EPA Level III Ecoregion
Mojave Basin and Range
542 native plants for the Mojave Basin and Range ecoregion (Las Vegas area).
The Mojave Basin and Range spans the high desert from Lancaster and Victorville across southern Nevada to Las Vegas and St. George. Rainfall is scarce, summers are extreme, and winters can freeze. Desert natives such as desert marigold, brittlebush, and apache plume are some of the only plants that look intentional here without irrigation, which is why so many local water districts pay homeowners to plant them.
Conditions: Sandy, fast-draining alkaline soils, under 10 inches of annual rainfall, extreme summer heat with winter frosts.
Cities and areas: Las Vegas, Lancaster, Palmdale, Victorville, St. George, Barstow.
542 Native Plants for the Mojave Basin and Range
HOA-friendly picks listed first. Pet-safety status varies by species; each plant page shows its sourced ASPCA status. Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Tall Grama Grass
Bouteloua curtipendula
Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
Red-osier Dogwood
Cornus sericea
Aromatic Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Prairie Junegrass
Koeleria macrantha
Golden Currant
Ribes aureum
Narrowleaf Milkweed
Asclepias fascicularis
Tufted Hairgrass
Deschampsia cespitosa
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
California-poppy
Eschscholzia californica
Deer Grass
Muhlenbergia rigens
California Fuchsia
Epilobium canum
Sulfur-buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum
California Wild Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum
Coastal Tidytips
Layia platyglossa
Firecracker penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
Fiddleneck
Phacelia tanacetifolia
Foothill Lupine
Lupinus albifrons
Western Blue-eyed Grass
Sisyrinchium bellum
Arroyo Lupine
Lupinus succulentus
Scarlet Bugler
Penstemon centranthifolius
Star False Solomon's-seal
Maianthemum stellatum
Common Juniper
Juniperus communis
White Sage
Salvia apiana
Black Sage
Salvia mellifera
Antelope Horn Milkweed
Asclepias asperula
Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus betuloides
Blue Thimble-flower
Gilia capitata
Showy Penstemon
Penstemon spectabilis
Apricot globemallow
Sphaeralcea ambigua
California Rose
Rosa californica
California Sagebrush
Artemisia californica
Blue Elderberry
Sambucus mexicana
Hairy Gumweed
Grindelia camporum
Western Redbud
Cercis occidentalis
Douglas' Sagewort
Artemisia douglasiana
Woolly Sedge
Carex pellita
Desert Marigold
Baileya multiradiata
Banana yucca
Yucca baccata
California Sycamore
Platanus racemosa
Bird's-eyes
Gilia tricolor
California Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia
Skunkbush Sumac
Rhus trilobata
Four-wing Saltbush
Atriplex canescens
Sugar Sumac
Rhus ovata
Three-nerve Goldenrod
Solidago velutina
Prairie-Gentian
Eustoma exaltatum
Oregongrape
Mahonia repens
Blue Wild Rye
Elymus glaucus
Hollyleaf Cherry
Prunus ilicifolia
Naked Buckwheat
Eriogonum nudum
Bigberry Manzanita
Arctostaphylos glauca
Canyon Live Oak
Quercus chrysolepis
Tomcat Clover
Trifolium willdenovii
Basin Sagebrush
Artemisia tridentata
Orange Bush Monkeyflower
Mimulus aurantiacus
Mountain Monardella
Monardella odoratissima
Seep Monkeyflower
Erythranthe guttata
Rush milkweed
Asclepias subulata
Cowpen Daisy
Verbesina encelioides
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa
Catalina Nightshade
Solanum xanti
Wax Currant
Ribes cereum
Baltic Rush
Juncus balticus
Rocky Mountain Maple
Acer glabrum
Pink fairy duster
Calliandra eriophylla
Sand Dropseed
Sporobolus cryptandrus
Chia
Salvia columbariae
California Flannelbush
Fremontodendron californicum
Indian Ricegrass
Achnatherum hymenoides
California Goldfields
Lasthenia californica
Tree-poppy
Dendromecon rigida
Desert Wishbone-bush
Mirabilis laevis
Water Birch
Betula occidentalis
Chick Lupine
Lupinus microcarpus
Showy Tarweed
Madia elegans
Mexican Rush
Juncus mexicanus
Tufted Evening-primrose
Oenothera cespitosa
Blue Elderberry
Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea
Sierra Currant
Ribes nevadense
Cane Bluestem
Bothriochloa barbinodis
Beardless Wild Rye
Elymus triticoides
Meadow Barley
Hordeum brachyantherum
Sticky-leaf Rabbitbrush
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus
Utah Agave
Agave utahensis
San Bernardino Larkspur
Delphinium parryi
Scarlet Larkspur
Delphinium cardinale
Stemless Four-nerve Daisy
Tetraneuris acaulis
Purple Cliffbrake
Pellaea atropurpurea
Butterfly Mariposa Lily
Calochortus venustus
New Mexico olive
Forestiera neomexicana
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine
Pinus monophylla
Brittle Bladder Fern
Cystopteris fragilis
Engelmann's prickly pear
Opuntia engelmannii
Wright's Buckwheat
Eriogonum wrightii
California Buckthorn
Rhamnus californica
Whitewhorl Lupine
Lupinus densiflorus
Cushion Buckwheat
Eriogonum ovalifolium
White Sage
Krascheninnikovia lanata
Gregg Catclaw Acacia
Senegalia greggii
Texas Snakeweed
Gutierrezia sarothrae
Southern Bush Monkeyflower
Diplacus longiflorus
Common Lomatium
Lomatium utriculatum
Graceful Cinquefoil
Potentilla gracilis
Parish's goldeneye
Viguiera parishii
Turpentine bush
Ericameria laricifolia
Emory's Globemallow
Sphaeralcea emoryi
Pine Violet
Viola purpurea
Western Wheat Grass
Elymus smithii
Screwbean Mesquite
Prosopis pubescens
Rosy Pussytoes
Antennaria rosea
Sanddune Wallflower
Erysimum capitatum
Hairy woollygrass
Erioneuron pilosum
Iris-Leaved Rush
Juncus xiphioides
Arizona Cypress
Cupressus arizonica
Southwestern mock vervain
Glandularia gooddingii
Littleleaf Pussytoes
Antennaria microphylla
Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus engelmannii
Great Valley Phacelia
Phacelia ciliata
Giant Wild Rye
Leymus condensatus
Beardless Wheatgrass
Pseudoroegneria spicata
Desert Milkweed
Asclepias erosa
California Fuchsia
Zauschneria californica
Snapdragon Penstemon
Keckiella antirrhinoides
Hoary Tansyaster
Dieteria canescens
Utah Ash
Fraxinus anomala
Showy Goldeneye
Heliomeris multiflora
Ragged Rockflower
Crossosoma bigelovii
Slender Wheatgrass
Elymus violaceus
James' Galleta
Hilaria jamesii
Perennial Rockcress
Arabis perennans
Royal Penstemon
Penstemon speciosus
Western Sedge
Carex occidentalis
Spreading Dogbane
Apocynum androsaemifolium
Coves' cassia
Senna covesii
Valley Sedge
Carex vallicola
Alpine Fescue
Festuca brachyphylla
Golden Sedge
Carex aurea
Narrowleaf Puccoon
Lithospermum incisum
New Mexico Pennyroyal
Hedeoma drummondii
Sawatch Knotweed
Polygonum sawatchense
Dwarf Goldenbush
Ericameria nana
Purple Needlegrass
Nassella pulchra
Ross Sedge
Carex rossii
Parry'S Goldenbush
Ericameria parryi
Brown Sedge
Carex subfusca
Sky Lupine
Lupinus nanus
Desert Gooseberry
Ribes velutinum
Black Grama
Bouteloua eriopoda
Black Sagebrush
Artemisia nova
White Four O'clock
Mirabilis albida
Mountain Pepperwort
Lepidium montanum
Winged Four O'clock
Mirabilis alipes
Fee'S Lipfern
Cheilanthes feei
Claret Cup Cactus
Echinocereus triglochidiatus
Longleaf Phlox
Phlox longifolia
Inland Sedge
Carex interior
Manybranched Ipomopsis
Ipomopsis polycladon
Spreading Fleabane
Erigeron divergens
Alkali Aster
Symphyotrichum frondosum
Desert Almond
Prunus fasciculata
Fendler'S Euphorbia
Euphorbia fendleri
Utah Fendlerbush
Fendlerella utahensis
Purple Groundcherry
Quincula lobata
Parralena
Thymophylla pentachaeta
Common Maidenhair Fern
Adiantum capillus-veneris
California Loosestrife
Lythrum californicum
Cut-Leaf Ironplant
Xanthisma spinulosum
Blue Dicks
Dichelostemma capitatum
Panamint Penstemon
Penstemon floridus
Nevada Blue-eyed Grass
Sisyrinchium halophilum
Burro Grass
Scleropogon brevifolius
King's Sandwort
Eremogone kingii
Torrey's Rush
Juncus torreyi
Abrupt-Beaked Sedge
Carex abrupta
Green-flower Wintergreen
Pyrola chlorantha
California Satintail
Imperata brevifolia
Peat Grass
Dichanthelium lanuginosum
Nodding Needlegrass
Nassella cernua
Paleface
Hibiscus denudatus
Scarlet Beeblossom
Gaura coccinea
Marsh Alkali Aster
Almutaster pauciflorus
Lotebush
Ziziphus obtusifolia
Bush Muhly
Muhlenbergia porteri
Parry's Buckwheat
Eriogonum brachypodum
Mountain Hollyfern
Polystichum scopulinum
Variegated-bract Blazingstar
Mentzelia montana
Red Cinquefoil
Potentilla concinna
Alkali Muhly
Muhlenbergia asperifolia
Fernbush
Chamaebatiaria millefolium
Greek Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
Fogfruit
Phyla nodiflora
Louisiana Sagewort
Artemisia ludoviciana
Lewis's Flax
Linum lewisii
Desert Willow
Chilopsis linearis
Bushy Bluestem
Andropogon glomeratus
Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
Great Scouring-rush
Equisetum hyemale
American Aspen
Populus tremuloides
Elbowbush
Forestiera pubescens
Common Woolly Sunflower
Eriophyllum lanatum
Ash-leaf Maple
Acer negundo
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
California Figwort
Scrophularia californica
Clustered Field Sedge
Carex praegracilis
Narrowleaf Willow
Salix exigua
Hemp Dogbane
Apocynum cannabinum
Scarlet Monkeyflower
Mimulus cardinalis
Purple Threeawn
Aristida purpurea
Rubber Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa
Creambush
Holodiscus discolor
Canby'S Bluegrass
Poa secunda
Smooth Heliotrope
Heliotropium curassavicum
Honey Mesquite
Prosopis glandulosa
Alkali Sacaton
Sporobolus airoides
Russian Tarragon
Artemisia dracunculus
Fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium
Apache-beads
Anemopsis californica
Snapdragon Vine
Maurandella antirrhiniflora
Saltmarsh Fleabane
Pluchea odorata
Stream Orchid
Epipactis gigantea
Hooker's Evening Primrose
Oenothera elata
Cooper's-reed
Typha latifolia
Tansy-aster
Machaeranthera tanacetifolia
American Licorice
Glycyrrhiza lepidota
Fringe Brome
Bromus ciliatus
Red Willow
Salix laevigata
California Bulrush
Schoenoplectus californicus
Coontail
Ceratophyllum demersum
Pale Spikerush
Eleocharis macrostachya
Salt Grass
Distichlis spicata
Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
Dotseed Plantain
Plantago erecta
Spike Redtop
Agrostis exarata
Arroyo Willow
Salix lasiolepis
Hardstem Bulrush
Schoenoplectus acutus
Great Bulrush
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani
Scouler's Willow
Salix scouleriana
Fremont's Cottonwood
Populus fremontii
Chairmaker's-rush
Schoenoplectus pungens
Wild Mint
Mentha arvensis
Curly-cup Gumweed
Grindelia squarrosa
Creeping Spike-rush
Eleocharis palustris
Panicled Bulrush
Scirpus microcarpus
Arrow-weed
Pluchea sericea
Cuban-spinach
Claytonia perfoliata
Amphibious Bistort
Persicaria amphibia
Darkthroat Shootingstar
Dodecatheon pulchellum
Toad Rush
Juncus bufonius
Bush Seepweed
Suaeda nigra
Rattlesnake-weed
Daucus pusillus
Netleaf Hackberry
Celtis reticulata
Nebraska Sedge
Carex nebrascensis
Scarlet Gilia
Ipomopsis aggregata
Beehive Cactus
Coryphantha vivipara
Smooth-stem Blazingstar
Mentzelia laevicaulis
Sea Arrow-grass
Triglochin maritima
Copper Globe-mallow
Sphaeralcea angustifolia
Golden Corydalis
Corydalis aurea
Bastard Toadflax
Comandra umbellata
Coyote Gourd
Cucurbita palmata
Willow Dock
Rumex salicifolius
Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens
Prairie Gourd
Cucurbita foetidissima
Old-witch Grass
Panicum capillare
Pleated Gentian
Gentiana affinis
Tall Flatsedge
Cyperus eragrostis
Annual Agoseris
Agoseris heterophylla
Michaelmas Daisy
Symphyotrichum lanceolatum
Red-Root Flat Sedge
Cyperus erythrorhizos
Bottlebrush Squirreltail
Elymus elymoides
Coast Fiddleneck
Amsinckia intermedia
American Willowherb
Epilobium ciliatum
Beggar-ticks
Bidens frondosa
Smooth Scouring-rush
Equisetum laevigatum
Sweet Brome
Bromus carinatus
Foxtail Barley
Hordeum jubatum
Common Fiddleneck
Amsinckia menziesii
Annual-bristle Grass
Aristida adscensionis
Rock-goldenrod
Petradoria pumila
Texas-pea
Astragalus nuttallianus
Moth Combseed
Pectocarya setosa
Pale Knotweed
Persicaria lapathifolia
Cooper Popcornflower
Plagiobothrys collinus
Pennsylvania Pellitory
Parietaria pensylvanica
Tumbling-Ringwing
Cycloloma atriplicifolium
Torrey'S Desert-Dandelion
Malacothrix torreyi
Needle Grama
Bouteloua aristidoides
Spreading Alkaliweed
Cressa truxillensis
Arizona Brome
Bromus arizonicus
Prairie Cup Grass
Eriochloa contracta
Skeleton-weed
Eriogonum deflexum
Wallflower Phoenicaulis
Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides
Mudwort
Limosella aquatica
Brown Beetle-grass
Diplachne fusca
Mountain Oxytrope
Oxytropis oreophila
Canada Spikesedge
Eleocharis geniculata
Longstyle Rush
Juncus longistylis
Great Basin Bristlecone Pine
Pinus longaeva
Roundleaf Phacelia
Phacelia rotundifolia
Lemon Sagewort
Artemisia michauxiana
Wingnut Catseye
Cryptantha pterocarya
Ditch Rabbitsfoot Grass
Polypogon interruptus
Least Pepperwort
Lepidium virginicum
Alkali Buttercup
Halerpestes cymbalaria
Fremont'S Goosefoot
Chenopodium fremontii
False Cleavers
Galium spurium
Greenmolly
Kochia americana
American Corn Mint
Mentha canadensis
False Buffalo-Grass
Munroa squarrosa
Nevada Greasewood
Glossopetalon spinescens
Arizona Popcorn-flower
Plagiobothrys arizonicus
Limestone Hawksbeard
Crepis intermedia
Dandelion Hawksbeard
Crepis runcinata
Knotted Rush
Juncus nodosus
Pursh Milk-Vetch
Astragalus purshii
Mojave Brickellbush
Brickellia oblongifolia
Disc Mayweed
Matricaria matricarioides
Tansy Mustard
Descurainia pinnata
California Mustard
Guillenia lasiophylla
Pacific Azolla
Azolla filiculoides
Cushion Cryptantha
Cryptantha circumscissa
Narrowleaf Four O'clock
Mirabilis linearis
Oenothera Gayophytum Diffusa
Gayophytum diffusum
Dune Spurge
Euphorbia parryi
Horseweed
Conyza canadensis
Southern Cattail
Typha domingensis
Arizona Mousetail
Myosurus cupulatus
Marine Naiad
Najas marina
Pale evening primrose
Oenothera pallida
Pigweed
Chenopodium berlandieri
Six-weeks Fescue
Vulpia octoflora
Yellow-Eyed Cryptantha
Oreocarya flavoculata
Cluster Broomrape
Orobanche fasciculata
Narrow-leaf Duckweed
Lemna trisulca
Grass-of-Parnassus
Parnassia palustris
Mountain Brome
Bromus marginatus
Antelope Bitterbrush
Purshia tridentata
Slender Gilia
Aliciella leptomeria
Chambers' Twinpod
Physaria chambersii
Mexican Dock
Rumex triangulivalvis
Saltmarsh Sandspurry
Spergularia marina
Hoary Bowlesia
Bowlesia incana
Scarlet Paintbrush
Castilleja miniata
Freckled Milkvetch
Astragalus lentiginosus
Dodder
Cuscuta campestris
Mucronate Sprangletop
Leptochloa panicea
Fat-hen
Atriplex prostrata
Celery Buttercup
Ranunculus sceleratus
Colorado Desert-marigold
Baileya pauciradiata
Sixweeks Grama
Bouteloua barbata
Plains Sunflower
Helianthus petiolaris
Swamp Sawgrass
Cladium mariscus
California-bur
Xanthium strumarium
Hooked Groundstar
Ancistrocarphus filagineus
Sleepy Catchfly
Silene antirrhina
Newberry'S Milkvetch
Astragalus newberryi
Deceptive Groundsmoke
Gayophytum decipiens
Black Bogrush
Schoenus nigricans
Tufted Lovegrass
Eragrostis pectinacea
Desert Pincushion
Chaenactis stevioides
Desert Goosefoot
Chenopodium pratericola
Milk Kelloggia
Kelloggia galioides
Algarroba-bean
Prosopis juliflora
Whorled Marsh Pennywort
Hydrocotyle verticillata
Basin Cryptantha
Cryptantha ambigua
Payson Roundspike Cryptantha
Oreocarya humilis
Silkcotton Purslane
Portulaca halimoides
Alkali-mallow
Malvella leprosa
Stiff Tumbleweed
Amaranthus albus
Rusty Lupine
Lupinus pusillus
Coulter's Lupine
Lupinus sparsiflorus
Longleaf Brickellbush
Brickellia longifolia
Desert Dicoria
Dicoria canescens
Wedgescale Saltbush
Atriplex truncata
Pale Desert-thorn
Lycium pallidum
Cotton-batting-plant
Pseudognaphalium stramineum
Common Sandweed
Athysanus pusillus
Beaked-sandbur
Solanum rostratum
Scarlet Spiderling
Boerhavia coccinea
Emory's Baccharis
Baccharis salicina
Woolly Plantain
Plantago patagonica
Redroot
Amaranthus retroflexus
Lesser Sweet-cicely
Osmorhiza depauperata
Branched Lagophylla
Lagophylla ramosissima
Wright's Rabbit-tobacco
Pseudognaphalium canescens
American Sea-Blite
Suaeda calceoliformis
Lobeleaf Groundsel
Packera multilobata
Wright's Beebrush
Aloysia wrightii
Desert Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja chromosa
Bearded Flat Sedge
Cyperus squarrosus
Dotted Smartweed
Persicaria punctata
Thurber's Sandpaper Plant
Petalonyx thurberi
Sago Pondweed
Potamogeton pectinatus
Knotgrass
Paspalum distichum
Beaked Tasselweed
Ruppia maritima
Spiny Sheepbur
Lappula occidentalis
Showy Stickseed
Hackelia floribunda
Whitestem Blazingstar
Mentzelia albicaulis
Dunbible-weed
Ambrosia psilostachya
Utah Juniper
Juniperus osteosperma
Bristly Fiddleneck
Amsinckia tessellata
Copper-flowered Bird's-foot Trefoil
Hosackia oblongifolia
Bud Sagebrush
Picrothamnus desertorum
Cut-leaf Nightshade
Solanum triflorum
Wavy-leaf Paintbrush
Castilleja applegatei
Mousetail
Myosurus minimus
California Caltrop
Kallstroemia californica
Field Sandbur
Cenchrus spinifex
Tall Annual Willowherb
Epilobium brachycarpum
Bearded Cryptantha
Cryptantha barbigera
Warty Caltrop
Kallstroemia parviflora
Widow's Milkvetch
Astragalus layneae
Skyblue Phacelia
Phacelia coerulea
Wedgeleaf Draba
Draba cuneifolia
Annual Hairgrass
Deschampsia danthonioides
Hoary Goosefoot
Chenopodium incanum
Mojave Kingcup Cactus
Echinocereus mojavensis
Whipple Cholla
Cylindropuntia whipplei
Western-cedar
Juniperus occidentalis
Mojave Suncup
Camissonia campestris
Beaked Spikerush
Eleocharis rostellata
Doveweed
Croton setigerus
Rosy Gilia
Gilia sinuata
Necklaceweed
Veronica peregrina
White-stem Evening-primrose
Oenothera albicaulis
Nuttall'S Sunflower
Helianthus nuttallii
Nuttall's Monolepis
Monolepis nuttalliana
Seaside Brookweed
Samolus parviflorus
Geyer's Milkvetch
Astragalus geyeri
Streambank Springbeauty
Claytonia parviflora
Carelessweed
Amaranthus palmeri
Fremont Pincushion
Chaenactis fremontii
Annual Muhly
Muhlenbergia minutissima
Ridge-seed Spurge
Euphorbia glyptosperma
Common Duckmeat
Spirodela polyrhiza
Hoary Pincushion
Chaenactis douglasii
Broom-like Ragwort
Senecio spartioides
Calingale
Cyperus odoratus
Prairie-berry
Solanum elaeagnifolium
Hairy-pod Pepperwort
Lepidium lasiocarpum
Parish Spikerush
Eleocharis parishii
Schott's Calico
Loeseliastrum schottii
Yelloweyes
Lupinus flavoculatus
Golden Desert-snapdragon
Mohavea breviflora
Glandular Threadplant
Nemacladus glanduliferus
Saltbush
Atriplex argentea
Parachute Plant
Atrichoseris platyphylla
Dwarf Barley
Hordeum depressum
Hooker's Bur Ragweed
Ambrosia acanthicarpa
Mojave Popcornflower
Plagiobothrys jonesii
Biennial Cinquefoil
Potentilla biennis
Small Wirelettuce
Stephanomeria exigua
American Brooklime
Veronica americana
Ragleaf Bahia
Bahia dissecta
Sea Club-rush
Bolboschoenus maritimus
Red-berry elder
Sambucus racemosa
Woods's rose
Rosa woodsii
Bush beardtongue
Keckiella breviflora
Alkali heath
Frankenia salina
California broom
Lotus scoparius
Saw-tooth goldenbush
Hazardia squarrosa
Cobweb thistle
Cirsium occidentale
Desert mock orange
Philadelphus microphyllus
Grape soda lupine
Lupinus excubitus
Hollyleaf redberry
Rhamnus ilicifolia
Deerweed
Acmispon glaber
Durango root
Datisca glomerata
Big saltbush
Atriplex lentiformis
Eastwood's manzanita
Arctostaphylos glandulosa
California juniper
Juniperus californica
Arizon ash
Fraxinus velutina
Silvery lupine
Lupinus argenteus
Desert sand verbena
Abronia villosa
Bladderpod
Peritoma arborea
Narrowleaf goldenbush
Ericameria linearifolia
California brickellbush
Brickellia californica
Fremont's bush mallow
Malacothamnus fremontii
Joshua-tree
Yucca brevifolia
Western-goldenrod
Solidago californica
Shadscale saltbush
Atriplex confertifolia
Telegraph-weed
Heterotheca grandiflora
Shortpod lotus
Acmispon brachycarpus
Scrub oak
Quercus berberidifolia
Oak gooseberry
Ribes quercetorum
False acacia
Robinia pseudoacacia
American vetch
Vicia americana
Le conte barrel cactus
Ferocactus cylindraceus
Anglestem buckwheat
Eriogonum angulosum
Goldback fern
Pentagramma triangularis
Indian-hyacinth
Dipterostemon capitatus
Climbing bedstraw
Galium porrigens
California buckthorn
Frangula californica
Blow wives
Achyrachaena mollis
Pine bush
Ericameria pinifolia
Sticky monkeyflower
Diplacus aurantiacus
Chaparral whitethorn
Ceanothus leucodermis
California incense-cedar
Calocedrus decurrens
Palmer oak
Quercus palmeri
Desert broom
Baccharis sarothroides
Mexican manzanita
Arctostaphylos pungens
California false indigo
Amorpha californica
Utah serviceberry
Amelanchier utahensis
Desert agave
Agave deserti
Hoary-leaf ceanothus
Ceanothus crassifolius
White-flower currant
Ribes indecorum
Dense False Gilyflower
Allophyllum gilioides
Thick-leaf yerba-santa
Eriodictyon crassifolium
Chile trefoil
Acmispon wrangelianus
Heermann's bird's-foot trefoil
Acmispon heermannii
Chaparral lotus
Acmispon grandiflorus
Blue palo verde
Parkinsonia florida
Goodding's black willow
Salix gooddingii
Goatnut
Simmondsia chinensis
Curl-leaf mountain mahogany
Cercocarpus ledifolius
Mulefat
Baccharis salicifolia
Sambucus cerulea
Sambucus cerulea
American deerweed
Acmispon americanus
Bluewitch nightshade
Solanum umbelliferum
Cleomella arborea
Cleomella arborea
Long-stem wild buckwheat
Eriogonum elongatum
Chamise
Adenostoma fasciculatum
White fir
Abies concolor
Brittlebush
Encelia farinosa
Silver bird's-foot trefoil
Acmispon argophyllus
Baby blue-eyes
Nemophila menziesii
Hairy yerba santa
Eriodictyon trichocalyx
Golden-yarrow
Eriophyllum confertiflorum
Mohave yucca
Yucca schidigera
Blue sage
Salvia pachyphylla
Desert lavender
Condea emoryi
Ashy silk-tassel
Garrya flavescens
Spiny hopsage
Grayia spinosa
Sierra live oak
Quercus wislizeni
Bitter cherry
Prunus emarginata
California walnut
Juglans californica
Desert scrub oak
Quercus cornelius-mulleri
Sant cruz island bush-mallow
Malacothamnus fasciculatus
Iodine-bush
Allenrolfea occidentalis
Fall care in the Mojave Basin and Range
What to do right now for plants commonly grown here. Each links to the full regional care guide for that species, with sources.
- California fuchsia
Fall is when California fuchsia keeps blooming into October in mild years before it starts to fade as nights cool. This is the recommended time for the plant's one big yearly cutback: once flowering is mostly done, usually October or November in the high desert, cut the whole plant back hard to just a few inches above the ground. That single cutback keeps it from turning into a woody, sprawling shrub and sets up a full flush of new growth in spring. It also removes the spent flower stalks, tidying the plant for its dormant winter look, which matters for a front-yard bed. Fall is also a good window to divide an established clump if it has outgrown its space, since this species spreads by rhizomes and USDA guidance notes fall and winter division works well for it.
- Tufted evening primrose
Growth slows as days shorten and nights cool. This is a reasonable window to divide crowded clumps or plant new ones, since the worst heat has broken but the ground is still warm enough for roots to settle in before winter.
- Littleleaf pussytoes
Fall's cooling temperatures make it a good stretch to plant or divide Littleleaf Pussytoes in Victorville, once the worst of the summer heat has passed.
- Indian ricegrass
Fall is the season to tidy up Indian Ricegrass: cut it back, clear out dead growth, and, if you want more of it, sow seed for a head start over winter.
- Deer grass
Fall is the best planting window in Las Vegas and the best time to fix spacing mistakes. SNWA says desert plants can go in any time of year but fall gives the best odds for plant health. Cooler air over soil that is still warm lets roots run for months before next summer's heat arrives. Nothing needs cutting now. Just ease the water back as highs drop out of the 90s.
- Prairie junegrass
Fall is the second, smaller growth window. Once nights cool in late September and October, prairie junegrass often pushes fresh green from the base, and USDA NRCS notes it regrows in the fall months as long as moisture is there to stimulate it. This is the best time of year to plant a new one or fill a gap, because the roots get months of mild weather before next summer arrives. It is also when last summer's seed sprouts, so expect small grassy seedlings around the parent clump. Southern Nevada's watering schedule steps down to three assigned days a week on September 1 and to one day a week on November 1.
- Sulfur buckwheat
Fall is the best planting window in southern Nevada and the natural time to tidy this plant up. Bloom finishes around September and the spent stalks dry to a papery tan. Cutting plants back after flowering promotes a denser, more compact mat, so a light shear now is both a looks decision and a health one. Soil is still warm, so roots put on real growth before winter arrives.
- Cushion buckwheat
Fall is the best window to plant, move, or replace cushion buckwheat here. Growers plant it in fall so the roots settle in through cool weather before it has to face a low desert summer. It is also cleanup season: once the flower stalks are dry and brittle, clip them back to the mat. Keep any watering light and infrequent even as temperatures drop, because cooling soil holds moisture far longer than you would guess. If you are siting a new plant, this is when you build the mound and lay the gravel.
- Western wheat grass
Fall is the second growth window and the most productive stretch of the year for this grass after spring. Once nights cool in October, western wheatgrass wakes back up and puts on good fall growth if there is moisture, which is exactly when to start watering again. It is also the better of the two planting and dividing windows, because roots get a long cool run before next summer. Expect the blue-green color to return within two or three weeks of the first real soakings. Do not rush it in September, when daytime highs here are still near 100.
- Antelope horn milkweed
Fall is the planting and sowing window in the Mojave. Pods here often ripen and blow open in late summer, so if yours already went, buy seed rather than chasing it. The plant pulls back toward its root crown as nights cool through October and November. Cooler soil is the best time to set out a new plant or sow seed, because the roots get months to settle in before the next brutal summer. Monarchs moving through in fall are mostly feeding on nectar rather than laying eggs, so leave any late flowers standing.
Build a plan for the Mojave Basin and Range
Pollinator Patch turns plants like these into a front-yard plan tuned for the soil, climate, and HOA expectations of the Las Vegas area.