How cold can it get before your plants experience cold damage? Before you make the effort to protect any plant in your garden from frost, make sure it needs protecting! Most desert landscape plants don’t need special winter care. Know for sure by finding the cold tolerance of over 200 plants in the charts below.
Every winter, desert gardeners have to make a judgment call when cold weather is in the forecast — “Should I cover my plants? Which ones?“
Don’t assume that all your plants need cold protection. Most desert landscape plants are sufficiently cold hardy to withstand an occasional freeze, especially if they’re native or well-established.
When you’re deciding whether to cover a particular plant, there are two things you need to consider:
- How cold is it likely to get?
- How cold hardy is that plant?
This guide is to help you with the second factor — how cold hardy your plants are.
The temperatures in the right-hand column of these charts indicate the lowest temperature a plant can withstand and still survive. Of course, as it nears that temperature, a plant may exhibit cosmetic damage, lose some or all of it’s leaves, or look a little worse for wear until new spring growth appears.
Flowers & Ground Covers
Here is the cold-hardiness of some of the more common desert landscape flowers and ground covers. Most plants on this list are perennials, but there are also a few annuals and wildflowers.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | ℉ |
| Angelita daisy | Tetraneuris acaulis | 10 |
| Arizona milkweed | Asclepias angustifolia | 10 |
| Baby sun rose | Aptenia cordifolia | 25 |
| Blackfoot daisy | Melampodium leucanthum | -20 |
| Blanket flower | Gaillardia x grandiflora | -20 |
| Bulbine | Bulbine frutescens | 15 |
| Bush morning glory | Convolvulus cneorum | 15 |
| Chaparral sage | Salvia clevelandii | 15 |
| Chocolate flower | Berlandiera lyrata | -20 |
| Coral fountain | Russelia equisetiformis | 25 |
| Damianita | Chrysactinia Mexicana | 0 |
| Desert bluebells | Phacelia campanularia | 20 |
| Desert marigold | Baileya multiradiata | -10 |
| Desert milkweed | Asclepias subulata | 20 |
| Desert senna | Senna covesii | 25 |
| Desert zinnia | Zinnia acerosa | 20 |
| Firecracker penstemon | Penstemon eatonii | -10 |
| Foxtail fern | Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myers’ | 25 |
| Gaura | Oenothera lindheimeri | 10 |
| Goodding’s verbena | Verbena gooddingii | 10 |
| Gregg’s mist | Conoclinium greggii | 0 |
| Jerusalem sage | Phlomis fruticosa | 15 |
| Madagascar periwinkle | Catharanthus roseus | 30 |
| Mealy cup sage | Salvia farinacea | 10 |
| Mexican evening primrose | Oenothera speciosa | -20 |
| Mexican petunia | Ruellia simplex | 15 |
| Mexican sunflower | Tithonia rotundifolia | 32 |
| Moss verbena | Glandularia tenera | 15 |
| Mt. Lemmon marigold | Tagetes lemmonii | 15 |
| Myoporum | Myoporum parvifolium | 15 |
| Lantana | Lantana camara | 15 |
| Lantana, trailing | Lantana montevidensis | 10 |
| Mexican hat | Ratibida columnifera | 0 |
| Moss verbena | Glandularia tenera | 20 |
| Outback sunrise emu | Eremophila glabra | 15 |
| Pansies | Viola spp. | -10 |
| Palmer’s penstemon | Penstemon palmeri | -30 |
| Paperflower | Psilostrophe cooperi | 10 |
| Parry’s penstemon | Penstemon parryi | 10 |
| Pineleaf milkweed | Asclepias linaria | 15 |
| Rock penstemon | Penstemon baccharifolius | 10 |
| Rocky Point ice plant | Malephora lutea | 15 |
| Sacred datura | Datura wrightii | 15 |
| ‘Silver Swirl’ dusty miller | Centaurea ragusina ‘Balcentsirl’ | 10 |
| Trailing indigo bush | Dalea greggii | 15 |
| Trailing lantana | Lantana montevidensis | 10 |
| Trailing rosemary | Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus‘ | 10 |
| Tufted evening primrose | Oenothera cespitosa | -30 |
| Wild sunflower | Helianthus annuus | 30 |
| Yellow dot | Sphagneticola trilobata | 25 |
Grasses
There is no need to worry about ornamental grasses in the winter. These are among the most cold hardy landscape plants you can grow.
Succulents
This list is nowhere near being complete — there are over 200 agaves alone! But I’ve included a sampling of the most popular succulents often used as landscape plants whose cold hardiness may be in question.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | ℉ |
| Aloe diablo | Aloe divaricata ‘Diablo’ | 25 |
| Aloe vera | Aloe vera | 26 |
| Argentine hedgehog | Echinopsis huascha | 10 |
| Artichoke agave | Agave parryi var. truncata | 25 |
| Baja spurge | Euphorbia xanti | 27 |
| Banana yucca | Yucca baccata | 0 |
| Bear grass | Nolina microcarpa | -10 |
| Beavertail prickly pear | Opuntia basilaris | 10 |
| Blue Elf aloe | Aloe x ‘Blue Elf’ | 20 |
| Blue flame agave | Agave x ‘Blue Flame’ | 20 |
| Blue glow agave | Agave x ‘Blue Glow’ | 15 |
| Blue yucca | Yucca rigida | 10 |
| Bunny ear’s cactus | Opuntia microdasys | 0 |
| Cape aloe | Aloe forex | 20 |
| Candelilla | Euphorbia antisyphilitica | 10 |
| Caribbean agave | Agave angustifolia | 25 |
| Century plant | Agave americana | 20 |
| Desert spoon | Dasylirion wheeleri | 0 |
| Elephant food | Portulacaria afra | 30 |
| Engelmann’s Prickly Pear | Opuntia engelmannii | 15 |
| Eve’s needle | Austrocylindropuntia subulata | 25 |
| Firesticks | Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Sticks on Fire’ | 28 |
| Foxtail agave | Agave attenuata | 25 |
| Giant hesperaloe | Hesperaloe funifera | 5 |
| Golden barrel cactus | Echinocactus grusonii | 20 |
| Gopher plant | Euphorbia rigida | 10 |
| Hesperaloe | Hesperaloe parviflora | 0 |
| Indian fig | Opuntia ficus-indica | 15 |
| Joshua tree | Yucca brevifolia | 0 |
| Lady slipper | Euphorbia lomelii | 25 |
| Mexican fence post | Lophocereus marginatus | 20* |
| Mexican grass tree | Dasylirion longissimum | 15 |
| Moroccan mound | Euphorbia resinifera | 20 |
| Ocotillo | Fouquieria splendens | 10 |
| Octopus agave | Agave vilmoriniana | 20 |
| Parry’s agave | Agave parryi | -5 |
| Peruvian apple cactus | Cereus repandus | 25 |
| Quadricolor century plant | Agave lophantha ‘Quadricolor’ | 15 |
| Queen Victoria agave | Agave victoriae-reginae | 10 |
| Saguaro | Carnegiea gigantea | 15 |
| Santa Rita prickly pear | Opuntia ‘Santa Rita’ | 15 |
| Smooth agave | Agave desmetiana | 30 |
| Soaptree yucca | Yucca elata | -10 |
| Tall slipper plant | Euphorbia bracteata | 20 |
| Torch cactus | Trichocereus hybrids | 0 |
| Totem pole cactus | Pachycereus schottii f. monstrosus | 18* |
| Twin flowered agave | Agave geminiflora | 25 |
| Weber’s agave | Agave weberi | 12 |
*Mexican fence post and totem pole cactus have frost-sensitive tips. Consider covering the tips when the temperature drops to 25.
Trees & Shrubs
Since the designation of tree or shrub can be subjective, I’ve included them on one chart. Many desert plants can be grown as either, depending on how it’s pruned.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | ℉ |
| Arizona ash | Fraxinus velutina | -10 |
| Arizona rosewood | Vauquelinia californica | 15 |
| Autumn sage | Salvia greggii | 0 |
| Baby sage | Salvia microphylla | 10 |
| Baja fairy duster | Calliandra californica | 20 |
| Baja ruellia | Ruellia californica subsp. peninsularis | 20 |
| Bee brush | Aloysia gratissima | 15 |
| Black dalea | Dalea frutescens | 0 |
| Blue bells emu | Eremophila hygrophana | 20 |
| Blue palo verde | Parkinsonia florida | 20 |
| Blue plumbago | Plumbago auriculata | 25 |
| Bougainvillea | Bougainvillea spp. | 20 |
| Brittlebush | Encelia farinosa | 10 |
| Bush dalea | Dalea pulchra | 10 |
| Cape honeysuckle | Tecoma capensis | 18 |
| Chaste tree | Vitex agnus-castus | 0 |
| Chihuahuan sage | Leucophyllum laevigatum | 10 |
| Chinese elm | Ulmus parvifolia | 0 |
| Chuperosa | Justicia californica | 25 |
| Cleveland sage | Salvia clevelandii | 10 |
| Creosote | Larrea tridentata | 5 |
| Desert hackberry | Celtis pallida | 10 |
| Desert lavender | Condea emoryi | 20 |
| Dwarf bottlebush | Dwarf bottlebrush | 15 |
| Dwarf pomegranate | Punica granatum ‘Nana’ | 10 |
| Easter egg emu | Eremophila racemosa | 20 |
| Fairy duster | Calliandra eriophylla | 20 |
| Featherbush | Lysiloma watsonii | 20 |
| Feathery senna | Senna artemisioides | 20 |
| Firecracker bush | Hamelia patens | 25 |
| Foothills palo verde | Parkinsonia florida | 15 |
| Globe mallow | Sphaeralcea ambigua | 15 |
| Guayacan | Guaiacum coulter | 25 |
| Heavenly bamboo | Nandina domestica | 10 |
| Hibiscus | Hibiscus rosa-sinensis | 20 |
| Hop bush | Dodonaea viscosa | 15 |
| Hummingbird bush | Anisacanthus quadrifidus | 5 |
| Indian hawthorne | Rhaphiolepis indica | 10 |
| Ironwood | Olneya tesota | 20 |
| Jojoba | Simmondsia chinensis | 20 |
| Knife leaf acacia | Acacia cultriformis | 20 |
| Lady Banks rose | Rosa banksiae | 10 |
| Leatherleaf acacia | Acacia craspedocarpa | 15 |
| Lemon bottlebrush | Callistemon citrinus | 20 |
| Little leaf cordia | Cordia parvifolia | 15 |
| Little Ollie | Olea europaea ‘Montra’ | 15 |
| Mastic | Pistacia lentiscus | 15 |
| Mexican bird of paradise | Caesalpinia mexicana | 15 |
| Mexican blue palm | Brahea armata | 15 |
| Mexican honeysuckle | Justicia spicigera | 10 |
| Mexican redbud | Cercis canadensis var. mexicana | -5 |
| Natal plum | Carissa macrocarpa | 26 |
| Oleander | Nerium oleander | 20 |
| Orchid tree | Bauhinia lunarioides | 15 |
| Pineapple guava | Feijoa sellowiana | 15 |
| Palo blanco | Mariosousa willardiana | 15 |
| Pomegranate | Punica granatum | 10 |
| Purple hop bush | Dodonaea viscosa ‘Purpurea’ | 18 |
| Red bird of paradise | Caesalpinia pulcherrima | 15 |
| Red justicia | Dianthera candicans | 15 |
| Rosemary | Rosmarinus officinalis | 10 |
| Sago palm | Cycas revoluta | 15 |
| San Marcos hibiscus | Gossypium harknessii | 25 |
| Shoestring acacia | Acacia stenophylla | 15 |
| Skyflower | Duranta erecta | 25 |
| Slim bottlebrush | Callistemon viminalis ‘CV01’ | 20 |
| Superstition mallow | Abutilon palmeri | 20 |
| Sweet acacia | Vachellia farnesiana | 15 |
| Texas ebony | Ebenopsis ebano | 15 |
| Texas mountain laurel | Dermatophyllum secundiflorum | 10 |
| Texas olive | Cordia boissieri | 20 |
| Texas ranger | Leucophyllum frutescens | 10 |
| Trailing indigo bush | Dalea greggii | 15 |
| Turpentine bush | Ericameria laricifolia | 0 |
| Valentine emu | Eremophila maculata ‘Valentine’ | 15 |
| Velvet mesquite | Neltuma velutina | 10 |
| Willow acacia | Acacia salicina | 20 |
| Winter Blaze emu bush | Eremophila glabra ‘Winter Blaze’ | 20 |
| Wolfberry | Lycium fremontii | 20 |
| Woolly butterfly bush | Buddleja marrubiifolia | 15 |
| Yellow bells | Tecoma stans | 10 |
| Yellow bird of paradise | Erythrostemon gilliesii | 10 |
| Yellow oleander | Cascabela thevetia | 25 |
Vines
Most vines grown in the desert are root hardy but die back in the winter, and require a hard prune in the spring to shape, control size, and rejuvenate.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | ℉ |
| Arizona grape ivy | Cissus trifoliata | -10 |
| Arizona passionflower | Passiflora arizonica | 20 |
| Black-eyed Susan vine | Thunbergia alata | 28 |
| Bower vine | Pandorea jasminoides | 25 |
| Carolina jessamine | Gelsemium sempervirens | 10 |
| Cat’s claw | Dolichandra unguis-cati | 15 |
| Creeping fig | Ficus pumila | 10 |
| Lilac vine | Hardenbergia violacea | 20 |
| Pink jasmine | Jasminum polyanthum | 25 |
| Pink trumpet vine | Podranea ricasoliana | 10 |
| Purple orchid vine | Mascagnia lilacina | 15 |
| Queen’s wreath | Antigonon leptopus | 20 |
| Snail vine | Cochliasanthus caracalla | 20 |
| Snapdragon vine | Maurandella antirrhiniflora | 10 |
| Star jasmine | Trachelospermum jasminoides | 10 |
| Tangerine crossvine | Bignonia capreolata ‘Tangerine Beauty’ | 15 |
| Trumpet creeper | Campsis radicans | – 20 |
| Yellow orchid vine | Callaeum macropterum | 20 |
| Yuca vine | Distimake aureus | 25 |
Before You Go…
As you peruse these lists, you may be pleasantly surprised to see how few desert landscape plants do not tolerate cold. Hopefully, this will relieve you from the onerous chore of covering your plants every time frost is in the forecast.
If you’d like to learn more about the plants listed here, check out our Desert Plant Library, where you’ll find comprehensive “plant profiles” of over 200 plants.
Citrus — It’s Complicated
You may be wondering why I haven’t mentioned citrus. I intentionally left citrus off the charts because it’s complicated! The cold hardiness of citrus depends on the variety as well as numerous other factors.
If you grow citrus, you’ll find the cold hardiness (and lots of other useful information) of dozens of varieties of citrus at Four Winds Growers Citrus Variety Chart.
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