Desert Ridge Approved Plants

HOA-Approved Plant Guide — Phoenix, AZ

Desert Ridge Approved Plants

Every plant below is officially approved by Desert Ridge and available from Three Timbers. No guesswork. No ACC rejections. Just plants that will get approved and thrive in your Phoenix 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
📞 Same-day response
Call or text 612-214-1955
Seeing “Sold out” on a plant you want? Our inventory rotates weekly — 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 Desert Ridge, this is the only plant list you need.

Desert Ridge has separate Front Yard and Rear Yard approved lists. Rear Yard allows more options. Front Yard sticks to the desert aesthetic.

We pulled Desert Ridge's approved plant list and matched it against our nursery catalog. 80 of Desert Ridge'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 Ridge’s Approved Plant List

Community Desert Ridge Community Association
City Phoenix, Arizona (North Phoenix)
Source document Desert Ridge Residential — Front Yard + Rear Yard plant lists
Three Timbers carries 80 of Desert Ridge's approved species (13 trees, 27 shrubs, 7 cacti, agaves & architectural accents, 25 groundcovers & perennials, 8 grasses & vines)

Jump to a Plant Category

Approved Trees (13)

Trees anchor every Phoenix Valley landscape. Below are the Desert Ridge-approved trees Three Timbers carries.

Three Timbers picks — best of Desert Ridge's trees

Texas Ebony (Ebenopsis Ebano)
Texas Ebony — the long-game tree. Slow but ironclad evergreen with a tight, sculpted canopy.
Ironwood (Olneya Tesota)
Ironwood — the most drought-tolerant shade tree in the Sonoran Desert.

Full Desert Ridge-approved trees

Common Name Botanical Name Starting Price Shop
Mulga Acacia Aneura From $31.68 Shop →
Leather-Leaf Acacia Acacia Craspedocarpa From $31.68 Shop →
Shoestring Acacia Acacia Stenophylla From $28.16 Shop →
Cascalote Caesalpinia Cacalaco From $316.80 Shop →
Desert Willow Chilopsis Linearis From $28.16 Shop →
Wild-Olive, Anacahuita Cordia Boissieri From $28.16 Shop →
Mescal Bean Dermatophyllum Secundiflorum From $31.68 Shop →
Texas Ebony Ebenopsis Ebano From $31.68 Shop →
Ironwood Olneya Tesota From $31.68 Shop →
Desert Museum Hybrid Parkinsonia From $86.24 Shop →
Screwbean Mesquite Prosopis Pubescens From $86.24 Shop →
Sweet Acacia Vachellia Farnesiana From $28.16 Shop →
Willow Acacia Vachellia Salicina From $28.16 Shop →

Approved Shrubs (27)

Shrubs do the heavy lifting in Desert Ridge yards. Three Timbers carries 27 approved shrubs.

Three Timbers picks — best of Desert Ridge's shrubs

Compact Texas Sage (Leucophyllum Frutescens)
Texas Sage — silver foliage, purple monsoon blooms, the West Valley's most reliable mid-height shrub.
Green Hopbush (Dodonaea Viscosa)
Green Hopseed — the #1 privacy hedge plant. Grows 2–3 ft/year, evergreen, non-invasive roots.
Red Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia Pulcherrima)
Red Bird of Paradise — fast-growing summer color.

Full Desert Ridge-approved shrubs

Common Name Botanical Name Starting Price Shop
Triangle-Leaf Bursage Ambrosia Deltoidea From $6.60 Shop →
Desert Honeysuckle Anisacanthus Thurberi From $6.78 Shop →
Desert Milkweed Asclepias Subulata From $8.36 Shop →
Bougainvillea Bougainvillea From $7.66 Shop →
Mexican Bird of Paradise Caesalpinia Mexicana From $17.60 Shop →
Red Bird of Paradise Caesalpinia Pulcherrima From $6.25 Shop →
Baja Fairy Duster Calliandra Californica From $7.48 Shop →
Pink Fairy Duster Calliandra Eriophylla From $7.48 Shop →
Desert Hackberry Celtis Pallida From $28.16 Shop →
Damianita Chrysactinia Mexicana From $7.74 Shop →
Little Leaf Cordia Cordia Parvifolia From $7.48 Shop →
Green Hopbush Dodonaea Viscosa From $5.54 Shop →
Brittle Bush Encelia Farinosa From $5.54 Shop →
Flattop Buckwheat Eriogonum Fasciculatum From $7.48 Shop →
Desert Lavender Hyptis Emoryi From $6.60 Shop →
Shrimp Plant Justicia Brandegeeana From $5.98 Shop →
Chuparosa Justicia Californica From $5.98 Shop →
Mexican Honeysuckle Justicia Spicigera From $6.60 Shop →
Creosote Bush Larrea Tridentata From $10.56 Shop →
Silver Cloud Sage Leucophyllum Candidum From $19.80 Shop →
Compact Texas Sage Leucophyllum Frutescens From $6.34 Shop →
Blue Ranger Leucophyllum Zygophyllum From $6.34 Shop →
Russian Sage Perovskia Atriplicifolia From $7.57 Shop →
Feathery Cassia Senna Artemisioides From $6.16 Shop →
Jojoba Simmondsia Chinensis From $7.57 Shop →
Yellow Bells Tecoma Stans From $6.95 Shop →
Pink Rain Lily Zephyranthes Grandiflora From $6.51 Shop →

Approved Cacti, Agaves & Architectural Accents (7)

Cacti, agaves, and architectural accents are the personality plants. Three Timbers stocks 7 of Desert Ridge's approved accents.

Three Timbers picks — best of Desert Ridge's cacti, agaves & architectural accents

Desert Spoon / Sotol (Dasylirion Wheeleri)
Desert Spoon — Arizona native, blue-gray sunburst form, no spines, holds shape for decades.
Saguaro (Carnegiea Gigantea)
Saguaro — the king of the Sonoran Desert.

Full Desert Ridge-approved cacti, agaves & architectural accents

Common Name Botanical Name Starting Price Shop
Saguaro Carnegiea Gigantea From $0.00 Shop →
Green Desert Spoon Dasylirion Acrotriche From $10.30 Shop →
Desert Spoon / Sotol Dasylirion Wheeleri From $8.18 Shop →
Golden Barrel Echinocactus Grusonii From $13.20 Shop →
Ocotillo Fouquieria Splendens From $56.32 Shop →
Senita Lophocereus Schottii From $14.08 Shop →
Beargrass Nolina Microcarpa From $9.15 Shop →

Approved Groundcovers & Perennials (25)

Groundcovers, perennials, and seasonal color plants. 25 options below, all proven in the Arizona heat.

Full Desert Ridge-approved groundcovers & perennials

Common Name Botanical Name Starting Price Shop
Flame Anisacanthus Anisacanthus Quadrifidus From $6.78 Shop →
Pine-Leaf Milkweed Asclepias Linaria From $7.92 Shop →
Blue Grama Bouteloua Gracilis From $8.71 Shop →
Shrubby Bulbine Bulbine Frutescens From $5.98 Shop →
Mediterranean Fan Palm Chamaerops Humilis From $35.20 Shop →
Dwarf Citrus Citrus From $112.64 Shop →
Sago Cycas Revoluta From $49.28 Shop →
Sierra Gold Dalea Dalea Capitata From $7.48 Shop →
Black Dalea Dalea Frutescens From $7.48 Shop →
Duranta Duranta Erecta From $5.19 Shop →
Littleleaf Ash Fraxinus Greggii From $34.85 Shop →
Gaura Gaura Lindheimeri From $5.54 Shop →
Firecracker Bush Hamelia Patens From $7.57 Shop →
Hibiscus Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis From $6.16 Shop →
Lynn's Everblooming Leucophyllum Langmaniae From $6.34 Shop →
Rocky Point Ice Plant Malephora Lutea From $6.60 Shop →
Seedless Olive Olea Europaea From $8.71 Shop →
Cape Plumbago Plumbago Auriculata From $6.16 Shop →
Firethorn Pyracantha Coccinea From $26.39 Shop →
Sugar Bush Rhus Ovata From $25.52 Shop →
Rose Rosa From $8.10 Shop →
Dwarf Rosemary Rosmarinus Officinalis From $6.16 Shop →
Cat Claw Acacia Senegalia Greggii From $8.98 Shop →
Windmill Palm Trachycarpus Fortunei From $269.28 Shop →
Chaste Tree Vitex Agnus-Castus From $28.16 Shop →

Approved Grasses & Vines (8)

Vines cover walls and fences; ornamental grasses add movement. 8 approved options below.

Full Desert Ridge-approved grasses & vines

Common Name Botanical Name Starting Price Shop
Coral Vine Antigonon Leptopus From $9.68 Shop →
Desert Marigold Baileya Multiradiata From $7.13 Shop →
Trailing Dalea Dalea Greggii From $7.48 Shop →
Blackfoot Daisy Melampodium Leucanthum From $6.60 Shop →
Trailing Myoporum Myoporum Parvifolium From $5.54 Shop →
Paper Flower Psilostrophe Cooperi From $19.36 Shop →
Katie Ruellia Ruellia Brittoniana From $6.16 Shop →
Snail Vine Vigna Caracalla From $9.68 Shop →

Planting & Watering Guide for Phoenix 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 Ridge 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 Ridge’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 Ridge 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 Ridge guidelines, build the plant list, prep your ACC submittal, and install — usually within 2–3 weeks of your free consultation.

Most Desert Ridge front-yard installs come in between $2,500 and $8,000 depending on lot size and tree count.

Book Your Free Desert Ridge Consultation →

Why Desert Ridge homeowners choose Three Timbers

  • We did the homework. Every plant on this page has been cross-referenced against Desert Ridge’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.