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YUMA AREA DESERT PLANTS
ROADSIDE FLOWERS IN YUMA
Most of the year the desert seems barren and desolate. But in early February, hints of new life begin to appear. Colors reach full bloom from mid-March to mid-April; most trees flower from April to May. Wildflowers respond to the amount of moisture during winter. Wet winters yield a bounty of flowers and turn a usually brown hillside into a bright green.

As you travel through Yuma, look for these common flowers. Travelers along the major roadways may see:

Desert Lily - Resembling the Easter Lily, this white flower on a tall stem is typically found in sandy soils. The early Spanish explorers called it "ajo" meaning garlic, for its onion flavored bulb. Purple Threeawn - Actually, a tall grass, this plant grows in bunches along roadsides and other disturbed areas. It is named for the three purplish spikes or awns that grow from each seed head.
Desert Marigold - Common in disturbed areas like roadsides, these bright yellow daisy-like flowers are borne on tall stalks above wooly grey-green foliage. Mexican Poppy - These showy orange to gold flowers are easily recognized by their four-petal poppy flowers.
Desert Mallow - Delicate, cup-shaped apricot to orange colored flowers bloom in clusters on multiple stems up to 3 feet tall. The leaves are covered with white hairs that can irritate your eyes, giving this plant its local name, "sore-eye poppies". Penstemon - The tiny tubular-shaped rose-colored flowers look like miniature snapdragons on tall stalks. Light green, arrow-shaped leaves are borne in pairs on the stems.
Desert Sand Verbena - A low-growing plant, the small lavendar tubular flowers grow in clusters on trailing stems. This fragrant plant prefers sandy flats or dunes. Lupine - This plant often grows in masses along roadsides. Purplish-pink to violet pea-shaped flowers are borne on one foot tall spikes. Leaves are palmate or finger-shaped, extending in a circle from a central point.
SHRUBS
Brittlebush - This common low shrub is one to three feet tall and has silvery-white mounds of foliage with bright sunflower-yellow blossoms. Its Spanish name, "Incienso", comes from the chrystaline resin exuded from its stems that was burned as incense by early missionaries. Creosotebush - The most common shrub in the lower Sonoran Desert, this three to six-foot tall plant is brightened by its yellow flowers in spring. Flowers are later replaced by fuzzy white seed heads. The plant's strong, resinous odor is similar to creosote, giving this shrub its name.
Chuparosa - Also known as the hummingbird bush, this shrub's tubular red flowers are a favorite source of nectar and insects for hummingbirds. Growing up to six feet tall, this sprawling shrub is found along washes. Beavertail - This cactus is named for its flat, oval-shaped pads. The pads lack the long spines common to the prickly pear, but have tiny glochids, hard to remove if touched. It bears brilliant magenta flowers and is usually found on rocky hillsides.
Ocotillo - One of the oddest looking shrubs in the southwestern deserts, this tall plant is formed of spike-like canes that look dead most of the year. After rains, bright green leaves cover the thorny stems and are followed by a cluster of scarlet flowers at the top of the stems.
TREES
Palo Verde - Palo verde means "green stick". This tree is easily identified by its green trunk and branches, where 40 percent of the plant's photosynthesis takes place. It is covered with delicate flowers in the spring. Cat's Claw - Photo shows "cat claws" on trunk.
Also called a "wait-a-minute bush", this is a common shrub or small tree along washes. The leaves are similar to but smaller than those of the Mesquite, and this plant has a single cat claw-shaped spine rather than paired straight spines. The puffy yellow flowers look like balls of cotton and are followed by four to five inch long bean pods.
Ironwood - The dense wood from this tree is often used for carving in Mexico. This majestic tree grows along washes and blooms with reddish- purple flowers in May. The pods contain edible beans that, when roasted, have a peanut like flavor. Smoketree - A small tree growing up to 20 feet tall, the branches are usually leafless and greyish green, giving the tree its smoky appearance. In May to June it is blanketed with dark blue flowers. It grows in frost-free areas of the desert along washes.
For information contact:

Bureau of Land Management — Yuma District (928)317-3200

2555 Gila Ridge Road - Yuma, Arizona 85365