What To Plant: Low-Water Shrubs That Thrive In Arizona

Arizona covers a wide range of elevations and microclimates, from the low Sonoran Desert basins to high mountain pines. Despite those differences, the one thing most Arizona landscapes share is the premium placed on water. Choosing the right shrubs can deliver color, structure, habitat value, and curb appeal while keeping irrigation bills and maintenance low. This guide identifies sturdy, drought-tolerant shrubs that perform well across Arizona and gives practical planting, irrigation, and maintenance advice you can apply immediately.

How to think about low-water landscaping in Arizona

Arizona is not a single climate. Low desert areas like Phoenix and Yuma routinely see summer daytime highs above 100 F and winter lows rarely below 25-30 F. Higher elevation areas such as Flagstaff and Payson have cooler summers, regular freezes, and different soil types. When I write “low-water” I mean plants that can survive and thrive with minimal supplemental irrigation once established — typically summer deep soaks every 2 to 4 weeks in the low desert rather than daily shallow watering.
Key principles to follow:

Plant for the site: match shrub sun exposure and cold tolerance to your yard’s microclimate.
Group plants by water need (hydrozoning): plants that need more frequent water go together and get a separate irrigation zone.
Establish deeply and infrequently: young shrubs need more water the first year, then wean them off to encourage deep roots.
Use appropriate mulch and soil amendment to improve establishment without creating long-term moisture traps against stems.
Choose native or well-adapted species to reduce pest, disease, and supplemental water needs.

Quick selection checklist before you plant

Sun exposure: full sun in most of Arizona for best flowering. Partial shade works for some shrubs in hot low-desert spots.
Mature size: confirm height and spread so you can space plants correctly and avoid over-crowding.
Cold tolerance: know your winter lows. Some “desert” shrubs are not freeze-hardy.
Soil and salinity: many desert soils are alkaline and saline; salt-tolerant shrubs perform better in those sites.
Purpose: screening, accent, pollinator habitat, low-maintenance massing, or erosion control.

Top low-water shrubs recommended for Arizona

Below are shrubs proven in Arizona conditions. For each I list key attributes, approximate mature size, water needs once established, recommended irrigation during establishment, pruning tips, and notes on pollinators or landscape use.

Texas sage (Leucophyllum frutescens)

Mature size: 4 to 8 feet tall and wide depending on cultivar.
Water: Very low once established. Best with occasional deep soak every 3 to 6 weeks in summer.
Sun/soil: Full sun; well-drained soils. Tolerant of alkaline soils.
Notes: Spectacular purple or pink blooms after monsoon storms; low maintenance; prune lightly to shape after bloom. Good for hedges, screens, and massing. Attracts bees and hummingbirds.

Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa)

Mature size: 2 to 4 feet tall, wide-spreading.
Water: Extremely low. No supplemental irrigation needed in many desert yards once established.
Sun/soil: Full sun; rocky, well-drained soils.
Notes: Silver foliage and bright yellow spring flowers. Good accent plant in rock gardens and slopes. Avoid heavy summer irrigation or it will become leggy.

Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata)

Mature size: 3 to 8 feet depending on site.
Water: Native desert shrub; very low water needs.
Sun/soil: Full sun; very drought and heat tolerant; thrives in poor soils.
Notes: Iconic Sonoran Desert plant with resinous foliage. Slow-growing; excellent for naturalized or restoration planting, not formal beds.

Hopbush (Dodonaea viscosa)

Mature size: 6 to 12 feet tall depending on variety and pruning.
Water: Low. Regular deep watering during establishment; can survive on infrequent water once established.
Sun/soil: Full sun to light shade; adaptable.
Notes: Good for screens and windbreaks. Some cultivars have variegated leaves. Prune to maintain shape.

Autumn sage (Salvia greggii)

Mature size: 2 to 4 feet tall and wide.
Water: Low to moderate; tolerates long dry spells. Best with deep watering every 2 to 4 weeks in low desert.
Sun/soil: Full sun; well-drained soil.
Notes: Long bloom period, attracts hummingbirds and pollinators. Cut back hard in late winter to encourage new growth.

Yellow bells (Tecoma stans)

Mature size: 6 to 15 feet tall depending on pruning (can be trained as small tree).
Water: Low to moderate; drought tough once established.
Sun/soil: Full sun; tolerant of alkaline soils.
Notes: Showy summer-orange tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds. Prune after flowering to control size and shape.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus / Salvia rosmarinus)

Mature size: 3 to 6 feet tall and wide as an informal hedge.
Water: Low; very drought tolerant once established.
Sun/soil: Full sun; excellent in sandy, well-drained soil.
Notes: Edible and fragrant evergreen used as a hedge, topiary, or specimen. Prune after flowering to maintain form. Some rosemary cultivars tolerate light freezes; protect in hard freezes.

Four-wing saltbush (Atriplex canescens)

Mature size: 3 to 6 feet tall and wide.
Water: Very low; tolerant of saline and alkaline soils.
Sun/soil: Full sun to part shade; thrives in poor soils.
Notes: Excellent for erosion control, wildlife habitat, and low-maintenance borders. Leaves are silvery and add year-round texture to the landscape.

Apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa)

Mature size: 3 to 6 feet tall and wide.
Water: Low once established; tolerates cutbacks and dry spells.
Sun/soil: Full sun; well-draining soils.
Notes: White spring flowers and feathery seed heads are a long-lasting textural feature. Good for native plant gardens and rock slopes.

Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.)

Mature size: Variable; 6 to 20+ feet if trained on a wall or trellis.
Water: Low to moderate; benefits from deep, infrequent watering in summer. Overwatering reduces flowering.
Sun/soil: Full sun; well-drained soil mandatory.
Notes: Intense, long-lasting bracts in hot colors. Needs space to dry and good drainage; protect from freezes or mulch crowns in colder microclimates.

Practical irrigation guidance (establishment and long-term)

Establishment year (first 12 months):

For small shrubs (mature width under 4 feet): provide a deep soak once to twice per week for the first 6 to 8 weeks, then reduce to every 10 to 14 days for the next few months, finally to every 3 to 4 weeks as roots develop.
For larger shrubs: use two emitters or a 2 gph emitter and run 1 to 2 hours per irrigation during the early establishment period, then reduce frequency as noted above.
Use deep, slow watering to encourage roots to go deeper rather than frequent shallow irrigations that produce surface roots.

Long-term (after establishment):

Low-water shrubs typically need a deep soak every 3 to 6 weeks in the low desert summer; frequency lengthens in cooler seasons.
Use emitters of 1 to 2 gph. Example: One 1 gph emitter run for 60 minutes delivers roughly 1 gallon. Two emitters run 60 minutes deliver 2 gallons. Adjust duration so soil is wetted 12 to 18 inches deep at the root zone.
Reduce water in fall and winter; observe plants after the first cold snaps to determine if supplemental water is needed.

Planting tips and soil prep

Dig a planting hole as deep as the root ball and 1.5 to 2 times as wide. Backfill with native soil, mixing in a small amount (10-20%) of compost only if soil is very poor. Avoid excessive organic amendments right at the crown.
Create a shallow basin or saucer around the plant to hold water during irrigation.
Place mulch (gravel or organic) 2 to 3 inches deep but keep it pulled back an inch or two from stems to prevent rot and rodent browsing.
Use mycorrhizal inoculants or compost teas sparingly — the key is not to over-fertilize. Most low-water shrubs do not require regular fertilization and excessive nitrogen promotes soft growth that needs more water.

Pruning, pests, and winter care

Prune for shape and health: late winter or immediately after heavy bloom for spring- and summer-blooming shrubs.
Watch for pests like spider mites, scale, and aphids in hot, dry weather. Healthy, well-established shrubs are less vulnerable; treat infestations early with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap if needed.
For cold-sensitive species (bougainvillea, some rosemary and yellow bells), provide frost protection during freezing nights: cover with frost cloth or move containers into sheltered microclimates.
Avoid heavy pruning in late fall; new growth can be frost-killed and cost the plant energy to regrow.

Design and grouping recommendations

Group plants by water needs. Put truly low-water shrubs together and separate those that require more frequent summer moisture.
Use structural shrubs like Texas sage, hopbush, or rosemary as anchors and intersperse flowering perennials and cacti for seasonal interest.
For street-facing beds or privacy screens, stagger shrubs and allow extra space for mature spread; crowding leads to irrigation and disease problems.
Consider multi-layered plantings with a groundcover or low grass alternative beneath larger shrubs to reduce overall exposed soil and evaporation.

Propagation and where to start

Many of these shrubs root easily from semi-hardwood cuttings (Texas sage, rosemary, hopbush). Take cuttings in spring or early summer, use a rooting hormone, and provide bottom heat or warm location.
Seed propagation is possible for native species but may take longer to reach mature size and flowering.
Buy locally or from nurseries that specialize in desert or Southwestern plants; locally grown stock is often better adapted to the heat and soil conditions in Arizona.

Final takeaways

Choose plants adapted to your specific Arizona microclimate; “desert tough” does not mean “one size fits all.”
Establish shrubs with deep, infrequent watering, then reduce frequency to rely on their drought-resilient root systems.
Group plants by water needs, use proper mulch and soil preparation, and avoid over-fertilizing.
Start with a handful of proven performers — Texas sage, brittlebush, hopbush, autumn sage, four-wing saltbush, and rosemary — and expand from there as you learn what works best in your yard.

Low-water shrub landscaping in Arizona is both practical and beautiful. With thoughtful species selection and sensible irrigation practices you can build vibrant, water-wise landscapes that save resources and look great year-round.