EPA Level III Ecoregion
Mojave Basin and Range
469 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.
469 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
California-poppy
Eschscholzia californica
Deer Grass
Muhlenbergia rigens
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
California Wild Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum
California Fuchsia
Epilobium canum
Sulfur-buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum
Arroyo Lupine
Lupinus succulentus
Western Blue-eyed Grass
Sisyrinchium bellum
Fiddleneck
Phacelia tanacetifolia
Firecracker penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
Foothill Lupine
Lupinus albifrons
Coastal Tidytips
Layia platyglossa
Scarlet Bugler
Penstemon centranthifolius
Star False Solomon's-seal
Maianthemum stellatum
Black Sage
Salvia mellifera
Common Juniper
Juniperus communis
Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus betuloides
Apricot globemallow
Sphaeralcea ambigua
Showy Penstemon
Penstemon spectabilis
Blue Thimble-flower
Gilia capitata
Antelope Horn Milkweed
Asclepias asperula
White Sage
Salvia apiana
Bird's-eyes
Gilia tricolor
Banana yucca
Yucca baccata
Hairy Gumweed
Grindelia camporum
Blue Elderberry
Sambucus mexicana
California Sagebrush
Artemisia californica
Skunkbush Sumac
Rhus trilobata
Four-wing Saltbush
Atriplex canescens
California Sycamore
Platanus racemosa
Douglas' Sagewort
Artemisia douglasiana
Western Redbud
Cercis occidentalis
California Rose
Rosa californica
Woolly Sedge
Carex pellita
California Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia
Desert Marigold
Baileya multiradiata
Blue Wild Rye
Elymus glaucus
Oregongrape
Mahonia repens
Three-nerve Goldenrod
Solidago velutina
Mountain Monardella
Monardella odoratissima
Naked Buckwheat
Eriogonum nudum
Tomcat Clover
Trifolium willdenovii
Orange Bush Monkeyflower
Mimulus aurantiacus
Hollyleaf Cherry
Prunus ilicifolia
Seep Monkeyflower
Erythranthe guttata
Sugar Sumac
Rhus ovata
Basin Sagebrush
Artemisia tridentata
Prairie-Gentian
Eustoma exaltatum
Scarlet Monkeyflower
Erythranthe cardinalis
Bigberry Manzanita
Arctostaphylos glauca
Canyon Live Oak
Quercus chrysolepis
California Flannelbush
Fremontodendron californicum
Tree-poppy
Dendromecon rigida
Water Birch
Betula occidentalis
Rocky Mountain Maple
Acer glabrum
Slender Wheatgrass
Elymus trachycaulus
Showy Tarweed
Madia elegans
Mexican Rush
Juncus mexicanus
Indian Ricegrass
Achnatherum hymenoides
California Goldfields
Lasthenia californica
Chick Lupine
Lupinus microcarpus
Blue Elderberry
Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea
Desert Wishbone-bush
Mirabilis laevis
Sand Dropseed
Sporobolus cryptandrus
Rush milkweed
Asclepias subulata
Pink fairy duster
Calliandra eriophylla
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa
Chia
Salvia columbariae
Baltic Rush
Juncus balticus
Catalina Nightshade
Solanum xanti
Squaw Currant
Ribes cereum
Tufted Evening-primrose
Oenothera cespitosa
Cowpen Daisy
Verbesina encelioides
Sierra Currant
Ribes nevadense
New Mexico olive
Forestiera neomexicana
Giant Wild Rye
Leymus condensatus
Southern Bush Monkeyflower
Diplacus longiflorus
California Buckthorn
Rhamnus californica
Purple Cliffbrake
Pellaea atropurpurea
Sanddune Wallflower
Erysimum capitatum
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine
Pinus monophylla
Southwestern mock vervain
Glandularia gooddingii
Wright's Buckwheat
Eriogonum wrightii
Arizona Cypress
Cupressus arizonica
Rosy Pussytoes
Antennaria rosea
Engelmann's prickly pear
Opuntia engelmannii
Desert Milkweed
Asclepias erosa
Turpentine bush
Ericameria laricifolia
Whitewhorl Lupine
Lupinus densiflorus
Littleleaf Pussytoes
Antennaria microphylla
Stemless Four-nerve Daisy
Tetraneuris acaulis
Hairy woollygrass
Erioneuron pilosum
Cushion Buckwheat
Eriogonum ovalifolium
Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus engelmannii
Sticky-leaf Rabbitbrush
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus
Western Wheat Grass
Elymus smithii
San Bernardino Larkspur
Delphinium parryi
Utah Ash
Fraxinus anomala
Beardless Wheatgrass
Pseudoroegneria spicata
Great Valley Phacelia
Phacelia ciliata
Snapdragon Penstemon
Keckiella antirrhinoides
Iris-Leaved Rush
Juncus xiphioides
American Black Nightshade
Solanum americanum
White Sage
Krascheninnikovia lanata
Scarlet Larkspur
Delphinium cardinale
Texas Snakeweed
Gutierrezia sarothrae
California Fuchsia
Zauschneria californica
Utah Agave
Agave utahensis
Showy Goldeneye
Heliomeris multiflora
Hoary Tansyaster
Dieteria canescens
Butterfly Mariposa Lily
Calochortus venustus
Common Lomatium
Lomatium utriculatum
Brittle Bladder Fern
Cystopteris fragilis
Screwbean Mesquite
Prosopis pubescens
Pine Violet
Viola purpurea
Cane Bluestem
Bothriochloa barbinodis
Beardless Wild Rye
Elymus triticoides
Emory's Globemallow
Sphaeralcea emoryi
Graceful Cinquefoil
Potentilla gracilis
Gregg Catclaw Acacia
Senegalia greggii
Meadow Barley
Hordeum brachyantherum
Parish's goldeneye
Viguiera parishii
Utah Fendlerbush
Fendlerella utahensis
Dwarf Goldenbush
Ericameria nana
Parry'S Goldenbush
Ericameria parryi
Valley Sedge
Carex vallicola
Peat Grass
Dichanthelium lanuginosum
Narrowleaf Puccoon
Lithospermum incisum
Abrupt-Beaked Sedge
Carex abrupta
Blue Dicks
Dichelostemma capitatum
Spreading Fleabane
Erigeron divergens
Black Sagebrush
Artemisia nova
Burro Grass
Scleropogon brevifolius
Purple Needlegrass
Nassella pulchra
Alpine Fescue
Festuca brachyphylla
Sky Lupine
Lupinus nanus
Ragged Rockflower
Crossosoma bigelovii
Slender Wheatgrass
Elymus violaceus
California Loosestrife
Lythrum californicum
Claret Cup Cactus
Echinocereus triglochidiatus
Parralena
Thymophylla pentachaeta
Mountain Hollyfern
Polystichum scopulinum
Longleaf Phlox
Phlox stansburyi
Winged Four O'clock
Mirabilis alipes
Nodding Needlegrass
Nassella cernua
Spreading Dogbane
Apocynum androsaemifolium
Inland Sedge
Carex interior
Desert Almond
Prunus fasciculata
Star False Solomon's-seal
Smilacina stellata
Longleaf Phlox
Phlox longifolia
Sawatch Knotweed
Polygonum sawatchense
Torrey's Rush
Juncus torreyi
Purple Groundcherry
Quincula lobata
Desert Gooseberry
Ribes velutinum
White Four O'clock
Mirabilis albida
Lotebush
Ziziphus obtusifolia
Alkali Aster
Symphyotrichum frondosum
Common Maidenhair Fern
Adiantum capillus-veneris
Panamint Penstemon
Penstemon floridus
Nevada Blue-eyed Grass
Sisyrinchium halophilum
Green-flower Wintergreen
Pyrola chlorantha
Red-osier Dogwood
Cornus stolonifera
Western Sedge
Carex occidentalis
Cut-Leaf Ironplant
Xanthisma spinulosum
Brown Sedge
Carex subfusca
Perennial Rockcress
Arabis perennans
Paleface
Hibiscus denudatus
California Satintail
Imperata brevifolia
Fendler'S Euphorbia
Euphorbia fendleri
Manybranched Ipomopsis
Ipomopsis polycladon
Fee'S Lipfern
Cheilanthes feei
Mountain Pepperwort
Lepidium montanum
Ross Sedge
Carex rossii
Parry's Buckwheat
Eriogonum brachypodum
James' Galleta
Hilaria jamesii
Alkali Muhly
Muhlenbergia asperifolia
Bush Muhly
Muhlenbergia porteri
Marsh Alkali Aster
Almutaster pauciflorus
Variegated-bract Blazingstar
Mentzelia montana
Coves' cassia
Senna covesii
Red Cinquefoil
Potentilla concinna
King's Sandwort
Eremogone kingii
Scarlet Beeblossom
Gaura coccinea
New Mexico Pennyroyal
Hedeoma drummondii
Golden Sedge
Carex aurea
Black Grama
Bouteloua eriopoda
Royal Penstemon
Penstemon speciosus
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
American Aspen
Populus tremuloides
Great Scouring-rush
Equisetum hyemale
Elbowbush
Forestiera pubescens
Ash-leaf Maple
Acer negundo
Common Woolly Sunflower
Eriophyllum lanatum
Narrowleaf Willow
Salix exigua
Clustered Field Sedge
Carex praegracilis
California Figwort
Scrophularia californica
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
Hemp Dogbane
Apocynum cannabinum
Rubber Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa
Scarlet Monkeyflower
Mimulus cardinalis
Canby'S Bluegrass
Poa secunda
Smooth Heliotrope
Heliotropium curassavicum
Creambush
Holodiscus discolor
Honey Mesquite
Prosopis glandulosa
Purple Threeawn
Aristida purpurea
Stream Orchid
Epipactis gigantea
Fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium
Hooker's Evening Primrose
Oenothera elata
Russian Tarragon
Artemisia dracunculus
Saltmarsh Fleabane
Pluchea odorata
Snapdragon Vine
Maurandella antirrhiniflora
Apache-beads
Anemopsis californica
Alkali Sacaton
Sporobolus airoides
Arroyo Willow
Salix lasiolepis
Fremont's Cottonwood
Populus fremontii
Coontail
Ceratophyllum demersum
Hardstem Bulrush
Schoenoplectus acutus
Great Bulrush
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani
Cuban-spinach
Claytonia perfoliata
Amphibious Bistort
Persicaria amphibia
Cooper's-reed
Typha latifolia
Salt Grass
Distichlis spicata
Arrow-weed
Pluchea sericea
Darkthroat Shootingstar
Dodecatheon pulchellum
Creeping Spike-rush
Eleocharis palustris
Chairmaker's-rush
Schoenoplectus pungens
Scouler's Willow
Salix scouleriana
Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
Pale Spikerush
Eleocharis macrostachya
Panicled Bulrush
Scirpus microcarpus
Red Willow
Salix laevigata
Curly-cup Gumweed
Grindelia squarrosa
Fringe Brome
Bromus ciliatus
American Licorice
Glycyrrhiza lepidota
Spike Redtop
Agrostis exarata
Tansy-aster
Machaeranthera tanacetifolia
California Bulrush
Schoenoplectus californicus
Dotseed Plantain
Plantago erecta
Wild Mint
Mentha arvensis
Tall Flatsedge
Cyperus eragrostis
Coyote Gourd
Cucurbita palmata
Foxtail Barley
Hordeum jubatum
Smooth Scouring-rush
Equisetum laevigatum
Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens
Common Fiddleneck
Amsinckia menziesii
Old-witch Grass
Panicum capillare
Rattlesnake-weed
Daucus pusillus
Pleated Gentian
Gentiana affinis
Coast Fiddleneck
Amsinckia intermedia
Beggar-ticks
Bidens frondosa
Smooth-stem Blazingstar
Mentzelia laevicaulis
Nebraska Sedge
Carex nebrascensis
Bastard Toadflax
Comandra umbellata
Michaelmas Daisy
Symphyotrichum lanceolatum
Red-Root Flat Sedge
Cyperus erythrorhizos
American Willowherb
Epilobium ciliatum
Copper Globe-mallow
Sphaeralcea angustifolia
Sweet Brome
Bromus carinatus
Sea Arrow-grass
Triglochin maritima
Scarlet Gilia
Ipomopsis aggregata
Willow Dock
Rumex salicifolius
Golden Corydalis
Corydalis aurea
Beehive Cactus
Coryphantha vivipara
Bush Seepweed
Suaeda nigra
Prairie Gourd
Cucurbita foetidissima
Annual Agoseris
Agoseris heterophylla
Bottlebrush Squirreltail
Elymus elymoides
Toad Rush
Juncus bufonius
Netleaf Hackberry
Celtis reticulata
Wavy-leaf Paintbrush
Castilleja applegatei
Mousetail
Myosurus minimus
California Caltrop
Kallstroemia californica
Alkali Buttercup
Halerpestes cymbalaria
Field Sandbur
Cenchrus spinifex
Tall Annual Willowherb
Epilobium brachycarpum
Bearded Cryptantha
Cryptantha barbigera
Nevada Greasewood
Glossopetalon spinescens
Warty Caltrop
Kallstroemia parviflora
Glandular Threadplant
Nemacladus glanduliferus
Skyblue Phacelia
Phacelia coerulea
Least Pepperwort
Lepidium virginicum
Ditch Rabbitsfoot Grass
Polypogon interruptus
Annual Hairgrass
Deschampsia danthonioides
Hoary Goosefoot
Chenopodium incanum
Ragleaf Bahia
Bahia dissecta
Mojave Kingcup Cactus
Echinocereus mojavensis
Sea Club-rush
Bolboschoenus maritimus
Wingnut Catseye
Cryptantha pterocarya
Whipple Cholla
Cylindropuntia whipplei
Western-cedar
Juniperus occidentalis
Sleepy Catchfly
Silene antirrhina
Mojave Suncup
Camissonia campestris
Beaked Spikerush
Eleocharis rostellata
Doveweed
Croton setigerus
Lemon Sagewort
Artemisia michauxiana
Rosy Gilia
Gilia sinuata
Moth Combseed
Pectocarya setosa
Necklaceweed
Veronica peregrina
White-stem Evening-primrose
Oenothera albicaulis
Nuttall'S Sunflower
Helianthus nuttallii
Rusty Lupine
Lupinus pusillus
Roundleaf Phacelia
Phacelia rotundifolia
Mountain Brome
Bromus marginatus
Longstyle Rush
Juncus longistylis
Fat-hen
Atriplex prostrata
Nuttall's Monolepis
Monolepis nuttalliana
Seaside Brookweed
Samolus parviflorus
Canada Spikesedge
Eleocharis geniculata
Mountain Oxytrope
Oxytropis oreophila
Brown Beetle-grass
Diplachne fusca
Mudwort
Limosella aquatica
Fremont Pincushion
Chaenactis fremontii
Desert Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja chromosa
Schott's Calico
Loeseliastrum schottii
Wallflower Phoenicaulis
Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides
Carelessweed
Amaranthus palmeri
Skeleton-weed
Eriogonum deflexum
Prairie Cup Grass
Eriochloa contracta
Annual Muhly
Muhlenbergia minutissima
Yelloweyes
Lupinus flavoculatus
Texas-pea
Astragalus nuttallianus
Ridge-seed Spurge
Euphorbia glyptosperma
Common Duckmeat
Spirodela polyrhiza
Hoary Pincushion
Chaenactis douglasii
Arizona Brome
Bromus arizonicus
Broom-like Ragwort
Senecio spartioides
Calingale
Cyperus odoratus
Mojave Popcornflower
Plagiobothrys jonesii
Prairie-berry
Solanum elaeagnifolium
Spreading Alkaliweed
Cressa truxillensis
Parish Spikerush
Eleocharis parishii
Rock-goldenrod
Petradoria pumila
Horseweed
Conyza canadensis
Narrow-leaf Duckweed
Lemna trisulca
Grass-of-Parnassus
Parnassia palustris
Saltbush
Atriplex argentea
Antelope Bitterbrush
Purshia tridentata
Colorado Desert-marigold
Baileya pauciradiata
Plains Sunflower
Helianthus petiolaris
Slender Gilia
Aliciella leptomeria
Parachute Plant
Atrichoseris platyphylla
Cluster Broomrape
Orobanche fasciculata
Chambers' Twinpod
Physaria chambersii
Mexican Dock
Rumex triangulivalvis
Saltmarsh Sandspurry
Spergularia marina
Coulter's Lupine
Lupinus sparsiflorus
Hoary Bowlesia
Bowlesia incana
Scarlet Paintbrush
Castilleja miniata
Freckled Milkvetch
Astragalus lentiginosus
Yellow-Eyed Cryptantha
Oreocarya flavoculata
Marine Naiad
Najas marina
Algarroba-bean
Prosopis juliflora
Deceptive Groundsmoke
Gayophytum decipiens
Black Bogrush
Schoenus nigricans
Wright's Beebrush
Aloysia wrightii
Tufted Lovegrass
Eragrostis pectinacea
Emory's Baccharis
Baccharis salicina
Arizona Mousetail
Myosurus cupulatus
Desert Pincushion
Chaenactis stevioides
Southern Cattail
Typha domingensis
Dune Spurge
Euphorbia parryi
Biennial Cinquefoil
Potentilla biennis
Desert Goosefoot
Chenopodium pratericola
Oenothera Gayophytum Diffusa
Gayophytum diffusum
Milk Kelloggia
Kelloggia galioides
Narrowleaf Four O'clock
Mirabilis linearis
Widow's Milkvetch
Astragalus layneae
Dwarf Barley
Hordeum depressum
Cushion Cryptantha
Cryptantha circumscissa
Whorled Marsh Pennywort
Hydrocotyle verticillata
Hooker's Bur Ragweed
Ambrosia acanthicarpa
Small Wirelettuce
Stephanomeria exigua
Basin Cryptantha
Cryptantha ambigua
Pale Desert-thorn
Lycium pallidum
Needle Grama
Bouteloua aristidoides
Thurber's Sandpaper Plant
Petalonyx thurberi
Torrey'S Desert-Dandelion
Malacothrix torreyi
Payson Roundspike Cryptantha
Oreocarya humilis
Cut-leaf Nightshade
Solanum triflorum
Silkcotton Purslane
Portulaca halimoides
Alkali-mallow
Malvella leprosa
Stiff Tumbleweed
Amaranthus albus
Pacific Azolla
Azolla filiculoides
California Mustard
Guillenia lasiophylla
Longleaf Brickellbush
Brickellia longifolia
Tansy Mustard
Descurainia pinnata
Desert Dicoria
Dicoria canescens
Disc Mayweed
Matricaria matricarioides
Wedgescale Saltbush
Atriplex truncata
Pursh Milk-Vetch
Astragalus purshii
Cotton-batting-plant
Pseudognaphalium stramineum
Common Sandweed
Athysanus pusillus
Wedgeleaf Draba
Draba cuneifolia
Beaked-sandbur
Solanum rostratum
Scarlet Spiderling
Boerhavia coccinea
Tumbling-Ringwing
Cycloloma atriplicifolium
Woolly Plantain
Plantago patagonica
Redroot
Amaranthus retroflexus
Knotted Rush
Juncus nodosus
Lesser Sweet-cicely
Osmorhiza depauperata
Hairy-pod Pepperwort
Lepidium lasiocarpum
Dandelion Hawksbeard
Crepis runcinata
Branched Lagophylla
Lagophylla ramosissima
California-bur
Xanthium strumarium
Pennsylvania Pellitory
Parietaria pensylvanica
Wright's Rabbit-tobacco
Pseudognaphalium canescens
Cooper Popcornflower
Plagiobothrys collinus
American Sea-Blite
Suaeda calceoliformis
Lobeleaf Groundsel
Packera multilobata
Bearded Flat Sedge
Cyperus squarrosus
Limestone Hawksbeard
Crepis intermedia
Arizona Popcorn-flower
Plagiobothrys arizonicus
Dotted Smartweed
Persicaria punctata
Sago Pondweed
Potamogeton pectinatus
Horseweed
Erigeron canadensis
Knotgrass
Paspalum distichum
Golden Desert-snapdragon
Mohavea breviflora
False Buffalo-Grass
Munroa squarrosa
Beaked Tasselweed
Ruppia maritima
American Brooklime
Veronica americana
Great Basin Bristlecone Pine
Pinus longaeva
Utah Juniper
Juniperus osteosperma
American Corn Mint
Mentha canadensis
Spiny Sheepbur
Lappula occidentalis
Greenmolly
Kochia americana
Showy Stickseed
Hackelia floribunda
Whitestem Blazingstar
Mentzelia albicaulis
Pale Knotweed
Persicaria lapathifolia
Dunbible-weed
Ambrosia psilostachya
Bristly Fiddleneck
Amsinckia tessellata
Copper-flowered Bird's-foot Trefoil
Hosackia oblongifolia
Bud Sagebrush
Picrothamnus desertorum
False Cleavers
Galium spurium
Annual-bristle Grass
Aristida adscensionis
Streambank Springbeauty
Claytonia parviflora
Mojave Brickellbush
Brickellia oblongifolia
Fremont'S Goosefoot
Chenopodium fremontii
Geyer's Milkvetch
Astragalus geyeri
Pale evening primrose
Oenothera pallida
Newberry'S Milkvetch
Astragalus newberryi
Six-weeks Fescue
Vulpia octoflora
Dodder
Cuscuta campestris
Pigweed
Chenopodium berlandieri
Mucronate Sprangletop
Leptochloa panicea
Celery Buttercup
Ranunculus sceleratus
Hoary Tansyaster
Machaeranthera canescens
Sixweeks Grama
Bouteloua barbata
Alkali Buttercup
Ranunculus cymbalaria
Swamp Sawgrass
Cladium mariscus
Hooked Groundstar
Ancistrocarphus filagineus
Red-berry elder
Sambucus racemosa
Woods's rose
Rosa woodsii
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.