip for 90 minutes per zone).
  • Year 1, winter (Nov–Feb): Every 10–14 days, light watering.
  • After year 1, established: Every 10–14 days in summer, every 3–4 weeks in winter. Cacti, agaves, and ocotillo need far less.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all these plants approved at every Carefree Ranch property?

These are the species permitted under Carefree Ranch's current landscape guidelines. Some sub-villages or front-yard-vs-backyard restrictions may apply β€” always check your specific lot's design package or submit an ACC application before installing.

Does Three Timbers handle the ACC submittal?

Yes β€” if you use our professional install service, we handle the ACC paperwork, plant list, and submittal for you. Just provide your homeowner contact info and we'll do the rest.

How fast can you deliver to Carefree?

Same-day or next-day for orders received before 1pm. Free delivery on orders $150+ across the Phoenix Valley.

What’s included in the 30-day warranty?

Every tree, shrub, and flowering plant comes with a 30-day replacement guarantee. Cacti, agaves, aloes, ocotillo, and similar slow-growing succulents are warranted only at the time of delivery.

What if a plant is listed as β€œsold out”?

Our inventory rotates weekly β€” most species are back within days. Text or call 612-214-1955 with the plant name and we'll let you know exactly when it'll be back in stock.

Want your HOA landscape installed for you?

We’re the only Phoenix Valley online nursery with our own install crew

Three Timbers handles design, plant selection from Carefree Ranch's approved palette, ACC submittal paperwork, delivery, and installation β€” all in one workflow. Same-day quotes. 30-day plant warranty on every install.

Call or text 612-214-1955 See install service β†’

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, cross-referenced to every major HOA's approved plant palette β€” including Carefree Ranch's. Browse the full master HOA plant guide to compare across all 18+ Phoenix Valley communities, or call 612-214-1955 for a same-day quote.