Sonora Desert Plant Guide for the Desert Exhibit


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The Desert exhibit at the NC Zoo displays plants and animals superbly adapted to this fascinating environment. The word desert makes one think of intense heat and sand, but deserts are richly diverse environments. These plants have many different adaptions to this harsh environment. Tall, columnar Saguaro cactuses are commonly associated with the Sonoran Desert, but many other species of cactus grow there; such as Organ Pipe, Barrel and Cholla cactuses. Gila woodpeckers, owls and many reptiles find protection among cactus spines. These long spines help shade cactuses from intense summer heat, while helping channel rainwater down to the roots. Most cactuses have root systems close to the soil surface so they absorb rainfall immediately. Most trees and shrubs have smaller leaves which help conserve water. During extreme drought, leaves and smaller limbs may drop, as seen with the Palo Verde and Creosote Bush. Even well rooted plants may look dead most of the year in order to conserve as much water as possible. Other plants have adapted their color to help conserve water. Both the Brittlebush and the Desert Mallow have lighter colored leaves, which reflect the sun’s heat. The Sonoran Desert is crossed by many rivers and receives around 10 inches of rain a year, more than any other desert in the world. This makes it the most lush and biologically abundant desert in the world.


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1. MESCAL AGAVE

Agave parryi Family: Asparagaceae Origin: Arizona, New Mexico & Mexico

A most useful plant

Agave (uh-gah-vay) is a plant that can provide fiber,

food, drink, soap, weapons or medicine. These plants

may have helped the western Apache to thrive in the

Sonora region.

2. BRITTLEBUSH

Encelia farnosa

Family: Asteraceae Origin: Southern Arizona

A store of goods

Leaves on this shrub are covered with soft white hairs which help it cope with desert life; the more arid

the conditions, the smaller and whiter the leaves produced. Stems have an aromatic gum that people

chew or use for incense. Native Americans heated the resin and used it as a glue. And in the old days

cowboys used brittlebush stems as toothbrushes.

3. CREOSOTE

Larrea tridentata

Family: Zygophyllaceae Origin: Southern Arizona

A bush by any other name would still smell

Creosote bush is one of the most common plant species

found in North America deserts. Its leaves have a shiny

coating that reflects sunlight. This helps keep the plant

from losing water from evaporation. The Creosote bush

gets its name from the strong smell it gives off after a rain.

In Spanish, the Cresosote bush is called hediondilla;

which means “little stinker.”


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4. VELVET MESQUITE

Prosopsis velutina

Family: Fabaceae Origin: Southwest US and Mexico

Putting down roots

Mesquite (mess-keet) is one of the most common and useful trees in the

Sonoran region. It provides shade, shelter, and food for wildlife. Humans

eat Mesquite fruits while the wood is important for construction and

charcoal. The Mesquite’s roots can go as deep as sixty feet and there is

often more wood underground than there is above.

5. JOJOBA

Simmondsia chinensis Family: Simmondsiaceae Origin: Southern Arizona, Sonora

Wax fruit?

The fruit of the Jojoba (ho-ho-ba) is about fifty percent liquid wax. This

substance is quite useful as it does not wear out easily. Jojoba “oil” goes

into a variety of products like cosmetics, cooking oils, car wax and

lubricants. The pressed fruit is useful as livestock feed.

6. DESERT GLOBE MALLOW Sphaeralcea ambigua

Family: Malvaceae Origin: Southern Arizona and Mexico

A spring show

This wildflower makes a nice mass along the flats and

mountainous uplands of the desert. Most of the dry

season it is a clump of dry twigs, but with the rainy season come flowers and new growth. The leaves

are fuzzy; grayish green and it is covered in flowers ranging from pink, red, and orange.


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7. CHOCOLATE FLOWER Berlandiera lyrata

Family: Asteraceae Origin: Texas, SE Arizona, northern Mexico

Non-edible candy

This native perennial forms an open rosette and reseeds readily. During flowering, it is covered with

small yellow daisy-like flowers which have the unmistakable smell of chocolate, thus the common name.

The Native Americans call it green-eyes referring to the small green buds before they open to yellow

flowers.

8. MORMON TEA

Ephedra nevadensis Family: Ephedraceae Origin: Most of the southwest

Green and tea but not green tea

Native Americans brewed a beverage from the stems of

this plant. Early Mormon settlers likely borrowed this

practice giving this plant its common name. The seeds of

Mormon Tea can be ground into flour and also used as a

coffee-like beverage. Mormon tea is valued for its green

color in a somewhat dull sagebrush environment.

9. FAIRY DUSTER

Calliandra eriophylla

Family: Fabaceae Origin: Southern Arizona, northern Mexico

A seasonal show

Fairy Duster is a small inconspicuous shrub for most of the year. In

spring the plant makes a showy transformation when it blooms. The

fluffy flowers provide nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds; while

quail eat the seeds.


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10. HOARY YUCCA

Yucca x schottii

Family: Asparagaceae Origin: Southwest New Mexico, southeast Arizona, north Mexico

Mountainous tree yucca

A natural occurring hybrid, the Hoary Yucca can grow as much as 10-

15 feet tall with 3 feet long bluish-green leaves. Each leaf has a sharp

spine at the tip. The plant produces creamy white flowers on a stalk

about 3 feet tall. This yucca’s range extends to much higher altitudes

than other tree yuccas.

11. COW HORN AGAVE Agave bovicornuta Family: Asparagaceae Origin: Arizona, northern Mexico

Eye catching thorns

This medium sized plant has bright green leaves with bright red spines along the edge

and tip. The common name comes from the curved thorns which look like a bull’s

horn. After many years, a large flower stalk is produced, bearing yellow flowers. The

plant then dies unlike most agave which produce vegetative offshoots, known as

pups, the Cow Horn rarely does.

12. DESERT SPOON

Dasylirion wheeleri Family: Asparagaceae Origin: Arizona

Many uses for a “spoon”

Desert Spoon has strap-like, bluish leaves which resemble

stiff grass. Native people make a beverage known as sotol

by roasting and fermenting the flower stalks. The tough

leaves make good thatching, mats and baskets. The

Desert Spoon makes a good ornamental plant that can

survive in North Carolina landscapes.


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13. SAGUARO

Carnegiea gigantea

Family: Cactaceae Origin: Southern Arizona

Nature’s water tower

Saguaro (sa-WAH-ro) are huge tree-like cacti found only in the Sonora

Desert. They may reach 40-60 feet tall and live over a hundred years. White

flowers bloom in the spring but only open at night. The Saguaro is pleated,

and these expand with water after a rain. The pleats contract as the cactus

uses the stored water during dry periods.

14. TEDDYBEAR CHOLLA

Opuntia bigelovii Family: Cactaceae Origin: California, Nevada, and Arizona & NW Mexico

Deceiving looks

Teddybear cholla (choy-YA) may look fuzzy and soft but this cactus is far from

cuddly. The barbed spines detach easily and stick into the skin of passing animals.

Pliers or other tools may be necessary to remove them from human skin. Some

desert pack rats place the spines around their burrow entrances as a defense

against predators.

15. PRICKLY PEAR

Opuntia phaeacantha

Family: Cactaceae Origin: Arizona, Utah, Texas, New Mexico, & Mexico

Tuna from a cactus?

There are several different types of Prickly Pear cactus.

They vary greatly in height and spine length. Flower color

can range from white to yellow to purple to red. Prickly Pear

produces large numbers of red or purplish fruits, called

“tunas”. These fruits are a valuable food source for many

desert animals and people.


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16. FISHHOOK BARREL CACTUS

Ferocactus wislizeni Family: Cactaceae Origin: Southern Arizona

Cactus pointers

This cactus gets its name from both its spines and its shape. The thick, hook

shaped spines were used by native people for fishing. Massive stems of this

plant stand anywhere from six inches to six feet tall when mature. The shaded

side of the cactus (which is usually the north) grows faster than the exposed

side. Thus, the cactus often leans or points south, earning it the local name

“compass cactus”.

17. QUEEN AGAVE

Agave victoriae-reginae Family: Asparagaceae Origin: Northern Mexico

Fit for a queen?

This small, slow growing native of northern Mexico, is named for the English Queen

Victoria. It is usually found on rocky canyon slopes. This striking solitary plant is armed

with a sharp spine at the end of each leaf. It may take as many as 40 years or more

before a 10-15 feet bloom stalk forms with green to cream-colored flowers; after which

the plant will die. Unfortunately, it has become an endangered species because of

collection for commercial use in ornamental trade.

18. ELEPHANT TREE Bursera microphylla

Family: Burseraceae Origin: Southwestern Arizona, northern Mexico

A desert plant fit for bonsai

This tree has a nice shape with striped bark. It gets the

common name from the short stout trunk which grows slowly

over many years. It will eventually make a six to eight foot tall

tree with an interesting branching pattern and nice tiny leaves.


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19. IRONWOOD

Olneya tesota

Family: Fabaceae Origin: Arizona, Sonora

Weighing heavily

Ironwood gets its name from its extremely heavy and hard wood. It is one of

the heaviest native woods in North America weighing about 66 pounds to the

cubic foot. Ironwood is so hard that typical hand tools can barely scratch it.

Native Americans made arrowheads from ironwood, but no one is sure how

they did it.

20. FIRE BARREL

Ferocactus acanthodes

syn. Ferocactus cylindraceus ssp. cylindraceus

Family: Cactaceae Origin: Arizona, California, north Mexico

Is that barrel burning?

This slow growing solitaire cactus will reach up to 8 feet tall. Young plants tend to have deep red spines

giving the appearance of a very spiky ribbed barrel that is perhaps on fire. Those red spines will turn

lighter after a few decades. The Fire Barrel cactus favors rocky locations, especially the sides of

canyons. Blooming occurs on the top of the cactus with yellow flowers.

21. MESCAL BEAN

Sophora secundiflora

Family: Fabaceae Origin: Texas, New Mexico, northern Mexico

Grape soda-scented

Mescal Bean is a slow growing, large evergreen shrub that prefers rocky

limestone soil. In the spring, it forms showy clusters of purple flowers that are

highly fragrant and have been said to favor grape soda. Native people valued

the brilliant (yet poisonous) red seeds for ornamental and ceremonial use.


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22. OCOTILLO

Fouquieria splendens Family: Fouquieriaceae Origin: Southern Arizona

Natural barbed wire

Ocotillo (o-ko-TEE-yo) is unique to the deserts of the

southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Its

stems have heavy thorns that make an almost

impenetrable barrier. Travel is very difficult across areas where this plant is

abundant. Octillo plants growing close together make an excellent living fence.

23. BLUE PALO VERDE

Cercidium floridum

Family: Fabaceae Origin: Arizona, California, northern Mexico

Life without leaves

Palo Verde (pa-lo VER-day) is Spanish for “green stick”. That is what

this plant looks like because Palo Verde do not have leaves during

dry periods. Their green branches and twigs contain chlorophyll so

the plant can convert sunlight and nutrients into food without leaves.

24. CORAL TREE Erythrina flabelliformis

Family: Fabaceae Origin: Arizona, northern Mexico

Beauty without leaves

Coral tree is a unique medium-sized shrub with arching stems. During rainy times it is covered with

bright green diamond shaped leaves. The plant’s really showy part is early in spring before the leaves

emerge. The bare stems are covered with long spikes of red tubular shaped flowers. Hummingbirds

and butterflies cannot get enough of this plant.


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25. SOUTHERN MAIDENHAIR FERN

Adiantum capillus-veneris

Family: Pteridaceae Origin: Temperate and tropical regions worldwide

A fern in the desert, REALLY?

Yes, the Southern Maidenhair fern can be found in the desert growing in

shaded limestone cliff seeps and other wet areas away from direct sunlight.

This fern is found worldwide.

26. CRIMSON MONKEY FLOWER

Mimulus cardinalis Family: Phrymaceae Origin: West Coast and southwestern US

Hummingbird’s favorite

This perennial plant with bright red-orange flowers is

usually found near seeps or stream banks. Hummingbirds

are attracted to the nectar-rich flowers and aid in

pollination by carrying pollen between flowers on their

forehead.

Sonora Desert Plant Guide for the Desert Exhibit · Sonora Desert Plant Guide for the Desert...

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