Desert Ridge Approved Plants
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.
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 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 plants
- Approved Shrubs — 27 plants
- Approved Cacti, Agaves & Architectural Accents — 7 plants
- Approved Groundcovers & Perennials — 25 plants
- Approved Grasses & Vines — 8 plants
- Planting & watering guide
- Want it installed for you?
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
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
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
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.
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.
