Wildflowers in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, USA

Aug. 28^th, 2016: If for no other reason than to see the Fishhook Barrel Cactus in bloom go out and look for the late season monsoon flowers in the Sonoran Desert. Saguaro National Park (East Unit), Tucson, Arizona.

Aug 21^st, 2016: It rained overnight and temperatures were less than hot so I went out to the Vulture Mountains southwest of Wickenberg, Arizona. The ocotillos had leafed out and the triangleleaf bursage was greening up. Freshly emerged butterflies were on the wing as well!

July 30^th, 2016: Once the moisture of monsoon season arrives the brilliant summer flowers quickly emerge blooming very early in the morning or else at night. Catalina State Park, Oro Valley, Arizona.

May 22^nd, 2016: Late spring flowers are most common near permanent, riparian canyons. The shade of trees or tall cliff faces are worth checking - these were seen near Sunflower, Arizona.

May 9^th, 2016: This spring has seen below average rainfall, but higher elevation areas north and east of Phoenix got a bit more and many plants can be found blooming. We drove out Seven Springs Rd. on an absolutely beautiful Monday morning.

Apr. 3^rd, 2016: Still no rain. At McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, a score of blooming plants could be found: Desert Marigold, Creosote Bush, Odora, Banana Yucca, Hedgehog Cactus, Goldeneye, Sweetbush, Desert Senna, Wire Lettuce, Bigelow Four O'Clock, Ocotillo, New Mexico Thistle, Paper Flower, Purple Three-awn, Brown Foot, Desert Holly, Fairy Duster, Woolly Desert Star, Prickly Pear, Mesquite, Sand-wash Groundsel, and Skeleton Weed.

Mar. 26^th, 2016: The dry spell has continued for two-and-a-half months and so most of the annals have dried to crispy brown. At Phoenix Mountains Preserve cacti are the showiest blooms, but surprisingly I found a lone poppy!

Mar. 11^th, 2016: The dry spell continues with only a few isolated places getting some light rain on March the 7th. In the mountains around Ajo, Arizona, the annuals have dried completely and some trees are blooming way early due to the recent hot temperatures.

Feb. 21^st, 2016: The Phoenix Chapter of the Arizona Native Plant Society conducted a field trip to Tacna and the Mohawk Dunes in far southwestern Arizona. Without rain since the beginning of January meant that seeing most wildflowers required some extensive searching. In the end we saw some interesting plants including 22 species in bloom.

Feb. 8^th, 2016: Only the most observant hikers in Phoenix Mountain Preserves would notice that the wildflower season has started. The first clue might be so many honeybees crawling on the ground like oversized ants! They're visiting flowers alright, on plants less than a centimeter tall showing flowers even more minute. Everything blooming now is stunted because of the long dry spells between rain events. The last significant rain was back on Jan. 6th, 2016.

Jan 19^th, 2016: Lower Colorado River in Western Arizona and Southeastern California. November and early January rains plus the warmer temperatures of these lower elevations have already brought forth some early, beautiful wildflowers. Reported by Steve Ganley.

Desert Sunflower Jan 19, 2016, Davis Dam, AZ. Two inch plus diameter sunflowers with sandy textured leaves. More info

Lupine Jan 19, 2016, Davis Dam, AZ. The leaves are palmately compound: arranged like the fingers of a hand. More info

Sand Verbena Jan 19, 2016, Davis Dam, AZ. Stems trail in deep accumulations of sand. Cluster of pink to lavender flowers. More info

Sun Cup Jan 19, 2016, Davis Dam, AZ. Four, large bright yellow petals. More info

Phacelia Jan 19, 2016, Davis Dam, AZ. Bell-shaped flowers with five lobes and several shades of purple to blue among several types. More info

Sponsored Links:

		Enter your search terms Submit search form
Copyright Michael J. Plagens, 1999-2014		Web Sonoran Desert Naturalist