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| Background: | plant terms | flowering plant life cycle | types of photosynthesis | Tucson Mt. plants | plant list | thumbnails by color | | ||||||
TUCSON
DESERT PLANT LIST
SORTED BY COMMON NAME
This is a list of the 165 plant species currently on this website. The table below is sorted by common name, but if you would like a table sorted by scientific name, family, or flower color (see note below), click on the appropriate column heading below.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Family | Flower Color * |
| Acacia, Catclaw | Acacia greggii | Fabaceae | yellowish |
| Acacia, Whitethorn | Acacia constricta | Fabaceae | yellowish |
| Agave, Parry's | Agave parryi | Agavaceae | yellowish |
| Amsinckia | Amsinckia intermedia | Boraginaceae | yellowish |
| Anemone, Desert | Anemone tuberosa | Ranunculaceae | whitish |
| Bahia | Bahia absinthifolia | Compositae | yellowish |
| Barrel Cactus, Fishhook | Ferocactus wislizeni | Cactaceae | various |
| Beargrass | Nolina microcarpa | Asparagaceae | whitish |
| Bedstraw, Common | Galium aparine | Rubiaceae | whitish |
| Bedstraw, Desert | Galium stellatum | Rubiaceae | whitish |
| Bladderpod, Purple | Lesquerella purpurea | Cruciferae | whitish |
| Bluedick | Dichelostemma pulchellum | Liliaceae | bluish |
| Brickellia, Coulter's | Brickellia coulteri | Compositae | yellowish |
| Brittlebush | Encelia farinosa | Compositae | yellowish |
| Buckwheat | Eriogonum spp | Polygonaceae | whitish |
| Burroweed | Isocoma tenuisecta | Compositae | yellowish |
| Bursage, Triangleleaf | Ambrosia deltoidea | Compositae | greenish |
| Carlowrightia | Carlowrightia arizonica | Acanthaceae | whitish |
| Carrot, Wild | Daucus pusillus | Umbelliferae | whitish |
| Catchfly, Sleepy | Silene antirrhina | Caryophyllaceae | bluish |
| Centaury | Centaurium calycosum | Gentianaceae | pinkish |
| Cereus, Desert Night-Blooming | Peniocereus greggii | Cactaceae | whitish |
| Chia | Salvia columbariae | Labiatae | bluish |
| Chicory, Desert | Rafinesquia neomexicana | Compositae | whitish |
| Cholla, Buckhorn | Opuntia acanthocarpa | Cactaceae | various |
| Cholla, Chainfruit (Jumping) | Opuntia fulgida | Cactaceae | pinkish |
| Cholla, Christmas | Opuntia leptocaulis | Cactaceae | yellowish |
| Cholla, Pencil | Opuntia arbuscula | Cactaceae | yellowish |
| Cholla, Staghorn | Opuntia versicolor | Cactaceae | various |
| Cholla, Teddybear | Opuntia bigelovii | Cactaceae | yellowish |
| Chuparosa | Beloperone californica | Acanthaceae | reddish |
| Claret Cup | Echinocereus triglochidiatus | Cactaceae | reddish |
| Cockroach Plant | Haplophyton crooksii | Apocynaceae | yellowish |
| Coldenia, Shrubby | Tiquilia canescens | Boraginaceae | whitish |
| Coral Bean, Southwestern | Erythrina flabelliformis | Fabaceae | reddish |
| Coursetia | Coursetia glandulosa | Fabaceae | yellowish |
| Creosote Bush | Larrea tridentata | Zygophyllaceae | yellowish |
| Crucillo, Mexican | Condalia warnockii | Rhamnaceae | tiny |
| Cryptantha | Cryptantha spp | Boraginaceae | whitish |
| Daisy, Woolly | Eriophyllum lanosum | Compositae | whitish |
| Daisy, Yellow Spiny | Machaeranthera gracilis | Compositae | yellowish |
| Dalea, Parry | Marina parryi | Fabaceae | bluish |
| Dandelion, Desert | Malacothrix californica | Compositae | yellowish |
| Datura, Sacred | Datura meteloides | Solanaceae | whitish |
| Desert Broom | Baccharis sarothroides | Compositae | whitish |
| Desert Mistletoe | Phoradendron californicum | Viscaceae | tiny |
| Desert Star, Mojave | Monoptilon bellioides | Compositae | whitish |
| Desert Willow | Chilopsis linearis | Bignoniaceae | pinkish |
| Devil's Claw | Proboscidea parviflora | Martyniaceae | pinkish |
| Dodder | Cuscuta spp | Convolvulaceae | whitish |
| Dyssodia | Dyssodia acerosa | Compositae | yellowish |
| Dyssodia, San Felipe | Dyssodia porophylloides | Compositae | yellowish |
| Ephedra (Mormon Tea) | Ephedra spp | Ephedraceae | tiny |
| Euphorbia | Euphorbia spp | Euphorbiaceae | whitish |
| Evening Primrose, Mustard | Camissonia californica | Onagraceae | yellowish |
| Fairy Duster | Calliandra eriophylla | Fabaceae | pinkish |
| Fern, Cliff Brake, Spiny | Pelleae truncata | Polypodiaceae | none |
| Fern, Cliff Brake, Wright's | Pellaea ternifolia | Polypodiaceae | none |
| Fern, Cloak, Narrow | Notholaena cochisensis | Polypodiaceae | none |
| Fern, Cloak, Star | Notholaena standleyi | Polypodiaceae | none |
| Fern, Cloak, Wavy | Notholaena sinuata | Polypodiaceae | none |
| Fern, Lip | Cheilanthes spp | Polypodiaceae | none |
| Filaree | Erodium cicutarium | Geraniaceae | pinkish |
| Flax, Western Blue | Linum lewisii | Linaceae | bluish |
| Fleabane | Erigeron divergens | Compositae | whitish |
| Four O'Clock, Red | Mirabilis coccineus | Nyctaginaceae | pinkish |
| Four O'Clock, Trailing | Allionia incarnata | Nyctaginaceae | pinkish |
| Gilia, Desert | Gilia sinuata | Polemoniaceae | bluish |
| Globemallow, Desert | Sphaeralcea spp | Malvaceae | orangish |
| Gourd, Buffalo | Cucurbita foetidissima | Cucurbitaceae | yellowish |
| Grass, Fluff | Erioneuron pulchellum | Poaceae | whitish |
| Grass, Fountain | Pennisetum setaceum | Poaceae | whitish |
| Graythorn | Ziziphus obtusifolia | Rhamnaceae | whitish |
| Groundsel, Sand Wash | Senecio douglasii | Compositae | yellowish |
| Hackberry, Desert | Celtis pallida | Ulmaceae | whitish |
| Hedgehog Cactus, Cockscomb | Echinocereus fasciculatus | Cactaceae | pinkish |
| Heliotrope, Wild | Phacelia distans | Hydrophyllaceae | bluish |
| Herissantia | Herissantia crispa | Malvaceae | yellowish |
| Hibiscus, Rock | Hibiscus denudatus | Malvaceae | pinkish |
| Honeysuckle, Desert | Anisacanthus thurberi | Acanthaceae | orangish |
| Hopbush | Dodonaea viscosa | Sapindaceae | yellowish |
| Ironwood, Desert | Olneya tesota | Fabaceae | pinkish |
| Janusia | Janusia gracilis | Malpighiaceae | yellowish |
| Jewelflower, Arizona | Streptanthus arizonicus | Cruciferae | whitish |
| Jojoba | Simmondsia chinensis | Simmondsiaceae | yellowish |
| Lacepod | Thysanocarpus curvipes | Cruciferae | whitish |
| Larkspur, Barestem | Delphinium scaposum | Ranunculaceae | bluish |
| Lavender, Desert | Hyptis emoryi | Labiatae | bluish |
| Lichens | Various spp | Various | none |
| Lily, Desert Mariposa | Calochortus kennedyi | Liliaceae | various |
| Limberbush | Jatropha cardiophylla | Euphorbiaceae | whitish |
| Lizard-tail | Gaura parviflora | Onagraceae | pinkish |
| Locoweed | Astragalus spp | Fabaceae | bluish |
| London Rocket | Sisymbrium irio | Cruciferae | yellowish |
| Lotus, Hill | Lotus humistratus | Fabaceae | yellowish |
| Lotus, Wiry | Lotus rigidus | Fabaceae | yellowish |
| Lupine | Lupinus sparsiflorus | Fabaceae | bluish |
| Mallow, Desert Rose | Hibiscus coulteri | Malvaceae | yellowish |
| Mallow, Indian | Abutilon incanum | Malvaceae | orangish |
| Marigold, Desert | Baileya multiradiata | Compositae | yellowish |
| Menodora, Yellow | Menodora scabra | Oleaceae | yellowish |
| Mesquite, Velvet | Prosopis velutina | Fabaceae | yellowish |
| Milkweed, Rambling | Sarcostemma hirtellum | Asclepiadaceae | whitish |
| Monkey Flower, Common | Mimulus guttatus | Scrophulariaceae | yellowish |
| Mustard, Bladderpod | Lesquerella gordoni | Cruciferae | yellowish |
| Nightshade, Silverleaf | Solanum elaeagnifolium | Solanaceae | bluish |
| Oak, Shrub Live | Quercus turbinella | Fagaceae | tiny |
| Ocotillo | Fouquieria splendens | Fouquieriaceae | reddish |
| Odora | Porophyllum gracile | Compositae | whitish |
| Owl Clover | Orthocarpus purpurascens | Scrophulariaceae | pinkish |
| Paloverde, Blue | Parkinsonia florida | Fabaceae | yellowish |
| Paloverde, Foothill | Parkinsonia microphylla | Fabaceae | yellowish |
| Paloverde, Mexican | Parkinsonia aculeata | Fabaceae | yellowish |
| Paperflower, Cooper's | Psilostrophe cooperi | Compositae | yellowish |
| Penstemon, Parry's | Penstemon parryi | Scrophulariaceae | pinkish |
| Peppergrass | Lepidium spp | Cruciferae | whitish |
| Phacelia, Scalloped Leaf | Phacelia crenulata | Hydrophyllaceae | bluish |
| Phlox, Desert | Phlox tenuifolia | Polemoniaceae | whitish |
| Phlox, Slender | Microsteris gracilis | Polemoniaceae | pinkish |
| Pincushion Cactus, Fishhook | Mammillaria grahamii | Cactaceae | pinkish |
| Pincushion, Esteve's | Chaenactis stevioides | Compositae | whitish |
| Plantain, Pursh | Plantago purshii | Plantaginaceae | whitish |
| Poison Ivy | Rhus radicans | Anacardiaceae | whitish |
| Poppy, Arizona | Kallstroemia grandiflora | Zygophyllaceae | orangish |
| Poppy, Mexican Gold | Eschscholtzia mexicana | Papaveraceae | yellowish |
| Poppy, Prickly | Argemone gracilenta | Papaveraceae | whitish |
| Prickly Pear Cactus | Opuntia spp | Cactaceae | yellowish |
| Primrose, Bottle Evening | Oenothera primiveris | Onagraceae | yellowish |
| Purple Mat | Nama demissum | Hydrophyllaceae | pinkish |
| Ragged Rock Flower | Crossosoma bigelovii | Crossosomataceae | whitish |
| Ragweed, Canyon | Ambrosia ambrosioides | Compositae | yellowish |
| Ratany, Range | Krameria grayi | Krameriaceae | pinkish |
| Ratany, White | Krameria grayi | Krameriaceae | pinkish |
| Resurrection Plant | Selaginella spp | Selaginellaceae | none |
| Rosewood, Arizona | Vauquelinia californica | Rosaceae | whitish |
| Russian Thistle | Salsola australis | Chenopodiaceae | whitish |
| Sage, Scarlet | Stachys coccinea | Labiatae | reddish |
| Saguaro | Carnegiea gigantea | Cactaceae | whitish |
| Saltbush, Fourwing | Atriplex canescens | Chenopodiaceae | tiny |
| Senna, Desert | Senna covesii | Fabaceae | yellowish |
| Shindagger | Agave schottii | Agavaceae | yellowish |
| Sida | Sida albutifolia | Malvaceae | yellowish |
| Silver Puffs | Microseris linearifolia | Compositae | yellowish |
| Siphonoglossa | Siphonoglossa longiflora | Acanthaceae | whitish |
| Skeleton Weed | Eriogonum deflexum | Polygonaceae | pinkish |
| Snapdragon, Twining | Maurandya antirrhiniflora | Scrophulariaceae | bluish |
| Sotol (Desert Spoon) | Dasylirion wheeleri | Agavaceae | yellowish |
| Sowthistle, Spiny | Sonchus asper | Compositae | yellowish |
| Spike Moss | Selaginella arizonica | Selaginellaceae | none |
| Stork's bill, Largeflower | Erodium texanum | Geraniaceae | bluish |
| Sycamore, Arizona | Platanus wrightii | Platanaceae | tiny |
| Tackstem, White | Calycoseris wrightii | Compositae | whitish |
| Tamarisk (Salt Cedar) | Tamarix ramosissima | Tamaricaceae | pinkish |
| Thistle, New Mexico | Cirsium neomexicanum | Compositae | pinkish |
| Thread Plant | Nemacladus glanduliferus | Campanulaceae | whitish |
| Toadflax, Blue | Linaria texana | Scrophulariaceae | bluish |
| Tobacco, Desert | Nicotiana trigonophylla | Solanaceae | yellowish |
| Tobacco, Tree | Nicotiana glauca | Solanaceae | yellowish |
| Trixis | Trixis californica | Compositae | yellowish |
| Trumpet Bush, Yellow | Tecoma stans | Bignoniaceae | yellowish |
| Turpentine Bush | Ericameria laricifolia | Compositae | yellowish |
| Verbena, Gooding's | Glandularia gooddingii | Verbenaceae | bluish |
| Wait-A-Minute Bush | Mimosa aculeaticarpa | Fabaceae | whitish |
| Willow, Seep | Baccharis salicifolia | Compositae | whitish |
| Wishbone Bush, Desert | Mirabilis bigelovii | Nyctaginaceae | whitish |
| Wolfberry, Berlandier | Lycium berlandieri | Solanaceae | whitish |
| Yucca, Banana | Yucca baccata | Agavaceae | whitish |
| Yucca, Soaptree | Yucca elata | Agavaceae | whitish |
| Zinnia, Desert | Zinnia acerosa | Compositae | whitish |
* Flower Colors vary from individual to individual and with age within an individual. Also, flower colors vary along a continuum and are seen differently by different people. Therefore, if you see a species with a certain flower color, but don't find it among the plants listed with that flower color, look also at the plants with similar flower colors. Here is how I categorized flower color:
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