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Sonoran Desert Naturalist --> Sonoran Desert Wildflowers
Wildflowers in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, USA
Desert
Wildflower Reports
May 25th, 2013. The ephemeral spring annuals at Organ Pipe
Cactus National Monument have long since whithered to brown, crispy wisps. But
the dominant cacti and many of the shrubs are still blooming now. Temperatures
exceed 35° every day, but evenings and mornings are very pleasant. Besides
those shown just below,
Desert Ironwood,
White-thorn Acacia,
Desert Tobacco,
Velvet Mesquite, and
Skeleton Weed were also flowering nicely.
Desert Agave
May 25, 2013, O.P,N.M. Bright yellow clusters on 3 m tall stalks arising from
rosete of dagger like blue-green leaves. Plant whithers away as fruits mature.
More info
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Sweet Bush
May 25, 2013. Look for the Butterflies! Small yellow heads on intricately
branched shrub about a meter tall and wide.
More info
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Organ Pipe Cactus
May 25, 2013, O.P,N.M. Large white flowers opening at night and visited
especially by bats. Followed by spherical, reddish, spiny fruits.
More info
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Wire Lettuce
May 25, 2013, O.P,N.M. Small lavender flowers - actually five to seven florets
in a head. Many straw-like stems that may form a basket shape.
More info
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Saguaro Cactus
May 25, 2013, O.P,N.M. Big, fantastic white flowers usually several meters up,
put keep looking to find a low swooping branch with open bloom.
More info
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April 21st, 2013. The desert grassland and
piñon-juniper areas north and east of metropolitan Phoenix are still
showing a lot of beautiful flowers. Desert Mariposa Lilies were especially
glorious along Seven Springs Road north of Carefree. Many other species are in
full bloom, but temperatures in excess of 30°C mean they will soon be going
to seed.
Desert Mariposa Lily
April 21, 2013 north of Carefree along Seven Spring Road. Large brilliant
yellow or orange blooms rising just above the short grass and rocky substrate.
More info
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Banana Yucca
April 21, 2013. Robust succulent with dagger-like leaves and clusters of big,
pendulous, white flowers.
More info
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Plains Blackfoot Daisey
April 21, 2013 n. of Carefree. Half-meter diameter bunches of white daisies
fading maroon.
More info
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Desert Penstemon
April 21, 2013 n. of Carefree. Wands of pink, tubular flowers. Leaves are
opposite on the stem and joined around the stem.
More info
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California Goldfields
April 21, 2013 n. of Carefree. Diminutive daisies with yellow rays and centers,
barely a few inches tall. Herbaceous.
More info
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March 21st, 2013. An abundance of wildflowers were observed
and identified by members of the Arizona Native
Plant Society field trip northeast of Mesa, Arizona. Among the many
species seen in bloom include:
Chuparosa (Justicia californica),
Hairy Bowlesia (Bowlesia incana),
Triangle-leaf Bursage (Ambrosia deltoidea),
Mojave Desert Star (Monoptilon bellioides),
Desert Chicory (Rafinesquia neomexicana),
San Felipe Marigold (Adenophyllum porophylloides),
Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata),
Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa)
California Goldfields (Lasthenia californica),
Orange Fiddleneck (Amsinckia intermedia),
Wingnut Cryptantha (Cryptantha pterocarya),
Comb Bur (Pectocarya platycarpa),
Asian Mustard;Sahara Mustard (Brassica tournefortii)
California Mustard (Guillenia lasiophylla),
Peppergrass (Lepidium lasiocarpum),
London Rocket (Sisymbrium irio),
Lacepod (Thysanocarpus curvipes),
Bigroot (Marah gilensis),
Small-seed Sandmat (Chamaesyce polycarpa)
Red-stemmed Fillaree (Erodium cicutarium),
Eucrypta (Eucrypta micrantha),
Notch-leaved Phacelia (Phacelia crenulata),
Blue Fiesta Flower (Pholistoma auritum),
Chia (Salvia columbariae),
Blazingstar -- Mentzelia,
Desert Globe Mallow (Sphaeralcia ambigua),.
Fairy Duster (Calliandra eriophylla),
Pale Evening Primrose (Camissonia pallida),
California Sundrop (Camissonia californica),
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica),
Seaside Deervetch (Lotus salsuginosus),
Lupine (Lupinus sparsiflorus),
Woolly Plantain (Plantago patagonica),
Red Brome Grass (Bromus rubens),
Yellowthroat Gilia (Gilia flavocincta),
Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata),
Desert Windflower (Anemone tuberosa),
Shrubby Bedstraw (Galium stellatum),
Thornbush;Wolfberry (Lycium spp), and
Pellitory (Perietaria pennsylvanica).
With very warm, dry conditions the show won't last long!
March 12th, 2013. Rains in December were a hopeful sign that
Spring 2013 would be good for wildflowers. Most of January was quite dry, there
was a hard freeze, and prospects for a showy spring were dim. From Friday
January 25th thru Monday the 28th rainfall arrived across much of the Sonoran
Desert. Since January only a few light rain showers have kept the annuals small
and widely spaced. There are no fabulous shows, but by searching many of the
desert beauties can be found.
On March 8th and 9th a late winter storm brought significant rain to parts of
the Sonoran Desert, particularly north and east of Phoenix and Tucson. The
annuals are revived and the perennial shrubs and cacti will bloom nicely
through May. In the weeks after the rain record high temperatures above
30°C will propel growth as well as drying. Along the Bartlet Dam Road north
of Scottsdale there are slopes covered with bright California Poppies:
California Poppy
March 14, 2013 east of Carefree. Broad swaths of poppies on rocky slopes.
More info
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Perennial Rock Cress
March 14, 2013 east of Carefree. Perennial mustard grows straight out of rock
crevices.
More info
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Holly-leaf Barberry
March 14, 2013 east of Carefree. Woody shrub with bright yellow, incredibly
sweet flowers. Also called Red-berry Barberry.
More info
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Wingnut Popcorn Flower
March 14, 2013 east of Carefree. Abundant small white flowers on low herb with
rather bristly folliage.
More info
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Curly Dock
March 14, 2013 east of Carefree. Large, slightly rubbery leaves. Spikes of
flowers with green-red bracts.
More info
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Blue Fiesta Flower
February 28, 2013 at Thunderbird Park, Glendale, AZ. Delicate blue flowers on
scrambling vine-like herb.
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Small-Flowered Hideseed
February 28, 2013. Even smaller, minute pale blue flowers with four petals and
soft, pinnately cleft leaves.
More info
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London Rocket
February 28, 2013. Abundant weed in the city and sometimes in desert along
washes. Small yellow flowers.
More info
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Yellow Bladderpod
Feb. 28, 2013. Bright yellow, four-petalled flowers on low herb. Fruit forms
spherical pods.
More info
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Woolly Plantain
February 28, 2013 at Thunderbird Pk, AZ. Small greenish white flowers with
browning bracts. Diminutive.
More info
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Sand Verbena
February 18, 2013 at Ehrenberg, AZ. Hemispheres of bright pink flowers forming
carpets on sand dunes.
More info
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Mexican Poppy
February 18, 2013 at Ehrenberg, AZ. Large orange-yellow petals on plants
growing close to ground.
More info
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Brittlebush
February 18, 2013 at Ehrenberg, AZ. Abundant yellow flowers on meter-tall
shrubs at roadsides and on hillsides.
More info
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Arizona Lupine
February 18, 2013 at Ehrenberg, AZ. Lavender-blue pea-flowers on plants mostly
a roadside.
More info
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Pepper-grass
February 18, 2013 at Ehrenberg, AZ. Technically a wildflower but with no
obvious petals or colors. Diminutive.
More info
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September 17th, 2012. In the high country around Prescott the
fall wild flowers are abundant and glorious. Yellows, reds, and pinks among the
many colors. Yavapai Co., Arizona.
August 5st, 2012. Hiking in the Superstitions at this time of
year is tough because of the intense heat. The rewards are there, but don't get
caught out there without water! Maricopa Co., Arizona.
Chain-fruit Cholla
August 5, 2012. aka Jumping Cholla blooms but the seeds don't mature. Flowers
are small, but colorful.
More info
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Graham's Pincushion
August 5, 2012. Here's the one that will wow you in the heat.
More info
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Blackfoot Daisy
August 5, 2012. White daisies on a low shrub. Rays turning burgandy after
anthesis.
More info
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Ayenia
August 5, 2012. These blooms are minute and you'll have to search intently to
find them.
More info
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White Ratany
August 5, 2012. Small to medium shrub with grayish foliage and weak thorns.
More info
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July 21st, 2012. When rain comes to the desert in good
quantity during the summer the response tends to come much quicker. With hot
temperatures plants grow faster and for sure the water will soon evaporate.
Shrubs can often open flowers in less than a week in response to rain. That is
what I found in Rainbow Valley south of Goodyear in Maricopa Co., Arizona.
Creosote Bush
July 21, 2012. Bright yellow confetti flowers on dark green shrubs.
More info
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Fishhook Barrel Cactus
July 21, 2012. Deep orange-red flowers on a columnar cactus about 1½m or
less tall.
More info
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Desert Lavender
July 21, 2012. Shrub with silvery and strongly scented foliage.
More info
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White Ratany
July 21, 2012. Small to medium shrub with grayish foliage and weak thorns.
More info
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Big Galeta
July 21, 2012. A shrubby grass.
More info
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April 8th, 2012. Today I took a small group of people to see
wildflowers and birds into the
Goldfield Mountains from the north along Bulldog Canyon, a stretch of
trail designated as the "Great
Western Trail" With summer-like temperatures in excess of 30°C and
weeks since the last precipitation annual wildflowers are mostly whithered
away. Now is the time for perennials and the cacti which were leading the way
with their spectacular blooms.
Teddy Bear Cholla
Apr 8, 2012. Green flowers can be quite beautiful on Teddy Bears.
More info
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Hedgehog Cactus
Apr. 8th, 2012. Incredible magenta flowers were just opening at 7am and wide
open by 10am.
More info
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Trixis
Apr. 8th, 2012. Bright yellow marigold-like flowers on shrubs with dark green
elyptical leaves.
More info
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Buckhorn Cholla
Apr 8, 2012. Most have yellowish flowers, but other lovely shades are possible
incl. orange and red.
More info
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Mexican Poppy
Apr. 8, 2012. We were delighted to see that a late rain in March was enough to
rejuvenate the poppies into a second showing!
More info
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March 11th, 2012. Upon my arrival at the trailhead for the
Harquahala Wilderness west of Aguila, Arizona, for a day of nature hiking, I
wasn't expecting to see a whole lot. Except for narrow strips along the road
most of the trees and shrubs looked wilted for lack of rain. Even annuals next
to the road were sparse. As I hiked, however, I kept finding more and more. One
small flower here, then there, then another flower hiding beneath brambles. By
the end of the day I had recorded close to 50 species of plants blooming.
Amazingly I was the only hiker to enyoy over 9000 ha.
Mojave Aster
March 11, 2012. Large lavender daisies. Just one plant next to trail with open
blooms.
More info
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Arizona Lupine
March 11, 2012. Lavender-blue pea-flowers on plants mostly a roadside.
More info
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Devil's Spine Flower
March 11, 2012. Green flowers on plants just a few centimeters tall.
More info
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Hackberry Beard-tongue
March 11, 2012. Tubular red flowers on tall green wands.
More info
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Desert Chicory
March 11, 2012. White-rayed composite on slender stems emerging from among
desert shrubs.
More info
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March 4th, 2012. From Ajo, Arizona all the way to Puerto
Peñasco on the coast of the Gulf of California wildflowers lined the
highway. Away from the roadway flowers were smaller and scarcer because they do
not benefit from the extra rain water running off the pavement. For most of the
distance from the border town of Lukeville-Sonoyta all the way to Rocky Point
the wildflower show was enhanced. Precipitation goes further closer to the Sea
because of higher relative humidity. Many flowers were beginning to fade so
expect just a couple of more weeks left. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
had plenty blooming along the roadways as well.
Desert Marigold
March 5, 2012. All yellow daisy-like flowers especially at roadsides. Leaves
and stems velvety. Observed at roadside near Vicksburg, Arizona.
More info
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Purple Sand Mat
March 5, 2012. Very small plant creeps close to soil with large, by comparison,
purple-pink flowers.
More info
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Brown Eyes
March 5, 2012. Pale yellow flowers with four petals and groups of nodding
flower buds at end of spikes.
More info
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Coulter's Globe Mallow
March 5, 2012. Low growing annual of sandy soils with five, bright orange
petals.
More info
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Blue Sand Lily
March 5, 2012. Dark blue flowers on tall wand stem from underground corms.
More info
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February 19th, 2012. In the Tucson Mountain west of Tucson
the peak blooming of wildflowers is close. This is earlier in the season than
usual and it is also rather subdued. Very little rain has fallen since December
and temperatures have been mild - few, if any hard freezes in most areas and
not too hot. A group of very observant botanists found more than 50 species
blooming in Kings Canyon. The plants are smaller than usual and rather sparse -
but a delightful day was had searching and appreciating the ones we found.
Visitors coming to the Arizona Deserts in the coming months should still find
flowers open, particularly east and north of Phoenix and Tucson.
Brittlebush
Abundant yellow flowers at roadsides and on hillsides.
More info
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Desert Lavender
February 19, 2012. Large leafy shrub with aromatic foliage and small purple
flowers.
More info
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Desert Evening Primrose
Feb 19, 2012. Bright yellow flowers with four large petals and eight stamens.
More info
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Lace Pod
Feb. 19, 2012. Very small white flowers geive rise to amazing little
lace-margined seeds.
More info
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Bluedicks
Feb. 19th, 2012. Hyacinth-blue clusters of flowers on tall wand stem from
underground bulb.
More info
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February 5th, 2012. The foothills north and east of Carefree,
Arizona tend to receive more rain that the lower deserts to the west and as a
result I found some wildflowers blooming. Most were widely scattered and
smaller than usual due to a dry January.
Holly-leaf Barberry
February 5, 2012. A lot of these shrubs are in bud soon to flower. The
fragrance is so sweet!
More info
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Golden Eye
February 5, 2012. Yellow-rayed sunflowers that look like brittle bush but shrub
has sandy-textured leaves.
More info
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Hackberry Penstemon
Feb 5, 2012. Bright red tubular flowers arrayed on spikes about one meter tall.
More info
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Mexican Poppy
Feb. 5, 2012. Large orange-yellow petals on plants growing close to ground.
More info
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Desert Rock Pea
Feb. 5th, 2012. Bright yellow and orange pea flowers on plants about a meter
tall. Woody at base.
More info
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January 24th, 2012. Moderate rainfall in the Sonoran Desert
during November and December of 2011 gave us hope for a good wild flower
season. But now January is almost finished and barely a trace of rain has
appeared all month. Prospects for a banner year are essentially nil and if
February is dry then few if any herbaceous flowers are likely to appear this
spring. Woody shrubs and cacti will be able to store water until their blooming
periods in April and May providing a colorful show. On January 29 I saw the
following at White
Tanks, which were very small and difficult to see:
Orange Fiddleneck
Jan. 29 2012. A few very small plants with just a few open flowers.
More info
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Blue Fiesta Flower
Jan. 29 2012. Distinctive shaped leaf, but flowers are minute and close to
stem.
More info
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Comb Bur
Jan. 29 2012. Five-pointed flowers are very small; the ruler is marked in mm!
Abundant grass-like plants growing esp in shade of desert trees.
More info
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Desert Tobacco
Jan. 29 2012. Clusters of tubular cream flowers on a leafy plant in sandy
washes.
More info
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Wolfberry
Jan. 29, 2012. Small, obscure flowers on now leafy shrub. But watch for
hummingbirds eagerly taking nectar.
More info
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The Sonoran Desert is home to many species of beautiful wildflowers. If you
lack the ability to view these flowers in their native location, consider
online flower delivery to bring
the beauty of nature to you.
June 2011 at Mesquite Wash, Maricopa Co., Arizona.
Saguaro Cactus
June 11, 2011. The most conspicuous bloomer with big white flowers. Open a bit
later than usual this year.
More info
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Desert Trumpet
June 11, 2011. Minute yellow flowers arrayed on an intricate scaffold on a tall
stem with an inflated segment.
More info
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Skeleton Weed
June 11, 2011. Flowers similar to Desert Trumpet but whitish. Shorter plant
also with finely divided stems without inflated trumpet.
More info
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San Felipe Marigold
June 11, 2011. Small orangish flowers in compact heads. Leaves very aromatic.
More info
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Wire Lettuce
Small lavender flowers - actually five to seven florets in a head. Many
straw-like stems that may form a basket shape.
More info
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Mar. 12th, 2011. December of 2010 was a wet month and that
was followed by seven weeks without desert rain. Several hard freezes in the
low deserts. Raining weekend of 19 Feb. 2011. This will not be a banner year
for wildflowers, but intrepid desert trekkers should be able to find open
blooms here and there. Best places to look will be along riparian streams or in
shadows cast by cliffs and canyons. This should make Sonoran Desert
explorations challenging and fun. These were seen at Mesquite Wash in Maricopa
County:
Desert Rock Pea
Mar 8, 2011. Orange and yellow pea flowers on smallish bush.
More info
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Henbit
Mar 8, 2011. Fan shaped leaves and small, two-lipped, reddish pink flowers. Low
annual with square stems.
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California Goldfields
Mar 8, 2011. Diminutive daisies with yellow rays and centers, barely a few
inches tall. Herbaceous.
More info
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Red Brome Grass
Mar 8, 2011. Normally annual but some of these are surviving winter and
becoming perennial.
More info
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Dakota Mock Vervain
Capitate clusters of lavender to blue, five-lobed flowers. Butterfly favorite.
Common.
More info
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Aug 20th, 2010. Summer monsoon winds have delivered humidity
and some heavy downpours to parts of the Sonoran Desert. As a result some
perenials have begun blooming and hot season annuals will soon follow. Daily
temperatures exceed 105° F.
almost every day excelerating growth, but also drying the soil rapidly. These
were seen at South Mountain in Phoenix.
Janusia Vine
Aug. 13, 2010. Twisty vine with long-clawed petals and reddish winged seeds. V.
common in Sonoran Desert.
More info
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Desert Lavender
Aug 13, 2010. Small lavender flowers on silvery shrub with sagey leaves.
More info
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Desert Senna
Aug. 13, 2009. Yellow flowers with five-petalled ochre-yellow flowers. Shrubby
plant normally about knee high.
More info
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Twinberry
Aug 13, 2010. Bright yellow with 5 petals on low shrub. Fragrant!
More info
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Angel Trumpet
Aug 13, 2010. Amazing flower - all white with very long tube below.
Opens at dusk and closing the next dawn.
More info
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May 31st, 2010. This has been a cooler than normal spring
with only one day surpassing 100° F.
For sure the Sonoran Desert has dried out and now open flowers are scarce - but
well worth searching for. Many are in fruit and seeds are dispersing to be
ready for the summer rains at Telegraph Pass on
South Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona.
San Felipe Marigold
May 31, 2010. Rather obscure flowers in small heads the top of which is
yellow-orange. Leaves strongly scented.
More info
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Angel Trumpet
May 31, 2010. Amazing flower - all white with very long tube below.
Opens at dusk and closing the next dawn.
More info
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Engelman Hedgehog Cactus
May 31, 2010. Bright magenta flowers were designed to attract bees ... the red
fruit is designed to attract fruit eating birds.
More info
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Saguaro Cactus
May 31, 2010. With a milder spring and less intense heat saguaros are
continuing to bloom.
More info
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Tatalencho
May 31, 2010. Bright yellow but very small heads of even smaller florets.
Leaves are shiny-resinous.
More info
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May 2nd, 2010. The eastern part of Joshua Tree National Park
is part of the Colorado Desert, a subunit of the Sonoran Desert. Annuals were
mostly withered and in seed except for swaths of yellow desert dandelion. Woody
plants were all ablaze with color including some spectacular ocotillos.
Desert Prince's Plume
May 2, 2010. Tall spikes of bright yellow flowers. Mostly in Mojave and Great
Basin Deserts, rare in Sonoran Desert.
More info
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Paper Bag Bush
May 2, 2010. Vivid purple and white flowers followed by maroon-colored,
inflated bladders. Also called Bladder Sage.
More info
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Mojave Aster
May 2, 2010. A Mojave Desert beauty touching border areas of Sonoran. Flowers
purple, lavender, or nearly white.
More info
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Beavertail Cactus
May 2, 2010. Hot pink flowers on low-growing pricklypear. Short spines.
More info
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Desert Dandelion
May 2, 2010. Bright yellow dandelion-like flowers. Leaves pinnately divided
into linear segments.
More info
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April 26th, 2010. Annual wildflowers mostly through blooming,
but now some of the showiest perennials, trees and shrubs are blooming thus
extending the colorful season. Temperatures this week will be pushing past
35° C. Then on Wednesday it's going to become very windy
and dusty and finally cooler by Thursday and Friday.
Parry's Pentstemon
Apr. 24, 2010. Tall spikes loaded with bright magenta tubular flowers. At
Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, Az.
More info
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Paper Flower
Apr. 24, 2010. Bright yellow flowers on medium-sized bushy plant. Petals dry
white and rustle like paper in the wind. At Boyce
Thompson Arboretum, Superior, Az.
More info
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Baby Bonnets
Apr. 24, 2010. Small tree with yellow and white pea-flowers. At
Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, Az.
More info
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Engelmann Prickly Pear
Apr. 24, 2010. Stems succulent and jointed. Joints are compressed presenting a
pear-shaped outline. At Boyce Thompson
Arboretum, Superior, Az.
More info
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Fairy Duster
Apr. 24, 2010. Flowers actually have rudimentary petals. The color is due to
numerous, enlongated, stamens. At Boyce
Thompson Arboretum, Superior, Az.
More info
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April 11th, 2010. Annual wildflowers are definately on the
wane now in the lower elevations of the Sonoran Desert. But the perennials are
giving a terrific show making a stroll through the desert this week very
enjoyable indeed. Temperatures mostly 25°
to 33°, very sunny, and breezy.
Coutler's Globe Mallow
Apr. 9, 2010. Low-growing, annual version of desert globe mallow. Only a few
with fresh blooms left in Rainbow Valley, Maricopa Co., Az.
More info
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Desert Lily
Apr. 9, 2010. Fantastic huge white lilies erupting from the dry-looking sand.
Observed Rainbow Valley, Maricopa Co., Az. possibly the closest spot to
Phoenix.
More info
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Blue Sand Lily
Apr. 8, 2010. Steve Ganley tracked down the rare and elusive Blue Sand Lily
found in the USA only near Yuma, Arizona.
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Triangle-leaf Bursage
Apr. 11, 2010. These green flowers don't look like flowers much, but they are
the source of pollen for hayfever sufferers. Papago Park, Phoenix.
More info
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Brittle Bush
Apr. 11, 2010. Abundant yellow flowers at roadsides and on hillsides. Seen at
Papago Park and many other spots.
More info
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April 2nd, 2010.
South Mountain in Phoenix is covered with millions of colorful flowers
many of them annuals that are beginning to dry out and go to seed. High
temperatures this coming weekend will be about 28°C
accelerating the blooming. This would be an ideal time to visit! Perennial
shrubs will continue blooming in abundance here for another couple of weeks.
Engelman Hedgehog
Apr. 2, 2010. Spectacular magenta flowers on spiny clumped cactus.
More info
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Mexican Poppy
Apr. 2, 2010. Large orange-yellow petals on plants growing close to ground.
More info
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Golden-eye
Apr. 2, 2010. Yellow-rayed sunflowers that look like brittle bush but shrub has
sandy-textured leaves.
More info
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Blue Dicks
Apr. 2, 2010. Hyacinth-blue clusters of flowers on tall wand stem from
underground bulb.
More info
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Ocotillo
Apr. 2, 2010. Clusters of bright red to orange flowers at tips of long, spiny,
wand-branches.
More info
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March 25th, 2010. A hike up
Camelback Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona today included views of many
colorful wildflowers in bloom.
Chuparosa
Mar. 25, 2010. Red tubular flowers on medium-sized shrub avidly visited by
hummingbirds.
More info
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Blue Phacelia
Mar. 25, 2010. Light blue to dark blue flowers on low herbs with hairy leaves.
More info
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Blue Fiesta Flower
Mar. 25, 2010. Viney plants with little prickles on stems and bright blue
little flowers.
More info
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Lacepod
Mar. 25, 2010. Small whitish flowers give rise to little seed pods with a lacey
border.
More info
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Golden-eye
Mar. 25, 2010. Yellow-rayed sunflowers that look like brittle bush but shrub
has sandy-textured leaves.
http://www.arizonensis.org More info
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March 20th, 2010. On a drive from Phoenix to
Organ Pipe Cactus Monument flowers of every hue in abundance: White
chicories, yellow bladderpod, golden poppies, orange globe mallows, red
ocotillo and blue phacelias. After the oooh's and aaah's I found some really
unusual flowers also. At least another month of good colors possible and with
increasing elevation. Observed by Mike Plagens.
Wildflower Show in the
Ajo Mts.
March 20th, 2010
Mojave Desert Star
Mar. 21, 2010. Bright white turning pink daisies smaller than a dime! Amazing.
More info
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Purple Mat
Mar. 21, 2010. Small plants with a flower as big as the rest of the plant! Pink
to lavender color.
More info
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Devil's Spine Flower
Mar. 21, 2010. Lot of plants have flowers. And desert plants have spines. Here
spines and flowers are one and the same!
More info
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Lyrepod
Mar. 21, 2010. Oddly shaped flowers with brown petals.
More info
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Three-seeded Mercury
Mar. 21, 2010. Obscure flowers for sure, but pretty interesting on closer look.
More info
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Wildflower Show in the
Goldfield Mts.
Seen by
Chris Trask on March 17th, 2010
Desert Honeysuckle
Mar. 17, 2010. Orange-red tubular flowers with long stamens and usu.
hummingbirds nearby.
More info
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Popcorn Flower
Mar. 17, 2010. Abundant small white flowers on low herb with rather bristly
folliage.
More info
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Owl's Clover
Mar. 17, 2010. Spikes of brilliant magenta flowers on low forb forming carpets
of color.
More info
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Tidytips
Mar. 17, 2010. Small, perfect daisies on upright forb. Yellow center and white
rays.
More info
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Mexican Poppy
Mar. 17, 2010. Over-sized orange to yellow flowers on low forb often in patches
of great abundance.
More info
|
March 14th, 2010. From Phoenix west to California the wild
flower season is approaching full-swing! The coming week will be sunny and warm
which will accelerate growth and flowering. The heavy rains of mid January 2010
were followed by nearly a month of stingy rain. Then the Sonoran Desert had
three successive weekends with significant rain events. Our mountains and
plains are now all very, very green with many flowers opening with color.
Wildflowers Blooming in Western Arizona
March 14th, 2010
Desert Lily
Mar. 14, 2010. Amazing lily shooting up from dry sandy soils observed east of
Parker, Arizona.
More info
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Sand Verbena
Mar. 14, 2010. Hemispheres of bright pink flowers forming carpets on sand
dunes. Seen on Colorado River Indian Reservation.
More info
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Desert Marigold
Mar. 14, 2010. All yellow daisy-like flowers especially at roadsides. Leaves
and stems velvety. Observed at roadside near Vicksburg, Arizona.
More info
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Brittle Bush
Mar. 14, 2010. Blooming in profusion along sides of I-10 for most of way to
California border. Silvery green leaves with so many yellow sunflowers.
More info
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Desert Sunflower
Mar. 14, 2010. Flowers a little wider than Brittle Bush. Annual version of
sandy soil. Seen at roadside near Parker, Arizona.
More info
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Wildflower Season Beginning on March 6th, 2010
@ Maricopa Mountains, Arizona
Anderson Wolfberry
Mar. 6, 2010. Small tubular flowers on a thorny shrub. These will later give
rise to an abundance of red berries.
More info
|
London Rocket
Mar. 6, 2010. Abundant weed in the city and sometimes in desert along washes.
Small yellow flowers.
More info
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California Mustard
Mar. 6, 2010. Very small whitish flowers on succulent early mustard.
More info
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Pelitory
Mar. 6, 2010. Delicate herb with small green flowers hidden below leaves.
More info
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Red Grama
Mar. 6, 2010. Purplish-red spikelets appear to twirl around stem. Small
perennial grass - yes grasses have true flowers.
More info
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Wildflowers Beginning on Feb. 27th, 2010
@ Deem Hills, Arizona
Small-Flowered Hideseed
Feb. 27, 2010. Nearly minute pale blue flowers with four petals and soft,
pinnately cleft leaves.
More info
|
Creosote Bush
Feb. 27, 2010. Hardy desert shrub with shiny green leaves and five-petalled,
yellow flowers followed by fuzzy seeds.
More info
|
Yellow Bladderpod
Feb. 27, 2010. Bright yellow, four-petalled flowers on low herb. Fruit forms
spherical pods.
More info
|
Orange Fiddleneck
Feb. 27, 2010. A few small plants with just a few open flowers.
More info
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Bluedicks
Feb. 27, 2010. Small lilac-blue lillies on tall, flexible stems.
More info
|
Wildflowers Hard to Find on Feb. 17th, 2010
@ Buckeye
Hills, Arizona
Bowlesia
Feb. 17, 2010. Distinctive shaped leaf, but flowers are minute and close to
stem.
More info
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Comb Bur
Feb. 17, 2010. Five-pointed flowers are very small; the ruler is marked in mm!
Abundant grass-like plants growing esp in shade of desert trees.
More info
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Brittle Bush
Feb. 17 2010. Just a few of these bright yellow daisies along SR-85.
More info
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Bigelow's Four O'Clock
Feb. 17 2010. A few buds about to burst open. Light pink.
More info
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Orange Fiddleneck
Feb. 17 2010. A few small plants with just a few open flowers.
More info
|
Early
Wildflowers seen Jan. 31st, 2010
Yuma County,
Arizona
Desert Globe Mallow
Jan. 31, 2010. Pinkish-orange flowers on mostly herbaceous shrubs with many
stems.
More info
|
Desert Lavender
Jan 31, 2010. Small lavender flowers on silvery shrub with sagey leaves.
More info
|
Holly-leaf Bursage
Jan. 31, 2010. Spikes of green flower heads on desert wash plant with course,
holly-like leaves.
More info
|
Rock Hibiscus
Jan. 31, 2010. Delicate pink hibiscus flowers on sparse, scraggly bushes.
More info
|
Brown Eyes
Jan. 31, 2010. Nodding spikes of yellow or white, four-petal flowers. Seed pod
forms below the flower.
More info
|
Jan. 22nd, 2010. A series of powerfull and very wet
storm fronts moved across the Desert Southwest between Monday and Friday this
week. Most areas recieved more rain than during all of last year. In deed flash
flooding and saturated soils are the norm even in the normally driest areas
areas such as Yuma and La Paz Cos., Arizona. Within two weeks the Sonoran
Desert will be transformed into vast greening pastures and by March an
abundance of wildflowers should reign! Neighboring Mojave and Chihuahuan
Deserts will likewise be blooming with abundant flowers this spring. Go ahead,
book your trip to this colorful, vibrant desert.
Early
Wildflowers seen Jan. 24th, 2010
at Thunderbird
Park in Glendale, Arizona
Brittlebush
Jan. 24 2010. Bright yellow daisies on roadside shrubs with silvery green
leaves.
More info
|
Wolfberry
Jan. 24, 2010. Small, obscure flowers on now leafy shrub. But watch for
hummingbirds eagerly taking nectar.
More info
|
Desert Globe Mallow
Jan. 24, 2010. Pinkish-orange flowers on mostly herbaceous shrubs with many
stems.
More info
|
Desert Lavender
Jan 24, 2010. Small lavender flowers on silvery shrub with sagey leaves.
More info
|
Desert Marigold
Jan. 24, 2010. All-yellow daisy-like flower with silky-pubesent leaves on
herbaceous perennial.
More info
|
Dec. 18th, 2009. The fierce and powerfull storm that tracked
across North America Dec. 6th to Dec. 10th passed right
through the Phoenix, Arizona area. It was moving very fast as it dropped some
localized heavy precipitation to the north and not much at all to the south.
Wildflowers
seen Oct. 10th, 2009 at
Rackensck Wash
North of Carefree, Arizona
Tree Tobacco
Oct. 10, 2009. Small tree with mostly green stems, large glaucus leaves, and
tubular yellow flowers.
More info
|
Hummingbird Trumpet
Oct. 10, 2009. Red tubular flowers. Mostly herbaceous perennial occuring near
boundary of mesquite bosque and riparian streams.
More info
|
Sanpdragon Vine
Oct. 10, 2009. Small maroon or red, two-lipped flowers on an herbaceous vine.
More info
|
Skeleton Weed
Oct. 10, 2009. Numerous pink-white flowers on intricately branched stem rising
from a ring of leaves at ground level.
More info
|
Desert Broom
Oct. 10, 2009. Dense, green-stemmed bush topped with numerous small, fluffy,
white flower heads.
More info
|
Wildflowers
seen at Gilbert Riparian Preserve
Greenfield @ Guadalupe Rd., Gilbert, Arizona
Desert Willow
Aug 25, 2009. Small tree with strap-shaped leaves and pink to white trumpet
flowers.
More info
|
Mexican Palo Verde
Aug. 25, 2009. Medium sized tree with green twigs and stems. Yellow flowers.
Sharp thorns.
More info
|
Seep Baccharis
Aug. 25, 2009. Clusters of small white flowers atop large, dark green shrubs.
Flowers are very attractive to butterflies and pollinators.
More info
|
Desert Senna
Aug. 25, 2009. Yellow flowers with five-petalled ochre-yellow flowers. Shrubby
plant normally about knee high.
More info
|
Quail Bush
Aug. 25, 2009. Large silvery-leaved shrubs with pendulant, branching clusters
of very small whitish flowers. Abundant seed to feed birds.
More info
|
Wildflowers
along the Mesquite
Wash , Maricopa Co., Arizona
Buttonbush
Aug 1, 2009. Large shrubs with opposite or whorled, elyptical leaves. Spherical
clusters of bright white flowers.
More info
|
Watercress
Aug. 1, 2009. Succuelent herb normally growing in shallows of flowing stream.
Clusters of small white flowers.
More info
|
Cocklebur
Aug. 1, 2009. Robust, weedy plant growing on terraces adjacent to riparian
zones. Green flowers develop into burs.
More info
|
Centaury
Aug. 1, 2009. Bright pink, five-pointed flowers on leafy stems less than 1/2
meter. Moist soil along stream.
More info
|
Hooker's Evening Primrose
Aug. 1, 2009. Robust herbaceous perennial along riparian stream. Large yellow
flowers with 4 petals & 8 stamens.
More info
|
May 30th, 2009. Even with the unseasonable rains two weeks
ago, the desert has continued to dry out with hot sunshine, low humidity,
afternoon winds and extreme heat. In the low desert locations such as
Shaw Butte, in Phoenix, AZ, virtually nothing was still blooming -
except for the ironwood trees with a few wilting lavender blooms. But at higher
elevations in the Sonoran Desert where temperatures are slightly cooler some of
the most spectacular perennials were blooming. Along the
Apache Trail northeast of Mesa Goldenflower Century Plant and Catclaw
Acacias were at full flowering.
Wildflowers
along the Apache
Trail, Arizona
Goldenflower Century Plant
May 30, 2009. Towering stalks with big clumps of golden flowers on lateral side
stalks. Long, sharp, succulent leaves.
More info
|
Seaside Petunia
May 30, 2009. Small, vividly colored petunia growing in damp, saline sand along
drying streams.
More info
|
Clammy Weed
May 30, 2009. White and port-wine colored flowers on sticky, odorous plant
growing in sand near water.
More info
|
Thurber's Cotton
May 30, 2009. Cream-colored flowers with hint of pink on medium sized shrub.
More info
|
Saguaro Cactus
May 30, 2009. At the highest elevations Saguaros are still blooming! Huge white
flowers visited by bats.
More info
|
May 24th, 2009. It is not unusual for the whole month of May
to pass without a drop of rain in the Sonoran Desert. This past week, however,
saw moderate to heavy rain in parts of the eastern and northern Sonoran Desert.
This moisture may revive a few spring flowers that were hanging on in protected
spots and prompt summer monsoon plants to initiate growth and flowering. In
riparian zones of the higher elevations flowers are still showing. Ironwood
trees are just finishing up their show of pastel lavender and pink.
Wildflowers
in the Southern Foothils of the Bradshaw Mts., Arizona
Desert Ironwood
May 24, 2009. Abundant lavender, pink and white pea-flowers on thorny,
evergreen tree.
More info
|
Snapdragon Bush
May 24, 2009. Yellow, two-lipped flowers on a woody shrub. Partial shade in
mountain foothills.
More info
|
Trailing Four O'Clock
May 24, 2009. Pink inflorescences (ea. w/ three joined flowers) on
sticky-leaved vine trailing along ground. Common.
More info
|
Indian Paintbrush
May 24, 2009. Long red flowers on stems with hairy-glandular leaves. Upper
Sonoran Desert.
More info
|
Abert's Buckwheat
May 24, 2009. Leafy plant along margins of riparian zones. White and pink
flower clusters.
More info
|
|
May 17th, 2009. It has been months since the last significant
rain and now temperatures are frequently surpassing 104°C. in the Sonoran
Desert. Annual wildflowers have mostly all gone to seed and dried out, but a
few succulent annuals are hanging on in the remaining moist sand along
semi-permanent streams. Perennial trees and shrubs on the other hand are now
blooming in abundance with ironwood, saguaro cactus and some foothill palo
verdes leading the way. Catclaw acacias are also laden with blooms that are
very sweet smelling and highly attractive to butterflies and bees. Many of
these late spring bloomers will produce seeds that will be viable and ready to
germinate with the start of summer monsoon rains. Normally summer rains begin
sometime in July. An early shower, like the one that occurred in some eastern
portions of the Sonoran Desert today, will trigger germinations that will fail
when no more rain and hot temperatures resume.
|
Sponsored Links:
|
Wait-a-Minute Bush
May 17, 2009. Spherical clusters of short-petalled flowers with long, whitish
stamens. Paired sharp thorns.
More info
|
Climbing Milkweed
May 17, 2009. Twinning vine with milky sap. Purple-white flowers in umbellate
clusters.
More info
|
Paper Flower
May 17, 2009. Yellow composite with rays that dry white and remain as papery
frills.
More info
|
Water Speedwell
May 17, 2009. Small, pale blue flowers on succulent plant growing in moist sand
along streams.
More info
|
Wire Lettuce
May 17, 2009. Low shrubby plant with numerous, slender, highly-branched, often
leafless stems. Has milky sap like its cousin, lettuce.
More info
|
Desert Honeysuckle
Apr 24, 2009. Tubular reddish-orange flowers on woody shrub in partial shade.
More info
|
New Mexico Thistle
Apr 24, 2009. Tall spiny herbs with large, spherical head of lavender florets.
More info
|
Seep Monkey Flower
Apr 24, 2009. Yellow two-lipped flowers with a kind of face pattern. In moist
sandy soil.
More info
|
Dakota Mock Vervain
Apr. 24, 2009. Capitate clusters of lavender to blue, five-lobed flowers.
Butterfly favorite. Common.
More info
|
Rabbitfoot Grass
Apr. 24, 2009. Soft, fluffy spikes of green grass flowers. Grows along wet
streams and sometimes as a weed in well-watered gardens.
More info
|
April 27th, 2009. With triple digit temperatures having
arrived in the Sonoran Desert, wildflowers have mostly withered and gone to
seed. Trees and shrubs are still blooming with the palo verdes leading the way.
Soon saguaro cactus and ironwoods will be flowering in profusion.
Teddy Bear Cholla
Apr 19, 2009. Green flowers can be quite beautiful on Teddy Bears.
More info
|
Buckhorn Cholla
Apr 19, 2009. Most have yellowish flowers, but other lovely shades are
possible.
More info
|
Ocotillo
Apr 19, 2009. Bright red flowers at ends of long, spiny coachwhip branches.
Migrating orioles will take nectar too.
More info
|
Prickly Poppy
Apr. 19, 2009. Bright white flowers with abundant yellow stamens at center.
More info
|
Blue Palo Verde
Apr. 19, 2009. Blooming period almost complete. Bean pods developing now.
More info
|
March 28th & 29th, 2009. The wildflower season
on the low deserts is definately on the wane. Without significant rain since
early February the annuals have mostly dried up. Steve G. found some
interesting things in the sand dunes near Yuma, but he had to search carefully.
At Dreamy Draw
in Phoenix, Arizona the annuals have finished blooming, but good shows of
perennials and cacti are on. At the
Estrella Mountains the soil is very dry now and again blooming is
restricted mostly to perennials and cacti. Buckhorn Cholla and Engelmann
Hedgehog were especially colorful.
Wildflowers
at Dreamy Draw/Piestewa Peak, Phoenix, Arizona
Brittlebush
Mar 28, 2009. Bright yellow daisies on roadside shrubs with silvery green
leaves.
More info
|
Ocotillo
Mar 28, 2009. Bright red flowers at ends of long, spiny coachwhip branches.
More info
|
Flat-topped Buckwheat
Mar 28, 2009. Clusters of small pinkish flowers in flat-topped panicles.
More info
|
Buckhorn Cholla
Mar 28, 2009. Yellowish-green or orange-tinted flowers on cholla cactus.
More info
|
Blue Palo Verde
Mar 28, 2009. Small trees with green branches and abundant yellow flowers.
More info
|
March 14th & 15th, 2009. On Saturday I hiked
South Mountain Park in Phoenix and found that annual wildflowers are
mostly well past their peak and mostly going to seed. Most kinds can still be
found in shady, protected spots. Cass Blodget found some poppies, but I did
not. Perennial shrubs on the other hand are blooming nicely and some of the
first brilliant hedgehog cactus have open blooms. Brittle Bush, Golden Eye,
Trixis and Fagonia are just some of the many colorful blooming shrubs. Then on
Sunday I hiked northeast of Carefree, Arizona and found that despite dry
conditions great shows of poppies, phacelias and lupines are present especially
in areas burned by the Cave Creek Complex fire. This is one of the ironies of
range fires is that the habitat often returns with exuberant abundance and
color. Areas along the Seven Springs Road and the Bartlet Dam Road were fully
in bloom. This area is generall described on the web page for
Rackensack Canyon.
Wildflowers
@ South Mountain Park, Phoenix, Arizona
Desert Lavender
Mar 14, 2009. Small lavender flowers on silvery shrub with sagey leaves.
More info
|
Desert Tobacco
Mar 14, 2009. Clusters of tubular cream flowers on a leafy plant on shady cliff
sides.
More info
|
Fagonia
Mar 14, 2009. Bright purple or lavender flowers on a low prickly shrub.
More info
|
Goldeneye
Mar 14, 2009. Yellow-centered and yellow-rayed daisies on shrub with sandpaper
leaves.
More info
|
Engelman Hedgehog
Mar 14, 2009. Intense magenta flowers on smallish, clumped cacti.
More info
|
Wildflowers
northeast of Carefree, Arizona
Desert Marigold
Mar 15, 2009. All-yellow daisy-like flower with silky-pubesent leaves on
herbaceous perennial.
More info
|
Desert Rock Pea
Mar 15, 2009. Orange and yellow pea flowers on smallish bush.
More info
|
Lupine
Mar 15, 2009. Violet-blue pea-flowers on annual with palmate leaves.
More info
|
California Poppy
Mar 15, 2009. Bright yellow-orange flowers with four large petals.
More info
|
Gilia
Mar 15, 2009. Small, five-pointed stars just a few inches off ground on slender
stems.
More info
|
March 8th, 2009. The
Apache Trail out northeast of Mesa, Arizona was ablaze with color:
Bright green shrubs; orange, red and yellow lichen-encrusted boulders; towering
cliffs of volcanic tuff; and lots of wildflowers. Tops among them were Brittle
Bush, bright yellow daisies lining the roadway. Also seen blooming were
bluedicks, bladderpods, fiddlenecks, popcorn flower, jojoba, blue fiesta flower
and bursages. (Bursages have greenish flowers and go mostly unnoticed, but may
be you source of hay fever allergins. If you know you are succeptable you can
take anti-allergy meds before your trip). The colors will last weeks more in
this area as a succession of trees, shrubs and cacti come into bloom.
Sponsored Links:
Wildflowers
@ Pima Canyon,
Tucson, Arizona
Ragged Rock Flower
Feb 22, 2009. Fragrant flowers on scraggly bush.
More info
|
Fairy Duster
Feb 22, 2009. Delicate pink puffs on low bush.
More info
|
Blue Fiesta Flower
Feb 22, 2009. Delicate pastel blue on weak scrambling herb.
More info
|
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|
Orange Fiddleneck
Feb 22, 2009. Small orange flowers in a scorpioid inflorescence.
More info
|
The Sonoran Desert is home to many species of beautiful wildflowers. If you
lack the ability to view these flowers in their native location, consider
online flower delivery to bring
the beauty of nature to you.
Great Wildflower Websites for North America:
