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

Vistancia's Design Review Committee enforces one of the strictest approved plant palettes in the West Valley — it bans some plants other Phoenix HOAs allow (Sissoo, Chilean Mesquite, Mexican Fan Palm, Oleander). Every front-yard plant has to come off Appendix C — and getting that wrong means rework, fines, or a rejected ACC application.

So we did the homework. We pulled Vistancia's Design Guidelines (Revised December 2024) and matched Appendix C against our nursery catalog. 153 of Vistancia's approved species are carried by Three Timbers — organized below by the same categories the DRC uses.

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

About Vistancia’s Approved Plant List

Jump to a Plant Category

• Approved Trees — 33 plants
• Approved Shrubs — 60 plants
• Approved Cacti & Accents — 34 plants
• Approved Groundcovers & Perennials — 22 plants
• Approved Vines — 4 plants
• Plants Vistancia prohibits
• Planting & watering guide
• Want it installed for you?

Approved Trees (33)

Vistancia's tree palette is built around low-water, desert-adapted species that hold their canopy through Peoria's brutal West Valley summers.

Three Timbers picks — best of trees

Full Vistancia-approved trees

Approved Shrubs (60)

Shrubs do the heavy lifting in Vistancia front yards. Three Timbers carries 60 of Vistancia's approved shrubs.

Three Timbers picks — best of shrubs

Full Vistancia-approved shrubs

Approved Cacti & Accents (34)

Cacti, agaves, and architectural accents are central to Vistancia's design language. The plants below are approved community-wide.

Three Timbers picks — best of cacti & accents

Full Vistancia-approved cacti & accents

Approved Groundcovers & Perennials (22)

Groundcovers and perennials soften the spaces between larger plants and add seasonal color.

Three Timbers picks — best of groundcovers & perennials

Full Vistancia-approved groundcovers & perennials

Approved Vines (4)

Vistancia's approved vine list is short and selective — common Phoenix vines like Cat's Claw and Trumpet Creeper are explicitly prohibited here.

Three Timbers picks — best of vines

Full Vistancia-approved vines

Plants Vistancia PROHIBITS

Vistancia’s Design Guidelines maintain a strict prohibited list, including some plants that are common elsewhere in Phoenix. Most are banned for invasive root systems, allergenic pollen, or fire/safety hazards. If a plant below is on this list, do not buy it for any Vistancia address.

Planting & Watering Guide for Vistancia Yards

Vistancia’s design intent

Vistancia's Design Guidelines are clear about the community's aesthetic: low-water Sonoran Desert character with a curated palette of approved species. The community is built into the foothills of the White Tank Mountains, with views and natural-desert backdrops that the planted landscape is meant to harmonize with — not compete against.

Best time to plant in Peoria

Fall (October–November) is the ideal planting window. Soil is still warm for fast root development, but air temperatures have dropped enough to dramatically reduce transplant stress.

Spring (February–April) is the second window. Lower stress than summer planting.

Summer planting is high-risk for trees and large shrubs. Hardy desert accents (agave, yucca, cactus) can go in any time of year.

Watering established Vistancia yards

Peoria is North/West Valley — hot summers, occasional frost in winter. Vistancia's elevation (~1,800 ft) is slightly cooler than central Phoenix.

• 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 Vistancia DRC submittal for me?

Yes — if you book installation through us, we put together your DRC 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 Vistancia’s approved list?

Don’t plant it in your front yard. Most "unapproved" plants have an approved substitute. If you wanted Chilean Mesquite, we’d recommend Native or Argentine Mesquite instead.

How fast can you deliver to Vistancia / Peoria?

Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday are our standard West Valley delivery days. 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 about Trilogy at Vistancia — is the plant list the same?

Trilogy at Vistancia is a separate Shea-managed 55+ sub-village with its own architectural rules. We haven’t found a separate published plant list for Trilogy, so the Master Village Appendix C is the safest guide. Always check with the Trilogy ALC office before submitting.

What if a plant is listed as “sold out”?

Our inventory rotates weekly. Most plants are back in stock within days. Text or call 612-214-1955 and we’ll tell you exactly when the plant will be back.

Want your Vistancia landscape installed for you?

Why Vistancia homeowners choose Three Timbers

• We did the homework. Every plant on this page has been cross-referenced against Vistancia’s Design Guidelines, Appendix C (revised December 2024).
• Same-day response. Call or text 612-214-1955.
• Free delivery to Vistancia. 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 Northwest Valley landscape pros. Three Timbers Landscape Services is a local Phoenix install team familiar with Peoria and Vistancia’s specific design standards.

Sources: Village at Vistancia Design Guidelines (Appendix C Plant List, revised December 2024).