Sonoran Desert Pink and Purple Sunflowers

Wire Lettuce/ Desert Straw

Stephanomeria pauciflora

Arrow Weed

Pluchea sericea

Common shrub or perennial often with numerous arching wiry stems. Stems may be nearly leafless. Flowers appear almost throughout the year. Detailed Description

Very large shrub with straight stems growing in moist soil near rivers. Purplish flowers. Detailed Description

Mojave Aster

Xylorhiza tortifolia

Salt Marsh Fleabane

Pluchea odorata

Long lived perennial with large showy asters. Northwest portions of the Sonoran Desert where it merges with the Mojave Desert. Detailed Description

Perennial growing in wet soil near streams/rivers. Usu. about ½ m tall. Ill-scented. Purple flowers. Detailed Description

Coulter's Brickell Bush

Brickelia coulteri

Little-leaf Brickell Bush

Brickelia scabra

Common undershrub found especially along wash banks and in partial shade on rocky slopes. Tips of phyllaries are maroon to purplish - otherwise flowers are not showy. Conspicuous white pappus on mature seed heads. Detailed Description

Similar to Coulter's Brickell Bush but leaves very small. Conspicuous white pappus on mature seed heads. Northwest portions of the Sonoran Desert where it merges with the Mojave Desert. Detailed Description

San Felipe Marigold

Adenophyllum porophylloides

Brownfoot

Acourtia wrightii

Flower head tall with maroon and orange disc flowers. Fairly common on wash banks and rocky slopes blooming in mid to late spring. Pinately disected leaves. Intense terpene odor when crushed.  Detailed Description

All of the pink flower in the heads are conspicuously two-lipped. Highly fragrant. Leaves thick, sharply serrated. Grows often in the partial shade of desert trees in the foothills.  Detailed Description