Sonoran Foothills Approved Plants

HOA-Approved Plant Guide β€” Phoenix, AZ

Sonoran Foothills Approved Plants

Every plant below is officially approved on Sonoran Foothills's landscape guidelines 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
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 Sonoran Foothills, this is the only plant list you need.

Sonoran Foothills 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. 209 of Sonoran Foothills'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 Phoenix on orders over $150.

About Sonoran Foothills’s Approved Plant List

Community Sonoran Foothills
City Phoenix, AZ 85086 (North Phoenix)
Households ~1,400 single-family homes across multiple Neighborhoods (Pulte/Toll Brothers/Standard Pacific builders)
Developer Pulte / Standard Pacific (master plan); multi-builder
Management CCMC
Source document Sonoran Foothills Community Association Residential Design & Landscape Design Guidelines, Revised August 2015 (adopted 8/26/2015). View the source
Landscape themes Sonoran Desert / natural-area preservation. Plant palette is organized by Landscape Zone: N (Native, required in Natural Areas), E1 (Residential Yards), E2 (Backyards only), E3 (Enclosed Courtyards only), E4 (Pots only), E5 (Streetscape).
Three Timbers carries 209 of Sonoran Foothills’s approved species (35 trees, 42 shrubs, 55 accents, 59 groundcovers/perennials, 18 grasses & vines)
A note on Sonoran Foothills:

FULL formal Approved Plant List in Appendix to Landscape Design Guidelines Ҁ” one of the most thorough we have for a North Valley HOA. River rock prohibited in front yards. Polyethylene film prohibited under granite. Olives, palms, eucalyptus, all pines, and fountain grass all explicitly prohibited despite being common Phoenix landscape staples. Saguaros and ironwood designated as native (N zone).

⚠️ Heads up β€” plants we carry that Sonoran Foothills prohibits:

Sonoran Foothills's guidelines specifically prohibit: Oleanders (except Petite, rear yards no view bar only), Chilean Mesquite (in parking areas), African Sumac, Yellow Oleander, Argentine Mesquite, Damianita, Blue Hibiscus, Soaptree Yucca, Banana Yucca, Spanish Bayonet. We carry them for non-HOA gardens β€” but don't plant them here.

Jump to a Plant Category

Trees (35 approved)

Three Timbers picks β€” best of trees

Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
Mexican Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia mexicana)
Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)

All cross-HOA approved trees (35 species)

Common Name Botanical Name Starting Price Shop
Mulga Acacia aneura From $31.68 Shop β†’
Leather-Leaf Acacia Acacia craspedocarpa From $31.68 Shop β†’
Anacacho Orchid Tree Bauhinia lunarioides From $36.96 Shop β†’
Cascalote Caesalpinia cacalaco From $316.80 Shop β†’
Mexican Bird of Paradise Caesalpinia mexicana From $17.60 Shop β†’
Canyon Hackberry Celtis reticulata From $28.16 Shop β†’
Hybrid Palo Verde Cercidium 'Desert Museum' From $86.24 Shop β†’
Palo Brea Cercidium praecox From $28.16 Shop β†’
Desert Willow Chilopsis linearis From $28.16 Shop β†’
Weeping Fig Ficus benjamina From $22.26 Shop β†’
Little-Leaf Ash Fraxinus greggii From $34.85 Shop β†’
Ironwood Olneya tesota From $31.68 Shop β†’
Mastic Tree Pistacia lentiscus From $86.24 Shop β†’
Argentine Mesquite Prosopis alba From $96.80 Shop β†’
Velvet Mesquite Prosopis velutina From $28.16 Shop β†’
Chilean Mesquite Prosopis chilensis From $36.96 Shop β†’
Texas Honey Mesquite Prosopis glandulosa From $28.16 Shop β†’
Screwbean Mesquite Prosopis pubescens From $86.24 Shop β†’
Southern Live Oak Quercus virginiana From $31.68 Shop β†’
Texas Mountain Laurel Sophora secundiflora From $31.68 Shop β†’
Chaste Tree / Monk's Pepper Vitex agnus-castus From $28.16 Shop β†’
Desert Hackberry Celtis pallida From $28.16 Shop β†’
Pomegranate Punica granatum From $6.51 Shop β†’
Guajillo Acacia berlandieri From $28.16 Shop β†’
White Thorn Acacia Acacia constricta From $28.16 Shop β†’
Catclaw Acacia Acacia greggii From $28.16 Shop β†’
Blackbrush Acacia Acacia rigidula From $28.16 Shop β†’
Weeping Wattle Acacia saligna From $28.16 Shop β†’
Twisted Acacia Acacia schaffneri From $28.16 Shop β†’
Sweet Acacia Acacia smallii / farnesiana From $28.16 Shop β†’
Palo Blanco Acacia willardiana From $28.16 Shop β†’
Blue Palo Verde Cercidium floridum From $28.16 Shop β†’
Foothill Palo Verde Cercidium microphyllum From $28.16 Shop β†’
Fern of the Desert Lysiloma microphylla From $28.16 Shop β†’
Hybrid Mesquite Prosopis hybrid 'Phoenix' From $28.16 Shop β†’

Shrubs (42 approved)

Three Timbers picks β€” best of shrubs

Hop Bush (Dodonaea viscosa)
Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa)
Chuparosa (Justicia californica)

All cross-HOA approved shrubs (42 species)

Common Name Botanical Name Starting Price Shop
Bursage Ambrosia deltoidea From $6.60 Shop β†’
Flame Anisacanthus Anisacanthus quadrifidus From $6.78 Shop β†’
Desert Milkweed Asclepias subulata From $8.36 Shop β†’
Desert Bird of Paradise Caesalpinia gilliesii From $6.78 Shop β†’
Red Bird of Paradise Caesalpinia pulcherrima From $6.25 Shop β†’
Baja Red Fairy Duster Calliandra californica From $7.48 Shop β†’
Pink Fairy Duster Calliandra eriophylla From $7.48 Shop β†’
Small Leaf Cordia Cordia parvifolia From $7.48 Shop β†’
Sierra Negra Dalea Dalea frutescens 'Sierra Negra' From $7.48 Shop β†’
Hop Bush Dodonaea viscosa From $5.54 Shop β†’
Brittlebush Encelia farinosa From $5.54 Shop β†’
Valentine Emu Eremophila maculata From $7.13 Shop β†’
Turpentine Bush Ericameria laricifolia From $7.13 Shop β†’
Flattop Buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum From $7.48 Shop β†’
Firecracker / Hummingbird Bush Hamelia patens From $7.57 Shop β†’
Desert Lavender Hyptis emoryi From $6.60 Shop β†’
Chuparosa Justicia californica From $5.98 Shop β†’
Mexican Honeysuckle Justicia spicigera From $6.60 Shop β†’
Creosote Bush Larrea tridentata From $10.56 Shop β†’
Thunder Cloud Sage Leucophyllum candidum From $19.80 Shop β†’
Texas Sage Leucophyllum frutescens From $6.34 Shop β†’
Rio Bravo Sage Leucophyllum langmaniae 'Rio Bravo' From $6.34 Shop β†’
Sierra Bouquet Sage Leucophyllum pruinosum 'Sierra Bouquet' From $17.42 Shop β†’
Twisted Myrtle / Myrtle Myrtus communis From $6.16 Shop β†’
Cape Plumbago Plumbago auriculata From $6.16 Shop β†’
Baja Ruellia Ruellia peninsularis From $6.60 Shop β†’
Chaparral Sage Salvia clevelandii From $6.60 Shop β†’
Mexican Bush Sage Salvia leucantha From $6.16 Shop β†’
Jojoba Simmondsia chinensis From $7.57 Shop β†’
Yellow Bells Tecoma stans From $6.95 Shop β†’
Blue Hibiscus Alyogyne From $6.95 Shop β†’
Goldman's Cassia Cassia goldmanii From $6.16 Shop β†’
Cassia Cassia species From $6.16 Shop β†’
Desert Buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii From $7.48 Shop β†’
Red Justicia Justicia candicans From $5.98 Shop β†’
Rain Cloud Sage Leucophyllum hybrid 'Rain Cloud' From $6.34 Shop β†’
Chihuahuan Sage Leucophyllum laevigatum From $6.34 Shop β†’
Sierra Magic Sage Leucophyllum revolutum 'Sierra Magic' From $6.34 Shop β†’
Rose Rosa species From $8.10 Shop β†’
Desert Senna Senna covesii From $6.16 Shop β†’
Orange Bells Tecoma Hybrid From $6.95 Shop β†’
Goldeneye Viguiera deltoidea From $6.42 Shop β†’

Cacti, Agaves & Architectural Accents (55 approved)

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

Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea)
Elephant's Food (Portulacaria afra)
Yellow Hesperaloe (Hesperaloe parviflora - yellow)

All cross-HOA approved cacti, agaves & architectural accents (55 species)

Common Name Botanical Name Starting Price Shop
Desert Rose Adenium obesum From $10.56 Shop β†’
Saguaro Carnegiea gigantea β€” Shop β†’
Green Desert Spoon Dasylirion acrotriche From $10.30 Shop β†’
Desert Spoon Dasylirion wheeleri From $8.18 Shop β†’
Golden Barrel Echinocactus grusonii From $13.20 Shop β†’
Candelilla Euphorbia antisyphilitica From $10.56 Shop β†’
Gopher Plant Euphorbia rigida From $8.80 Shop β†’
Pencil Tree Euphorbia tirucalli From $8.80 Shop β†’
Moroccan Mound Euphorbia trigona From $11.44 Shop β†’
Blue Barrel Ferocactus glaucescens From $10.56 Shop β†’
Fishhook Barrel Ferocactus wislizeni From $13.20 Shop β†’
Boojum Tree Fouquieria columnaris From $52.80 Shop β†’
Ocotillo Fouquieria splendens From $56.32 Shop β†’
Yellow Hesperaloe Hesperaloe parviflora - yellow From $7.66 Shop β†’
Giant Hesperaloe Hesperaloe funifera From $8.71 Shop β†’
Bear Grass / Sacahuista Nolina microcarpa From $9.15 Shop β†’
Dwarf Beavertail Cactus Opuntia basilaris ramosa From $8.80 Shop β†’
Bunny Ears Opuntia microdasys From $8.80 Shop β†’
Giant Prickly Pear Opuntia robusta From $11.44 Shop β†’
Purple Prickly Pear Opuntia santa-rita From $8.80 Shop β†’
Indian Fig Opuntia ficus-indica From $8.80 Shop β†’
Lady Slipper Pedilanthus macrocarpus From $12.32 Shop β†’
Elephant's Food Portulacaria afra From $6.60 Shop β†’
Yucca Gloriosa Yucca gloriosa From $13.20 Shop β†’
Paleleaf Yucca Yucca pallida From $51.04 Shop β†’
Pendulous Yucca Yucca recurvifolia From $11.09 Shop β†’
Blue Yucca Yucca rigida From $11.09 Shop β†’
Beaked Yucca Yucca rostrata From $11.09 Shop β†’
Threadleaf Groundsel Senecio douglasii From $10.56 Shop β†’
Agave Agave species From $8.80 Shop β†’
Aloe Aloe species From $8.80 Shop β†’
Bishops Cap / Star Cactus Astrophytum From $22.88 Shop β†’
Old Man Cactus Cephalocereus From $70.40 Shop β†’
Peruvian Cereus Cereus From $13.20 Shop β†’
Grass Tree Dasylirion longissimum From $8.18 Shop β†’
Texas Sotol Dasylirion texanum From $8.18 Shop β†’
Engelmann's Hedgehog Echinocereus engelmannii From $10.56 Shop β†’
Compass Barrel Ferocactus cylindraceus From $10.56 Shop β†’
Fire Barrel Ferocactus acanthodes From $10.56 Shop β†’
Kalanchoe Kalanchoe species From $12.32 Shop β†’
Totem Pole / Senita Lophocereus From $14.08 Shop β†’
Pincushion Cactus Mammillaria From $17.60 Shop β†’
Candelabra Cactus Myrtillocactus From $12.32 Shop β†’
Bigelow Nolina Nolina bigelovii From $22.88 Shop β†’
Staghorn Cholla Opuntia acanthocarpa From $8.80 Shop β†’
Teddybear Cholla Opuntia bigelovii From $8.80 Shop β†’
Jumping Cholla Opuntia fulgida From $8.80 Shop β†’
Desert Christmas Cactus Opuntia leptocaulis From $8.80 Shop β†’
Engelmann's Prickly Pear Opuntia phaeacantha From $8.80 Shop β†’
Mexican Fencepost / Cardon Pachycereus From $14.08 Shop β†’
Organ Pipe Stenocereus From $12.32 Shop β†’
Argentine Toothpick Stetsonia From $12.32 Shop β†’
Narrow Leaf Yucca Yucca angustifolia From $11.09 Shop β†’
Twisted Leaf Yucca Yucca rupicola From $11.09 Shop β†’
Threadleaf Groundsel Senecio flaccidus From $10.56 Shop β†’

Groundcovers & Perennials (59 approved)

Three Timbers picks β€” best of groundcovers & perennials

Trailing Lantana (Lantana montevidensis)
Bush Lantana (Lantana camara)
Gazania (Gazania rigens)

All cross-HOA approved groundcovers & perennials (59 species)

Common Name Botanical Name Starting Price Shop
Desert Marigold Baileya multiradiata From $7.13 Shop β†’
Chocolate Flower Berlandiera lyrata From $6.16 Shop β†’
Fortnight Lily Dietes bicolor From $7.13 Shop β†’
Golden Euryops Euryops pectinatus From $5.98 Shop β†’
Gaura Gaura lindheimeri From $5.54 Shop β†’
Blackfoot Daisy Melampodium leucanthum From $6.60 Shop β†’
Baccharisleaf Penstemon Penstemon baccharifolius From $18.92 Shop β†’
Scarlet Bugler Penstemon barbatus From $6.16 Shop β†’
Firecracker Penstemon Penstemon eatonii From $6.16 Shop β†’
Parry's Penstemon Penstemon parryi From $6.16 Shop β†’
Canyon Penstemon Penstemon pseudospectabilis From $18.92 Shop β†’
Ruellia Ruellia brittoniana From $6.16 Shop β†’
Mealy Cup Sage Salvia farinacea From $6.60 Shop β†’
Autumn Sage Salvia greggii 'Sierra Linda' From $5.54 Shop β†’
Sierra Gold Dalea Dalea capitata 'Sierra Gold' From $7.48 Shop β†’
Trailing Indigo Bush Dalea greggii From $7.48 Shop β†’
Gazania Gazania rigens From $5.28 Shop β†’
Goldmound Lantana Lantana 'Gold Mound' From $5.37 Shop β†’
Trailing Lantana Lantana montevidensis From $5.19 Shop β†’
Myoporum Myoporum parvifolium From $5.54 Shop β†’
Trailing Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus' From $6.16 Shop β†’
Creeping Germander Teucrium chamaedrys From $6.60 Shop β†’
Native Verbena Verbena gooddingii From $6.42 Shop β†’
Prairie / Sandpaper Verbena Verbena rigida From $6.42 Shop β†’
Moss Verbena Verbena tenuisecta (pulchella) From $5.54 Shop β†’
Pineleaf Milkweed Asclepias linaria From $7.92 Shop β†’
Bush Lantana Lantana camara From $5.19 Shop β†’
Outback Sunrise Eremophila prostrata From $7.13 Shop β†’
Lilly of the Nile Agapanthus From $5.54 Shop β†’
Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa From $7.92 Shop β†’
Bat Faced Cuphea Cuphea llavea From $6.16 Shop β†’
Fortnight Lily Dietes vegeta From $5.98 Shop β†’
Green Euryops Euryops viridis From $5.98 Shop β†’
Evening Primrose Oenothera caespitosa From $6.42 Shop β†’
Penstemon Penstemon cardinalis From $6.16 Shop β†’
Palmer's Penstemon Penstemon palmeri From $6.16 Shop β†’
Penstemon Penstemon strictus From $6.16 Shop β†’
Superb Penstemon Penstemon superbus From $6.16 Shop β†’
Thurber's Penstemon Penstemon thurberi From $6.16 Shop β†’
Wright's Penstemon Penstemon wrightii From $6.16 Shop β†’
Cherry Red Sage Salvia coccinea From $5.54 Shop β†’
Desert Globemallow Sphaeralcea ambigua From $6.60 Shop β†’
Rain Lily Zephyranthes candida From $6.51 Shop β†’
Trailing Acacia Acacia redolens From $28.16 Shop β†’
Bush Morning Glory Convolvulus mauritanicus From $6.16 Shop β†’
Saltillo Primrose Oenothera stubbei From $6.42 Shop β†’
Trailing African Daisy Osteospermum fruticosum From $5.54 Shop β†’
White Plumbago Plumbago scandens From $6.16 Shop β†’
Mexican Blue Sage Salvia chamaedryoides From $5.54 Shop β†’
Quicksilver Salvia Salvia 'Quicksilver' From $5.54 Shop β†’
Yellow Dot Wedelia trilobata From $6.95 Shop β†’
Indigo Bush Dalea pulchra From $7.48 Shop β†’
Weeping Dalea Dalea versicolor From $7.48 Shop β†’
Emu Bush Eremophila glabra From $7.13 Shop β†’
Pink Emu Eremophila laanii From $7.13 Shop β†’
Blue Emu Eremophila polyclada From $7.13 Shop β†’
Easter Egg Emu Eremophila racemosa From $7.13 Shop β†’
Purple Sage Salvia leucophylla From $5.54 Shop β†’
Wild Watermelon Salvia Salvia microphylla From $5.54 Shop β†’

Vines & Ornamental Grasses (18 approved)

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

Brazilian Sky Flower (Duranta erecta)
Regal Mist Muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris 'Regal Mist')
Autumn Glow Muhly (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri 'Autumn Glow')

All cross-HOA approved vines & ornamental grasses (18 species)

Common Name Botanical Name Starting Price Shop
Coral Fountain Russelia equisetiformis From $6.60 Shop β†’
Purple Three Awn Aristida purpurea From $6.42 Shop β†’
Regal Mist Muhly Muhlenbergia capillaris 'Regal Mist' From $6.16 Shop β†’
Autumn Glow Muhly Muhlenbergia lindheimeri 'Autumn Glow' From $6.16 Shop β†’
Deer Grass Muhlenbergia rigens From $6.16 Shop β†’
Nashville Grass Muhlenbergia rigida 'Nashville' From $7.13 Shop β†’
Queen's Wreath Antigonon leptopus From $9.68 Shop β†’
Bougainvillea Bougainvillea 'Barbara Karst' From $7.66 Shop β†’
Bougainvillea Bougainvillea spectabilis From $7.66 Shop β†’
Brazilian Sky Flower Duranta erecta From $5.19 Shop β†’
Creeping Fig Ficus pumila From $9.68 Shop β†’
Yellow Flowering Jessamine Gelsemium sempervirens From $22.26 Shop β†’
Lilac Vine Hardenbergia violacea From $9.68 Shop β†’
Cat's Claw Vine Macfadyena unguis-cati From $9.68 Shop β†’
Pink Trumpet Vine Podranea ricasoliana From $9.68 Shop β†’
Lady Bank's Rose Rosa banksiae From $9.68 Shop β†’
Star Jasmine Trachelospermum jasminoides From $9.68 Shop β†’
Bamboo Muhly Muhlenbergia dumosa 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 Sonoran Foothills property?

These are the species permitted under Sonoran Foothills'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 Phoenix?

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 Sonoran Foothills'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 Sonoran Foothills'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.