Tree
Desert Museum Palo Verde
AE Featured
Common nursery sizes: 15 gal, 24" box, 36" box
Similar substitutes
- Blue Palo Verde
- Foothills Palo Verde
- Mulga Acacia
- Desert Willow
- Texas Ebony
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
AE Local Availability Layer
AE Recommended & Locally Available Plants
AE Recommended plants are commonly used in Arizona outdoor living projects and are generally more realistic to source through local nursery channels. Availability, size, pricing, and quality still vary by season and project timing, so AE confirms final plant availability during design.
Featured plants are selected for local availability, design value, Arizona performance, and practical installation.
AE Recommended plants are chosen because they are typically more realistic for Arizona projects. Specialty plants, rare varieties, premium specimens, fruit trees, and seasonal items may still be available, but AE will verify size, quality, and inventory before including them in your final design.
AE Best First 40 Plants
A Starting Collection for Arizona Yards
Start here. These are commonly used, commonly available, Arizona-friendly plants that fit many AE Outdoor Living projects when placed correctly.
45 plants
Common AE Pick
Tree
Blue Palo Verde
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Tree
Desert Willow
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Tree
Texas Ebony
AE Recommended
Thorns — review placement near walkways and pool decks.
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Tree
Mulga Acacia
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Tree
Willow Acacia
Good Common Option
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Tree
Fruitless Olive
AE Featured
Verify true fruitless variety (Swan Hill / Wilsonii) — some 'fruitless' stock still fruits.
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Tree
Red Push Pistache
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Tree
Chinese Pistache
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Tree
Texas Mountain Laurel
AE Designer Favorite
Seeds are toxic to people and pets — note placement near play areas.
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Texas Sage
AE Featured
Similar substitutes
- Little Leaf Cordia
- Baja Fairy Duster
- Bush Germander
- Arizona Rosewood
- Jojoba
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Green Hopseed Bush
AE Recommended
Similar substitutes
- Purple Hopseed
- Arizona Rosewood
- Mastic Tree
- Texas Ebony
- Dwarf Myrtle
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Purple Hopseed
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Little Leaf Cordia
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Baja Fairy Duster
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Red Bird of Paradise
AE Recommended
Frost-sensitive — cuts back hard in cold winters.
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Mexican Bird of Paradise
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Yellow Bells / Orange Bells
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Jojoba
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Arizona Rosewood
AE Designer Favorite
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Valentine Bush
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Rosemary
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Dwarf Myrtle
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Bush Germander
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Cape Honeysuckle
Common But Use With Care
Grows large fast — confirm space and pruning expectations.
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Accent
Red Yucca
AE Featured
Similar substitutes
- Brakelights Red Yucca
- Yellow Yucca
- Giant Hesperaloe
- Firecracker Penstemon
- Damianita
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Accent
Brakelights Red Yucca
AE Designer Favorite
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Accent
Blue Agave
AE Featured
Sharp terminal spine — keep away from walkways and play areas.
Similar substitutes
- Parry's Agave
- Blue Glow Agave
- Artichoke Agave
- Desert Spoon
- Toothless Sotol
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Accent
Blue Glow Agave
AE Designer Favorite
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Accent
Parry's Agave
AE Recommended
Sharp terminal spine.
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Accent
Desert Spoon
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Accent
Toothless Sotol / Mexican Grass Tree
AE Designer Favorite
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Accent
Beaked Yucca
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Accent
Ocotillo
Common But Use With Care
Sharp spines + native/protected — verify legal sourcing.
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Cactus
Golden Barrel Cactus
AE Featured
Severe spines — keep well away from walkways, pool steps, and play areas.
Similar substitutes
- Compass Barrel
- Fishhook Barrel
- Small agave grouping
- Desert Spoon
- Totem Pole Cactus
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Cactus
Totem Pole Cactus
AE Designer Favorite
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Cactus
Mexican Fence Post Cactus
AE Recommended
Spines — placement review near patios/walkways.
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Grass/Groundcover
Deer Grass
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Grass/Groundcover
Pink Muhly Grass
AE Designer Favorite
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Grass/Groundcover
Lantana
Common But Use With Care
Toxic to dogs and cats — berries/leaves. Place away from pet access.
Similar substitutes
- Damianita
- Blackfoot Daisy
- Angelita Daisy
- Goodding's Verbena
- Trailing Rosemary
- Dalea
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Grass/Groundcover
Damianita
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Grass/Groundcover
Trailing Rosemary
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Grass/Groundcover
Blackfoot Daisy
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Grass/Groundcover
Goodding's Verbena
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Grass/Groundcover
Dalea
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Browse by Collection
AE Recommended is the default. Specialty plants, fruit trees, pollinator plants, and use-with-care plants are kept in the library for education but labeled clearly.
Tree
Desert Museum Palo Verde
AE Featured
Common nursery sizes: 15 gal, 24" box, 36" box
Similar substitutes
- Blue Palo Verde
- Foothills Palo Verde
- Mulga Acacia
- Desert Willow
- Texas Ebony
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Tree
Blue Palo Verde
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Tree
Desert Willow
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Tree
Texas Ebony
AE Recommended
Thorns — review placement near walkways and pool decks.
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Tree
Mulga Acacia
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Tree
Fruitless Olive
AE Featured
Verify true fruitless variety (Swan Hill / Wilsonii) — some 'fruitless' stock still fruits.
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Tree
Red Push Pistache
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Tree
Chinese Pistache
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Tree
Texas Mountain Laurel
AE Designer Favorite
Seeds are toxic to people and pets — note placement near play areas.
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Texas Sage
AE Featured
Similar substitutes
- Little Leaf Cordia
- Baja Fairy Duster
- Bush Germander
- Arizona Rosewood
- Jojoba
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Green Hopseed Bush
AE Recommended
Similar substitutes
- Purple Hopseed
- Arizona Rosewood
- Mastic Tree
- Texas Ebony
- Dwarf Myrtle
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Purple Hopseed
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Little Leaf Cordia
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Baja Fairy Duster
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Red Bird of Paradise
AE Recommended
Frost-sensitive — cuts back hard in cold winters.
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Mexican Bird of Paradise
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Yellow Bells / Orange Bells
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Jojoba
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Arizona Rosewood
AE Designer Favorite
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Valentine Bush
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Rosemary
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Dwarf Myrtle
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Shrub
Bush Germander
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Accent
Red Yucca
AE Featured
Similar substitutes
- Brakelights Red Yucca
- Yellow Yucca
- Giant Hesperaloe
- Firecracker Penstemon
- Damianita
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Accent
Brakelights Red Yucca
AE Designer Favorite
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Accent
Blue Agave
AE Featured
Sharp terminal spine — keep away from walkways and play areas.
Similar substitutes
- Parry's Agave
- Blue Glow Agave
- Artichoke Agave
- Desert Spoon
- Toothless Sotol
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Accent
Blue Glow Agave
AE Designer Favorite
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Accent
Parry's Agave
AE Recommended
Sharp terminal spine.
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Accent
Desert Spoon
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Accent
Toothless Sotol / Mexican Grass Tree
AE Designer Favorite
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Accent
Beaked Yucca
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Cactus
Golden Barrel Cactus
AE Featured
Severe spines — keep well away from walkways, pool steps, and play areas.
Similar substitutes
- Compass Barrel
- Fishhook Barrel
- Small agave grouping
- Desert Spoon
- Totem Pole Cactus
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Cactus
Totem Pole Cactus
AE Designer Favorite
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Cactus
Mexican Fence Post Cactus
AE Recommended
Spines — placement review near patios/walkways.
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Grass/Groundcover
Deer Grass
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Grass/Groundcover
Pink Muhly Grass
AE Designer Favorite
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Grass/Groundcover
Damianita
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Grass/Groundcover
Trailing Rosemary
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Grass/Groundcover
Blackfoot Daisy
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Grass/Groundcover
Goodding's Verbena
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Grass/Groundcover
Dalea
AE Recommended
AE Note: Final size and availability confirmed during design.
Availability shown is a planning guide only. AE confirms final plant size, quality, and availability before installation.