EPA Level III Ecoregion
Sonoran Basin and Range
506 native plants for the Sonoran Basin and Range ecoregion (Phoenix area).
The Sonoran Basin and Range covers Phoenix, Tucson, and the Coachella Valley around Palm Springs. It is the hottest ecoregion in the country, softened by two rainy seasons: winter storms and the summer monsoon. Sonoran natives like penstemon, desert milkweed, and chuparosa time their growth to those rains and carry a front yard through 110-degree summers that finish off conventional landscaping.
Conditions: Rocky, alkaline desert soils, 3–12 inches of biseasonal rainfall, the hottest summers in the United States.
Cities and areas: Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Palm Springs, Scottsdale, Yuma.
506 Native Plants for the Sonoran 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.
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Tall Grama Grass
Bouteloua curtipendula
Whorled Milkweed
Asclepias verticillata
Soft rush
Juncus effusus
Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis
Aromatic Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Wafer-ash
Ptelea trifoliata
Canada Wild Rye
Elymus canadensis
Solomon's-plume
Maianthemum racemosum
Firewheel
Gaillardia pulchella
Narrowleaf Milkweed
Asclepias fascicularis
Deer Grass
Muhlenbergia rigens
California-poppy
Eschscholzia californica
California Wild Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum
Golden columbine
Aquilegia chrysantha
Blackfoot Daisy
Melampodium leucanthum
California Fuchsia
Epilobium canum
Pigeonberry
Rivina humilis
Scarlet Bugler
Penstemon centranthifolius
Arroyo Lupine
Lupinus succulentus
Firecracker penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
Fiddleneck
Phacelia tanacetifolia
Coastal Tidytips
Layia platyglossa
Prairie Verbena
Glandularia bipinnatifida
White Sage
Salvia apiana
Black Sage
Salvia mellifera
Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus betuloides
Antelope Horn Milkweed
Asclepias asperula
Showy Penstemon
Penstemon spectabilis
Apricot globemallow
Sphaeralcea ambigua
Blue Thimble-flower
Gilia capitata
Prairie Spiderwort
Tradescantia occidentalis
Banana yucca
Yucca baccata
Desert Marigold
Baileya multiradiata
California Sagebrush
Artemisia californica
Palmer's abutilon
Abutilon palmeri
Skunkbush Sumac
Rhus trilobata
Four-wing Saltbush
Atriplex canescens
California Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia
Parry's agave
Agave parryi
Blue Elderberry
Sambucus mexicana
California Sycamore
Platanus racemosa
Cuneate Ceanothus
Ceanothus cuneatus
Water Hyssop
Bacopa monnieri
Basin Sagebrush
Artemisia tridentata
Scarlet betony
Stachys coccinea
Prairie-Gentian
Eustoma exaltatum
Tomcat Clover
Trifolium willdenovii
Hollyleaf Cherry
Prunus ilicifolia
Prairie Goldenrod
Solidago missouriensis
Bigberry Manzanita
Arctostaphylos glauca
Blue Wild Rye
Elymus glaucus
Canyon Live Oak
Quercus chrysolepis
Seep Monkeyflower
Erythranthe guttata
Sugar Sumac
Rhus ovata
Rush milkweed
Asclepias subulata
Tree-poppy
Dendromecon rigida
Desert Wishbone-bush
Mirabilis laevis
California Goldfields
Lasthenia californica
Slimflower scurfpea
Pediomelum tenuiflorum
Pink fairy duster
Calliandra eriophylla
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa
Hairy Grama
Bouteloua hirsuta
Chia
Salvia columbariae
Baltic Rush
Juncus balticus
Mexican Rush
Juncus mexicanus
Chick Lupine
Lupinus microcarpus
Western soapberry
Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii
California-laurel
Umbellularia californica
Blue Elderberry
Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea
Catalina Nightshade
Solanum xanti
Tufted Evening-primrose
Oenothera cespitosa
Cowpen Daisy
Verbesina encelioides
Sand Dropseed
Sporobolus cryptandrus
Indian Ricegrass
Achnatherum hymenoides
Beardlip Penstemon
Penstemon barbatus
Bull muhly
Muhlenbergia emersleyi
Utah Ash
Fraxinus anomala
Hoary Tansyaster
Dieteria canescens
Wright's Buckwheat
Eriogonum wrightii
Gregg Catclaw Acacia
Senegalia greggii
Southern Bush Monkeyflower
Diplacus longiflorus
Sanddune Wallflower
Erysimum capitatum
Texas Snakeweed
Gutierrezia sarothrae
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine
Pinus monophylla
Parry's penstemon
Penstemon parryi
Big sacaton
Sporobolus wrightii
Screwbean Mesquite
Prosopis pubescens
Iris-Leaved Rush
Juncus xiphioides
Arizona Cypress
Cupressus arizonica
California Fuchsia
Zauschneria californica
Sticky-leaf Rabbitbrush
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus
White Sage
Krascheninnikovia lanata
Whitewhorl Lupine
Lupinus densiflorus
Turpentine bush
Ericameria laricifolia
Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus engelmannii
Parish's goldeneye
Viguiera parishii
Sacahuista
Nolina microcarpa
Bamboo muhly
Muhlenbergia dumosa
Snapdragon Penstemon
Keckiella antirrhinoides
Coast Germander
Teucrium cubense
Emory's Globemallow
Sphaeralcea emoryi
Southwestern mock vervain
Glandularia gooddingii
Engelmann's prickly pear
Opuntia engelmannii
Desert Milkweed
Asclepias erosa
Cane Bluestem
Bothriochloa barbinodis
Plains Zinnia
Zinnia grandiflora
Camphorweed
Heterotheca subaxillaris
Stemless Four-nerve Daisy
Tetraneuris acaulis
Purple Cliffbrake
Pellaea atropurpurea
New Mexico Pennyroyal
Hedeoma drummondii
Alkali Muhly
Muhlenbergia asperifolia
Lotebush
Ziziphus obtusifolia
Arizona Cottontop
Digitaria californica
Common Maidenhair Fern
Adiantum capillus-veneris
Western Primrose
Oenothera hartwegii
California Gilia
Gilia achilleifolia
Green Sprangletop
Leptochloa dubia
Marsh Alkali Aster
Almutaster pauciflorus
James' Galleta
Hilaria jamesii
California Loosestrife
Lythrum californicum
Coves' cassia
Senna covesii
Cut-Leaf Ironplant
Xanthisma spinulosum
Desert Almond
Prunus fasciculata
Antelope-sage
Eriogonum jamesii
Mountain Pepperwort
Lepidium montanum
Variegated-bract Blazingstar
Mentzelia montana
Torrey's Rush
Juncus torreyi
Burro Grass
Scleropogon brevifolius
Scarlet Beeblossom
Gaura coccinea
Sawatch Knotweed
Polygonum sawatchense
Purple Sand Verbena
Abronia angustifolia
Alligator Juniper
Juniperus deppeana
Fee'S Lipfern
Cheilanthes feei
Ragged Rockflower
Crossosoma bigelovii
Plains Love Grass
Eragrostis intermedia
Black Grama
Bouteloua eriopoda
Fendler'S Euphorbia
Euphorbia fendleri
Thicket Globemallow
Sphaeralcea fendleri
Bush Muhly
Muhlenbergia porteri
Interior Rush
Juncus interior
Blue Dicks
Dichelostemma capitatum
White Tridens
Tridens albescens
Parralena
Thymophylla pentachaeta
Purple Groundcherry
Quincula lobata
California Satintail
Imperata brevifolia
Flaxflowered Ipomopsis
Ipomopsis longiflora
Desert Gooseberry
Ribes velutinum
Prairie Acacia
Acacia angustissima
Paleface
Hibiscus denudatus
Spreading Fleabane
Erigeron divergens
Perennial Rockcress
Arabis perennans
White Four O'clock
Mirabilis albida
Netleaf Oak
Quercus rugosa
Curly Mesquite
Hilaria belangeri
Nodding Needlegrass
Nassella cernua
Desert Zinnia
Zinnia acerosa
Feather Pennisetum
Setaria parviflora
Common Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Canadian Elder
Sambucus canadensis
Bastard Indigo-bush
Amorpha fruticosa
Rum Cherry
Prunus serotina
Fogfruit
Phyla nodiflora
Smooth Sumac
Rhus glabra
Calliopsis
Coreopsis tinctoria
Lewis's Flax
Linum lewisii
Louisiana Sagewort
Artemisia ludoviciana
Desert Willow
Chilopsis linearis
Bushy Bluestem
Andropogon glomeratus
Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
Elbowbush
Forestiera pubescens
Great Scouring-rush
Equisetum hyemale
Ash-leaf Maple
Acer negundo
Common Woolly Sunflower
Eriophyllum lanatum
Hemp Dogbane
Apocynum cannabinum
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
California Figwort
Scrophularia californica
Huisache
Vachellia farnesiana
Narrowleaf Willow
Salix exigua
Clustered Field Sedge
Carex praegracilis
Clammyweed
Polanisia dodecandra
Rubber Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa
Honey Mesquite
Prosopis glandulosa
Smooth Heliotrope
Heliotropium curassavicum
Canby'S Bluegrass
Poa secunda
Esperanza
Tecoma stans
Scarlet Monkeyflower
Mimulus cardinalis
Purple Threeawn
Aristida purpurea
Snapdragon Vine
Maurandella antirrhiniflora
Alkali Sacaton
Sporobolus airoides
Century Plant
Agave americana
Russian Tarragon
Artemisia dracunculus
Apache-beads
Anemopsis californica
Saltmarsh Fleabane
Pluchea odorata
Cutgrass
Leersia oryzoides
Hooker's Evening Primrose
Oenothera elata
Stream Orchid
Epipactis gigantea
Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus montanus
Pale Spikerush
Eleocharis macrostachya
Texas Virgin's Bower
Clematis drummondii
Soaptree Yucca
Yucca elata
Coontail
Ceratophyllum demersum
Bracken
Pteridium aquilinum
Red Willow
Salix laevigata
Cuban-spinach
Claytonia perfoliata
Arrow-weed
Pluchea sericea
Chairmaker's-rush
Schoenoplectus pungens
Great Bulrush
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani
Cholla
Cylindropuntia imbricata
Tansy-aster
Machaeranthera tanacetifolia
American Licorice
Glycyrrhiza lepidota
Dotseed Plantain
Plantago erecta
Common Sotol
Dasylirion wheeleri
California Bulrush
Schoenoplectus californicus
Spike Redtop
Agrostis exarata
Cooper's-reed
Typha latifolia
Hardstem Bulrush
Schoenoplectus acutus
Creeping Spike-rush
Eleocharis palustris
Fremont's Cottonwood
Populus fremontii
Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
Salt Grass
Distichlis spicata
Arroyo Willow
Salix lasiolepis
Bastard Toadflax
Comandra umbellata
American Willowherb
Epilobium ciliatum
Sweet Brome
Bromus carinatus
Arizona Sycamore
Platanus wrightii
Bottlebrush Squirreltail
Elymus elymoides
Common Fiddleneck
Amsinckia menziesii
Little Leaf Sumac
Rhus microphylla
Scarlet Gilia
Ipomopsis aggregata
Toad Rush
Juncus bufonius
Rattlesnake-weed
Daucus pusillus
Hairy Clover Fern
Marsilea vestita
Fringed Twinevine
Funastrum cynanchoides
Coast Fiddleneck
Amsinckia intermedia
Joint-leaf Rush
Juncus articulatus
Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens
Prairie Gourd
Cucurbita foetidissima
Smooth Scouring-rush
Equisetum laevigatum
Roman-wormwood
Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Tall Flatsedge
Cyperus eragrostis
Christmas Cactus
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
Bitter Bottle Gourd
Cucurbita pepo
Copper Globe-mallow
Sphaeralcea angustifolia
Red-Root Flat Sedge
Cyperus erythrorhizos
Gray Oak
Quercus grisea
Netleaf Hackberry
Celtis reticulata
Clasping Venus's-looking-glass
Triodanis perfoliata
Old-witch Grass
Panicum capillare
Coyote Gourd
Cucurbita palmata
Western Prickly-pear
Opuntia macrorhiza
Golden Corydalis
Corydalis aurea
Longleaf Pondweed
Potamogeton nodosus
Bush Seepweed
Suaeda nigra
Parry's Phacelia
Phacelia parryi
Cliff Prickly-pear
Opuntia polyacantha
Douglas-fir
Pseudotsuga menziesii
Watson's dutchman's pipe
Aristolochia watsonii
Mojave Popcornflower
Plagiobothrys jonesii
Wingpod Purslane
Portulaca umbraticola
Old-Field Three-Awn
Aristida oligantha
Desert Thorn-apple
Datura discolor
Texas-pea
Astragalus nuttallianus
Moth Combseed
Pectocarya setosa
White Twinheads
Eclipta prostrata
Pale Knotweed
Persicaria lapathifolia
Tall Mountain Larkspur
Delphinium scaposum
Cooper Popcornflower
Plagiobothrys collinus
Pennsylvania Pellitory
Parietaria pensylvanica
Tumbling-Ringwing
Cycloloma atriplicifolium
Short-point Flatsedge
Cyperus acuminatus
Needle Grama
Bouteloua aristidoides
Hoary Plantain
Plantago virginica
Spreading Alkaliweed
Cressa truxillensis
Arizona Brome
Bromus arizonicus
Prairie Cup Grass
Eriochloa contracta
Horned Spurge
Euphorbia brachycera
Skeleton-weed
Eriogonum deflexum
Many-flower Standing-cypress
Ipomopsis multiflora
Small-flowered Gaura
Oenothera curtiflora
Roughpod Spurge
Euphorbia spathulata
Brown Beetle-grass
Diplachne fusca
Canada Spikesedge
Eleocharis geniculata
Roundleaf Phacelia
Phacelia rotundifolia
Ground-cherry
Physalis pubescens
Crested Anoda
Anoda cristata
Wingnut Catseye
Cryptantha pterocarya
Ditch Rabbitsfoot Grass
Polypogon interruptus
Least Pepperwort
Lepidium virginicum
Carolina Geranium
Geranium carolinianum
Alkali Buttercup
Halerpestes cymbalaria
Fremont'S Goosefoot
Chenopodium fremontii
California Amaranth
Amaranthus californicus
Balloon-cherry
Physalis angulata
Arizona Popcorn-flower
Plagiobothrys arizonicus
Redseed Plantain
Plantago rhodosperma
Bladdermallow
Herissantia crispa
Mojave Brickellbush
Brickellia oblongifolia
Disc Mayweed
Matricaria matricarioides
Tansy Mustard
Descurainia pinnata
California Mustard
Guillenia lasiophylla
Pacific Azolla
Azolla filiculoides
Emory Oak
Quercus emoryi
Cushion Cryptantha
Cryptantha circumscissa
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
Maiden Blue Eyed Mary
Collinsia parviflora
Cluster Broomrape
Orobanche fasciculata
Texas Croton
Croton texensis
Pelotazo
Abutilon incanum
White Thorn Acacia
Vachellia constricta
Mountain Brome
Bromus marginatus
Mexican Dock
Rumex triangulivalvis
Saltmarsh Sandspurry
Spergularia marina
Hoary Bowlesia
Bowlesia incana
Hampshire-purslane
Ludwigia palustris
Freckled Milkvetch
Astragalus lentiginosus
Berlandier's Wolfberry
Lycium berlandieri
Dodder
Cuscuta campestris
Mucronate Sprangletop
Leptochloa panicea
Horseweed
Ambrosia trifida
Fat-hen
Atriplex prostrata
Celery Buttercup
Ranunculus sceleratus
Colorado Desert-marigold
Baileya pauciradiata
Sixweeks Grama
Bouteloua barbata
Floating Pennywort
Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
Plains Sunflower
Helianthus petiolaris
Swamp Sawgrass
Cladium mariscus
California-bur
Xanthium strumarium
Sleepy Catchfly
Silene antirrhina
Newberry'S Milkvetch
Astragalus newberryi
Lesser Pondweed
Potamogeton pusillus
Mossman River Grass
Cenchrus echinatus
Tufted Lovegrass
Eragrostis pectinacea
American Cotton
Gossypium hirsutum
Desert Pincushion
Chaenactis stevioides
Desert Goosefoot
Chenopodium pratericola
Erect Spiderling
Boerhavia erecta
Algarroba-bean
Prosopis juliflora
Whorled Marsh Pennywort
Hydrocotyle verticillata
Low Rattlebox
Crotalaria pumila
Cherry-stone Juniper
Juniperus monosperma
Feather Dalea
Dalea formosa
Silkcotton Purslane
Portulaca halimoides
Prostrate Sandmat
Euphorbia prostrata
Hyssop-leaf Sandmat
Euphorbia hyssopifolia
Alkali-mallow
Malvella leprosa
Stiff Tumbleweed
Amaranthus albus
Spotted Sandmat
Euphorbia maculata
Water Star-grass
Heteranthera dubia
Coulter's Lupine
Lupinus sparsiflorus
Japanese Poinsettia
Euphorbia heterophylla
Desert Dicoria
Dicoria canescens
Pale Desert-thorn
Lycium pallidum
Cotton-batting-plant
Pseudognaphalium stramineum
Common Sandweed
Athysanus pusillus
Bitter Rubberweed
Hymenoxys odorata
Beaked-sandbur
Solanum rostratum
Crow-poison
Nothoscordum bivalve
Scarlet Spiderling
Boerhavia coccinea
Emory's Baccharis
Baccharis salicina
Woolly Plantain
Plantago patagonica
False Water-pepper
Persicaria hydropiperoides
Wright's Rabbit-tobacco
Pseudognaphalium canescens
Lobeleaf Groundsel
Packera multilobata
Wright's Beebrush
Aloysia wrightii
Desert Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja chromosa
Bearded Flat Sedge
Cyperus squarrosus
Rydberg's Poison-ivy
Toxicodendron rydbergii
Dotted Smartweed
Persicaria punctata
Thurber's Sandpaper Plant
Petalonyx thurberi
Vine Mesquite
Hopia obtusa
Sago Pondweed
Potamogeton pectinatus
Knotgrass
Paspalum distichum
Spiny Sheepbur
Lappula occidentalis
Whitestem Blazingstar
Mentzelia albicaulis
Spiny Hackberry
Celtis pallida
Dunbible-weed
Ambrosia psilostachya
Tickle Grass
Agrostis scabra
Utah Juniper
Juniperus osteosperma
Bristly Fiddleneck
Amsinckia tessellata
Copper-flowered Bird's-foot Trefoil
Hosackia oblongifolia
Annual-bristle Grass
Aristida adscensionis
California Caltrop
Kallstroemia californica
Field Sandbur
Cenchrus spinifex
Tall Annual Willowherb
Epilobium brachycarpum
Bearded Cryptantha
Cryptantha barbigera
Warty Caltrop
Kallstroemia parviflora
Skyblue Phacelia
Phacelia coerulea
Asthmaplant
Euphorbia hirta
Wedgeleaf Draba
Draba cuneifolia
Hoary Goosefoot
Chenopodium incanum
Little Barley
Hordeum pusillum
Duckweed
Lemna minor
Mojave Suncup
Camissonia campestris
Beaked Spikerush
Eleocharis rostellata
Toothcup
Ammannia coccinea
Broom Milkwort
Polygala scoparioides
Rosy Gilia
Gilia sinuata
Necklaceweed
Veronica peregrina
White-stem Evening-primrose
Oenothera albicaulis
Nuttall's Monolepis
Monolepis nuttalliana
Powell's Amaranth
Amaranthus powellii
Seaside Brookweed
Samolus parviflorus
Streambank Springbeauty
Claytonia parviflora
Carelessweed
Amaranthus palmeri
Fremont Pincushion
Chaenactis fremontii
California croton
Croton californicus
Jumping Cholla
Cylindropuntia fulgida
Ridge-seed Spurge
Euphorbia glyptosperma
Earth-almond
Cyperus esculentus
Broom-like Ragwort
Senecio spartioides
Paiute False Bindweed
Calystegia longipes
Calingale
Cyperus odoratus
Prairie-berry
Solanum elaeagnifolium
Hairy-pod Pepperwort
Lepidium lasiocarpum
Parish Spikerush
Eleocharis parishii
Schott's Calico
Loeseliastrum schottii
Glandular Threadplant
Nemacladus glanduliferus
Parachute Plant
Atrichoseris platyphylla
Hooker's Bur Ragweed
Ambrosia acanthicarpa
Rocky Mountain Sage
Salvia reflexa
Small Wirelettuce
Stephanomeria exigua
American Brooklime
Veronica americana
Sea Club-rush
Bolboschoenus maritimus
Grape soda lupine
Lupinus excubitus
California box thorn
Lycium californicum
Cleomella arborea
Cleomella arborea
American deerweed
Acmispon americanus
Desert sand verbena
Abronia villosa
Mulefat
Baccharis salicifolia
Horsetail Milkweed
Asclepias subverticillata
Bladderpod
Peritoma arborea
Chamise
Adenostoma fasciculatum
White fir
Abies concolor
Florida hopbush
Dodonaea viscosa
Joshua-tree
Yucca brevifolia
White-flower currant
Ribes indecorum
Silver bird's-foot trefoil
Acmispon argophyllus
Western-goldenrod
Solidago californica
Spiny redberry
Rhamnus crocea
Oak gooseberry
Ribes quercetorum
False acacia
Robinia pseudoacacia
Desert lavender
Condea emoryi
Le conte barrel cactus
Ferocactus cylindraceus
Sant cruz island bush-mallow
Malacothamnus fasciculatus
Goldback fern
Pentagramma triangularis
California broom
Lotus scoparius
Deerweed
Acmispon glaber
Big saltbush
Atriplex lentiformis
California copperleaf
Acalypha californica
California juniper
Juniperus californica
Silvery lupine
Lupinus argenteus
Narrowleaf goldenbush
Ericameria linearifolia
California brickellbush
Brickellia californica
Telegraph-weed
Heterotheca grandiflora
Shortpod lotus
Acmispon brachycarpus
Indian-hyacinth
Dipterostemon capitatus
California buckthorn
Frangula californica
Tufted california-poppy
Eschscholzia caespitosa
Palmer oak
Quercus palmeri
Pine bush
Ericameria pinifolia
Thick-leaf yerba-santa
Eriodictyon crassifolium
Sticky monkeyflower
Diplacus aurantiacus
White alder
Alnus rhombifolia
Chaparral whitethorn
Ceanothus leucodermis
Desert broom
Baccharis sarothroides
Mexican manzanita
Arctostaphylos pungens
Nuttall's snapdragon
Antirrhinum nuttallianum
Utah serviceberry
Amelanchier utahensis
Desert agave
Agave deserti
Dense False Gilyflower
Allophyllum gilioides
Blue palo verde
Parkinsonia florida
Gambel oak
Quercus gambelii
Goodding's black willow
Salix gooddingii
Goatnut
Simmondsia chinensis
Sambucus cerulea
Sambucus cerulea
Bluewitch nightshade
Solanum umbelliferum
Giant needlegrass
Stipa coronata
Chile trefoil
Acmispon wrangelianus
Heermann's bird's-foot trefoil
Acmispon heermannii
Baby blue-eyes
Nemophila menziesii
Mohave yucca
Yucca schidigera
Blue sage
Salvia pachyphylla
Sierra live oak
Quercus wislizeni
Desert scrub oak
Quercus cornelius-mulleri
Menzies' goldenbush
Isocoma menziesii
Red shank
Adenostoma sparsifolium
Cobweb thistle
Cirsium occidentale
Hollyleaf redberry
Rhamnus ilicifolia
Spiny hopsage
Grayia spinosa
Ashy silk-tassel
Garrya flavescens
Durango root
Datisca glomerata
Iodine-bush
Allenrolfea occidentalis
Eastwood's manzanita
Arctostaphylos glandulosa
Golden-yarrow
Eriophyllum confertiflorum
Hairy yerba santa
Eriodictyon trichocalyx
Arizon ash
Fraxinus velutina
May grass
Phalaris caroliniana
Brittlebush
Encelia farinosa
Long-stem wild buckwheat
Eriogonum elongatum
Fall care in the Sonoran 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 live oak
Fall is the tail end of the safer pruning window and a good time to plan next year's watering now that the heat is easing.
- Canbys bluegrass
Fall is when this grass wakes back up. Cooler temperatures and the first rains trigger fresh green growth.
- Firecracker penstemon
Fall is cleanup and reset time. Cooler weather returns and the plant can catch a second wind before winter.
- Prairie verbena
Fall often brings a second wave of blooms, especially if you trimmed the plant back in summer.
- Utah ash
Fall is this tree's best season to look at. The leaves turn a bright, clear yellow before dropping, and it is also the right time to start easing off on water.
- Canada wild rye
Fall is when this cool season grass perks back up as temperatures drop, and it is a good window for cleanup or new plantings.
- Hairy grama
Growth slows and seed heads dry to tan as days shorten. Watering can taper off, and this is a good window to trim for a tidy winter look if you prefer that over leaving seed heads for birds.
- Tall grama grass
Fall is when the foliage shifts from blue-green to a warm coppery bronze, and growth slows as the plant heads toward winter dormancy.
- Whorled milkweed
Fall, roughly October and November in the low desert, is a second mild growing stretch when seed pods form and the plant can be tidied up or divided.
- Narrowleaf milkweed
In fall the plant naturally yellows and dies back for winter, and a light cutback keeps the bed tidy and matches its natural cycle.
Build a plan for the Sonoran Basin and Range
Pollinator Patch turns plants like these into a front-yard plan tuned for the soil, climate, and HOA expectations of the Phoenix area.