Trees, shrubs, yuccas, grasses and groundcovers that handle Victor Valley cold, heat, wind and alkaline soil, with sourced water and hardiness ratings.
Get a Free Planting PlanThis library covers plants that handle High Desert conditions: USDA zone 8b winters, summer highs near 100°F, spring winds, alkaline sandy soil and about 5.6 inches of rain a year in Victorville. Every page lists water use for the High Desert region, cold hardiness, size, pet safety and the sources behind each number.
We built this for homeowners in Hesperia, Victorville, Apple Valley, Adelanto, Phelan, Oak Hills and Barstow who want to know what will actually live here before they buy it. Numbers come from UC Davis WUCOLS, UC extension, the San Bernardino County High Desert landscaping guide, Calscape, the ASPCA and grower spec sheets, and every page links its sources.
Every plant here is rated Very Low or Low in WUCOLS IV, Region 5, the High and Intermediate Desert. 11 plants.
Plants a cited source says attract hummingbirds. 8 plants.
California natives per Calscape (CNPS). 11 plants.
Rated hardy to 0°F or colder by a cited source. 17 plants.
| Plant | Water (High Desert) | Cold hardy to | Size | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Sage | Moderate | 0°F | 2 to 3 ft | Not on ASPCA list |
| Beaked Yucca | Very low | -10 to -20°F | 10 to 15 ft over time | Toxic (ASPCA) |
| Blue Fescue | Moderate | -30°F | 6 to 10 in | Not on ASPCA list |
| California Buckwheat | Very low | -20°F (interior form) | 2 to 3 ft | Not on ASPCA list |
| California Fuchsia | Moderate | 0°F | 3 to 18 in | Not on ASPCA list |
| Century Plant | Very low | About 10°F (zone 8a) | 3 to 6 ft tall | Not on ASPCA list |
| Chinese Pistache | Moderate | About -10°F | 30 to 35 ft | Not on ASPCA list |
| Cleveland Sage | Low | 10 to 20°F (marginal) | 3 to 4 ft | Not on ASPCA list |
| Crape Myrtle | Moderate | About 0°F (zone 7a) | 6 to 30 ft by variety | Non-toxic (ASPCA) |
| Creosote Bush | Very low | 0 to 10°F | 3 to 12 ft | Non-toxic (ASPCA) |
| Deer Grass | Moderate | -10°F | 4 to 5 ft | Not on ASPCA list |
| Desert Museum Palo Verde | Not rated for Region 5 | 15°F (borderline) | About 25 ft | Not on ASPCA list |
| Desert Willow | Moderate | -10 to 15°F by source | 20 to 25 ft | Not on ASPCA list |
| Dwarf Coyote Brush | Moderate | 0 to 10°F | 8 to 24 in tall | Not on ASPCA list |
| Honey Mesquite | Low | 0°F | About 20 ft or more | Not on ASPCA list |
| Joshua Tree | Very low | -10 to -20°F | 5 to 20 ft | Toxic (ASPCA) |
| Lantana | Moderate | 20°F (freezes back) | Trailing to upright 3 to 6 ft | Toxic (ASPCA) |
| Lavender | Moderate | -20°F (English) | 3 to 4 ft | Toxic (ASPCA) |
| Ocotillo | Very low | 0 to 20°F by source | 15 to 20 ft | Not on ASPCA list |
| Oleander | Moderate | 15 to 20°F (leaf damage) | 8 to 12 ft | Toxic (ASPCA) |
| Penstemon | Low | -30 to 15°F by species | Varies by species | Not on ASPCA list |
| Red Yucca | Low | -20°F | 3 to 4 ft | Not on ASPCA list |
| Rosemary | Moderate | About 10°F | 3 to 6 ft (upright) | Non-toxic (ASPCA) |
| Russian Sage | Low | -30°F (zone 4) | 3 to 5 ft | Not on ASPCA list |
| Texas Sage | Low | About 10°F | 4 to 10 ft | Not on ASPCA list |
Water ratings from WUCOLS IV, Region 5 (High and Intermediate Desert). Where sources disagree on cold hardiness, the range is shown; each plant page lists the sources.
Plants that handle zone 8b cold, summer heat near 100°F, strong spring wind, alkaline soil and about 5 to 8 inches of rain a year. Mojave natives like creosote bush and desert willow, and proven desert plants like red yucca, Texas sage and autumn sage, are among the most reliable. Each plant page lists its cold hardiness, water use and sources.
USDA’s 2023 map puts Hesperia, Victorville, Apple Valley, Adelanto, Phelan and Oak Hills in zone 8b and Barstow in zone 9a. See our frost dates and growing zones guide for station-by-station freeze dates.
From WUCOLS, the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species run by UC Davis, using Region 5, the High and Intermediate Desert. The ratings shown are from WUCOLS IV (2014); the current WUCOLS V database is at wucols.ucdavis.edu.
Fall is the best window for most trees, shrubs and natives, and spring after the last frost works for frost-tender plants. Victorville’s median last freeze is March 18, and one year in ten it comes after April 12, according to NOAA.
Of the plants in this library, the ASPCA lists rosemary, crape myrtle and creosote bush as non-toxic to dogs and cats. Oleander, lantana, lavender and yuccas are on the ASPCA toxic list. Many plants are not on the ASPCA list at all, and each plant page says so, so check with your vet.
Monarch designs and installs drought-tolerant plantings, drip irrigation and rockscape across the High Desert. We check sun, wind exposure and soil on your property and build a plant plan that fits it.
Get a Free Planting PlanOr call (760) 792-7627
