Desert landscaping that fits Scottsdale
Scottsdale is long and narrow, and the landscape changes as you head north. South and central Scottsdale sit on flat valley floor with mature trees and older yards that were built around grass. North Scottsdale climbs toward the McDowell Mountains and Pinnacle Peak, where lots are often studded with granite boulders and native saguaros and the city's McDowell Sonoran Preserve covers tens of thousands of acres of open desert. Plant choices that look natural in one area can look out of place in the other.
Local conditions and what grows well
Near the preserve, the goal is usually to blend in. Native and near-native plants such as foothills palo verde, ironwood, brittlebush, globe mallow, creosote and ocotillo tie a yard back to the surrounding desert. Higher foothill lots can see colder winter nights than the valley floor, so frost-tender plants like bougainvillea and some tropical-looking shrubs are better kept near walls or skipped altogether.
In central and south Scottsdale, many homeowners are replacing tired lawns and thirsty shrubs. Good choices for those yards include:
- Shade trees: Desert Museum palo verde, mesquite and sweet acacia, which handle reflected heat from pavement and block walls.
- Structure: Agaves, golden barrel cactus, desert spoon and totem pole cactus for clean, architectural lines.
- Color: Red yucca, Texas ranger, Baja fairy duster and desert marigold for blooms with modest water use.
Across the Valley, soils often hold a hard caliche layer a short way down, so planting holes need to drain. Our crews plant to that reality, and our tree watering guide explains how to water new plants through the first summer.
When to plant in Scottsdale
Fall is the best planting window in Scottsdale. Soil is still warm, so roots grow quickly, and new plants get a full mild season before the next summer. Spring works well too, especially for cactus and other heat lovers that like warm soil. Summer planting is possible, but new plants need closer attention to water through the hottest weeks.
Water and rebates in Scottsdale
Most homes are on Scottsdale Water. Its residential grass removal rebate pays up to $5,000 with a pre-inspection first; the 2026 residential round set an October 31, 2026 removal deadline, so watch for the next season. Read our Scottsdale rebate guide.
Planting notes for Scottsdale
Scottsdale runs from warm, irrigated lots near Old Town to rocky foothill lots near the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, where low spots get colder on clear winter nights. On colder north lots, lean on frost-hardy shrubs over tender ones like ficus and red bird of paradise.
Plants we recommend in Scottsdale
- Texas mountain laurel for cold-hardy screening
- Arizona rosewood and Green Hopseed along hot walls
- Desert Museum palo verde for light shade
- Parry's agave, red yucca and desert spoon for foothill accents
Helpful guides: privacy tree guide, ficus hedge guide, Phoenix xeriscape cost guide.
How it works in Scottsdale
Shop the plants you want at threetimbersshop.com and add planting and the plant survival warranty at checkout if you want them. Delivery is free anywhere in the Valley on orders over $150.
Your order arrives in two visits. Our delivery team drops the plants on the first day, and you do not need to be home. The planting crew comes back the next day and puts everything in the ground. Many Scottsdale homes sit behind community gates, so if yours does, send us the gate code before delivery day so the truck can get in.
Xeriscape design and installs, booking now
Want more than a few new plants? We are booking full xeriscape projects again: a consultation, a design, and the installation. That can include native plants, weed fabric, landscape rock, dry riverbeds and boulders, along with advice on getting more out of the irrigation you already have.
Helpful pages for Scottsdale homeowners:
Get started
Browse plants and book planting at threetimbersshop.com, or call (612) 214-1955 to talk through a Scottsdale yard or get on the list for a xeriscape consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Scottsdale pay to remove grass?
Yes. Scottsdale Water's rebate pays up to $5,000 for residential customers, with a pre-inspection before removal. The 2026 residential round set an October 31, 2026 deadline, so check the city page for the next season.
What privacy plants work in north Scottsdale?
Texas mountain laurel (hardy to about 5 F), hop bush and Arizona rosewood (about 15 F) handle the colder north Scottsdale nights better than ficus, which browns in the 20s.
Do you deliver plants to Scottsdale?
Yes. Delivery is free on orders over $150 at threetimbersshop.com, and our crew plants the next day.
