🌿 PlantWise
Plant Guide

Best Plants for Phoenix, Arizona

📍 Phoenix, AZ 🌡️ USDA Zone 10a/10b 🌱 62+ 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 62+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Phoenix

Obedient Plant
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
Delightful spikes of tubular pink to lavender blooms burst in late summer, adding vibrant color to your garden. This deer-resistant, pollinator-friendly perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 with minimal care.
Zone 3–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
Purple Fountain Grass
Purple Fountain Grass
Pennisetum setaceum
Stunning burgundy-purple foliage and arching flower plumes make Purple Fountain Grass a popular ornamental. Banned in California, Arizona, and Hawaii due to catastrophic invasive spread.
Zone 9–11🦌 Deer-Resistant
View care guide →
Beautyberry
Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Vibrant clusters of bright purple berries light up fall gardens with stunning color and texture. This low-maintenance shrub thrives in USDA zones 6-10 and attracts birds while resisting deer.
Zone 6–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
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†
View care guide →
Bermuda Grass
Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon
The premier warm-season lawn grass for the South. Extremely durable, drought-tolerant, and recovers quickly from heavy use. Turns brown in winter.
Zone 7–11🐾 Pet-Friendly†
View care guide →
Petunia
Petunia
Petunia × atkinsiana
Vibrant, trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of pink, purple, and white brighten summer gardens with nonstop color. Thrives in USDA zones 9-11 and attracts pollinators while requiring minimal care.
Zone 2–11🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
Coleus
Coleus
Plectranthus scutellarioides
Vibrant, multicolored foliage brightens summer gardens with shades of red, green, and purple that last through USDA zones 10-11. This low-maintenance, shade-tolerant plant adds striking color without attracting deer.
Zone 2–11🦌 Deer-Resistant
View care guide →
Aucuba
Aucuba
Aucuba japonica
Glossy, deep green leaves speckled with bright yellow add year-round interest to shady spots. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 7-10.
Zone 7–10🦌 Deer-Resistant
View care guide →
Turk's Cap
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus
Vibrant red, hibiscus-like blooms appear from summer to fall, adding bright color to shady spots. This deer-resistant beauty thrives in USDA zones 8-11 and attracts hummingbirds.
Zone 7–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
Loropetalum
Loropetalum
Loropetalum chinense
Vibrant pink and white blooms light up this evergreen shrub in early spring, adding a splash of color from zones 7-10. Low-maintenance and pollinator-friendly, it thrives in full sun to part shade while being safe for pets.
Zone 7–10🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
Yucca
Yucca
Yucca filamentosa
Striking white, bell-shaped blooms appear in summer, creating a dramatic focal point with spiky, architectural foliage. Extremely drought-tolerant and deer resistant, this tough beauty thrives in USDA zones 4-10.
Zone 4–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
Ajuga
Ajuga
Ajuga reptans
Vibrant blue-purple blooms carpet the ground in spring, creating a stunning, low-growing display. This deer-resistant groundcover thrives in USDA zones 3-10 and attracts pollinators while requiring minimal care.
Zone 3–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →

Get a Personalized Plant List for Phoenix

Answer 4 quick questions about your yard — sun, soil, deer pressure, and pet situation — and get a custom list of plants that will thrive in Zone 10a/10b.

Start the Plant Advisor →

Other Cities in Zone 10a/10b

Los Angeles, CA San Diego, CA San Francisco, CA Mesa, AZ Miami, FL Anaheim, CA

Browse All 62+ 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.