50 Common Native and Non-Native Desert Plants, Tucson, AZ (Adapted from “Plants of the Desert: Running list. Dick Barber, University of Arizona) COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME HABITAT Arizona (Velvet) Ash Fraxinus velutina Riparian Arizona Black Walnut Juglans major Riparian Cottonwood Populus fremontii Riparian Desert Willow Chilopsis linearis Riparian Feather tree Lysoloma microphylla Riparian, endemic Ironwood Olneya tesota Desert Mesquite, Velvet Prosopis velutina Desert Netleaf Hackberry Celtis reticulate Riparian Palo Verde, Blue Cercidium floridum Desert Palo Verde, Foothills Cercidium microphyllum Desert Palo Verde, Mexican Parkinsonia aculeata Desert, introduced Sycamore Platanus wrightii Riparian Western Black Willow Salix gooddingii Riparian SHRUBS Agave sp. Desert Beargrass Nolina microcarpa Desert/upland Brickellia Brickellia sp. Desert Brittlebush Encina farinose Desert Burrowweed Isocoma tenuisecta Desert Burrobrush Ambrosia (Hymenoclea) salsola Desert Canyon Ragweed Ambrosia ambrosiadies Desert/Riparian Catclaw Acacia Acacia greggii Desert Condolia Condalia warnockii Desert Creosote Larrea tridentate Desert Desert Baccaharis sarathodies Desert Desert Hackberry Celtis pallida Riparian Desert Lavender Hyptis emoryi Desert Riparian Desert Mistletoe Phoradendron californicum Parasite SHRUBS COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME HABITAT Ephedra Ephedra trifurca Desert Fairyduster Calliandra eriophylla Desert Graythorn Zizphus obtusifolia Desert Hopbush Dodonaea viscosa Desert Jojoba Simmondsia chinensi Desert
Koeberlinia Koeberlinia spinosa Desert Krameria, White Ratany Krameria grayi Desert Limberbush Jatropha cardiophylla Desert Lippia/Beebush Aloysia wrightii Desert Mariola Parthenium confertu (incanum) Desert Ocotillo Foqueria splendans Desert Red Bird of Paradise Caesalpina Mexicana Desert, Saltbush Atriplex canescens Desert Seepwillow Baccahris glutinosa Riparian Sotol Dasylirion wheeleri Desert Stephanomeria Stephanomeria exigua Desert Sweetbush Bebbia juncia Desert Tecoma stans Tecoma stans Riparian Texas Ranger Leucophyllum spp Desert, Chihuahuan Trixis Trixis californica Desert Tree Tobacco Nicotania glauca Desert Triangle-leaf Bursage Ambrosia deltoidia Desert Whitethorn Acacia Acacia constricta Desert Wolfberry Lycium spp (need flowers to key out) Yellow Bird of Paradise Caesalpinia gilliesii Desert Yucca Banana Yucca Yucca baccata Desert Soaptree Yucca Yucca elata Desert Schotts’s Yucca Yucca Schotii Desert LOW SHRUBS AND BUSHES COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME HABITAT Cassia Senna covesii Australia, cultivar Datura Datura metelodies Riparian Desert Marigold Baileya multiradiata Desert Desert Tobacco Nicotina trigonophylla Desert Desert Zinnia Zinnia acerosa Desert Dyssodia Dyssodia acerosa Desert Janusia Janusia gracilis Desert
Mallows Sphaeralcea spp. Desert Globe Mallow Sphaeralcea ambigua Desert Herissanthia Herissanthia crispa Desert Indian Mallow Abutilon sp. Desert Rose Mallow Hibiscus sp. Desert Penstemon Penstemon spp. Desert Snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae Desert Siphonoglossa Siphonoglossa longiflora Desert Verbena Gooding’s (Desert) Glandularia goodingi Desert, washes Sand Abronia villosa Desert, washes Wright’s Glandularia wrightii Desert Yellow Paperflower Psilostrophe cooperi Desert SOME SUMMER ANNUAL FLOWERS/WEEDS COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME HABITAT Bahia Bahia absinthifolia Desert Caltrop Kalistroemia grandiflora Desert Clammyweed Polanisia dodecandra Desert Crownbeard Verbesina enceliodes Desert Devil’s Claw Proboscidea parviflora Desert Euphorbs Euphorbia spp. Desert SOME SUMMER ANNUAL FLOWERS/WEEDS, cont’d COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME HABITAT Five-fingered Gourd Curcurbita digitata Desert Horseweed Conyza canadensis Desert Senecia Senecio spp. Desert Sunflower Helicanthus Desert