# What to plant in Dubai in winter (Dec–Feb)

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

**The bloom season.** Climate: average high 25.7°C, average low 16.4°C, total rain 61.8 mm. 63 plants to sow or plant, 46 in flower, fruit or harvest.

## Overview

Dubai's winter is the season the rest of the year borrows from. Daytime highs of 24 to 27°C and nights near 15 to 17°C turn the garden from a place you manage into a place you use. It is also the only part of the year with meaningful rain, between about 16 and 25 mm a month from December to February, so irrigation controllers can ease back.

For gardeners, winter is a split season. Planting continues, because the soil is cool and roots establish steadily. Trees, palms, shrubs and climbers go in through December and January, and palms are happiest from mid-February to mid-March, according to FAO guidance for hot climates. 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), planted in autumn, is in full colour, and leafy vegetables, herbs and root crops are cropping. Sow salad leaves and herbs little and often until the end of February.

The work shifts from establishing to maintaining. Feed flowering shrubs, deadhead bedding, and prune lightly: formative pruning of young trees in December and January, and gentle shaping of summer-flowering shrubs once they have finished. [Frangipani](https://plantguide.ae/plants/frangipani.md) and other leaf-drop plants stand bare, which is dormancy, not death. Watch for aphids, which love soft winter growth, and for overwatering on cool, damp nights. By late February, start thinking about heat: slow-growing trees need to be in the ground, and summer bedding can begin hardening off.

## Sow or plant in winter (63)

### 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)
- **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 · [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 · [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 · sow · [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)
- **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

- **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)

### 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)
- **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)

### 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)
- **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)
- **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)
- **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)

### 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)
- **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)
- **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)
- **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)
- **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)

### 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)
- **Areca palm** (areca-palm) — Dypsis lutescens · نخلة الأريكا · indoor, exotic · part shade, moderate water · heat 2 salt 2 drought 2 shade 3 ease 3 · plant/sow Feb–Mar · plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/areca-palm.md)

## In flower, fruit or harvest (46)

- Sidr (sidr): flowering, fruiting
- Samr (samr): fruiting
- Royal Poinciana (royal-poinciana): fruiting
- Date Palm (date-palm): flowering
- Foxtail Palm (foxtail-palm): fruiting
- Bougainvillea (bougainvillea): flowering
- Hibiscus (hibiscus): flowering
- Yellow Bells (yellow-bells): flowering
- Arak (arak): flowering
- Hopbush (hopbush): flowering
- Petunia (petunia): flowering
- Marigold (marigold): flowering
- Zinnia (zinnia): flowering
- Desert grass (desert-grass): flowering
- Aloe vera (aloe-vera): flowering
- Crown of thorns (crown-of-thorns): flowering
- Mint (mint): harvest
- Basil (basil): flowering, harvest
- Rosemary (rosemary): flowering
- Cherry tomato (cherry-tomato): flowering, fruiting, harvest
- Banana (banana): fruiting
- Bird of paradise (bird-of-paradise): flowering
- Mango (mango): flowering
- Lemon tree (lemon-tree): flowering, harvest
- Papaya (papaya): flowering
- Mulberry (mulberry): flowering
- Chilli (chilli): flowering, harvest
- Aubergine (aubergine): flowering, harvest
- Cucumber (cucumber): harvest
- Lettuce (lettuce): harvest
- Curry leaf (curry-leaf): harvest
- Coriander (coriander): harvest
- Jatropha (jatropha): flowering
- Plumbago (plumbago): flowering
- Natal Plum (natal-plum): fruiting
- Golden Shower Tree (golden-shower-tree): fruiting
- Yellow Trumpet Tree (tabebuia-yellow): flowering
- Pink muhly (pink-muhly): flowering
- Pampas grass (pampas-grass): flowering
- Gazania (gazania): flowering
- Sunflower (sunflower): flowering
- Snapdragon (snapdragon): flowering
- Dianthus (dianthus): flowering
- Cosmos (cosmos): flowering
- Jade Plant (jade-plant): flowering
- Kalanchoe (kalanchoe): flowering

## Month by month

- [December](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/december.md): Prime planting, cool and calm (mean high 26.5°C, low 17.4°C)
- [January](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/january.md): Bloom and harvest begin (mean high 24.4°C, low 15.3°C)
- [February](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/february.md): Peak bloom, peak harvest (mean high 26.1°C, low 16.4°C)

## At a glance

- **Peak outdoor season.** Average highs run from 24 to 27°C, so planting, building and entertaining outdoors are all comfortable.
- **Plant trees, palms and shrubs.** December and January suit nearly everything; palms favour mid-February to mid-March.
- **Cool-season vegetables at their best.** Leafy greens, root crops and herbs crop through winter. Keep sowing short rows every two weeks.
- **Winter bedding in full colour.** Petunia, marigold and vinca planted in autumn are at their peak from December to March.
- **Rain is possible.** December to March is the most likely rain window. Pause irrigation after a shower.