Native plants of the Sahara & Arabian deserts
These 36 plants belong to the Sahara & Arabian deserts. They were here before the gardens were: they know the weather, live on the rain that falls, and feed the insects and birds that grew up alongside them. Plant a few and your yard starts to fit its place.
Signature plant: Argan, native here and in no other world region on this list.
Fruit trees (5)
- Ber (Indian jujube) · zones 9–12
- Christ's thorn jujube (sidr) · zones 9–11
- Desert date · zones 9–12
- Khejri · zones 10–12
- Pomegranate · zones 7–11
Berries and small fruit (2)
Nut trees (1)
- Argan · zones 9–11
Tropical and subtropical food plants (4)
- Arabian moringa · zones 10–12
- Date palm · zones 9–11
- Doum palm · zones 9–11
- Sycamore fig · zones 10–12
Perennial vegetables, greens and herbs (8)
- Aloe vera · zones 9–11
- Ashwagandha · zones 8–11
- Caper · zones 8–11
- Drumstick (moringa, for pods) · zones 9–12
- Mediterranean saltbush · zones 8–11
- Papyrus · zones 9–11
- Sumac (Sicilian or tanner's sumac) · zones 8–10
- Tiger nut (chufa) · zones 5–11
Annual vegetables, herbs and grains (12)
- Barley · zones 2–9
- Bread wheat · zones 2–9
- Chickpea (chana) · zones 4–11
- Cumin · zones 5–11
- Einkorn · zones 3–9
- Emmer wheat · zones 3–9
- Fenugreek (methi) · zones 4–11
- Flax (linseed) · zones 3–10
- Lentil · zones 4–10
- Molokhia (jute mallow) · zones 6–12
- Pearl millet (bajra) · zones 7–12
- Watermelon · zones 3–11
Native and wild plants (1)
- Umbrella thorn acacia · zones 9–12
Helper plants for soil, wildlife and biomass (3)
- Gum arabic tree · zones 10–12
- Neem · zones 10–12
- Tree cotton · zones 8–12
Open the natives of Sahara & Arabian deserts in the planner
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All regions · Plants by hardiness zone
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home