Desert Mountain Approved Plants
Desert Mountain Approved Plants
Every plant below is officially approved by Desert Mountain and available from Three Timbers. No guesswork. No ACC rejections. Just plants that will get approved and thrive in your Scottsdale yard.
on orders $150+ in the Phoenix Valley
trees, shrubs & flowering plants
we handle the ACC submittal too
Call or text 612-214-1955
If you live in Desert Mountain, this is the only plant list you need.
Desert Mountain is the upper-luxury community in Far North Scottsdale. Plant choice depends on your zone — Indigenous plants are approved everywhere; Non-Indigenous only in Semi-Private and Private zones.
We pulled Desert Mountain's approved plant list and matched it against our nursery catalog. 126 of Desert Mountain's approved species are carried by Three Timbers — organized below by category. Every plant is clickable, current pricing visible, all backed by our 30-day plant warranty (where applicable).
About Desert Mountain’s Approved Plant List
| Community | Desert Mountain (gated luxury community) |
| City | Scottsdale, Arizona (Far North Scottsdale) |
| Source document | Appendix X — X.1 Indigenous (any zone) + X.2 Non-Indigenous (Semi-Private & Private zones only) |
| Zones | Public Zones · Semi-Private · Private (each parcel assigned) |
| Three Timbers carries | 126 of Desert Mountain's approved species (126 groundcovers & perennials) |
Jump to a Plant Category
- Approved Groundcovers & Perennials — 126 plants
- Planting & watering guide
- Want it installed for you?
Approved Groundcovers & Perennials (126)
Groundcovers, perennials, and seasonal color plants. 126 options below, all proven in the Arizona heat.
Three Timbers picks — best of Desert Mountain's groundcovers & perennials
Full Desert Mountain-approved groundcovers & perennials
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Starting Price | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mulga | Acacia Aneura | From $31.68 | Shop → |
| Leather Leaf Acacia | Acacia Craspedocarpa | From $31.68 | Shop → |
| Agave - Blue Glow | Agave | From $11.44 | Shop → |
| Century Plant / American Agave | Agave Americana | From $9.68 | Shop → |
| Agave - Cow's Horn | Agave Bovicornuta | From $13.20 | Shop → |
| Agave - Smooth | Agave Desmettiana | From $9.24 | Shop → |
| Agave - Twin Flower | Agave Geminiflora | From $10.56 | Shop → |
| Agave - Ocahui | Agave Ocahui | From $14.96 | Shop → |
| Agave - Palmer's | Agave Palmeri | From $45.76 | Shop → |
| Parry's Agave | Agave Parryi | From $9.24 | Shop → |
| Agave - Queen Victoria | Agave Victoriae-Reginae | From $59.84 | Shop → |
| Agave - Weber's | Agave Weberi | From $52.80 | Shop → |
| Bursage | Ambrosia Deltoidea | From $6.60 | Shop → |
| Desert Honeysuckle | Anisacanthus Thurberi | From $6.78 | Shop → |
| Coral Vine / Queen's Wreath | Antigonon Leptopus | From $9.68 | Shop → |
| Purple Threeawn | Aristida Purpurea | From $6.42 | Shop → |
| Pineleaf Milkweed | Asclepias Linaria | From $7.92 | Shop → |
| Desert Milkweed | Asclepias Subulata | From $8.36 | Shop → |
| Desert Marigold | Baileya Multiradiata | From $7.13 | Shop → |
| Bougainvillea | Bougainvillea | From $7.66 | Shop → |
| Yellow Bird of Paradise | Caesalpinia Gilliesii | From $6.78 | Shop → |
| Mexican Poinciana | Caesalpinia Mexicana | From $17.60 | Shop → |
| Mexican Bird of Paradise | Caesalpinia Pulcherrima | From $6.25 | Shop → |
| Red Fairy Duster | Calliandra Californica | From $7.48 | Shop → |
| Pink Fairy Duster | Calliandra Eriophylla | From $7.48 | Shop → |
| Little John Dwarf Bottlebrush | Callistemon | From $19.36 | Shop → |
| Saguaro | Carnegiea Gigantea | From $0.00 | Shop → |
| Desert Hackberry | Celtis Pallida | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Net Leaf Hackberry | Celtis Reticulata | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Desert Willow / Desert Catalpa | Chilopsis Linearis | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Damianita | Chrysactinia Mexicana | From $7.74 | Shop → |
| Little Leaf Cordia | Cordia Parvifolia | From $7.48 | Shop → |
| Sago Palm | Cycas Revoluta | From $49.28 | Shop → |
| Buckhorn / Staghorn Cholla | Cylindropuntia Acanthocarpa | From $9.24 | Shop → |
| Teddy Bear Cholla | Cylindropuntia Bigelovii | From $9.68 | Shop → |
| Chain Fruit Cholla | Cylindropuntia Fulgida | From $8.80 | Shop → |
| Desert Christmas Cholla | Cylindropuntia Leptocaulis | From $9.24 | Shop → |
| Gregg Dalea | Dalea Greggii | From $7.48 | Shop → |
| Green Spoon / Great Desert Spoon | Dasylirion Acrotrichum | From $8.18 | Shop → |
| Desert Spoon | Dasylirion Wheeleri | From $8.18 | Shop → |
| Texas Mountain Laurel | Dermatophyllum Secundiflorum | From $31.68 | Shop → |
| Hopbush | Dodonaea Viscosa | From $5.54 | Shop → |
| Texas Ebony * | Ebenopsis Ebano | From $31.68 | Shop → |
| Golden Barrel Cactus | Echinocactus Grusonii | From $13.20 | Shop → |
| Argentine Giant | Echinopsis Candicans | From $14.96 | Shop → |
| Easter Lily Cactus | Echinopsis Oxygona | From $43.12 | Shop → |
| Brittle Bush | Encelia Farinosa | From $5.54 | Shop → |
| Arizona Blue Bells / Blue Sky | Eremophila Hygrophana | From $9.24 | Shop → |
| Valentine Bush / Emu Bush | Eremophila Maculata | From $7.13 | Shop → |
| Turpentine Bush | Ericameria Laricifolia | From $7.13 | Shop → |
| Desert Buckwheat | Eriogonum Fasciculatum | From $7.48 | Shop → |
| Candelillia | Euphorbia Antisyphilitica | From $10.56 | Shop → |
| Moroccan Mound | Euphorbia Resinifera | From $49.28 | Shop → |
| Gopher Plant / Silver Spurge | Euphorbia Rigida | From $8.80 | Shop → |
| Pencil Cactus / Sticks of Fire | Euphorbia Tirucalli | From $8.80 | Shop → |
| African Milk Tree | Euphorbia Trigona | From $11.44 | Shop → |
| Blue Barrel Cactus | Ferocactus Glaucescens | From $10.56 | Shop → |
| Red Fire Barrel Cactus | Ferocactus Pringlei | From $13.20 | Shop → |
| Ocotillo | Fouquieria Splendens | From $56.32 | Shop → |
| Firecracker Bush | Hamelia Patens | From $7.57 | Shop → |
| Purple Lilac Vine | Hardenbergia Violacea | From $9.68 | Shop → |
| Yucca - Brakelights Red | Hesperaloe Parviflora | From $7.66 | Shop → |
| Desert Lavender | Hyptis Emoryi | From $6.60 | Shop → |
| Chuparosa | Justicia Californica | From $5.98 | Shop → |
| Mexican Honeysuckle | Justicia Spicigera | From $6.60 | Shop → |
| Lantana - New Gold | Lantana | From $5.37 | Shop → |
| Lantana - Dallas Red | Lantana Camara | From $5.19 | Shop → |
| Lantana - White | Lantana Montevidensis | From $5.19 | Shop → |
| Creosote Bush | Larrea Tridentata | From $10.56 | Shop → |
| Thunder Cloud / Violet Silverleaf Sage | Leucophyllum Candidum | From $19.80 | Shop → |
| Green Cloud Sage | Leucophyllum Frutescens | From $6.34 | Shop → |
| Rio Bravo Sage / Texas Ranger | Leucophyllum Langmaniae | From $6.34 | Shop → |
| Blackfoot Daisy | Melampodium Leucanthum | From $6.60 | Shop → |
| Muhly Grass | Muhlenbergia Capillaris | From $6.16 | Shop → |
| Deer Grass | Muhlenbergia Rigens | From $6.16 | Shop → |
| Purple Muhly Grass | Muhlenbergia Rigida | From $7.13 | Shop → |
| Bear Grass | Nolina Microcarpa | From $9.15 | Shop → |
| Little Ollie / Dwarf Olive | Olea Europaea | From $8.71 | Shop → |
| Ironwood | Olneya Tesota | From $31.68 | Shop → |
| Beavertail Prickly Pear | Opuntia Basilaris | From $8.80 | Shop → |
| Desert Prickly Pear | Opuntia Engelmannii | From $8.80 | Shop → |
| Prickly Pear - Silver Dollar | Opuntia Robusta | From $11.44 | Shop → |
| Prickly Pear - Blind | Opuntia Rufida | From $8.80 | Shop → |
| Mexican Fence Post | Pachycereus Marginatus | From $59.84 | Shop → |
| Blue Palo Verde | Parkinsonia Florida | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Foothills Palo Verde | Parkinsonia Microphylla | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Palo Brea | Parkinsonia Praecox | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Tall Slipper Plant | Pedilanthus Bracteatus | From $12.32 | Shop → |
| Rock Penstemon | Penstemon Baccharifolius | From $18.92 | Shop → |
| Beard Tongue / Firecracker Penstemon | Penstemon Eatonii | From $6.16 | Shop → |
| Parry's Penstemon | Penstemon Parryi | From $6.16 | Shop → |
| Canyon Penstemon | Penstemon Pseudospectabilis | From $18.92 | Shop → |
| Plumbago / Cape Leadwort | Plumbago Auriculata | From $6.16 | Shop → |
| Elephant's Food | Portulacaria Afra | From $6.60 | Shop → |
| Argentine Mesquite / White Mesquite | Prosopis Alba | From $96.80 | Shop → |
| Honey Mesquite | Prosopis Glandulosa | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Screwbean Mesquite | Prosopis Pubescens | From $86.24 | Shop → |
| Velvet Mesquite / Native Mesquite | Prosopis Velutina | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Paperflower | Psilostrophe Cooperi | From $19.36 | Shop → |
| Pyracantha / Firethorn | Pyracantha Fortuneana | From $9.68 | Shop → |
| Indian Hawthorn | Rhaphiolepis Indica | From $7.57 | Shop → |
| Sugar Sumac | Rhus Ovata | From $25.52 | Shop → |
| Lady Banks' Rose | Rosa Banksiae | From $9.68 | Shop → |
| Ruellia - Purple / Mexican Petunia | Ruellia Brittoniana | From $6.16 | Shop → |
| Ruellia - Desert | Ruellia Peninsularis | From $6.60 | Shop → |
| Coral Fountain | Russelia Equisetiformis | From $6.60 | Shop → |
| Cleveland Sage / Cleveland Salvia | Salvia Clevelandii | From $6.60 | Shop → |
| Mealycup Sage | Salvia Farinacea | From $6.60 | Shop → |
| Autumn Sage / Red Salvia | Salvia Greggii | From $5.54 | Shop → |
| Mexican Bush Sage | Salvia Leucantha | From $6.16 | Shop → |
| Catclaw Acacia / Wait-a-Minute Bush | Senegalia Greggii | From $8.98 | Shop → |
| Jojoba | Simmondsia Chinensis | From $7.57 | Shop → |
| Organ Pipe Cactus | Stenocereus Thurberi | From $14.96 | Shop → |
| Toothpick Cactus | Stetsonia Coryne | From $12.32 | Shop → |
| Arizona Yellow Bells | Tecoma Stans | From $6.95 | Shop → |
| Golden Dyssodia | Thymophylla Pentachaeta | From $6.16 | Shop → |
| Star Jasmine | Trachelospermum Jasminoides | From $9.68 | Shop → |
| Sweet Acacia | Vachellia Farnesiana | From $28.16 | Shop → |
| Peruvian Verbena | Verbena Peruviana | From $5.98 | Shop → |
| Sandpaper Verbena | Verbena Rigida | From $6.42 | Shop → |
| Banana Yucca | Yucca Baccata | From $11.09 | Shop → |
| Soaptree Yucca | Yucca Elata | From $11.09 | Shop → |
| Yucca - Pale Leaf | Yucca Pallida | From $51.04 | Shop → |
| Yucca - Curved-Leaf / Pendula | Yucca Recurvifolia | From $11.09 | Shop → |
| Yucca - Blue | Yucca Rigida | From $11.09 | Shop → |
| Beaked Yucca | Yucca Rostrata | From $11.09 | Shop → |
Planting & Watering Guide for Scottsdale Yards
Best time to plant
Fall (October–November) is the ideal planting window. Soil is still warm for fast root development; air temperatures have dropped enough to reduce transplant stress. Fall-planted trees and shrubs get a 6–8 month root head start before their first summer.
Spring (February–April) is the second window. Plants won’t be as established when 110°F+ days arrive, so water aggressively.
Summer planting is high-risk for trees and large shrubs. Hardy desert accents (agave, yucca, cactus) can go in any time of year.
Watering schedule
- Weeks 1–2 after planting: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow (20–30 minutes per drip emitter)
- Months 1–3: Every 3–5 days
- Months 4–12: Every 7–10 days during cool months, every 4–6 days during summer peak
- 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
Does Three Timbers handle the Desert Mountain ACC submittal for me?
Yes — if you book installation through us, we put together your plant list, prepare a basic site sketch, and submit it for ACC approval on your behalf. Book a free consultation.
What if a plant I want isn’t on Desert Mountain’s approved list?
Don’t plant it in your front yard. The ACC will require its removal. Most "unapproved" plants have an approved substitute — ask us.
How fast can you deliver?
We deliver across the Phoenix Valley Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Free delivery on orders over $150.
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 “sold out”?
Our inventory rotates weekly. Text or call 612-214-1955 and we’ll tell you exactly when it’ll be back — or suggest the closest in-stock substitute.
Want your Desert Mountain landscape installed for you?
We’re the only Phoenix Valley online nursery with our own install crew
Three Timbers Landscape Services handles everything from a single tree install to a complete front-yard rebuild. We pull your Desert Mountain guidelines, build the plant list, prep your ACC submittal, and install — usually within 2–3 weeks of your free consultation.
Most Desert Mountain front-yard installs come in between $2,500 and $8,000 depending on lot size and tree count.
Why Desert Mountain homeowners choose Three Timbers
- We did the homework. Every plant on this page has been cross-referenced against Desert Mountain’s official approved plant list.
- Same-day response. Call or text 612-214-1955.
- Free delivery. Every order over $150 ships free.
- 30-day plant warranty. The only Phoenix online nursery that backs trees and shrubs with a real 30-day replacement guarantee.
- Real Phoenix Valley landscape pros. Three Timbers Landscape Services is a local install team.
Plant pricing and availability current as of the date of publication; click through to any plant for the latest size options and price.
