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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Phoenix, Arizona

📍 Phoenix, AZ 🌡️ USDA Zone 10a/10b 🌱 61+ compatible plants

Gardening in Phoenix

Phoenix falls in USDA Hardiness Zone 10a/10b, which means your plants need to survive winters with minimum temperatures in the 30°F to 40°F range. The 61+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Phoenix

Toyon
Toyon
Heteromeles arbutifolia
Bright red berries and glossy green leaves provide vibrant winter color and attract birds from December through March. This drought-tolerant, deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 8-11 with minimal care.
Zone 7–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Zoysia Grass
Zoysia Grass
Zoysia japonica
A dense, slow-growing warm-season grass that forms a thick carpet resistant to weeds, drought, and foot traffic. Excellent for families with dogs.
Zone 6–11🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Esperanza
Esperanza
Tecoma stans
Vibrant golden-yellow trumpet-shaped blooms light up summer through fall, adding a burst of sunshine to any garden. This drought-tolerant shrub attracts hummingbirds and thrives in USDA zones 8-11.
Zone 8–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Marigold
Marigold
Tagetes patula
Bright orange and yellow blooms light up gardens from summer to fall, adding vibrant color and cheer. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant flower thrives in USDA zones 2-11 and attracts pollinators.
Zone 2–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Muhly Grass
Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Delicate pink-purple blooms create a stunning airy cloud in fall, adding vibrant seasonal interest. This drought-tolerant grass thrives in USDA zones 5-9 and requires minimal care.
Zone 5–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Begonia (Wax)
Begonia (Wax)
Begonia × semperflorens-cultorum
Bright, glossy leaves and vibrant pink, red, or white blooms brighten summer gardens with nonstop color. This low-maintenance beauty thrives in shade and is deer resistant, USDA zones 10-11.
Zone 2–11🦌 Deer-Resistant
David Austin Shrub Rose
David Austin Shrub Rose
Rosa Graham Thomas
Vibrant golden-yellow blooms brighten summer to fall, radiating a rich, classic rose fragrance. This hardy shrub thrives in USDA zones 5-9 and resists deer while attracting pollinators.
Zone 5–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Brittlebush
Brittlebush
Encelia farinosa
Bright yellow blooms light up spring and summer with a cheerful desert vibe. This drought-tolerant shrub thrives in USDA zones 8-11 and attracts pollinators while resisting deer.
Zone 8–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Calibrachoa (Million Bells)
Calibrachoa (Million Bells)
Calibrachoa × hybrida
Vibrant, trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of pink, purple, and red brighten gardens from spring through fall. This low-maintenance beauty thrives in USDA zones 9-11 and attracts pollinators effortlessly.
Zone 2–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
St. Augustine Grass
St. Augustine Grass
Stenotaphrum secundatum
The dominant lawn grass of Florida and the Gulf Coast. Thrives in heat, humidity, and partial shade — one of the few lawn grasses that tolerates shade.
Zone 8–11🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Desert Willow
Desert Willow
Chilopsis linearis
Delight in the Desert Willow’s trumpet-shaped pink to lavender blooms that brighten summer landscapes with vibrant color. This drought-tolerant, deer-resistant tree thrives in USDA zones 7-10, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies.
Zone 7–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Brown Turkey Fig Tree
Brown Turkey Fig Tree
Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey'
Sweet, reddish-brown figs ripen in late summer, offering a delicious harvest and attractive, lobed leaves. This drought-tolerant tree thrives in USDA zones 7-10 and resists deer browsing.
Zone 7–10🐾 Pet-Friendly†

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Other Cities in Zone 10a/10b

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Browse All 61+ Plants for Zone 10a/10b

The 12 picks above are a sample. Use the full directory to filter by sun, water, deer resistance, and more.

View All Zone 10 Plants →

† "Pet-friendly" means not listed as toxic by ASPCA for dogs and/or cats. Always supervise pets around plants. ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435.