Arizona Desert Shrubs

Water-wise Arizona shrubs for screening, color, and structure — from Texas sage to fairy duster.

45 plants · every one a full care + fact page

shrub

Native

Superstition Mallow

Abutilon palmeri

A subtropical shrub with velvety leaves and orange-yellow flowers that attract bees and butterflies throughout the warm season.

Moderate Waterfull sun

shrub

Native

Triangleleaf Bursage

Ambrosia deltoidea

A compact Sonoran Desert native shrub with low litter and excellent pollinator value for butterflies and hummingbirds.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Bee Brush

Aloysia gratissima

A fragrant shrub from the Chihuahuan Desert that attracts abundant bees and butterflies with its scented orange-red flowers.

Low Waterfull sun

shrub

Flame Honeysuckle

Anisacanthus quadrifidus

A compact, very drought-tolerant shrub with vibrant orange-red flowers that draw bees and butterflies from summer through late fall.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Barberry

Berberis trifoliolata

A dense shrub from the Chihuahuan Desert that provides excellent forage and shelter for wildlife with its spring and summer blooms.

Low Waterfull sun

shrub

Native

Fourwing Saltbush

Atriplex canescens

A tough, extremely drought-tolerant shrub native to western North America with prickly leaves that provide shelter and food for birds.

Very Low Waterfull sun

shrub

Woolly Butterfly Bush

Buddleja marrubiifolia

A woolly-leaved shrub from the Chihuahuan Desert that is a magnet for butterflies with its orange spring and summer blooms.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Native

Golden Eye

Bahiopsis parishii

A compact Sonoran Desert native with cheerful yellow daisy flowers that attract butterflies in spring and summer.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Red Bird of Paradise

Caesalpinia pulcherrima

A tropical-looking shrub with showy red powderpuff blooms that attract butterflies and hummingbirds from spring through fall.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Baja Fairy Duster

Calliandra californica

A graceful shrub with delicate foliage and red powderpuff flowers that draw butterflies and hummingbirds throughout the warm season.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Native

Pink Fairy Duster

Calliandra eriophylla

A compact southwestern native with charming pink powderpuff flowers in spring that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Natal Plum

Carissa macrocarpa

A South African shrub with fragrant white flowers, edible fruit, and medium thorns that creates a lush oasis feel in the desert landscape.

Moderate Waterpartial shade

shrub

Native

Desert Hackberry

Celtis pallida

A large Arizona native shrub prized for its excellent wildlife value, providing food and shelter for birds and other wildlife.

Moderate Waterfull sun

shrub

Texas Olive

Cordia boissieri

A drought-tolerant shrub with showy white flowers that bloom from spring through fall, attracting birds and wildlife.

Very Low Waterfull sun

shrub

Native

Little Leaf Cordia

Cordia parvifolia

A versatile Sonoran Desert native shrub with white flower clusters, ideal for screening and low-water landscapes.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Black Dalea

Dalea frutescens

A compact shrub with rose-purple blooms in fall and early winter that attract butterflies and quail.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Native

Bush Dalea

Dalea pulchra

An Arizona native shrub with purple blooms spanning fall through spring that attract bees and butterflies.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Native

Weeping Dalea

Dalea versicolor

A graceful Sonoran Desert native with a weeping form and violet blooms in winter and spring that attract butterflies.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Native

Hop Bush

Dodonaea viscosa

A large evergreen shrub often used as a safe oleander alternative, providing excellent screening and bird habitat.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Native

Brittlebush

Encelia farinosa

An iconic Sonoran Desert native with silver foliage and bright yellow daisy flowers that support bees, butterflies, birds, and mammals.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Native

Desert Tea

Ephedra nevadensis

A unique western US native shrub with jointed stems and red tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds in late winter and spring.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Red Eremophila

Eremophila maculata

A compact Australian shrub that attracts hummingbirds and adapts well to Arizona desert conditions.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Blue Bells

Eremophila hygrophana

A compact Australian shrub with stunning violet-blue blooms from fall through spring that attract hummingbirds.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Native

Turpentine Bush

Ericameria laricifolia

A compact, fragrant Sonoran Desert native with yellow blooms in late summer and fall that support local wildlife.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Little Leaf Ash

Fraxinus greggii

A compact Chihuahuan Desert shrub with pale pink-white spring flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and moths.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Native

Flattop Buckwheat

Eriogonum fasciculatum

A compact Sonoran Desert native with white-pink summer blooms that age to rust-red seed heads and attract bees, birds, and butterflies.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

San Marcos Hibiscus

Gossypium harknessii

A compact, very drought-tolerant shrub with yellow and red summer blooms that attract bees, birds, and butterflies.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Yellow Bird of Paradise

Erythrostemon gilliesii

A showy shrub with striking yellow flowers and prominent red stamens that attract butterflies and hummingbirds from spring through fall.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Guayacan

Guaiacum coulteri

A striking Mexican shrub with deep violet-blue summer flowers that attract bees and butterflies.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Native

Desert Lavender

Hyptis emoryi

An aromatic Sonoran Desert native shrub with wooly gray foliage and small lavender-blue flowers that draw bees and hummingbirds over a long season.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Firebush

Hamelia patens

A very drought-tolerant shrub with vibrant red-orange summer flowers that are irresistible to hummingbirds.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Native

Chuparosa

Justicia californica

A large Sonoran Desert native shrub with fragrant orange-red flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds in winter and spring.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Native

Red Justicia

Justicia candicans

A compact Arizona native shrub with vivid bright red flowers from fall through spring that are a favorite of hummingbirds.

Moderate Waterpartial shadePool Safe

shrub

Violet Silverleaf

Leucophyllum candidum

A silver-leaved shrub with small yellow flowers from spring through fall that attract hummingbirds.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Native

Creosote Bush

Larrea tridentata

The iconic desert shrub known for its distinctive rain-triggered fragrance, supporting bees and wildlife across the Sonoran Desert.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Texas Sage

Leucophyllum frutescens

A very drought-tolerant shrub with deep violet blooms after monsoon rains that attract hummingbirds.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Chihuahuan Sage

Leucophyllum laevigatum

A fragrant silver-green shrub with lavender summer blooms that attract hummingbirds.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Native

Wolfberry

Lycium fremontii

A Sonoran Desert native shrub with lavender summer blooms that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Langman's Sage

Leucophyllum langmaniae

A lush green sage with spring blooms that attract butterflies and hummingbirds, offering a softer look than silver-leaved varieties.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Mangle Dulce

Maytenus phyllanthoides

A large, very drought-tolerant shrub from Baja California and Sonora with white-lavender blooms that attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and birds.

Very Low Waterfull sun

shrub

Oleander

Nerium oleander

A widely used screening shrub with colorful blooms, though all parts are poisonous to humans and animals.

Moderate Waterfull sun

shrub

Pomegranate

Punica granatum

An ornamental and productive shrub prized for its edible fruit, white summer blooms, and value to birds.

Moderate Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Native

White Plumbago

Plumbago zeylanica

A compact Arizona native shrub with distinctive red buds that open to cream-colored flowers, attracting butterflies in spring.

Moderate Waterpartial shadePool Safe

shrub

Native

Sugar Bush

Rhus ovata

A large Arizona native shrub with orange-red spring blooms, edible fruit, and strong bee appeal.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

shrub

Native

Yellow Bells

Tecoma stans

Arizona native that produces masses of trumpet-shaped yellow flowers from spring through fall.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe