EPA Level III Ecoregion
Sonoran Basin and Range
438 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.
438 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
Horsetail 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
Narrowleaf Milkweed
Asclepias fascicularis
Firewheel
Gaillardia pulchella
California-poppy
Eschscholzia californica
Deer Grass
Muhlenbergia rigens
Pigeonberry
Rivina humilis
Blackfoot Daisy
Melampodium leucanthum
California Wild Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum
Golden columbine
Aquilegia chrysantha
California Fuchsia
Epilobium canum
Coastal Tidytips
Layia platyglossa
Scarlet Bugler
Penstemon centranthifolius
Arroyo Lupine
Lupinus succulentus
Prairie Verbena
Glandularia bipinnatifida
Fiddleneck
Phacelia tanacetifolia
Firecracker penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
Blue Thimble-flower
Gilia capitata
Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus betuloides
Apricot globemallow
Sphaeralcea ambigua
White Sage
Salvia apiana
Showy Penstemon
Penstemon spectabilis
Black Sage
Salvia mellifera
Antelope Horn Milkweed
Asclepias asperula
Prairie Spiderwort
Tradescantia occidentalis
Palmer's abutilon
Abutilon palmeri
Blue Elderberry
Sambucus mexicana
California Sagebrush
Artemisia californica
Skunkbush Sumac
Rhus trilobata
Four-wing Saltbush
Atriplex canescens
Parry's agave
Agave parryi
California Sycamore
Platanus racemosa
Desert Marigold
Baileya multiradiata
Banana yucca
Yucca baccata
California Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia
Tomcat Clover
Trifolium willdenovii
Prairie-Gentian
Eustoma exaltatum
Scarlet betony
Stachys coccinea
Water Hyssop
Bacopa monnieri
Prairie Goldenrod
Solidago missouriensis
Seep Monkeyflower
Erythranthe guttata
Bigberry Manzanita
Arctostaphylos glauca
Basin Sagebrush
Artemisia tridentata
Canyon Live Oak
Quercus chrysolepis
Cuneate Ceanothus
Ceanothus cuneatus
Hollyleaf Cherry
Prunus ilicifolia
Blue Wild Rye
Elymus glaucus
Sugar Sumac
Rhus ovata
Scarlet Monkeyflower
Erythranthe cardinalis
Cowpen Daisy
Verbesina encelioides
Beardlip Penstemon
Penstemon barbatus
Chick Lupine
Lupinus microcarpus
Tree-poppy
Dendromecon rigida
Desert Wishbone-bush
Mirabilis laevis
Hairy Grama
Bouteloua hirsuta
California-laurel
Umbellularia californica
Catalina Nightshade
Solanum xanti
Pink fairy duster
Calliandra eriophylla
Baltic Rush
Juncus balticus
Chia
Salvia columbariae
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa
Rush milkweed
Asclepias subulata
Slimflower scurfpea
Pediomelum tenuiflorum
Sand Dropseed
Sporobolus cryptandrus
Blue Elderberry
Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea
California Goldfields
Lasthenia californica
Mexican Rush
Juncus mexicanus
Tufted Evening-primrose
Oenothera cespitosa
Western soapberry
Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii
Indian Ricegrass
Achnatherum hymenoides
Texas-mountain-laurel
Sophora secundiflora
American Black Nightshade
Solanum americanum
Parish's goldeneye
Viguiera parishii
Big sacaton
Sporobolus wrightii
Emory's Globemallow
Sphaeralcea emoryi
Wright's Buckwheat
Eriogonum wrightii
Texas Snakeweed
Gutierrezia sarothrae
Utah Ash
Fraxinus anomala
Parry's penstemon
Penstemon parryi
Desert Milkweed
Asclepias erosa
Southwestern mock vervain
Glandularia gooddingii
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine
Pinus monophylla
Coast Germander
Teucrium cubense
Purple Cliffbrake
Pellaea atropurpurea
Southern Bush Monkeyflower
Diplacus longiflorus
Plains Zinnia
Zinnia grandiflora
Engelmann's prickly pear
Opuntia engelmannii
Iris-Leaved Rush
Juncus xiphioides
White Sage
Krascheninnikovia lanata
Hoary Tansyaster
Dieteria canescens
Bamboo muhly
Muhlenbergia dumosa
Camphorweed
Heterotheca subaxillaris
Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus engelmannii
Snapdragon Penstemon
Keckiella antirrhinoides
Sanddune Wallflower
Erysimum capitatum
Stemless Four-nerve Daisy
Tetraneuris acaulis
Sticky-leaf Rabbitbrush
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus
Whitewhorl Lupine
Lupinus densiflorus
Turpentine bush
Ericameria laricifolia
Gregg Catclaw Acacia
Senegalia greggii
Cane Bluestem
Bothriochloa barbinodis
Screwbean Mesquite
Prosopis pubescens
Arizona Cypress
Cupressus arizonica
Bull muhly
Muhlenbergia emersleyi
Sacahuista
Nolina microcarpa
California Fuchsia
Zauschneria californica
Antelope-sage
Eriogonum jamesii
Paleface
Hibiscus denudatus
Alligator Juniper
Juniperus deppeana
Desert Gooseberry
Ribes velutinum
California Satintail
Imperata brevifolia
Parralena
Thymophylla pentachaeta
White Four O'clock
Mirabilis albida
Spreading Fleabane
Erigeron divergens
Fendler'S Euphorbia
Euphorbia fendleri
California Loosestrife
Lythrum californicum
White Tridens
Tridens albescens
Fee'S Lipfern
Cheilanthes feei
Purple Sand Verbena
Abronia angustifolia
Lotebush
Ziziphus obtusifolia
Mountain Pepperwort
Lepidium montanum
Blue Dicks
Dichelostemma capitatum
Burro Grass
Scleropogon brevifolius
Scurfy Pea
Psoralidium tenuiflorum
Desert Zinnia
Zinnia acerosa
Netleaf Oak
Quercus rugosa
Curly Mesquite
Hilaria belangeri
Nodding Needlegrass
Nassella cernua
James' Galleta
Hilaria jamesii
Alkali Muhly
Muhlenbergia asperifolia
Prairie Acacia
Acacia angustissima
Common Maidenhair Fern
Adiantum capillus-veneris
Arizona Cottontop
Digitaria californica
Plains Love Grass
Eragrostis intermedia
Bush Muhly
Muhlenbergia porteri
California Gilia
Gilia achilleifolia
Marsh Alkali Aster
Almutaster pauciflorus
Variegated-bract Blazingstar
Mentzelia montana
Thicket Globemallow
Sphaeralcea fendleri
Desert Almond
Prunus fasciculata
Western Primrose
Oenothera hartwegii
Interior Rush
Juncus interior
Coves' cassia
Senna covesii
Sawatch Knotweed
Polygonum sawatchense
Torrey's Rush
Juncus torreyi
Black Grama
Bouteloua eriopoda
Scarlet Beeblossom
Gaura coccinea
New Mexico Pennyroyal
Hedeoma drummondii
Purple Groundcherry
Quincula lobata
Green Sprangletop
Leptochloa dubia
Feather Pennisetum
Setaria parviflora
Cut-Leaf Ironplant
Xanthisma spinulosum
Ragged Rockflower
Crossosoma bigelovii
Flaxflowered Ipomopsis
Ipomopsis longiflora
Perennial Rockcress
Arabis perennans
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
Common Woolly Sunflower
Eriophyllum lanatum
Ash-leaf Maple
Acer negundo
California Figwort
Scrophularia californica
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
Hemp Dogbane
Apocynum cannabinum
Narrowleaf Willow
Salix exigua
Huisache
Vachellia farnesiana
Clustered Field Sedge
Carex praegracilis
Canby'S Bluegrass
Poa secunda
Rubber Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa
Clammyweed
Polanisia dodecandra
Esperanza
Tecoma stans
Smooth Heliotrope
Heliotropium curassavicum
Purple Threeawn
Aristida purpurea
Scarlet Monkeyflower
Mimulus cardinalis
Honey Mesquite
Prosopis glandulosa
Century Plant
Agave americana
Saltmarsh Fleabane
Pluchea odorata
Apache-beads
Anemopsis californica
Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus montanus
Cutgrass
Leersia oryzoides
Russian Tarragon
Artemisia dracunculus
Alkali Sacaton
Sporobolus airoides
Stream Orchid
Epipactis gigantea
Hooker's Evening Primrose
Oenothera elata
Snapdragon Vine
Maurandella antirrhiniflora
Red Willow
Salix laevigata
American Licorice
Glycyrrhiza lepidota
Arroyo Willow
Salix lasiolepis
Pale Spikerush
Eleocharis macrostachya
Cooper's-reed
Typha latifolia
Tansy-aster
Machaeranthera tanacetifolia
Creeping Spike-rush
Eleocharis palustris
Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
Hardstem Bulrush
Schoenoplectus acutus
Cholla
Cylindropuntia imbricata
California Bulrush
Schoenoplectus californicus
Common Sotol
Dasylirion wheeleri
Coontail
Ceratophyllum demersum
Salt Grass
Distichlis spicata
Texas Virgin's Bower
Clematis drummondii
Arrow-weed
Pluchea sericea
Cuban-spinach
Claytonia perfoliata
Great Bulrush
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani
Dotseed Plantain
Plantago erecta
Chairmaker's-rush
Schoenoplectus pungens
Fremont's Cottonwood
Populus fremontii
Soaptree Yucca
Yucca elata
Spike Redtop
Agrostis exarata
Bracken
Pteridium aquilinum
Gray Oak
Quercus grisea
Arizona Sycamore
Platanus wrightii
Golden Corydalis
Corydalis aurea
Watson's dutchman's pipe
Aristolochia watsonii
Coyote Gourd
Cucurbita palmata
Little Leaf Sumac
Rhus microphylla
Rattlesnake-weed
Daucus pusillus
Scarlet Gilia
Ipomopsis aggregata
Fringed Twinevine
Funastrum cynanchoides
Bush Seepweed
Suaeda nigra
Hairy Clover Fern
Marsilea vestita
Coast Fiddleneck
Amsinckia intermedia
Douglas-fir
Pseudotsuga menziesii
Smooth Scouring-rush
Equisetum laevigatum
Cliff Prickly-pear
Opuntia polyacantha
Old-witch Grass
Panicum capillare
Netleaf Hackberry
Celtis reticulata
Parry's Phacelia
Phacelia parryi
Prairie Gourd
Cucurbita foetidissima
Toad Rush
Juncus bufonius
Longleaf Pondweed
Potamogeton nodosus
Bastard Toadflax
Comandra umbellata
Red-Root Flat Sedge
Cyperus erythrorhizos
American Willowherb
Epilobium ciliatum
Clasping Venus's-looking-glass
Triodanis perfoliata
Copper Globe-mallow
Sphaeralcea angustifolia
Sweet Brome
Bromus carinatus
Common Fiddleneck
Amsinckia menziesii
Tall Flatsedge
Cyperus eragrostis
Bottlebrush Squirreltail
Elymus elymoides
Western Prickly-pear
Opuntia macrorhiza
Christmas Cactus
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
Roman-wormwood
Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens
Bitter Bottle Gourd
Cucurbita pepo
Joint-leaf Rush
Juncus articulatus
Sleepy Catchfly
Silene antirrhina
Wingnut Catseye
Cryptantha pterocarya
Ditch Rabbitsfoot Grass
Polypogon interruptus
Skeleton-weed
Eriogonum deflexum
Least Pepperwort
Lepidium virginicum
Hampshire-purslane
Ludwigia palustris
Carolina Geranium
Geranium carolinianum
Horned Spurge
Euphorbia brachycera
Alkali Buttercup
Halerpestes cymbalaria
Bladdermallow
Herissantia crispa
Fremont'S Goosefoot
Chenopodium fremontii
Mojave Brickellbush
Brickellia oblongifolia
Wingpod Purslane
Portulaca umbraticola
Horseweed
Ambrosia trifida
California Amaranth
Amaranthus californicus
Balloon-cherry
Physalis angulata
Arizona Popcorn-flower
Plagiobothrys arizonicus
Redseed Plantain
Plantago rhodosperma
White Thorn Acacia
Vachellia constricta
Disc Mayweed
Matricaria matricarioides
Berlandier's Wolfberry
Lycium berlandieri
Tansy Mustard
Descurainia pinnata
California Mustard
Guillenia lasiophylla
Pacific Azolla
Azolla filiculoides
Prairie Cup Grass
Eriochloa contracta
Pale Desert-thorn
Lycium pallidum
Tall Mountain Larkspur
Delphinium scaposum
Cushion Cryptantha
Cryptantha circumscissa
Hyssop-leaf Sandmat
Euphorbia hyssopifolia
Southern Cattail
Typha domingensis
Arizona Mousetail
Myosurus cupulatus
Marine Naiad
Najas marina
Pale evening primrose
Oenothera pallida
Alkali Buttercup
Ranunculus cymbalaria
Pigweed
Chenopodium berlandieri
California croton
Croton californicus
Six-weeks Fescue
Vulpia octoflora
Asthmaplant
Euphorbia hirta
Maiden Blue Eyed Mary
Collinsia parviflora
Cluster Broomrape
Orobanche fasciculata
Texas Croton
Croton texensis
Colorado Desert-marigold
Baileya pauciradiata
Plains Sunflower
Helianthus petiolaris
Mexican Dock
Rumex triangulivalvis
Saltmarsh Sandspurry
Spergularia marina
Coulter's Lupine
Lupinus sparsiflorus
Cherry-stone Juniper
Juniperus monosperma
Hoary Bowlesia
Bowlesia incana
Freckled Milkvetch
Astragalus lentiginosus
Arizona Brome
Bromus arizonicus
Dodder
Cuscuta campestris
American Brooklime
Veronica americana
Mucronate Sprangletop
Leptochloa panicea
Celery Buttercup
Ranunculus sceleratus
Sixweeks Grama
Bouteloua barbata
Floating Pennywort
Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
Swamp Sawgrass
Cladium mariscus
Spreading Alkaliweed
Cressa truxillensis
Newberry'S Milkvetch
Astragalus newberryi
Lesser Pondweed
Potamogeton pusillus
Algarroba-bean
Prosopis juliflora
Wright's Beebrush
Aloysia wrightii
Mossman River Grass
Cenchrus echinatus
Tufted Lovegrass
Eragrostis pectinacea
American Cotton
Gossypium hirsutum
Emory's Baccharis
Baccharis salicina
Hoary Plantain
Plantago virginica
Desert Pincushion
Chaenactis stevioides
Horseweed
Conyza canadensis
Desert Goosefoot
Chenopodium pratericola
Erect Spiderling
Boerhavia erecta
Whorled Marsh Pennywort
Hydrocotyle verticillata
Small Wirelettuce
Stephanomeria exigua
Low Rattlebox
Crotalaria pumila
Needle Grama
Bouteloua aristidoides
Thurber's Sandpaper Plant
Petalonyx thurberi
Silkcotton Purslane
Portulaca halimoides
Alkali-mallow
Malvella leprosa
Japanese Poinsettia
Euphorbia heterophylla
Stiff Tumbleweed
Amaranthus albus
Water Star-grass
Heteranthera dubia
Desert Dicoria
Dicoria canescens
Short-point Flatsedge
Cyperus acuminatus
Cotton-batting-plant
Pseudognaphalium stramineum
Common Sandweed
Athysanus pusillus
Bitter Rubberweed
Hymenoxys odorata
Wedgeleaf Draba
Draba cuneifolia
Beaked-sandbur
Solanum rostratum
Crow-poison
Nothoscordum bivalve
Scarlet Spiderling
Boerhavia coccinea
Woolly Plantain
Plantago patagonica
Tumbling-Ringwing
Cycloloma atriplicifolium
Powell's Amaranth
Amaranthus powellii
Hairy-pod Pepperwort
Lepidium lasiocarpum
California-bur
Xanthium strumarium
False Water-pepper
Persicaria hydropiperoides
Wright's Rabbit-tobacco
Pseudognaphalium canescens
Pennsylvania Pellitory
Parietaria pensylvanica
Spiny Hackberry
Celtis pallida
Lobeleaf Groundsel
Packera multilobata
Bearded Flat Sedge
Cyperus squarrosus
Rydberg's Poison-ivy
Toxicodendron rydbergii
Cooper Popcornflower
Plagiobothrys collinus
Dotted Smartweed
Persicaria punctata
Vine Mesquite
Hopia obtusa
Sago Pondweed
Potamogeton pectinatus
Horseweed
Erigeron canadensis
Knotgrass
Paspalum distichum
Pale Knotweed
Persicaria lapathifolia
Utah Juniper
Juniperus osteosperma
Spiny Sheepbur
Lappula occidentalis
Whitestem Blazingstar
Mentzelia albicaulis
Dunbible-weed
Ambrosia psilostachya
Sea Club-rush
Bolboschoenus maritimus
Tickle Grass
Agrostis scabra
Bristly Fiddleneck
Amsinckia tessellata
Copper-flowered Bird's-foot Trefoil
Hosackia oblongifolia
Annual-bristle Grass
Aristida adscensionis
Streambank Springbeauty
Claytonia parviflora
California Caltrop
Kallstroemia californica
Field Sandbur
Cenchrus spinifex
Tall Annual Willowherb
Epilobium brachycarpum
Bearded Cryptantha
Cryptantha barbigera
Warty Caltrop
Kallstroemia parviflora
Glandular Threadplant
Nemacladus glanduliferus
Skyblue Phacelia
Phacelia coerulea
Christmas Cactus
Opuntia leptocaulis
Pelotazo
Abutilon incanum
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
Spotted Sandmat
Euphorbia maculata
Rosy Gilia
Gilia sinuata
Necklaceweed
Veronica peregrina
White-stem Evening-primrose
Oenothera albicaulis
White Twinheads
Eclipta prostrata
Emory Oak
Quercus emoryi
Fat-hen
Atriplex prostrata
Nuttall's Monolepis
Monolepis nuttalliana
Seaside Brookweed
Samolus parviflorus
Moth Combseed
Pectocarya setosa
Jumping Cholla
Cylindropuntia fulgida
Schott's Calico
Loeseliastrum schottii
Texas-pea
Astragalus nuttallianus
Carelessweed
Amaranthus palmeri
Desert Thorn-apple
Datura discolor
Ridge-seed Spurge
Euphorbia glyptosperma
Earth-almond
Cyperus esculentus
Broom-like Ragwort
Senecio spartioides
Paiute False Bindweed
Calystegia longipes
Calingale
Cyperus odoratus
Mojave Popcornflower
Plagiobothrys jonesii
Prairie-berry
Solanum elaeagnifolium
Parish Spikerush
Eleocharis parishii
Parachute Plant
Atrichoseris platyphylla
Hoary Tansyaster
Machaeranthera canescens
Hooker's Bur Ragweed
Ambrosia acanthicarpa
Old-Field Three-Awn
Aristida oligantha
Rocky Mountain Sage
Salvia reflexa
Feather Dalea
Dalea formosa
Many-flower Standing-cypress
Ipomopsis multiflora
Small-flowered Gaura
Oenothera curtiflora
Fremont Pincushion
Chaenactis fremontii
Roughpod Spurge
Euphorbia spathulata
Brown Beetle-grass
Diplachne fusca
Canada Spikesedge
Eleocharis geniculata
Prostrate Sandmat
Euphorbia prostrata
Desert Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja chromosa
Mountain Brome
Bromus marginatus
Roundleaf Phacelia
Phacelia rotundifolia
Ground-cherry
Physalis pubescens
Crested Anoda
Anoda cristata
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.