100 Desert Flowers
in natural color

Copyright 1963 by the Southwestern Monuments Association. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote short excerpts in a review for publication in a magazine or newspaper.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 63-13471
First Printing, 1963—20,000
Second Printing, 1965—20,000
Third Printing, (revised) 1967—20,000

Printed in the United States of America
W. A. Krueger Co., Tyler Div. · Phoenix, Arizona

If you're interested in desert flowers and want to take stunning photos of them, the following tips might be useful.

MOTION is a big hazard in still photography, and flowers, especially those on long, thin stems, always seem to be moving because of the constant desert breeze. The best way to deal with this issue is to plan your photography trips, if you can, in the early morning when the air is most likely to be still. A flower picture that's blurred by motion is a total failure!

Except for movement, nothing will annoy you more than the sudden, frequent, and noticeable CHANGES IN LIGHTING caused by small clouds drifting across the sun. Once again, early morning has the upper hand with usually clear desert skies. Clouds can be expected after 10 o’clock on many days.

DEPTH OF FIELD is very important in flower photography, and you’ll be happy with the results if you make sure that all parts of the picture, except the background, are in sharp focus. This goal has become easier to achieve with the introduction of “faster” films, which allow you to use the necessary small diaphragm “stop” without significantly lowering the shutter speed and still get good exposures.

Too many flower photographers miss the opportunity to take truly CLOSE-UP SHOTS. A single flower or a small group of flowers makes for a much more appealing and meaningful image than a whole plant. One flower, maybe accompanied by a bud, a piece of fruit, and a bit of foliage, if well-composed, is the best among flower photos. Achieving this requires camera gear that can focus on objects close to the lens. It also makes it more challenging to ensure that all parts of the picture are in sharp focus.

UNCLUTTERED BACKGROUNDS are essential in flower photography. You might want to join other flower photographers who carry plain gray or variously colored background cards or lightweight boards. A card or board of contrasting color placed behind the flower can do wonders to make it stand out. One way to get a dark background is to have someone (or if you're flexible enough, you can do it yourself) stand in a position to cast a shadow on the ground or foliage behind the subject. The sky makes a great background, and it will be useful whenever you can set your camera lower than the subject.

With the above points in mind, look at the pictures in this booklet with the goal of trying to improve upon their quality. By being careful and patient, you should be able to do it.

When Webster defined a desert as a “dry, barren region, largely treeless and sandy,” he wasn’t thinking about the 50,000 square mile Great American Desert of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Most of it is usually dry and some parts may be sandy, but overall, it’s far from barren and treeless. It's heavily populated with gray-green shrubs, small but sturdy trees, unique forests of odd-looking cacti and stiff-leaved yuccas, and countless herbaceous plants. After rainy periods, the desert transforms into a stunning landscape covered with delicate, fragrant wildflowers. Edmund C. Jaegar, who has written several books on deserts, reports that the California deserts alone have more than 700 species of flowering plants.

The late Dr. Forrest Shreve, who was the Director of the Desert Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution near Tucson, Arizona for many years, defined a desert as “a region of insufficient and unpredictable rainfall.” He divided the Great American Desert into four main sections: (1) Chihuahuan (chee-WAH-wahn), which includes the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Coahuila (coa-WHEE-lah), southwestern Texas, and south-central New Mexico; (2) Sonoran, which includes Baja California, southwestern Arizona, and northwestern Sonora; (3) Mojave (moh-HAH-vee), Colorado, which includes southeastern California and extreme southern Nevada; (4) Great Basin, which includes Nevada, Utah, southwestern Idaho, and southeastern Oregon.

Since the steppes and mesas of the Great Basin Desert have generally lower temperatures, higher elevations, and more precipitation than the other three sections, we are not including its flowers in this work.

The Great American Desert creates, when conditions are right, a beautiful display of wildflowers. Trees, shrubs, and herbs all add to the beauty of the show. Soil quality, slope and sunlight, right temperatures, and enough moisture are crucial for plant growth and flowering.

Moisture is the unpredictable element, and years can go by without enough rainfall to encourage plant growth. Rainfall below 0.15 inches is essentially useless for desert plants because the moisture evaporates before it can soak into the soil. Some annual plants produce seeds with water-soluble germination inhibitors in their outer layers, meaning they won’t sprout even after rain unless there’s a total of at least half an inch of moisture.

When the soil moisture from December and January rain is enough to support plants, it breaks down the seed coats, and the desert floor soon becomes covered with eager green seedlings. When winter rains are scarce, which happens quite often, the dormant seeds don't germinate and the spring flower display doesn't show up. There's no reliable way to predict a year of spectacular blossoms, as a sudden cold snap or a stretch of dry winds can quickly ruin a potential season of vibrant blooms. A great flower year might happen only once every ten years.

Perennials are more reliable than annuals because some, especially cacti and other succulents, have water-storing tissues in their stems or roots. These perennials can be expected to bloom every year, but not as freely as they do after winters with above-average rainfall. Many perennials have surprisingly extensive root systems. It's fascinating how plants manage to survive in extreme desert heat and drought. As we've seen, most annuals stay dormant as seeds until the right moisture and temperatures arrive. Then they grow quickly, bloom, and produce seeds while the soil still has moisture. Winter rains lead to spring-blooming ephemerals, and summer showers result in summer "quickies."

Another group of plants, including the ocotillo (oh-koh-TEE-yoh), slows down their life processes to go dormant during dry spells, even shedding all their leaves. When the rains arrive, they sprout new leaves, doing this several times a year if needed.

Cacti and other succulents soak up water when the soil is wet, releasing moisture very slowly from their storage tissues during the "long dry." Some have lost or minimized their leaves, or have coated leaf surfaces with varnish or wax, to reduce the loss of essential moisture through transpiration.

Unless you’re a botanist, figuring out flower identification by measuring and counting their different parts, as outlined in technical keys, is usually too complicated to be practical. A few years ago, realizing this issue, I wrote a book, Flowers of the Southwest Deserts, illustrated by Jeanne R. Janish and published by the Southwestern Monuments Association, aimed at helping wildflower enthusiasts identify plants by grouping them by color. With Mrs. Janish’s amazing illustrations highlighting each plant’s most noticeable features, it has become an excellent field guide. However, the growing demand for natural color flower portraits couldn’t be ignored, and this book is the result. The two books complement each other, even though each serves its own purpose. When used together, they increase your confidence in making identifications.

Probably the best way to get to know a flower is to be introduced to it by someone. But there’s one catch to this method—one plant might have many different names.

When the Spaniards arrived in the Southwest over 400 years ago, they found that the Indigenous people had their own names for some flowers. The Spaniards added their names, and later, Americans added English names. Some of these names were for flowers that looked similar but were quite different from those they had known “back East.” Later on, scientists studied the desert plants and gave them all Latin names.

To help standardize the names of desert flowers, this booklet prioritizes the scientific and common names found in Arizona Flora by Kearney and Peebles, Second Edition, 1960, in its headings. Common names from Texas Plants, A Checklist and Ecological Summary, 1962, by F. W. Gould, have also been included. Additionally, some of the more commonly used names we've encountered are included in the text. Tree names, both common and scientific, follow the Checklist of Native and Naturalized Trees of the United States by Elbert L. Little, Jr., 1953.

There are many desert flowers, some of which are quite common, that we couldn’t fit into this booklet. If you want to learn about more of them, we recommend checking out the additional reading materials listed in the back.

The author would like to sincerely thank Mrs. Pauline M. Patraw, a botanist from Santa Fe, for her help in identifying many of the flowers shown here. The author is also grateful to Miss Barbara Lund, Park Naturalist with the National Park Service, Dr. Charles T. Mason, Jr., Curator of the Herbarium at the University of Arizona Tucson, and Dr. W. B. McDougall, Curator of Botany at the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, for their assistance in verifying these identifications.

Commonly known as “Mormon tea,” many species of ephedra (ef-FED-rah) grow throughout the Southwest. This yellow-green, stringy shrub with tiny, scale-like leaves usually reaches 3 to 4 feet in height but can sometimes grow up to 12 feet tall. Its small, fragrant flowers bloom in dense clusters during spring, attracting insects. Some species provide winter forage for cattle and are known to be eaten by bighorn sheep. Pioneers made a tasty drink from the dried stems. Certain Native American tribes viewed the brew as a tonic, believed to help treat syphilis and other diseases. The drug ephedrine is derived from a Chinese member of this genus.

Somewhat resembling bamboo, carrizo grows in dense clusters in marshes, along riverbanks, and in other wet areas. It’s the largest of the grasses and can sometimes reach a height of 12 feet. The large, tassel-like flower heads bloom between July and October, creating a stunning display. The horizontal roots interlock, pushing out other plants. A single root can extend 30 feet. The straight, hollow stems were used by Indigenous people for arrow shafts, pipestems, and loom rods. Along the Mexican border, the leaves are woven into mats, and the long, sturdy stems are used as screens and for roofing native houses.

Because of its thin, drooping leaves, this delicate blue-to-violet, three-petaled flower could easily be mistaken for a lily. Plants grow to be between 8 and 18 inches tall. As a perennial, the spiderwort’s thick, juicy roots allow it to produce blooms from April to September. Not very common, it is usually found in damp areas of desert mountain ranges at elevations over 2,500 feet. Flowers grow in clusters at the top of the plant’s stem and are pollinated by bumblebees that consume the pollen.

Limited to the desert areas of southern California and southwestern Arizona, the desert lily or ajo (AH-hoe) looks like a small Easter lily. During dry seasons, the plants don’t bloom, but after wet winters, each deeply buried bulb sends up a robust shoot that can reach from 6 inches to 2 feet tall, topped with a cluster of buds. The delicately scented flowers may bloom in late February, with some late bloomers still visible in early May. The bulbs were dug up and eaten by Native Americans, and because of their flavor, they were called ajo (garlic) by the Spanish pioneers. The town of Ajo and a nearby valley and mountain range in southwestern Arizona were named after this plant.

Similar in appearance to the segolily, the state flower of Utah, the weakstem mariposa, sometimes called the “straggling butterfly lily,” ranges in color from white to pale purple. Unlike other mariposas, which have many species and grow upright, this one has a slender stem that sprawls over the ground or twists among the branches of low shrubs. It thrives at elevations up to 4,000 feet on the slopes and benches of the Mojave-Colorado Desert, in the Death Valley area, and in the desert mountains of southern Arizona, blooming during April and May. Indigenous people and pioneers used to eat the bulbs.

Considered by some botanists to be a separate species, this mariposa or “butterfly tulip” is found in the higher mountains of the eastern Mojave-Colorado Desert and also near the Painted Desert in northern Arizona. It's common in Petrified Forest National Park from May to July, where the bright yellow flowers create a striking display among the colorful pieces of petrified wood scattered across the ground. The bulbs can endure harsh cold, but struggle during winters with frequent freezing and thawing.

Brightest of the butterflies, the short-stemmed, flame-like flowers usually appear individually but can grow in clusters, creating a stunning display in April that's visible from afar. Plants that grow under bushes stretch their stems to lift their blossoms into the sunlight. Occasionally found in the Mojave-Colorado Desert, this species is plentiful in the foothills of some southern Arizona mountain ranges, even surpassing the goldpoppy in its striking brilliance. Mariposa is Spanish for butterfly, and the genus name calochortus is Greek for beautiful grass.

Common throughout the Southwest, the various species of yuccas (YUH-kuhs) fall into two main groups: narrow-leaf and wide-leaf. Known as “soaptree” because of its height (up to 30 feet) and the presence of saponin in its roots, soaptree yucca or palmilla (pahm-EE-yah—“little palm”) is part of the narrow-leaf group. From southwestern Arizona across southern New Mexico, and from west Texas southward into the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora, this striking plant blooms in May and June on desert grasslands at elevations between 2,000 and 6,000 feet. Cattle consume the young flower stalks, and Native Americans used the leaf fibers to make fabrics, baskets, and other items. The yucca is the official state flower of New Mexico.

Another type of narrow-leaved yucca and the largest in its family, the joshua tree is found only in the Mojave-Colorado Desert, where it is the main indicator of that ecosystem. Its flowers, which don't open as wide as those of other yuccas, grow in tight clusters at the ends of the branches and appear in March and April. Joshuas don't bloom every year; how often they flower depends on the amount of rainfall and temperature. A small night lizard relies on the joshua tree, at least 25 species of birds use it for nesting, and many insects, spiders, and scorpions inhabit its dried leaves and fallen branches.

Unlike the narrow-leaf soaptrees that produce dry, capsule-like fruits, the wide-leaf yuccas have fleshy fruits that Native Americans cooked and ate. They also used the leaf fibers to weave fabrics. The roots contain saponin, and the Native Americans still chop them up to use the pieces for soap, especially as shampoo. The stiff, fleshy leaves with sharp needle-like tips give the plant its name “Spanish bayonet.” Torrey yucca blooms in April in southeastern New Mexico and west Texas, with similar plants, Yucca schottii in southern Arizona, and Yucca schidigera in the Mojave-Colorado Desert.

Massive and thick-stemmed, the locally called “giant dagger” is believed to be native only to Brewster County, Texas, in the United States. A colony (Yucca faxoniana) resembling this species has been reported recently in McKittrick Canyon in the Guadalupe Mountains. An extensive forest of these stunning plants has given the name Dagger Flat to a wide valley in the Sierra del Carmen of Big Bend National Park. Typically blooming in April, the large white flower clusters at the tops of thousands of these impressive yuccas create a unforgettable sight. A small night-flying moth is the yuccas’ pollinator, and in exchange for this vital role, it lays its eggs in the plants’ ovaries, where the larvae feed on the growing seeds.

Sometimes confused with yuccas, the various species of "beargrass" or "basketgrass" have flexible, grass-like leaves, small flowers, and papery fruits. The feathery flower clusters bloom in May and June. These plants thrive on rocky hillsides and rarely grow on valley floors. Native Americans roasted the tender bud stalks for food, and cattle eat the leaves when other vegetation is scarce. In Mexico, people use the entire leaves for weaving baskets, as they are particularly good for making basket handles.

Also likely to be confused with yuccas, sotol has a bunch of flexible, ribbon-like leaves with hooked thorns on the edges, and a tall flower stalk that ends in a dense cluster of small, creamy (sometimes brown) flowers. It blooms in May and June, and the flower clusters stay attractive throughout the summer. Mexicans cut the juicy basal crowns and let the sap ferment, creating a strong alcoholic drink called sotol (SOH-tole). Desert-dwelling bighorn sheep are said to munch on the tough leaves. The stiff bases of the leaves, when pulled from the cluster, are turned into “desert spoons,” which are sold in some souvenir shops.

Many types of agaves (ah-GAH-vees), also known as "century plants," catch the eye on desert slopes when they shoot up their tall flower stalks in June and July. The thick, fleshy leaves with sharp tips grow in a rosette at the base. Some of the larger species can take 10 to 20 years to gather enough nutrients to produce the strong, fast-growing flower stalk. After they bloom, the exhausted plant dies. Agave scabra, one of the most striking varieties, is only found in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park, Texas.

Another type of large “century plants,” Parry agave blooms from June to August, creating stunning displays on the hillsides of northern Mexico, southern New Mexico, and southern Arizona. Some of the larger agaves are called mescal (mess-KAHL) because of a strong alcoholic drink of the same name made from the fermented sap of the bud stalks. Tequila (tee-KEEL-ah), the famous traditional drink of Mexico, is also made from fermented agave juices, and the beer-like pulque (pool-KAY) has a similar origin. Indigenous people roasted the bud stalks in stone-lined pits covered with hot rocks. Some of these pits can still be seen today.

One of the common plants in the Chihuahuan Desert, known as the main indicator of that region, lechuguilla (lay-chu-GHE-ah) covers the ground so densely in some areas that it's impossible to walk through it. The stiff, upright, needle-like, banana-shaped leaves pose a threat to both humans and animals. The flowering stalk, which blooms in May and June, is unbranched and flexible, bending elegantly in the desert breeze. Deer and cattle munch on the tender buds. Mexicans weave the strong leaf fibers into rough fabrics, and the roots, called amole, create suds when rubbed in water.

This rough, herbaceous perennial is one of the first flowers to bloom in the desert during early spring, sometimes appearing along road sides and in sandy washes in late February and March. Commonly known as wild rhubarb, its sap and roots contain a lot of tannin, and its delicate pink fruits are more appealing than the flowers. Indigenous people and Mexicans use the leaves as greens. The Papago Indians of Arizona roast the leaves and use the roots to treat colds and sore throats. This plant is closely related to European dock, with several species having become naturalized in North America.

Blossoming from April to October, trailing allionia, also called “trailing four o’clock” or “windmills” in some areas, is a spreading annual with small but vibrant blooms on long, trailing stems. The low-growing branches are sticky, which means they're often covered in grains of sand and specks of mica. What looks like one flower is actually three flowers, earning it the name “pink three-flower.” It grows on dry, sandy banks across desert areas of the Southwest. The fruits are winged.

One of the first flowers of spring, sand-verbena creates stunning displays, often on its own but usually mixed with other colorful early bloomers like bladderpod and sundrops, which thrive along road shoulders and sandy areas. The flowers have a light fragrance, especially at night. Growing low to the ground, sand-verbena leaves are covered in a dense layer of short, soft hairs that help retain moisture, which is crucial for desert plants. This annual plant is commonly found from southern California and southern Arizona into Sonora.

Closely related to the orange California poppy, the official flower of the Golden State, the desert species is a bright yellow annual. After warm, wet winters, clusters of these beautiful blooms appear on the hillsides in late February or early March. By April, they might cover the slopes with a blanket of gold mixed with the blue threads of lupines and purple patches of escobita owlclover. When other early spring vegetation is hard to find, cattle graze on the plants. Flowers only open during sunny hours, staying tightly closed at night and on cloudy days.

Not limited to a desert environment, this spiny-leafed perennial is found in dry soils from Nebraska to Wyoming and from Texas to southern California and Mexico. It's abundant throughout the summer, and in warm climates, the flowers can be seen every month of the year. The numerous spines and the bitter yellow sap make the plants unappealing to cattle, so a heavy presence of pricklepoppy might indicate an overgrazed area. Also known as “thistlepoppy,” a single plant can have a dozen or more delicate flowers, each ready to be replaced by one or more prickly buds. The seeds are said to have a potent narcotic effect.

Also known as “yellow cups,” this plant is found only in the Mohave-Colorado Desert. It has smaller flowers than the goldpoppy, which it might be mistaken for. This vibrant annual blooms from March to May in dry washes and on rocky hills below 4,500 feet. The plants, which grow about a foot high, often create stunning displays highlighted by pops of bright red where clusters of beavertail pricklypear stand out on small, rocky patches, or where ocotillos sway their red-tipped branches in the spring breeze.

Found at heights above 1,000 feet, spectaclepod is one of the long-flowering species that blooms from February to October. The large flower heads have a pleasant fragrance, and the unique, flat, double fruits look like tiny glasses sticking out at right angles to the stem. This species can be found in the Petrified Forest region of northern Arizona, and it's reported that Hopi Indians use the plant for treating wounds. Another species, California spectaclepod, is often plentiful, covering sandy areas in the lower deserts. This species blooms from February to April and sometimes again in the fall.

Another early bloomer, from February to May, bladderpod is one of the first spring flowers to blanket the desert flats with its yellow blooms. These small, low-growing plants produce numerous clusters of four-petaled flowers, creating a colorful understory among the taller herbs. In some places, bladderpods are referred to as “beadpods” due to their spherical fruits. The plants provide good forage for cattle. A close relative, which has white to purple flowers, can be found from Texas to Arizona and Mexico, beginning to bloom in January during warm winters.

A striking plant with a big cluster of four-petaled flowers at the top, it's commonly referred to as the "desert wallflower." When it grows underneath shrubs, it often stretches its stems 2 feet or more to reach up for sunlight. Typically blooming in March, some plants can be found flowering at almost any time during the summer, extending as late as September.

With mimosa-like leaves and flowers with long stamens growing in clusters, false mesquite, "calliandra," or "fairy duster" is a small, sprawling bush that looks quite Japanese, reaching heights from a few inches to 3 feet. It blooms from February to May and is fairly common below 5,000 feet from west Texas to southern California and northern Mexico. In California, it’s especially abundant on the east side of the Chocolate Mountains. During droughts, the leaves wilt continuously but quickly perk up when it rains.

Also known by names like “tear-blanket” and “wait-a-minute,” catclaw acacia is a notoriously thorny shrub or small tree found on rocky hillsides and along desert washes. The flowers are fragrant and attract many insects, including honey bees, which collect nectar to produce high-quality honey during the blooming period in May. The long, stringbean-like fruits turn red in late summer and, if plentiful, create a striking display. These fruits were ground into meal and used as food by Arizona and Mexican tribes. Thickets of catclaw acacia provide safe havens for birds and rabbits escaping from hawks or other predators.

Equipped with long, thin, straight white spines, which is why it's called “white-thorn,” this attractive flowering shrub is widespread across large dry slopes and mesas from Texas to Arizona and Mexico at elevations of 2,300 to 5,000 feet. It is often used as an ornamental plant in landscaping around buildings. The flowers are fragrant and can bloom from May to August, with some occasional blooming again in November. Cattle and horses feed on the bean-like fruits.

Mesquite (mess-KEET) is a multi-branched tree that grows 15 to 23 feet tall and blooms from late April to June. It typically thrives along desert washes, often creating dense thickets. The flowers provide nectar for honey bees and other insects, while the long, sweet pods mature in the fall, serving as food for livestock. These fruits have long been a key part of the diet for desert Indians, who also used the trunks, roots, and branches of the trees for firewood, and the dried, gum-like sap for repairing pottery and as a black dye. The inner bark was used by the Indians to make baskets and rough fabrics. Mesquite tree roots have been noted to reach depths of 50 to 60 feet to access groundwater.

Blossoming from April to October, this species is common at elevations between 1,000 and 3,000 feet, from Nevada to New Mexico, Arizona, California, and northwestern Mexico. There are fifteen or more other species, many of which thrive in desert habitats and range in size from low-growing herbs to small shrubs 3–5 feet tall. Senna is sometimes called “rattlebox” because the nearly ripe seeds rattle in their woody pods when the plant is disturbed, surprising hikers who might think, “rattlesnake!” A closely related species, leptocarpa, is known for its unpleasant-smelling leaves.

Perhaps the most reliable of spring bloomers, blue palo-verde trees are covered in clusters of yellow flowers in April and May. Typically found next to desert washes, they highlight these temporary stream routes as golden paths threading through the open desert. For much of the year, the trees have few leaves, with the green bark of the trunk and branches assuming the role of leaves. The term palo-verde (PAH-low-VEHR-dee) means "green stick" in Spanish, referencing the bark's color.

Not a native of the southwestern desert, this eye-catching shrub, 3 to 10 feet tall, was introduced from South America and has grown wild in parts of the desert where the conditions are right. The flowers are visually striking but have an unpleasant smell, making them popular as ornamental plants around homes, especially in Mexico. The main benefit of this shrub in landscaping is its long blooming season, which can last from April to September.

This is just one of many lupine species, both annual and perennial, found throughout the West at nearly all elevations. The most well-known is the “Texas” lupine, or “bluebonnet,” which Texans proudly recognize as their State flower. Desert species bloom early, sometimes showing up in protected sandy areas and along highway shoulders as early as January. In good seasons, these beautiful blue to violet flowers can cover desert hillsides with acres of fragrant blooms. Sometimes they grow in pure stands, often mixed with various other spring flowers, and you can usually find lupines blossoming as late as June.

Considered one of the more attractive desert perennials, the “adonis” lupine, as it's called in Southern California, is found near sandy washes in the high desert. It is particularly abundant in Joshua Tree National Monument. The name adonis highlights its striking beauty. The name lupinus comes from the Latin lupus meaning wolf, because these plants were once believed to be predators of soil. In reality, like other members of the pea family, lupines can take nitrogen from the atmosphere and enrich the soil, thus improving rather than reducing soil fertility.

Better known as “smoketree,” this silvery-gray, seemingly leafless shrub grows in and along sandy washes below 1,500 feet, throughout the Mojave-Colorado Desert. From a distance, it looks like smoke rising from a campfire. Its small flowers, ranging from violet to indigo, create a stunning blue blanket in May, making it one of the most attractive desert shrubs. It needs plenty of water, which limits it to washes that collect runoff from winter rains and summer storms. The seeds sprout easily, and the seedlings, with their well-developed leaves, look very different from their parents. However, few seedlings survive the challenges of drought or getting buried by sand carried down the washes during flash floods caused by heavy rain.

Noted for its royal purple flowers, this low shrub, less than 3 feet tall with unique zig-zag branches, blooms from April to June. Like other daleas (day-LEE-ahs), it’s commonly called “indigobush” or “peabush.” It’s typically found below 3,000 feet in desert mountain ranges from southern Utah through Arizona and southeastern California. There are many species of dalea in the desert, all featuring deep blue to indigo and rose-violet flowers that stand out for their beauty. Indigenous people used the extract from the twigs for dyeing basketry.

Thriving only in a frost-free climate, this tree is one of the largest and most stunning desert evergreens. It's usually found along sandy washes, alongside mesquites and paloverdes. It's especially vulnerable to mistletoe infestation, which has killed or weakened many beautiful trees. Blooming in May and June, the trees are sometimes heavy with lavender, wisteria-like flowers. The wood is extremely hard and heavy, which is why it's commonly referred to as “ironwood,” or palo-de-hierro, in Mexico. Native Americans ate the seeds and used the wood for making tool handles and arrow points. Its long-burning qualities made it particularly sought after for fuel. Consequently, many of these trees have been cut down, putting this species at risk of extinction.

Many types of “locoweed,” varying in color from deep purple to creamy white, are found across the desert at almost every elevation. They can create large, striking displays but are usually mixed in with other flowers. Species that have bladder-like pods are known as “rattleweed.” In Spanish, “loco” means “crazy,” which refers to the fact that several species of astragalus contain selenium, leading to a serious illness in livestock, particularly horses, that eat it and consequently “act crazy.”

Also known as “alfileria,” this species and its close relative, Texas filaree (Erodium texanum), are both early-blooming annuals that are commonly found in plains and mesas from February to May. The flowers, while plentiful, are small and so tucked away in low-growing foliage that they rarely create a vibrant display. Texas filaree is native to North America, but alfileria is believed to have arrived from Europe with the Spaniards and is now widespread throughout the Southwest. The corkscrew-like appendages of the fruits are tightly twisted when dry but unravel when wet, literally screwing the sharp-pointed fruits into the soil. Both species are great spring forage for livestock.

Often mistakenly called “greasewood,” creosotebush is known as the most adaptable desert plant and is a clear sign of the Lower Sonoran Life Zone. These shrubs span thousands of square miles, often appearing in pure stands, and they bloom throughout much of the year, especially in April and May. The fuzzy white, round fruits are almost as striking as the flowers. The plant can survive long periods without water. After it rains, its leaves release a musty, resinous smell reminiscent of creosote, which inspired the Mexican name hediondilla (little stinker). In Mexico, the plant is believed to have medicinal properties and various uses. The Pima Indians used to boil the leaves, using the resulting liquid as an emetic and to treat sores. They also utilized the lac, which forms as a crust on the branches, to attach arrowheads and repair pottery.

Often found along road edges and in low areas where rainwater from summer showers provides enough moisture, “caltrop” or “summerpoppy” with its large flowers and attractive compound leaves, brightens the desert when other flowers are noticeably absent. The long, weak stems, usually lying flat, give the plants a vine-like look, but when they grow under shrubs, they stretch upwards, leading to the misconception that the shrub itself is blooming. Superficially resembling the springtime goldpoppy, Arizona-poppy has five petals instead of four, and can still be blooming as late as October.

Ranging in size from delicate 6-inch annuals to sturdy, woody perennials that can reach 4 feet tall, globemallows come in colors that range from creamy white to pink, rose, peach, and lavender. Desert-mallows proudly display their beautiful, flower-covered stems along roadsides or on the edges of sandy washes. Because some people are allergic to them, globemallows are referred to as “sore-eye poppies” in parts of southern Arizona, and in Lower California, they are known as plantas muy malas (very bad plants).

Sometimes confused with tamarack due to the similar names, five-stamen tamarisk, commonly known as “salt-cedar,” is one of several small tree species from southeastern Europe and western Asia that have become naturalized in North America. “Salt-cedar” often creates dense thickets on alkaline soils along river and reservoir banks at elevations below 5,000 feet. The flowers, which range in color from deep pink to white, blanket the trees with beautiful plumes of color from March to August. While it’s helpful for preventing soil erosion, tamarisk needs a lot of water, which is particularly problematic in the dry Southwest.

Many species of mentzelia, all herbs, are found in the West. The leaves and stems are covered in barbed hairs, making the plant cling to whatever it touches, which is why it’s commonly called “stick-leaf.” Flowers grow at the tips of branches, and some species only fully open in sunlight. A close relative, Mentzelia involucrata, known as the “sand blazing-star,” is an annual that grows 4 to 16 inches tall, blooming from February to April. It can be found in sandy washes below 3,000 feet in southwestern Arizona, southeastern California, and northern Sonora. Pumila grows in dry stream beds and along roadsides from 100 to 8,000 feet in elevation, flowering from February to October. It ranges from Wyoming and Utah to southeastern California and Northern Mexico.

Also known as “stingbush,” this low, rounded shrub typically grows in the crevices of cliffs. When it blooms with large flowers from April to September, it has a stunning look. The pale green leaves have stinging hairs that can even injure small animals like bats as they exit caves where the plant thrives. Rock-nettle is commonly found in the desert ranges of southeastern California, particularly in the Death Valley area, as well as in western Arizona and southern Nevada.

Easily overlooked when it’s not in bloom, this cactus appears as a cluster of slender, fluted, gray-green stems tucked away under a shrub. However, when it does flower, it becomes truly magnificent. The beauty and fragrance of its blossoms have earned it the name reina-de-la-noche in Mexico, which means “queen of the night.”

Buds open shortly after sunset in late June or early July, filling the desert air with fragrance and drawing in night-flying insects. They droop soon after sunrise the next morning. The large, tuber-like root, which acts as a water-storage organ, typically weighs between 5 to 15 pounds, but some have been found to weigh more than 80 pounds. Native Americans used to dig up the tubers for food. The round fruits turn red when they're ripe and are nearly as stunning as the flowers. This species can be found from west Texas to western Arizona and northern Mexico.

Largest of the cacti in the United States, the saguaro (suh-WAR-oh) is mainly found in southern Arizona and northern Mexico. Although it rarely grows taller than 30 feet, some have been recorded at 50 feet and weighing up to 10 tons. Flowers develop in large clusters at the ends of branches, blooming a few at a time each night, typically in May, and staying open until mid-afternoon the next day. The fruit of the saguaro is consumed by birds and other animals and was once an important food source for desert tribes. It is the state flower of Arizona and was featured on a U.S. postage stamp issued in February 1962 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Arizona’s statehood. The saguaro is also honored and protected in the National Monument of the same name near Tucson.

Limited in its range to northwestern Mexico and the area around Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in southwestern Arizona, this columnar cactus grows in clumps of spine-covered stems, some reaching heights of 10 to 15 feet, rarely branching, and without a central trunk. Flowers bloom at or near the ends of the stems during nights in May, and close the next day. The spine-covered fruits, about the size and shape of a hen's egg, have long been harvested by the Papago Indians, who boil the sweet juice down to a syrup-like consistency and store the pulp and seeds for winter food. The fruits are locally known as pitahaya dulce, or sweet cactus fruit.

Not only are there many species of Echinocereus, commonly known as "hedgehog cacti," but there are also several varieties of Echinocereus triglochidiatus. One variety sometimes forms cushion-like mounds made up of several hundred oblong stems packed tightly together, seemingly clinging precariously to crevices in the rocks or on rocky slopes of the Mojave Desert. Another variety grows in loose clusters of cylindrical stems in the higher desert grasslands up to the oak belt in the mountains of southern New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico. When they bloom in May and June, these clustered "hedgehogs" put on a stunning display.

One of the more common types of “hedgehog,” sometimes referred to as “Engelmann echinocereus,” the strawberry echinocereus has 2 to 12 or more strong, cylindrical stems that can grow up to a foot tall, found among the creosote bushes and bur-sages of the Sonoran and Mojave-Colorado Deserts, blooming from February to May. The flowers close at night and open again the next morning. The blossoms come in a wide range of colors from purple to lavender. The spines also vary, ranging from gray and yellow to dark brown. In southeastern California, where it's quite common, this species is known as “calico cactus” because of its multicolored spines. The fruits of some varieties (of which there are many) are edible, playing a significant role in the diet of birds and rodents.

Far from ordinary but one of the more beautiful of the “hedgehogs” is the rainbow echinocereus, also known as the “rainbow cactus.” It gets its name from the horizontal bands of alternating red and white spines that circle the single, sturdy stem. This cactus thrives in rocky areas in the mountains of southern Arizona and northern Mexico, blooming from June to August. The large flowers, which can number from one to four around the crown of the plant, are often bigger than the plant itself. The spines are small and lie densely flat over the somewhat fluted stem, which ranges from 3 to 14 inches in height.

Sometimes referred to as “Texas golden rainbow,” the yellow pitaya of the Chihuahuan Desert looks similar, except for the color of its flowers, to the rainbow echinocereus. It's quite common in some areas of Big Bend National Park, with the short, upright stems typically growing alone but occasionally in small clusters. The term pitaya or pitahaya is often used along the Mexican border for cacti that produce edible fruits. In Texas, it refers to the low-growing floral hedgehogs; in Arizona, it describes the taller columnar cacti. Prickly pear cacti that have soft, juicy, edible fruit are called tunas.

Massive, cylindrical, and covered with clusters of thick spines, the central one hook-shaped, these desert giants are often mistaken for young saguaros. There are several species, all commonly called bisnagas, with some being quite small and others reaching heights of 5 or 6 feet. Most produce clusters of orange to red flowers on their tops in late summer, but the yellow-flowered California barrel cactus blooms in the spring. Their tendency to lean toward the light causes many of these heavy plants to tilt in a southwesterly direction, giving them the nickname “compass cactus.” Some people naively believe that this group contains water. In reality, the slimy, alkaline sap obtained by mashing the pulpy flesh might potentially save someone lost in the desert from dying of thirst. The pale yellow fruits are spine-free and are eaten by birds, rodents, deer, and other desert animals.

There are several species of the low-growing, usually dome-shaped mammillarias. The solitary types are often so small that they can be easily missed, except when they bloom in late spring or early summer. Some are called “fishhook cactuses” because of their long, slender, hooked spines, while others are known as “pin-cushion cactuses” due to their shape. The large, colorful flowers that surround the stems typically mature into red fruits, and in some species, green, nipple-shaped fruits. Members of this genus are found widely in grasslands or on rocky mesas and slopes throughout the Southwest.

Limited primarily to the Mojave-Colorado Desert, the beavertail is a low-growing species with flat joint pads and bluish-green stems that lack spines. Instead, it has clusters of brownish spicules set in slight depressions on the wrinkled pads. The plants bloom in March and April, significantly enhancing the spring flower display. They thrive in sandy desert soils, at elevations ranging from 200 to 3,000 feet above sea level, and can be found as far east in Arizona as Wickenburg. The Cahuilla Indians cook the fruits with meat, while the Panamint Indians dry the pads and boil them with salt.

Most widely distributed among prickly pears, Engelmann cacti are large and spread out, sometimes forming spiny bushes that are 3 to 5 feet high and can reach up to 15 feet in diameter. The branching stems can have anywhere from 5 to 12 pad-joints. They bloom in April and May, with petals that start off yellow and turn pink or rose as they age. These plants thrive in washes and benches in desert grasslands, often growing alongside paloverdes, saguaros, mesquites, and lechuguilla agaves. A high concentration of these cacti often indicates overgrazing in the area. The fruits, called tunas, turn from purple to mahogany when fully ripe and are eaten by various birds and rodents, as well as by desert Native Americans.

Also known as "silver cholla" (CHOY-AH) and "teddybear cactus," this stocky bush cactus, with a short, sturdy trunk and compact, densely spined crown, is commonly found on hot, rocky, south-facing hillsides. The joints are extremely brittle, and the barbed spines easily catch in the fur of animals or the clothing of people, making it look like the joints are jumping off the plant. Joints that get broken off by the wind fall to the ground and take root in the sandy soil, gradually creating forests of this striking cactus, easily recognized by the silvery shine of the spines. The attractive flowers that bloom from March to May blend in inconspicuously with the spiny joints.

Common along the banks of washes and on desert flats, this cholla, also known as “tesajo” or “Christmas cholla,” has such slender stems and a sprawling growth habit that it can easily be missed in a tangle of vegetation. Its flowers, which bloom in May and June, are small and not very noticeable, but the orange to scarlet fruits, about the size and shape of olives, are striking and noticeable in the fall and winter months. In open areas, the shrub-like plants are rarely more than 2 feet tall, but in thickets of northern Mexico, some have become almost vine-like, growing up through mesquite or paloverde trees to a height of 12 feet or more. This species grows at elevations ranging from 200 to 5,000 feet, from Texas to western Arizona and northern Mexico.

This low-growing cholla found in the high desert above 3,500 feet is typical of the plateau grasslands, creating mats of short but upright stems that are usually under 2 feet tall. It blooms in June and July. The young, tender stems and yellow, fleshy fruits are eaten by pronghorns, and the fruits are also used by the Hopi Indians for food and seasoning. Due to its usual low-growing nature, it can be a bit of a hazard for hikers. It is regarded as the most widely distributed cholla in Arizona.

Flowering in May and June and common throughout southwestern New Mexico, southern Arizona, and northern Mexico, the walkingstick cholla is best known for its persistent clusters of yellow fruits. These stay throughout the winter, giving people the first impression that this large, shrubby cactus, which can reach up to 8 feet tall, is blooming. Cattle eat the fruits. This species is typical of desert grasslands and is most common in the open areas below the edge of the oak belt in desert mountains. The stems of dead plants leave behind a hollow cylinder of attractive wooden meshes when the soft tissues decay, and they are popular for making canes since the stem is long and straight, which is where it gets the name walkingstick cholla.

Also known as “sun-drops,” these plants are especially appreciated for blooming early in the spring. Many types of evening primrose have large flowers and are plentiful along roadsides and sandy areas, and they are notably fragrant. White-flowered varieties are more common, but there are several with yellow flowers. The blossoms open at night and start to wilt, turning pink the next day. These are some of the most beautiful desert plants and during good years, they create a stunning spring display, often growing alongside gold poppies and sand verbenas to create a vibrant mix of colors.

Common to all the deserts along the border between the United States and Mexico, ocotillo (oh-koh-TEE-yoh) is an amazing shrub, with many long, stiff, green-barked stems protected by thorns that bear clusters of bright red flowers from April to June. After it rains, these stems sprout clusters of bright green leaves. When drought hits, these leaves fall off, only to grow back after more rain. This cycle can happen up to six times in one year. Cahuilla Indians eat both the flowers and seeds and make a drink by soaking the blossoms in water. When planted as hedgerows, the thorny branches create an unbreakable fence.

Also known as “wild morning glory,” this naturalized perennial has become a serious agricultural pest across the Southwest. In California, it’s considered the state’s worst weed. Once established, its deep root system spreads widely, sending up shoots that grow quickly with climbing, vine-like stems and morning glory-like white to pink flowers that bloom from May to July. In the desert, it's usually found on road shoulders, where it creates an attractive display. The name convolvulus comes from the Latin and means “to entwine.” A blood-clotting substance has been found in this plant.

Usually found in desert mountain ranges at elevations between 5,000 and 6,000 feet, this low-growing, herbaceous perennial blooms in May and June. Its flowers are larger than those of several other desert species of phlox, most of which have longer flower stems and come in colors ranging from white to purple.

More commonly known as “gilia” in honor of the 18th-century Italian botanist Felippo Luigo Gilii, the various species of gilias are common and widespread throughout the deserts of the Southwest at almost all elevations. Since the flowers are usually small and come in colors ranging from white to lavender, pink, and yellow, they aren’t as well-known as more impressive genera. Some are annuals, but there are many perennial species as well. Starflower can be found from west Texas and Chihuahua to western Arizona at elevations between 1,000 and 8,000 feet on dry plains and mesas, particularly on limestone soils. It blooms from March to October.

Known as “scorpionweed” and “wild heliotrope,” phacelia is a striking plant with rough, somewhat hairy and sticky leaves. It typically reaches about 18 inches tall among other plants, but tends to be much shorter in dry, open desert areas. The flowers, which bloom from February to June, have a sweet scent, although the leaves give off an unpleasant odor. Crenulata, one of the many species, can be found from New Mexico and southern Utah all the way through Arizona to Lower California. It stands out among the spring-blooming flowers of the desert. The curled flower heads, which resemble the upright tail of a scorpion, are what gave it the name “scorpionweed.”

In good years, these low-growing plants create wide, colorful mats, but during dry seasons, they can be very small, each with a single flower that's almost as big as the rest of the plant. They bloom from February to May, with the heaviest flowering in March and April. This species, also known as “purplemat,” is commonly found on flat, sandy, open desert soils from southeastern California and Baja California to southeastern Arizona at elevations under 3,500 feet. Because of their low-growing nature, to get a good look at nama, you have to lie down, which is why they are among the many small desert herbs referred to as “bellyflowers.”

Believed to be the original host of the Colorado potato beetle, this annual plant is a pest on rangelands due to its spine-covered stems and fruits. The spines are long, straight, sharp, and straw-colored. It’s commonly found on desert plains and mesas at elevations between 1,000 and 7,000 feet, blooming from June to August. The leaves and unripe fruits of this plant and several other species are reportedly toxic, as they contain an alkaloid called solanin.

Also called “white horse-nettle,” “bull-nettle,” and “trompillo,” silverleaf nightshade is a striking plant that blooms from May to October along roadsides and in open fields at elevations between 1,000 and 5,500 feet, spanning from Kansas and Colorado to Arizona, California, and down to tropical America. It’s an agricultural pest in irrigated regions and tough to get rid of. Pima Indians used the crushed fruits as an additive to milk when making cheese. A close relative, Solanum jamesii, is known as wild-potato because it produces small tubers that desert Indians eat.

One of the standout flowers of the deserts and mesas, the large, eye-catching, trumpet-shaped blooms and broad, dark green leaves of the datura or “western jimson” capture the attention of anyone who sees them for the first time. Common along roadsides below 6,000 feet from California to Texas and Mexico, the white flowers stay open at night but close and droop soon after sunrise. These summer-blooming plants often grow in large clusters with buds, flowers, and ripening fruits all visible at the same time. Indigenous peoples used the plants for various medicinal purposes, a risky practice since all parts of the plant contain different alkaloids, including atropine. The roots are narcotic and were sometimes consumed by Indigenous people to trigger visions.

Sometimes reaching heights of 10 or 12 feet, the gracefully swaying branches of tree tobacco have clusters of tubular, greenish-yellow flowers that are 2 to 3 inches long at their ends. The leaves contain the alkaloid anabasine, which is toxic to livestock. The leaves of the closely related and much smaller desert tobacco, Nicotiana trigonophylla, contain nicotine and have been smoked by desert Native Americans for a long time. The plant is still used in ceremonial occasions. Nicotiana was named after Jean Nicot, the French ambassador to Portugal, who introduced tobacco to France around 1560.

Although limited to the Chihuahuan Desert, ceniza, also known as silverleaf, is so stunning when it blooms that it always catches attention and sparks interest. The small, plentiful, ash-gray leaves give this 3- to 4-foot shrub an impressive look year-round, but when it suddenly flowers, usually in September, it transforms into something truly beautiful. It's so responsive to moisture that it can bloom just a few hours after a heavy rain, leading to the common belief that it can predict wet weather, and that's why it's sometimes referred to as “barometer bush.”

Penstemons, or “beard-tongues,” come in many species and are found in the desert as well as in the higher, wetter areas of the Southwest. This particular type blooms in spring and early summer below 6,000 feet, stretching from southwestern New Mexico to southern California. It, along with the similar Parry Penstemon, stands out as one of the more prominent desert species due to its vibrant flowers that cover the clumps of upright stems that are two to four feet tall. Both are quite common on mesa slopes and in mountain canyons, with individual plants well scattered, so they don’t contribute to the large flower displays typical of the desert in springtime.

Known in Southern California as "scented penstemon" because of its fragrance, this striking "beardtongue" reaches peak bloom in May. However, it can be found in flower from March to September. When the tall, flower-covered stems grow in abundance, particularly in gravelly washes at elevations between 3,500 and 6,500 feet, the sight is impressive. This species prefers limestone soils in both the Mojave-Colorado and Sonoran Deserts. The sweet nectar attracts bees.

Paintedcups, commonly called "Indian paintbrushes," grow in environments ranging from desert lowlands to snowy mountain peaks. Castilleja linariaefolia is the state flower of Wyoming. The northwestern paintbrush, referred to as "desert paintbrush" in southern California, has a very wide distribution. The bright red color among other desert plants comes from the vividly colored floral bracts, while the actual flowers are small and not very noticeable. This species blooms in early spring in rocky or gravelly areas at elevations between 2,000 and 7,000 feet, on dry plains and slopes.

Owl-clover is one of the short-stemmed desert spring annuals that, in good years, covers the desert floor with a stunning, colorful display. Sometimes it grows in pure stands and at other times mixes with goldpoppies, lupines, or other spring flowers. It's found across southern Arizona, southern California, and Baja California, at elevations between 1,500 and 4,500 feet, blooming from March to May. Cattle and sheep graze on it extensively. The Spanish name escobita means “little broom.” Individual flowers might not stand out, but their clusters mixed with colorful bracts create a lovely, feathery look.

More commonly known as "desert catalpa," this tall shrub or small tree, standing between 6 to 15 feet high, features willow-like leaves, spreading branches, and a short, crooked trunk with black bark. The violet-scented flowers typically bloom from April to August, often appearing after the summer rains begin. These flowers give way to long, slender seed pods that dangle from the branches for months. In Mexico, people make tea from the dried flowers, which they believe has significant medicinal properties. Desert-willow is usually found along desert washes below 4,000 feet, stretching from west Texas to southern California and northern Mexico. It’s often grown as an ornamental plant due to its attractive orchid-like flowers.

A glossy-leafed shrub with yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers, the trumpet bush blooms from May to October on dry, rocky hillsides between 3,000 and 5,000 feet in elevation. It’s not very common but can be found from western Texas through southern New Mexico and Arizona down into tropical America. The trumpet bush is grown as an ornamental plant in the southern United States and in Mexico. Its roots are used for medicinal purposes and to make a beverage. The stems and leaves contain small amounts of rubber. The shrubs can occasionally grow up to 6 feet tall and are browsed by bighorn sheep and likely by deer.

Lacking chlorophyll and parasitic on the roots of bur-sage and other desert plants, broomrape has such an unusual appearance that it draws immediate attention. Although it's fairly common in low-elevation deserts from west Texas and Mexico to southern California, it can occasionally be found as far north as southern Utah and Nevada at elevations up to 7,000 feet. The rather inconspicuous flowers bloom from February to September. Navajo Indians made a decoction of the plant to treat sores. Desert Indians ate the tender stems in the spring.

Restricted to western Arizona, southern California, and Lower California, palmata has similar-looking relatives that are much more widely distributed. Their large leaves and vine-like growth catch attention along roadsides at elevations up to 7,000 feet. The most common of these strikingly coarse perennials is Cucurbita foetidissima, known as the buffalo gourd or calabazilla. This fast-growing, foul-smelling vine can have prostrate stems up to 20 feet long. The round fruits, about the size of a tennis ball, were cooked by Native Americans or dried for use in winter. The seeds were boiled to make a pasty mush. California pioneers used the crushed roots as a laundry detergent but discovered that tiny particles left on the fabric caused skin irritation.

Common throughout the Southwest, especially in overgrazed rangelands and abandoned clearings, this plant, also known as “matchweed” or “turpentine-weed,” often grows in nearly pure stands. The resinous stems catch fire easily, producing black smoke. It thrives on dry hills and mesas at elevations between 3,000 and 6,000 feet but can be found from 1,000 to 7,000 feet, blooming from June to October. Bees gather nectar and pollen from the small, densely packed yellow flower clusters. The numerous stiff, upright branches can make some plants look almost round, measuring one to two feet in diameter. This genus is reported to be toxic to sheep and goats if consumed in large amounts, but they seem unappealing to them, as they are seldom grazed.

Also known as “desert daisy” and “rock daisy,” this small winter annual grows on sandy or rocky mesas at elevations below 3,500 feet, blooming from February through April. The short stems spread out to form a mat or rosette about 5 or 6 inches wide, growing flat on the sand and decorated with many small flowers, each accompanied by a small cluster of leaves. Desertstar mainly grows in southern Arizona and southern California, but it has also been found in southern Utah and Sonora, Mexico.

Varying in color from violet and lavender to almost white, the flower heads of the Mohave aster are numerous, sometimes blooming with as many as 20 on a single plant at once. This ornamental perennial thrives on dry, rocky slopes below 6,000 feet in southern Utah, Nevada, western Arizona, and southeastern California. Known for its silvery foliage and large flower heads, the Mohave aster is definitely worth growing and thrives in hot, dry spots. Flowers bloom from March to May, but as summer heat arrives, the stems and leaves twist, turn brown, and become unappealing.

By no means limited to deserts, fleabane is found all over the Southwest, including parts of Mexico. In some areas, it’s called "wild-daisy." Growing six to 15 inches tall, with attractive circular flowers, fleabane often creates noticeable patches along road shoulders and on dry open slopes, flowering from February to October. Flowers can be an inch in diameter in spring, but those in summer are usually smaller. The name comes from an old belief that the scent of some species kept fleas away.

Locally known as “desert-broom” or “Mexican broom,” this species of baccharis is an upright, coarse, evergreen shrub that grows 3 to 6 feet tall. It’s commonly found on hillsides and lowlands at elevations between 1,000 and 5,500 feet, stretching from southwestern New Mexico to southern and Baja California, as well as northern Mexico. The shrubs start to green up after summer rains and bloom from September to February. The flowers are not very noticeable, but the fruits form into masses of striking cottony threads, giving the shrubs a snowy look. Some Indian tribes chew the twigs to ease toothaches. In Mexico, the shrub is referred to as hierba del pasmo.

From 3 inches to a foot high, desert zinnia is a small shrub with tiny, stiff, dull green leaves and beautiful four-petaled flowers that bloom from April to October. It thrives in clayey or rocky, dry soils at elevations between 2,500 to 5,000 feet and can be found from west Texas to southern Arizona and Mexico. Although it’s related to the garden zinnia, which is native to Mexico, only the large-flowered desert species, Zinnia grandiflora, is considered worth cultivating.

Sometimes blooming as early as November and often lingering until May, brittle-bush is a dome-shaped, winter-flowering shrub that brings joy to desert residents in Nevada, Arizona, southern California, and northwestern Mexico. The stems of this low-growing, silvery-leaved plant release a gum that was chewed by desert tribes and burned as incense by priests in mission churches, earning it the local name, incienso. Strictly a desert shrub, about 3 feet tall, brittle-bush prefers rocky hillsides below 3,000 feet. Growing in clusters, it often blankets entire slopes with a mass of golden blooms, adding to the early spring flower display. Bighorn sheep are known to depend on this plant for forage.

Restricted in its range to the area where Utah, Arizona, and Nevada meet, the "giant sunray," as it's sometimes called, is more spectacular than beautiful. With its coarse and weedy appearance, the large clusters of silvery leaves and long-stemmed, sunflower-like flowers that bloom from April to June always capture attention and spark curiosity. An even larger species, Enceliopsis covillei, has blossoms that can be up to 6 inches in diameter and can be found in canyons on the west side of the Panamint Mountains in California.

Although it's been seen at elevations up to 7,000 feet, golden crown-beard is usually found at much lower levels, from Kansas down to Texas, California, and northern Mexico. It sometimes grows in clusters, but single plants are also common as a weed along roadsides and in waste areas. The all-yellow, sunflower-like flowers are abundant in the desert from April to November. Desert Indians and early pioneers reportedly used the plant to treat boils and skin conditions. The Hopis soaked the plants in water to bathe in, which helped relieve the pain of insect bites.

Also known as “tickseed,” wild coreopsis is closely related to the cultivated versions of the same name. The desert species grows in open areas at elevations between 1,500 and 2,500 feet in southern Arizona, southern California, and Baja California. Plants typically bloom from February to May. The closely related Coreopsis bigelovii is an annual plant from southern California that has somewhat larger flowers, reaching up to 2 inches in diameter, with orange centers. The flower stems are bare, with leaves clustered at their bases.

At its best in sandy desert soil, paperflower is a compact, bushy plant about 1 foot tall, with tangled branches. When fully grown, it has a rounded shape. It thrives on mesas and desert plains at elevations between 2,000 and 5,000 feet, from western New Mexico to southern California and northern Mexico, blooming year-round but most abundantly in spring. Sometimes called "paper-daisy," the flowers are long-lasting, fading to a straw color and becoming paper-like with age. They can stay on the stems for weeks.

Commonly known as “desert marigold,” baileya blooms throughout the year, especially from March to November, and is one of the most recognized flowers in the Southwest. Each round blossom sits at the end of a foot-high stem. The plants usually have a simple, garden-like look. They are common along highways and on well-drained, rocky slopes up to 5,000 feet from west Texas to southeastern California and Chihuahua. The large flower heads are striking, and the species is grown in California. There have been reports of sheep and goats on overgrazed land being poisoned after eating this plant.

Covering large areas of open desert with a blanket of yellow flowers after rainy winters, goldfields is a fitting name for this spring flower found at elevations under 4,500 feet. The low-growing plant produces small but beautiful blooms on mesas and plains from March to May, located from central and southern Arizona to California and Baja California. Horses graze on Baeria eagerly but are bothered by a small fly that often visits the fragrant flowers, which has led to the plant being called “fly flower” in some areas.

Probably because it is one of the attractive white desert flowers, chaenactis is commonly referred to as “morning bride.” A larger, yellow-flowered species, Chaenactis lanosa, found in the California deserts, is known as “golden girls.” Both are spring-flowering annuals and, like other members of the genus, are sometimes called “pincushion plants.” “Morning bride” is often found growing around the bases of creosotebushes, thriving at elevations between 1,000 and 3,500 feet in southern Nevada, western Arizona, and southeastern California.

Rarely seen as beautiful, the groundsels are common and widespread, easily recognized by their messy-looking large flowers that can be nearly 2 inches in diameter. The somewhat fragile, stringy leaves are sometimes covered in fluffy threads. One species is known as “ragwort.” Douglas groundsel is a bushy plant that can grow up to 3 feet tall, often found in sandy washes and on dry foothill slopes. It grows from southern Utah and Arizona to California and Mexico, at elevations between 1,000 and 6,000 feet. At lower elevations, these plants can bloom almost any time of year.

Everyone knows thistles with their prickly leaves and stems, and large flowers that come in colors like white, lavender, pink, and purple. Several species grow in the deserts, with the New Mexico species being common at elevations from 1,000 to 6,000 feet in Colorado and Nevada, extending south through New Mexico and Arizona to California, blooming from March to September. Navajo and Hopi Indians are said to use thistles for medicine. Hummingbirds eagerly seek out the nectar from some species.

A very attractive plant, desert dandelion has several flower stalks that range from a few inches to a foot tall. Some of the flowers can be nearly 2 inches in diameter. This annual plant is common in open, sandy areas, where it plays a noticeable role in the spread of spring flowers, blooming from March to May in the creosote bush belt of Arizona and Southern California. It has also been found as far north as Idaho and Oregon. Occasionally, a single plant can have 10 or 12 flower heads blooming at the same time.

There are many species of malacothryx native to the western and southwestern United States. Some are commonly referred to as “desert dandelion,” “snake’s head,” “yellow saucers,” and “cliff aster.” Fendleri is one of the smaller species, with stems just 4 or 5 inches tall, rising from a rosette of bluish-green leaves. Blooming from March to June, this delicate relative of the common dandelion blankets rocky slopes and sandy plains and mesas with its pale yellow flowers, found at elevations between 2,000 and 5,000 feet from West Texas to western Arizona.

Also known as “tackstem” because of the many dark-colored, tack-shaped glands sticking out from the stem, this white-flowered, branching annual blooms from March to May at elevations between 500 and 4,000 feet. It stands out in the spring flower display from west Texas to southern California and northern Mexico. A similar species with yellow flowers, Calycoseris parryi, typically found at elevations around 3,000 feet, blooms in March and April. It grows in southwestern Utah, Arizona, and southern California.

Naturalized from Europe and generally seen as a weed, sowthistle grows in abandoned lots and along roadsides from sea level to 8,000 feet. It flowers from February to August, with the flowers turning into cottony seed heads that are just as noticeable as the blooms. A close relative, Sonchus oleraceus, which flowers from March to September, produces a gum when the sap dries, which is said to be a strong laxative. It has also been used to treat people who are habitually using opium derivatives.

This booklet is published in collaboration with the National Park Service by the
SOUTHWESTERN MONUMENTS ASSOCIATION
which is a non-profit organization committed to supporting the preservation and understanding of Southwestern features that hold significant national interest.

The Association offers a variety of interesting and high-quality publications for both adults and kids, along with hundreds of color slides on Southwestern topics. These make great gifts for birthdays, parties, and special occasions, and many are beneficial for children in their schoolwork and hobbies.

May we suggest, for instance, the following items that provide more information about the Southwest?

Write For Catalog
SOUTHWESTERN
MONUMENTS ASSOCIATION
Box 1562—Gila Pueblo, Globe, Arizona

Mother Nature’s Cinderella story—flower time in the desert—unfolds in this beautiful book. Captured by the magic of the color camera and described in clear prose, 100 desert wildflowers are vividly showcased here. Every color, from bright to subtle, is accurately represented. This book will be a cherished photo album for those who have experienced the desert in bloom and a wonderful introduction for those who have yet to discover it.

Natt N. Dodge, the author of Poisonous Dwellers of The Desert, Flowers of the Southwest Desert, and co-author of The American Southwest, along with contributions to Arizona Highways, New Mexico Magazine, Sunset, and many other national and regional publications, has transformed his extensive knowledge of the Southwest and years of photography experience into this truly outstanding book.