# What to plant in September in Dubai

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

**Gardening's new year: prepare the soil.** Climate: mean high 39.5°C, mean low 28.9°C, rain 0 mm. 25 plants to sow or plant, 45 in flower, fruit or harvest.

## Overview

September is gardening's new year in Dubai, even though it still feels like summer. Highs average 39.5°C, but the days are shortening, the midday outdoor work ban ends on 15 September, and the first rhythm of the cool-season year begins: soil preparation, seedlings, and a handful of crops that relish the last of the heat.

Start with the ground. Clear what is spent, water deeply to wash out summer's salts, then fork in compost or aged manure so it has settled by October. Heat-loving vegetables go out as seed or seedlings now: cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkin, beans and corn, with tomatoes and peppers transplanted under afternoon shade. Sow [Basil](https://plantguide.ae/plants/basil.md) and [Zinnia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/zinnia.md), and plant [Marigold](https://plantguide.ae/plants/marigold.md). Cool-season crops wait for October and November. Patch or overseed warm-season lawns, and bring shade cloth down gradually as the weather eases. Dubai Municipality starts its early-winter bedding in September, which is your cue too.

## Sow or plant in September (25)

### 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)
- **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 · sow + plant · [page](https://plantguide.ae/plants/cucumber.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)
- **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)
- **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)

### Shrubs & climbers

- **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)
- **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)
- **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)
- **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)
- **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)
- **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)

### 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 (45)

- Samr (samr): fruiting
- Royal Poinciana (royal-poinciana): fruiting
- Frangipani (frangipani): flowering
- Olive (olive): fruiting
- Moringa (moringa): harvest
- Date Palm (date-palm): harvest
- Washingtonia Palm (washingtonia-palm): fruiting
- Foxtail Palm (foxtail-palm): flowering
- Bismarck Palm (bismarck-palm): fruiting
- Arabian Jasmine (arabian-jasmine): flowering
- Ixora (ixora): flowering
- Hibiscus (hibiscus): flowering
- Oleander (oleander): flowering
- Lantana (lantana): flowering
- Texas Sage (texas-sage): flowering
- Sea Jasmine (sea-jasmine): flowering
- Desert Rose (desert-rose): flowering
- Vinca (vinca): flowering
- Portulaca (portulaca): flowering
- Wedelia (wedelia): flowering
- Banana (banana): flowering, fruiting
- Heliconia (heliconia): flowering
- Fig (fig): harvest
- Pomegranate (pomegranate): fruiting, harvest
- Guava (guava): harvest
- Papaya (papaya): harvest
- Okra (okra): flowering, harvest
- Curry leaf (curry-leaf): flowering, fruiting, harvest
- Duranta (duranta): flowering, fruiting
- Jatropha (jatropha): 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
- Mondo grass (mondo-grass): fruiting
- 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
- Lotus (lotus): flowering

## Jobs this month: Heat begins to ease toward the end of the month

**Garden**
- Water before 8am or after 6pm to reduce evaporation loss, per DEWA guidance
- Check drip lines weekly as the work-ban period ends mid-month
- Start planning the season's planting list and lawn renovation
- Begin reducing shade cloth gradually as temperatures start to ease

**Pool**
- Continue weekly chemistry checks as heat is still high early in the month
- Inspect equipment ahead of the busier autumn pool season

## Tips

- **Prepare the soil first.** Clear spent plants, flush the beds with a deep irrigation, then add compost or aged manure. Good soil is the biggest lever you have.
- **Plant the heat-lovers.** Cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, beans, corn and tomato transplants can all go in with afternoon shade for the first fortnight.
- **Sow the early flowers and herbs.** Basil and zinnia can be sown now, and marigold planted, so the first colour arrives well ahead of winter.
- **Overseed or patch the lawn.** [Seashore paspalum](https://plantguide.ae/plants/seashore-paspalum.md) and [Bermuda grass](https://plantguide.ae/plants/bermuda-grass.md) still grow strongly in warm soil, so thin areas fill quickly.
- **Ease the shade cloth back slowly.** Remove or thin it over a few weeks as the sun eases, so established plants are not suddenly exposed.

## Watch out for

- **Still 39°C.** Plant at dusk, shade for the first fortnight and water twice a day until roots take hold.
- **Sowing lettuce too soon.** Heat-sensitive crops like lettuce, spinach and peas bolt or fail in September. Wait until October or November.
- **The work ban ends on 15 September.** Until then there is no outdoor work between 12:30 and 15:00, so plan big jobs for the morning, and for after the ban lifts.

## Related guides

- [The UAE planting calendar: what to plant in Dubai, month by month](https://plantguide.ae/guides/uae-planting-calendar)
- [Watering your garden through a Dubai summer](https://plantguide.ae/guides/watering-garden-dubai-summer)

Previous: [August](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/august.md) · Next: [October](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/october.md)