# What to plant in October in Dubai Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/october · Updated: 2026-10-05 Source: Ghaf Gardens (https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/october) **Prime planting month.** Climate: mean high 35.9°C, mean low 25.4°C, rain 1 mm. 90 plants to sow or plant, 46 in flower, fruit or harvest. ## Overview October is the starting gun. Highs fall below 36°C for the first time since April, nights ease towards 25°C, and the soil is still warm enough to push roots fast, which is why this is the busiest planting month in Dubai. Trees, palms, shrubs, climbers and groundcovers all go in now, as does new turf, and the first of the cool-season vegetables follow: broccoli, cabbage, root crops and herbs. Winter bedding such as [Petunia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/petunia.md), [Marigold](https://plantguide.ae/plants/marigold.md) and [Vinca](https://plantguide.ae/plants/vinca.md) goes in for colour from December. Buy the best plants you can afford. A larger, healthier nursery plant set out in October will overtake a smaller one planted in spring, because it spends a whole cool season establishing instead of one summer fighting. Dig the hole twice the width of the rootball, soak it, and keep the new plant moist, not wet, for the first weeks. Reduce irrigation frequency gradually as the days cool, and overseed or renovate natural lawns. Hold lettuce and spinach until November, when nights cool a little more. ## Sow or plant in October (90) ### Vegetables & herbs - **Mint** (mint) — Mentha spicata · نعناع · herb, exotic · part shade, high water · heat 2 salt 1 drought 1 shade 3 ease 4 · plant/sow Sep–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/mint.md) - **Rosemary** (rosemary) — Salvia rosmarinus · إكليل الجبل · herb, exotic · full sun, low water · heat 5 salt 2 drought 5 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/rosemary.md) - **Basil** (basil) — Ocimum basilicum · ريحان · herb, exotic · sun to part shade, moderate water · heat 3 salt 1 drought 1 shade 2 ease 3 · plant/sow Sep–Nov · sow · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/basil.md) - **Cherry tomato** (cherry-tomato) — Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme · طماطم كرزية · vegetable, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 2 salt 1 drought 2 shade 1 ease 3 · plant/sow Sep–Dec · sow · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/cherry-tomato.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 + plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/chilli.md) - **Aubergine** (aubergine) — Solanum melongena · باذنجان · vegetable, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 4 salt 2 drought 2 shade 1 ease 3 · plant/sow Feb–Mar, Aug–Nov · sow + plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/aubergine.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) - **Lettuce** (lettuce) — Lactuca sativa · خس · vegetable, exotic · sun to part shade, moderate water · heat 1 salt 2 drought 1 shade 3 ease 3 · plant/sow Oct–Feb · sow + plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lettuce.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) - **Coriander** (coriander) — Coriandrum sativum · كزبرة · herb, exotic · sun to part shade, moderate water · heat 1 salt 2 drought 1 shade 3 ease 3 · plant/sow Oct–Feb · sow · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/coriander.md) ### Flowers - **Marigold** (marigold) — Tagetes erecta · قطيفة · flower, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 3 salt 2 drought 3 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Sep–Oct · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/marigold.md) - **Zinnia** (zinnia) — Zinnia elegans · زينيا · flower, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 4 salt 2 drought 3 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Sep–Oct · sow · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/zinnia.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) - **Gazania** (gazania) — Gazania rigens · غازانيا · flower, exotic · full sun, low water · heat 4 salt 3 drought 4 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Dec · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/gazania.md) - **Sunflower** (sunflower) — Helianthus annuus · عباد الشمس · flower, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 2 salt 2 drought 3 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Dec · sow · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/sunflower.md) - **Cosmos** (cosmos) — Cosmos bipinnatus · flower, exotic · full sun, low water · heat 3 salt 2 drought 4 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Dec · sow · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/cosmos.md) - **Petunia** (petunia) — Petunia × atkinsiana · بترونيا · flower, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 2 salt 2 drought 2 shade 1 ease 3 · plant/sow Jan–Feb, Sep–Oct · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/petunia.md) - **Snapdragon** (snapdragon) — Antirrhinum majus · flower, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 2 salt 2 drought 2 shade 2 ease 3 · plant/sow Oct–Jan · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/snapdragon.md) - **Dianthus** (dianthus) — Dianthus chinensis · flower, exotic · sun to part shade, moderate water · heat 2 salt 2 drought 3 shade 2 ease 3 · plant/sow Oct–Dec · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/dianthus.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 - **Ghaf** (ghaf) — Prosopis cineraria · غاف · tree, native · full sun, very low water · heat 5 salt 4 drought 5 shade 1 ease 5 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/ghaf.md) - **Sidr** (sidr) — Ziziphus spina-christi · سدر · tree, native · full sun, very low water · heat 5 salt 4 drought 5 shade 1 ease 5 · plant/sow Oct–Feb · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/sidr.md) - **Samr** (samr) — Vachellia tortilis · سمر · tree, native · full sun, very low water · heat 5 salt 4 drought 5 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Feb · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/samr.md) - **Tamarisk** (tamarisk) — Tamarix aphylla · أثل · tree, native · full sun, very low water · heat 5 salt 4 drought 5 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Feb · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/tamarisk.md) - **Neem** (neem) — Azadirachta indica · نيم · tree, adapted · full sun, low water · heat 5 salt 3 drought 4 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Feb · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/neem.md) - **Frangipani** (frangipani) — Plumeria rubra · فرانجيباني · tree, adapted · full sun, low water · heat 5 salt 2 drought 4 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Feb · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/frangipani.md) - **Olive** (olive) — Olea europaea · زيتون · tree, adapted · full sun, low water · heat 5 salt 3 drought 5 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Feb · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/olive.md) - **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) - **Pomegranate** (pomegranate) — Punica granatum · رمان · fruit-tree, adapted · full sun, low water · heat 5 salt 2 drought 4 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Feb · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/pomegranate.md) - **Mulberry** (mulberry) — Morus alba · توت · fruit-tree, adapted · full sun, moderate water · heat 5 salt 2 drought 4 shade 2 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Feb · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/mulberry.md) - **Pink Trumpet Tree** (pink-trumpet-tree) — Tabebuia rosea · تابوبيا وردية · tree, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 4 salt 2 drought 3 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Feb · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/pink-trumpet-tree.md) - **Foxtail Palm** (foxtail-palm) — Wodyetia bifurcata · نخيل ذيل الثعلب · palm, exotic · sun to part shade, moderate water · heat 4 salt 3 drought 3 shade 2 ease 4 · plant/sow Feb–Mar, Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/foxtail-palm.md) - **Bismarck Palm** (bismarck-palm) — Bismarckia nobilis · نخيل بسمارك · palm, exotic · full sun, low water · heat 5 salt 3 drought 5 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Feb–Mar, Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/bismarck-palm.md) - **Golden Shower Tree** (golden-shower-tree) — Cassia fistula · خيار شنبر · tree, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 4 salt 3 drought 3 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/golden-shower-tree.md) - **Yellow Trumpet Tree** (tabebuia-yellow) — Tabebuia aurea · tree, exotic · full sun, low water · heat 4 salt 3 drought 4 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/tabebuia-yellow.md) - **Date Palm** (date-palm) — Phoenix dactylifera · نخيل التمر · palm, native · full sun, moderate water · heat 5 salt 4 drought 4 shade 1 ease 3 · plant/sow Oct–Feb · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/date-palm.md) - **Lemon tree** (lemon-tree) — Citrus × limon · ليمون · fruit-tree, adapted · full sun, moderate water · heat 3 salt 1 drought 2 shade 2 ease 3 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lemon-tree.md) - **Fig** (fig) — Ficus carica · تين · fruit-tree, adapted · full sun, moderate water · heat 4 salt 3 drought 3 shade 1 ease 3 · plant/sow Oct–Feb · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/fig.md) - **Guava** (guava) — Psidium guajava · جوافة · fruit-tree, adapted · full sun, moderate water · heat 4 salt 3 drought 3 shade 2 ease 3 · plant/sow Feb–Mar, Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/guava.md) - **Royal Poinciana** (royal-poinciana) — Delonix regia · بونسيانة · tree, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 4 salt 2 drought 3 shade 1 ease 3 · plant/sow Oct–Feb · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/royal-poinciana.md) - **Bottlebrush** (bottlebrush) — Callistemon viminalis · tree, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 4 salt 3 drought 3 shade 2 ease 3 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/bottlebrush.md) - **Parkinsonia** (parkinsonia) — Parkinsonia aculeata · شوك القدس · tree, exotic · full sun, low water · heat 5 salt 4 drought 5 shade 1 ease 3 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant (advisory: caution) · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/parkinsonia.md) - **Mango** (mango) — Mangifera indica · مانجو · fruit-tree, adapted · full sun, moderate water · heat 4 salt 1 drought 3 shade 1 ease 2 · plant/sow Feb–Mar, Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/mango.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 - **Arak** (arak) — Salvadora persica · أراك · shrub, native · full sun, very low water · heat 5 salt 5 drought 5 shade 1 ease 5 · plant/sow Oct–Feb · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/arak.md) - **Hopbush** (hopbush) — Dodonaea viscosa · مشراس · shrub, native · full sun, low water · heat 5 salt 4 drought 5 shade 1 ease 5 · plant/sow Oct–Feb · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/hopbush.md) - **Sesuvium** (sesuvium) — Sesuvium portulacastrum · groundcover, native · full sun, very low water · heat 5 salt 5 drought 4 shade 2 ease 5 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/sesuvium.md) - **Sea Jasmine** (sea-jasmine) — Clerodendrum inerme · ياسمين بري · shrub, adapted · full sun, low water · heat 4 salt 5 drought 4 shade 2 ease 5 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/sea-jasmine.md) - **Aloe vera** (aloe-vera) — Aloe vera · صبر · succulent, adapted · sun to part shade, very low water · heat 4 salt 2 drought 5 shade 2 ease 5 · plant/sow Feb–Mar, Sep–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/aloe-vera.md) - **Lantana** (lantana) — Lantana camara · shrub, exotic · full sun, low water · heat 5 salt 4 drought 5 shade 2 ease 5 · plant/sow Feb–Mar, Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lantana.md) - **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) - **Agave** (agave) — Agave americana · أغاف · succulent, exotic · full sun, very low water · heat 5 salt 3 drought 5 shade 1 ease 5 · plant/sow Mar, Sep–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/agave.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) - **Texas Sage** (texas-sage) — Leucophyllum frutescens · shrub, exotic · full sun, low water · heat 5 salt 3 drought 5 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Feb–Mar, Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/texas-sage.md) - **Crown of thorns** (crown-of-thorns) — Euphorbia milii · تاج الشوك · succulent, exotic · full sun, low water · heat 5 salt 3 drought 4 shade 2 ease 4 · plant/sow Sep–Nov · plant (advisory: caution) · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/crown-of-thorns.md) - **Duranta** (duranta) — Duranta erecta · shrub, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 4 salt 2 drought 3 shade 3 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/duranta.md) - **Jatropha** (jatropha) — Jatropha integerrima · shrub, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 5 salt 2 drought 3 shade 2 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant (advisory: caution) · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/jatropha.md) - **Plumbago** (plumbago) — Plumbago auriculata · shrub, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 4 salt 2 drought 3 shade 2 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/plumbago.md) - **Ruellia** (ruellia) — Ruellia simplex · shrub, exotic · sun to part shade, moderate water · heat 4 salt 2 drought 3 shade 3 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/ruellia.md) - **Natal Plum** (natal-plum) — Carissa macrocarpa · shrub, exotic · full sun, low water · heat 4 salt 4 drought 4 shade 2 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/natal-plum.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) - **Jade Plant** (jade-plant) — Crassula ovata · succulent, exotic · sun to part shade, low water · heat 3 salt 2 drought 5 shade 3 ease 4 · plant/sow Feb–Mar, Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/jade-plant.md) - **Prickly Pear** (prickly-pear) — Opuntia ficus-indica · تين شوكي · succulent, exotic · full sun, very low water · heat 5 salt 3 drought 5 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Feb–Mar, Oct–Nov · plant (advisory: caution) · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/prickly-pear.md) - **Golden Barrel Cactus** (golden-barrel-cactus) — Echinocactus grusonii · succulent, exotic · full sun, very low water · heat 5 salt 2 drought 5 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Feb–Mar, Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/golden-barrel-cactus.md) - **Pencil Cactus** (pencil-cactus) — Euphorbia tirucalli · succulent, exotic · full sun, very low water · heat 5 salt 4 drought 5 shade 2 ease 4 · plant/sow Feb–Mar, Oct–Nov · plant (advisory: caution) · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/pencil-cactus.md) - **Kalanchoe** (kalanchoe) — Kalanchoe blossfeldiana · succulent, exotic · sun to part shade, low water · heat 3 salt 2 drought 4 shade 4 ease 4 · plant/sow Feb–Mar, Oct–Nov · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/kalanchoe.md) - **Ficus Nitida** (ficus-nitida) — Ficus microcarpa 'Nitida' · تين الغار · shrub, exotic · sun to part shade, moderate water · heat 4 salt 3 drought 3 shade 3 ease 3 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant (advisory: caution) · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/ficus-nitida.md) - **Acalypha** (acalypha) — Acalypha wilkesiana · shrub, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 4 salt 2 drought 2 shade 3 ease 3 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/acalypha.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 - **Desert grass** (desert-grass) — Pennisetum divisum · ثمام · ornamental-grass, native · full sun, very low water · heat 5 salt 4 drought 5 shade 1 ease 5 · plant/sow Sep–Dec · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/desert-grass.md) - **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) - **Lomandra** (lomandra) — Lomandra longifolia · ornamental-grass, exotic · sun to part shade, low water · heat 4 salt 3 drought 4 shade 3 ease 5 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lomandra.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) - **Purple fountain grass** (fountain-grass) — Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum' · ornamental-grass, adapted · full sun, low water · heat 4 salt 3 drought 4 shade 2 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant (advisory: caution) · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/fountain-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) - **Pink muhly** (pink-muhly) — Muhlenbergia capillaris · ornamental-grass, exotic · full sun, low water · heat 4 salt 4 drought 4 shade 1 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/pink-muhly.md) - **Mondo grass** (mondo-grass) — Ophiopogon japonicus · ornamental-grass, exotic · part shade, moderate water · heat 3 salt 4 drought 2 shade 5 ease 4 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/mondo-grass.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) - **Pampas grass** (pampas-grass) — Cortaderia selloana · ornamental-grass, exotic · full sun, moderate water · heat 4 salt 4 drought 3 shade 2 ease 3 · plant/sow Oct–Mar · plant (advisory: caution) · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/pampas-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) ### 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) - **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 (46) - Samr (samr): fruiting - Royal Poinciana (royal-poinciana): fruiting - Olive (olive): harvest - Foxtail Palm (foxtail-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 - Texas Sage (texas-sage): flowering - Sea Jasmine (sea-jasmine): flowering - Desert Rose (desert-rose): flowering - Petunia (petunia): flowering - Marigold (marigold): flowering - Zinnia (zinnia): flowering - Wedelia (wedelia): flowering - Crown of thorns (crown-of-thorns): flowering - Banana (banana): fruiting - Bird of paradise (bird-of-paradise): flowering - Heliconia (heliconia): flowering - Pomegranate (pomegranate): harvest - Guava (guava): harvest - Okra (okra): flowering, harvest - Cucumber (cucumber): harvest - Curry leaf (curry-leaf): flowering, fruiting, harvest - Duranta (duranta): flowering, fruiting - Jatropha (jatropha): flowering - Plumbago (plumbago): flowering - Ruellia (ruellia): flowering - Natal Plum (natal-plum): fruiting - Golden Shower Tree (golden-shower-tree): fruiting - Purple fountain grass (fountain-grass): flowering - Lemongrass (lemongrass): harvest - Pink muhly (pink-muhly): flowering - Mondo grass (mondo-grass): fruiting - Pampas grass (pampas-grass): flowering - Coral vine (coral-vine): flowering - Rangoon creeper (rangoon-creeper): flowering - Allamanda (allamanda): flowering - Passion flower (passion-flower): flowering - Sesuvium (sesuvium): flowering - Celosia (celosia): flowering - Prickly Pear (prickly-pear): fruiting - Water Lily (water-lily): flowering ## Jobs this month: Planting season opens — the busiest month in the garden **Garden** - Plant trees, palms, shrubs and climbers now that the cool season has begun - Overseed or renovate natural lawns to thicken them for the season ahead - Start seasonal bedding displays for winter colour - Resume a normal feeding programme for actively growing plants - Ease back irrigation frequency as temperatures drop **Pool** - Chlorine demand starts easing; recheck balance weekly as the routine changes - Clean up increased leaf litter as deciduous trees begin to drop ## Tips - **Plant trees, palms and shrubs.** This is the month to do it: warm soil, cooling air and six months of mild weather ahead. Palms and trees such as [Ghaf](https://plantguide.ae/plants/ghaf.md) and [Date Palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/date-palm.md) establish fastest now. - **Buy bigger, not more.** One larger specimen planted in October outgrows three small ones planted in spring, because it skips a year of establishment stress. - **Start the vegetable garden.** Broccoli, cabbage, root crops and herbs go in from October. Raised beds with good soil and a drip line are the easiest way to begin. - **Overseed and renovate lawns.** Scarify, top-dress and overseed thin areas while the soil is warm, so the lawn thickens for the season ahead. - **Sow winter colour.** Petunia, marigold and vinca planted now are in flower for the peak outdoor season. ## Watch out for - **Watering on a summer schedule.** As temperatures fall, plants need less water. Taper the frequency over a few weeks instead of changing it overnight. - **Planting too deep.** Set the top of the rootball level with the surrounding soil. Burying the trunk base invites rot. - **A late hot spell.** A 37°C afternoon in October can still scorch new transplants. Keep shade cloth to hand. ## Related guides - [The UAE planting calendar: what to plant in Dubai, month by month](https://plantguide.ae/guides/uae-planting-calendar) - [Paspalum vs Bermuda grass: which lawn suits your Dubai garden?](https://plantguide.ae/guides/paspalum-vs-bermuda-grass-dubai) Previous: [September](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/september.md) · Next: [November](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/november.md)