Wildflowers in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, USA

Desert Wildflower Reports 2011, 2010, and 2009

Saguaro Cactus June 11, 2011. The most conspicuous bloomer with big white flowers. Open a bit later than usual this year. More info

Desert Trumpet June 11, 2011. Minute yellow flowers arrayed on an intricate scaffold on a tall stem with an inflated segment. More info

Skeleton Weed June 11, 2011. Flowers similar to Desert Trumpet but whitish. Shorter plant also with finely divided stems without inflated trumpet. More info

San Felipe Marigold June 11, 2011. Small orangish flowers in compact heads. Leaves very aromatic. More info

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

Desert Rock Pea Mar 8, 2011. Orange and yellow pea flowers on smallish bush. More info

Henbit Mar 8, 2011. Fan shaped leaves and small, two-lipped, reddish pink flowers. Low annual with square stems.

California Goldfields Mar 8, 2011. Diminutive daisies with yellow rays and centers, barely a few inches tall. Herbaceous. More info

Red Brome Grass Mar 8, 2011. Normally annual but some of these are surviving winter and becoming perennial. More info

Dakota Mock Vervain Capitate clusters of lavender to blue, five-lobed flowers. Butterfly favorite. Common. 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.

Janusia Vine Aug. 13, 2010. Twisty vine with long-clawed petals and reddish winged seeds. V. common in Sonoran Desert. More info

Desert Lavender Aug 13, 2010. Small lavender flowers on silvery shrub with sagey leaves. More info

Desert Senna Aug. 13, 2009. Yellow flowers with five-petalled ochre-yellow flowers. Shrubby plant normally about knee high. More info

Twinberry Aug 13, 2010. Bright yellow with 5 petals on low shrub. Fragrant! More info

Angel Trumpet Aug 13, 2010. Amazing flower - all white with very long tube below. Opens at dusk and closing the next dawn. More info

San Felipe Marigold May 31, 2010. Rather obscure flowers in small heads the top of which is yellow-orange. Leaves strongly scented. More info

Angel Trumpet May 31, 2010. Amazing flower - all white with very long tube below. Opens at dusk and closing the next dawn. More info

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

Saguaro Cactus May 31, 2010. With a milder spring and less intense heat saguaros are continuing to bloom. More info

Tatalencho May 31, 2010. Bright yellow but very small heads of even smaller florets. Leaves are shiny-resinous. More info

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

Paper Bag Bush May 2, 2010. Vivid purple and white flowers followed by maroon-colored, inflated bladders. Also called Bladder Sage. More info

Mojave Aster May 2, 2010. A Mojave Desert beauty touching border areas of Sonoran. Flowers purple, lavender, or nearly white. More info

Beavertail Cactus May 2, 2010. Hot pink flowers on low-growing pricklypear. Short spines. More info

Desert Dandelion May 2, 2010. Bright yellow dandelion-like flowers. Leaves pinnately divided into linear segments. More info

Parry's Pentstemon Apr. 24, 2010. Tall spikes loaded with bright magenta tubular flowers. At Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, Az. More info

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

Baby Bonnets Apr. 24, 2010. Small tree with yellow and white pea-flowers. At Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, Az. More info

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Brittle Bush Apr. 11, 2010. Abundant yellow flowers at roadsides and on hillsides. Seen at Papago Park and many other spots. More info

Engelman Hedgehog Apr. 2, 2010. Spectacular magenta flowers on spiny clumped cactus. More info

Mexican Poppy Apr. 2, 2010. Large orange-yellow petals on plants growing close to ground. More info

Golden-eye Apr. 2, 2010. Yellow-rayed sunflowers that look like brittle bush but shrub has sandy-textured leaves. More info

Blue Dicks Apr. 2, 2010. Hyacinth-blue clusters of flowers on tall wand stem from underground bulb. More info

Ocotillo Apr. 2, 2010. Clusters of bright red to orange flowers at tips of long, spiny, wand-branches. More info

Chuparosa Mar. 25, 2010. Red tubular flowers on medium-sized shrub avidly visited by hummingbirds. More info

Blue Phacelia Mar. 25, 2010. Light blue to dark blue flowers on low herbs with hairy leaves. More info

Blue Fiesta Flower Mar. 25, 2010. Viney plants with little prickles on stems and bright blue little flowers. More info

Lacepod Mar. 25, 2010. Small whitish flowers give rise to little seed pods with a lacey border. More info

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

Wildflower Show in the Ajo Mts.
March 20^th, 2010

Mojave Desert Star Mar. 21, 2010. Bright white turning pink daisies smaller than a dime! Amazing. More info

Purple Mat Mar. 21, 2010. Small plants with a flower as big as the rest of the plant! Pink to lavender color. More info

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

Lyrepod Mar. 21, 2010. Oddly shaped flowers with brown petals. More info

Three-seeded Mercury Mar. 21, 2010. Obscure flowers for sure, but pretty interesting on closer look. More info

Wildflower Show in the Goldfield Mts.
Seen by Chris Trask on March 17^th, 2010

Desert Honeysuckle Mar. 17, 2010. Orange-red tubular flowers with long stamens and usu. hummingbirds nearby. More info

Popcorn Flower Mar. 17, 2010. Abundant small white flowers on low herb with rather bristly folliage. More info

Owl's Clover Mar. 17, 2010. Spikes of brilliant magenta flowers on low forb forming carpets of color. More info

Tidytips Mar. 17, 2010. Small, perfect daisies on upright forb. Yellow center and white rays. More info

Mexican Poppy Mar. 17, 2010. Over-sized orange to yellow flowers on low forb often in patches of great abundance. More info

Wildflowers Blooming in Western Arizona
March 14^th, 2010

Desert Lily Mar. 14, 2010. Amazing lily shooting up from dry sandy soils observed east of Parker, Arizona. More info

Sand Verbena Mar. 14, 2010. Hemispheres of bright pink flowers forming carpets on sand dunes. Seen on Colorado River Indian Reservation. More info

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

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

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

Wildflower Season Beginning on March 6^th, 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

California Mustard Mar. 6, 2010. Very small whitish flowers on succulent early mustard. More info

Pelitory Mar. 6, 2010. Delicate herb with small green flowers hidden below leaves. More info

Red Grama Mar. 6, 2010. Purplish-red spikelets appear to twirl around stem. Small perennial grass - yes grasses have true flowers. More info

Wildflowers Beginning on Feb. 27^th, 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

Bluedicks Feb. 27, 2010. Small lilac-blue lillies on tall, flexible stems. More info

Wildflowers Hard to Find on Feb. 17^th, 2010
@ Buckeye Hills, Arizona

Bowlesia Feb. 17, 2010. Distinctive shaped leaf, but flowers are minute and close to stem. More info

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

Brittle Bush Feb. 17 2010. Just a few of these bright yellow daisies along SR-85. More info

Bigelow's Four O'Clock Feb. 17 2010. A few buds about to burst open. Light pink. More info

Orange Fiddleneck Feb. 17 2010. A few small plants with just a few open flowers. More info

Early Wildflowers seen Jan. 31^st, 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

Early Wildflowers seen Jan. 24^th, 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. 18^th, 2009. The fierce and powerfull storm that tracked across North America Dec. 6^th to Dec. 10^th 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. 10^th, 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 30^th, 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 24^th, 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

Wildflowers in the Riparian Habitat of Mesquite Wash, Four Peaks Mountains, Arizona

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 27^th, 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.

Wildflowers in the Estrella Mountains, Arizona

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 28^th & 29^th, 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 14^th & 15^th, 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 8^th, 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.

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.

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