# What to plant in April in Dubai

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/april · Updated: 2026-10-05
Source: Ghaf Gardens (https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/april)

**Last planting, then shade and mulch.** Climate: mean high 33.7°C, mean low 22.3°C, rain 7 mm. 33 plants to sow or plant, 70 in flower, fruit or harvest.

## Overview

April is the last call. Highs reach 34°C, the cool season is over, and every plant you add now has to establish while the weather tightens its grip. That does not mean stop. Heat-lovers such as okra, sweet potato, chilli and Armenian cucumber go in happily, as do [Vinca](https://plantguide.ae/plants/vinca.md), [Portulaca](https://plantguide.ae/plants/portulaca.md) and well-adapted succulents, provided you can give them attention for the first fortnight.

The bigger job is protection. Move watering to the early morning, mulch every bed 5 to 7 cm deep, and fit 30 to 50% shade cloth over new planting and sensitive vegetables before May. Ease off feeding slow-growing natives; they do not need pushing into summer. Cool-season vegetables are finished, so clear the beds. Service the irrigation now, while a blocked emitter is an annoyance rather than a casualty.

## Sow or plant in April (33)

### Vegetables & herbs

- **Okra** (okra) — Abelmoschus esculentus · بامية · vegetable, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 5 salt 2 drought 3 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Feb–May · sow · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/okra.md)
- **Chilli** (chilli) — Capsicum annuum · فلفل حار · vegetable, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 3 salt 2 drought 2 shade 2 ease 3 · plant/sow Feb–Apr, Aug–Nov · sow · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/chilli.md)
- **Cucumber** (cucumber) — Cucumis sativus · خيار · vegetable, exotic · full sun, high water · heat 2 salt 2 drought 1 shade 1 ease 3 · plant/sow Feb–Apr, Aug–Oct · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/cucumber.md)
- **Curry leaf** (curry-leaf) — Murraya koenigii · أوراق الكاري · herb, exotic · sun to part shade, moderate water · heat 3 salt 2 drought 2 shade 3 ease 3 · plant/sow Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/curry-leaf.md)

### Flowers

- **Portulaca** (portulaca) — Portulaca grandiflora · flower, exotic · full sun, very low water · heat 5 salt 2 drought 5 shade 1 ease 5 · plant/sow Mar–Jun · sow · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/portulaca.md)
- **Bird of paradise** (bird-of-paradise) — Strelitzia reginae · flower, exotic · sun to part shade, moderate water · heat 4 salt 2 drought 4 shade 3 ease 4 · plant/sow Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/bird-of-paradise.md)
- **Celosia** (celosia) — Celosia argentea · flower, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 5 salt 2 drought 3 shade 2 ease 4 · plant/sow Mar–Jun · sow + plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/celosia.md)
- **Heliconia** (heliconia) — Heliconia psittacorum · flower, exotic · part shade, high water · heat 2 salt 1 drought 1 shade 3 ease 2 · plant/sow Mar–Apr, Sep–Oct · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/heliconia.md)

### Trees & palms

- **Moringa** (moringa) — Moringa oleifera · مورينجا · tree, adapted · full sun, low water · heat 5 salt 3 drought 4 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Mar–Apr, Sep–Oct · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/moringa.md)
- **Washingtonia Palm** (washingtonia-palm) — Washingtonia robusta · نخيل واشنطونيا · palm, adapted · full sun, low water · heat 5 salt 3 drought 3 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/washingtonia-palm.md)
- **Banana** (banana) — Musa acuminata · موز · tree, exotic · full sun, high water · heat 3 salt 1 drought 1 shade 2 ease 2 · plant/sow Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/banana.md)
- **Traveller's palm** (travellers-palm) — Ravenala madagascariensis · tree, exotic · full sun, high water · heat 4 salt 1 drought 2 shade 2 ease 2 · plant/sow Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/travellers-palm.md)
- **Papaya** (papaya) — Carica papaya · بابايا · fruit-tree, exotic · full sun, high water · heat 3 salt 2 drought 1 shade 2 ease 2 · plant/sow Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/papaya.md)

### Shrubs & climbers

- **Wedelia** (wedelia) — Sphagneticola trilobata · groundcover, exotic · sun to part shade, low water · heat 4 salt 2 drought 3 shade 3 ease 5 · plant/sow Mar–Apr, Sep–Oct · plant (advisory: caution) · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/wedelia.md)
- **Desert Rose** (desert-rose) — Adenium obesum · وردة الصحراء · succulent, native · full sun, very low water · heat 5 salt 2 drought 5 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Mar–Apr, Sep–Oct · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/desert-rose.md)
- **Coral vine** (coral-vine) — Antigonon leptopus · climber, exotic · full sun, low water · heat 5 salt 3 drought 4 shade 2 ease 4 · plant/sow Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov · plant (advisory: caution) · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/coral-vine.md)
- **Rangoon creeper** (rangoon-creeper) — Combretum indicum · climber, exotic · sun to part shade, moderate water · heat 4 salt 2 drought 3 shade 3 ease 4 · plant/sow Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/rangoon-creeper.md)
- **Allamanda** (allamanda) — Allamanda cathartica · climber, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 4 salt 2 drought 3 shade 2 ease 4 · plant/sow Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/allamanda.md)
- **Passion flower** (passion-flower) — Passiflora caerulea · climber, exotic · sun to part shade, moderate water · heat 3 salt 2 drought 2 shade 3 ease 3 · plant/sow Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/passion-flower.md)
- **Elephant ear** (elephant-ear) — Alocasia macrorrhizos · shrub, exotic · part shade, high water · heat 2 salt 1 drought 1 shade 5 ease 2 · plant/sow Mar–Apr, Sep–Oct · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/elephant-ear.md)

### Lawn & grasses

- **Vetiver** (vetiver) — Chrysopogon zizanioides · ornamental-grass, exotic · full sun, low water · heat 5 salt 4 drought 4 shade 2 ease 5 · plant/sow Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov · plant (advisory: caution) · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/vetiver.md)
- **Bermuda grass** (bermuda-grass) — Cynodon dactylon · ثيل · grass, adapted · full sun, moderate water · heat 5 salt 3 drought 5 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Mar–May, Sep–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/bermuda-grass.md)
- **Lemongrass** (lemongrass) — Cymbopogon citratus · ornamental-grass, exotic · sun to part shade, moderate water · heat 4 salt 2 drought 2 shade 2 ease 4 · plant/sow Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lemongrass.md)
- **Seashore paspalum** (seashore-paspalum) — Paspalum vaginatum · باسبالم · grass, adapted · full sun, moderate water · heat 5 salt 5 drought 4 shade 2 ease 3 · plant/sow Mar–May, Sep–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/seashore-paspalum.md)
- **Zoysia grass** (zoysia-grass) — Zoysia matrella · زويسيا · grass, exotic · sun to part shade, moderate water · heat 4 salt 3 drought 3 shade 4 ease 3 · plant/sow Mar–May, Sep–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/zoysia-grass.md)
- **St Augustine grass** (st-augustine-grass) — Stenotaphrum secundatum · grass, exotic · sun to part shade, high water · heat 3 salt 3 drought 2 shade 5 ease 2 · plant/sow Mar–May, Sep–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/st-augustine-grass.md)

### Indoor

- **Peace lily** (peace-lily) — Spathiphyllum wallisii · زنبق السلام · indoor, exotic · part shade, moderate water · heat 1 salt 1 drought 2 shade 4 ease 4 · plant/sow Feb–Apr · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/peace-lily.md)
- **Anthurium** (anthurium) — Anthurium andraeanum · أنثوريوم · indoor, exotic · part shade, moderate water · heat 1 salt 1 drought 2 shade 2 ease 2 · plant/sow Mar–May · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/anthurium.md)
- **Calathea** (calathea) — Goeppertia spp. (syn. Calathea) · indoor, exotic · part shade, moderate water · heat 1 salt 1 drought 1 shade 3 ease 2 · plant/sow Apr–Jun · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/calathea.md)

### Water plants

- **Umbrella Sedge** (umbrella-sedge) — Cyperus involucratus · aquatic, adapted · sun to part shade, high water · heat 4 salt 2 drought 2 shade 3 ease 4 · plant/sow Mar–Apr, Sep–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/umbrella-sedge.md)
- **Water Lily** (water-lily) — Nymphaea (tropical hybrids) · زنبق الماء · aquatic, exotic · sun to part shade, high water · heat 4 salt 1 drought 1 shade 2 ease 3 · plant/sow Mar–May, Sep–Oct · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/water-lily.md)
- **Lotus** (lotus) — Nelumbo nucifera · لوتس · aquatic, exotic · full sun, high water · heat 5 salt 1 drought 1 shade 2 ease 3 · plant/sow Mar–Apr · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lotus.md)
- **Papyrus** (papyrus) — Cyperus papyrus · بردي · aquatic, exotic · sun to part shade, high water · heat 4 salt 2 drought 1 shade 2 ease 3 · plant/sow Mar–May, Sep–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/papyrus.md)

## In flower, fruit or harvest (70)

- Ghaf (ghaf): flowering
- Sidr (sidr): harvest
- Tamarisk (tamarisk): flowering
- Neem (neem): flowering
- Frangipani (frangipani): flowering
- Pink Trumpet Tree (pink-trumpet-tree): flowering
- Olive (olive): flowering
- Moringa (moringa): flowering
- Damas (damas): flowering
- Date Palm (date-palm): fruiting
- Foxtail Palm (foxtail-palm): flowering
- Bismarck Palm (bismarck-palm): flowering
- Bougainvillea (bougainvillea): flowering
- Arabian Jasmine (arabian-jasmine): flowering
- Ixora (ixora): flowering
- Hibiscus (hibiscus): flowering
- Oleander (oleander): flowering
- Yellow Bells (yellow-bells): flowering
- Lantana (lantana): flowering
- Arak (arak): flowering, fruiting
- Texas Sage (texas-sage): flowering
- Hopbush (hopbush): flowering, fruiting
- Sea Jasmine (sea-jasmine): flowering
- Desert Rose (desert-rose): flowering
- Wedelia (wedelia): flowering
- Desert grass (desert-grass): flowering
- Crown of thorns (crown-of-thorns): flowering
- Mint (mint): harvest
- Basil (basil): flowering, harvest
- Cherry tomato (cherry-tomato): harvest
- Bird of paradise (bird-of-paradise): flowering
- Traveller's palm (travellers-palm): flowering
- Heliconia (heliconia): flowering
- Mango (mango): flowering, fruiting
- Lemon tree (lemon-tree): harvest
- Fig (fig): fruiting
- Pomegranate (pomegranate): flowering
- Guava (guava): flowering
- Papaya (papaya): fruiting, harvest
- Mulberry (mulberry): fruiting, harvest
- Okra (okra): flowering
- Chilli (chilli): harvest
- Aubergine (aubergine): flowering, harvest
- Cucumber (cucumber): harvest
- Lettuce (lettuce): harvest
- Curry leaf (curry-leaf): flowering, harvest
- Coriander (coriander): flowering, harvest
- Duranta (duranta): flowering
- Jatropha (jatropha): flowering
- Plumbago (plumbago): flowering
- Ruellia (ruellia): flowering
- Natal Plum (natal-plum): flowering, fruiting
- Bottlebrush (bottlebrush): flowering
- Parkinsonia (parkinsonia): flowering
- Yellow Trumpet Tree (tabebuia-yellow): flowering
- Purple fountain grass (fountain-grass): flowering
- Lemongrass (lemongrass): harvest
- Coral vine (coral-vine): flowering
- Rangoon creeper (rangoon-creeper): flowering
- Allamanda (allamanda): flowering
- Passion flower (passion-flower): flowering
- Sesuvium (sesuvium): flowering
- Gazania (gazania): flowering
- Sunflower (sunflower): flowering
- Snapdragon (snapdragon): flowering
- Dianthus (dianthus): flowering
- Cosmos (cosmos): flowering
- Prickly Pear (prickly-pear): flowering
- Kalanchoe (kalanchoe): flowering
- Water Lily (water-lily): flowering

## Jobs this month: Heat is building; shift watering to early morning

**Garden**
- Move watering to early morning as daytime temperatures climb past 30°C
- Mulch beds to slow moisture loss as the soil warms
- Watch new transplants closely; they are still establishing root systems
- Reduce feeding of slow-growing natives; they do not need pushing into summer

**Pool**
- Increase testing frequency as evaporation and UV exposure rise
- Clean skimmer baskets more often as leaf and blossom drop increases

## Tips

- **Plant only what loves the heat.** Stick to okra, sweet potato, chillies, Armenian cucumber, vinca and portulaca. Anything that is not heat-adapted should wait for autumn.
- **Water earlier and deeper.** Shift to the cool end of the day and give established trees a deep soak rather than frequent sprinkles. Roots follow water down, and deeper roots cope with summer.
- **Mulch every bed.** Lay 5 to 7 cm of organic mulch, kept a hand's width away from stems and trunks.
- **Put the shade cloth up.** Use 30 to 50% density over young trees, shrubs and vegetable beds, fixed so it does not touch the leaves.
- **Service the irrigation.** Walk each drip line and look for blocked or popped-out emitters before the heat peaks.

## Watch out for

- **Transplant shock in heat.** A plant set out on a 35°C afternoon can lose its leaves in a day. Plant at dusk or early morning and shade it straight away.
- **Feeding into summer.** Pushing growth now creates soft tissue that struggles later. Reduce feeding as the heat builds.
- **Spider mites.** Hot, dry weather suits them. Look for fine webbing and stippled leaves on beans, cucumbers and ornamentals.

## Related guides

- [Watering your garden through a Dubai summer](https://plantguide.ae/guides/watering-garden-dubai-summer)

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