California Desert Wildflowers

Scientific NameCommon Name
Abronia villosa Sand verbena
Acacia greggii Catclaw acacia
Acamptopappus shockleyi Shockley's goldenhead
Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus Goldenhead
Acer glabrum Mountain maple (fruit)
Achnatherum hymenoides Indian rice grass
Achnatherum speciosum Desert needlegrass
Achyronychia cooperi Frost-mat
Adenophyllum cooperi Cooper's dyssodia (red)
Adenophyllum cooperi Cooper's dyssodia (yellow)
Adenophyllum porophylloides San Felipe dyssodia
Agave desertii Desert agave
Agave utahensis Utah agave
Ageratina herbacea Fragrant snakeroot
Allenrolfea occidentalis Iodine bush
Allionia incarnata Trailing windmills
Allium atrorubens Dark red onion
Allium denticulatum? Toothed onion?
Allium fimbriatum var. fimbriatum Fringed onion
Allium nevadense? Nevada onion?
Aloysia wrightii Oreganillo
Amaranthus fimbriatus Fringed amaranth
Ambrosia acanthicarpa Annual bursage
Ambrosia dumosa Burrobush
Ambrosia eriocentra Woolly bur-sage (leaves)
Amsinckia tessellata Checker fiddleneck
Amsonia tomentosa Woolly amsonia
Anisocoma acaulis Scale bud
Antirrhinum filipes Tangled snapdragon
Anulocaulis annulatus Ringstem
Arabis pulchra Beautiful rock-cress
Arenaria macradenia Desert sandwort
Argemone corymbosa? Mojave prickly poppy?
Aristida purpurea? Three-awn
Artemisia bigelovia Bigelow's sagebrush
Artemisia spinescens Bud sage
Artemisia tridentata Big sagebrush
Asclepias albicans White-stemmed milkweed
Asclepias californica California milkweed
Asclepias erosa Desert milkweed
Asclepias subulata White-stemmed milkweed
Astragalus cimae Cima milkvetch
Astragalus coccineus Scarlet milk-vetch
Astragalus crotalariae^ Salton milk-vetch
Astragalus douglasii ssp. douglasii Jacumba milkvetch
Astragalus gilmanii Gilman's milkvetch
Astragalus layneae Layne's milk-vetch
Astragalus layneae Layne's milkvetch
Astragalus lentiginosus var. borreganus Borrego milkvetch
Astragalus lentiginosus var. fremontii Fremont's milkvetch
Astragalus lentiginosus var. variabilis Freckled milkvetch
Astragalus newberryi Newberry's milkvetch
Astragalus nutans Providence Mountains milkvetch
Astragalus nuttallianus Nuttall's locoweed
Astragalus palmeri Palmer's locoweed
Astragalus serenoi Naked milk-vetch
Astragalus tidestromii Tidestrom's milkvetch (fruit)
Astragalus tricarinatus Triple-ribbed milkvetch
Atrichoseris platyphylla Gravel ghost
Atrichoseris platyphylla Gravel ghost (flower)
Atriplex canescens Four-wing saltbush (female)
Atriplex canescens Four-wing saltbush (male)
Atriplex hymenelytra Desert holly
Baccharis brachyphylla Short-leaved baccharis
Baccharis sarothroides Desert broom
Baccharis sergiloides Desert baccharis (female)
Baccharis sergiloides Desert baccharis (male)
Baileya multiradiata Desert marigold
Baileya pauciradiata Lax flower
Baileya pleniradiata Woolly marigold
Balsamorhiza sagittata Arrow-leaved balsam-root
Balsamorhiza sagittata Arrow-leaved balsam-root (inflorescence)
Bebbia juncea Sweet bush
Bebbia juncea Sweet bush (flower)
Boerhavia coccinea Scarlet spiderling
Boerhavia triquetra Slender spiderling
Boerhavia wrightii Wright's spiderling
Bouteloua gracilis Blue grama
Brandegea bigelovii Brandegea
Brickellia arguta Spearleaf brickellia
Brickellia desertorum? Desert brickellbush?
Brickellia oblongifolia Mojave brickelbush
Bursera microphylla Elephant tree
Bursera microphylla Elephant tree (fruit)
Caesalpinia virgata Wand holdback
Caesalpinia virgata Wand holdback (leaf)
Calliandra eriophylla Fairyduster
Calochortus flexuosus Winding mariposa
Calochortus kennedyi Desert mariposa
Calycoseris parryi Yellow tackstem
Calycoseris wrightii White tackstem
Camissonia boothii Bottle washer
Camissonia brevipes Yellow cups
Camissonia campestris Mojave sun-cups
Camissonia cardiophylla Heartleaf suncup
Camissonia claviformis Brown-eyed primrose
Camissonia claviformis ssp. piersonii Brown-eyed primrose (yellow)
Camissonia pallida Pale-yellow suncup
Camissonia refracta Narrowleaf suncup
Camissonia walkeri Walker's suncup
Canbya candida Pygmy poppy
Castela emoryi Crucifixion thorn
Castela emoryi Crucifixion thorn (fruit)
Caulanthus cooperi Cooper's wild cabbage
Caulanthus inflatus Desert candle
Centrostegia thurberi Thurber's spineflower
Cercidium floridum Palo verde
Chaenactis carphoclinia Pebble pincushion
Chaenactis douglasii Douglas' dustymaiden
Chaenactis fremontii Fremont's pincushion
Chaenactis stevioides Desert pincushion
Chaetopappa ericoides Rose heath
Chamaebatiaria millefolium Fern bush
Chamaesyce albomarginata Rattlesnake weed
Chamaesyce micromera Desert spurge
Chamaesyce setiloba Yuma spurge
Cheilanthes covillei Coville's lip-fern
Cheilanthes parryi Parry's lip-fern
Chilopsis linearis Desert willow
Chorizanthe brevicornu Brittle spineflower
Chorizanthe fimbriata Fringed spineflower
Chorizanthe rigida Devil's spineflower
Chorizanthe watsonii Watson's spineflower
Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. hololeucus Common rabbitbrush
Chrysothamnus paniculatus Black-banded rabbitbrush
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus Yellow rabbitbrush
Cirsium neomexicanum Desert thistle
Cirsium occidentale var. venustum Venus thistle
Cleomella obtusifolia Mojave cleomella
Coleogyne ramossima Black brush
Coleogyne ramossima Black brush (flower)
Collinsia callosa Desert blue-eyed Mary
Condalia globosa Bitter snakewood
Cordylanthus kingii var. helleri Heller's's bird's beak
Cordylanthus parviflorus Purple bird's beak
Coreopsis californica California coreopsis
Coreopsis calliopsideda Leafy-stem coreopsis
Crepis intermedia Limestone hawkbeard
Croton wigginsii Wiggins' croton
Cryptantha angustifolia Narrow-leaf cryptantha
Cryptantha barbigera Bearded cryptantha
Cryptantha confertiflora Golden cryptantha
Cryptantha holoptera Winged cryptantha
Cryptantha intermedia Common popcorn flower
Cryptantha maritima Guadalupe Island cryptantha
Cryptantha nevadensis Nevada cryptantha
Cryptantha pterocarya Wingnut cryptantha
Cryptantha racemosa Bushy cryptantha
Cryptantha tumulosa New York Mountains cryptantha
Cryptantha utahensis Scented forget-me-not
Cucurbita palmata Coyote melon
Cucurbita palmata Coyote melon (fruit)
Cymopterus gilmanii Gilman's spring-parsley
Cynanchum utahense Deboltia
Dalea mollis Hairy prairie clover
Dalea mollissima Silky prairie clover
Delphinium parishii Desert larkspur
Descurainia pinnata Tansy mustard
Dicoria canescens Desert twinbugs
Ditaxis lanceolata Narrow-leaf ditaxis
Ditaxis neomexicana Common ditaxis
Ditaxis neomexicana Common ditaxis (glabrous)
Dithyrea californica Spectacle pod
Dudleya saxosa Panamint live-forver
Echincactus polycephalus Cotton-top cactus
Echinocereus engelmannii Hedgehog cactus
Echinocereus triglochidiatus Claretcup cactus
Encelia actoni Acton encelia
Encelia actoni Acton encelia (flower)
Encelia farinosa Brittlebush
Encelia frutescens Rayless enceclia
Encelia virginensis Virgin River encelia
Enceliopsis covellii Panamint daisy (leaves)
Enceliopsis nudicaulis Naked-stem daisy
Ephedra nevadensis Nevada ephedra
Ephedra sp. Ephedra
Eremalche exilis White mallow
Eremalche rotundifolia Desert five-spot
Eriastrum densifolium ssp. mohavense Mojave eriastrum
Eriastrum diffusum Miniature woolstar
Eriastrum eremicum Desert eriastrum
Eriastrum sparsiflorum Great Basin woolstar
Ericameria discoidea Rayless goldenbush
Ericameria laricifolia Turpentine brush
Erigeron concinnus Navajo fleabane
Erigeron divergens Diffuse daisy
Eriodictyon trichocalyx Hairy yerba santa
Eriogonum caespitosum Matted buckwheat
Eriogonum davidsonii Davidson's buckwheat
Eriogonum deflexum Flat-topped buckwheat
Eriogonum deserticola Colorado Desert buckwheat
Eriogonum eremicola Wildrose Canyon buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium California buckwheat
Eriogonum gracilipes Raspberry buckwheat
Eriogonum inflatum Desert trumpet
Eriogonum inflatum^ Desert trumpet (flower)
Eriogonum microthecum var. simpsonii Slender buckwheat
Eriogonum nidularium Birdnest buckwheat
Eriogonum palmerianum Palmer's buckwheat
Eriogonum parryi Parry's buckwheat
Eriogonum plumatella Yucca buckwheat
Eriogonum pusillum Yellow turbans
Eriogonum rixfordii Pagoda buckwheat
Eriogonum thornei Thorne's buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum var. versicolor Varicolored buckwheat
Eriophyllum lanosum Woolly sunflower
Eriophyllum wallacei Woolly eriophyllum
Erodium texanum Desert stork's bill
Eschscholzia californica California poppies
Eschscholzia glyptosperma Desert poppy
Eschscholzia minutiflora Little gold poppy
Eschscholzia parishii Parish's poppy
Escobaria vivipara var. alversonii Foxtail cactus
Escobaria vivipara var. desertii Foxtail cactus
Eucnide urens Rock nettle
Eucrypta micrantha Desert eucrypta
Euphorbia exstipulata Clark Mountain spurge
Euphorbia incisa Mojave spurge
Eustoma exaltatum Catchfly gentian
Fagonia laevis Small-flowered fagonia
Fallugia paradoxa Apache plume
Fallugia paradoxa Apache plume (in fruit)
Ferocactus cylindraceus California barrel cactus
Filago depressa Dwarf filago
Fouquieria splendens Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens Ocotillo (flowers)
Galium stellatum Desert bedstraw
Gaura coccinea Scarlet gaura
Geraea canescens Desert gold
Gilia aliquanta Puff-calyx gilia
Gilia aliquanta ssp. breviloba Puff-calyx gilia
Gilia brecciarum Nevada gilia
Gilia brecciarum Nevada gilia (flower)
Gilia cana Showy gilia
Gilia clokeyi Clokey's gilia
Gilia inconspicua Lesser gilia
Gilia latiflora ssp. davyi Davy gilia
Gilia latifolia Broadleaf gilia
Gilia leptomeria Great Basin gilia
Gilia micromeria Dainty gilia
Gilia ophthalmoides Eyed gilia
Gilia scopulorum Rock gilia
Gilia sinuata Cinder gilia
Gilia sp.? Unknown - 103
Gilia stellata Star gilia
Gilia transmontana Trans-montane gilia
Grayia spinosa Hop-sage
Gutierrezia microcephala Matchweed
Gutierrezia sarothrae Broom snakeweed
Halimolobos jaegeri Rock mustard
Hedeoma nanum Mock pennyroyal
Helianthus niveus ssp. canescens Showy sunflower
Helianthus niveus ssp. tephrodes Showy sunflower
Helianthus niveus ssp. tephrodes Showy sunflower (flower)
Heliomeris multiflora? Golden eye?
Hemizonia arida Red Rock tarplant
Hesperocallis undulata Desert lily
Hibiscus denudatus Pale face
Hoffmannseggia glauca Pig nut
Horsfordia newberryi Newberry's velvet mallow
Hymenoclea salsola Cheesebush
Hymenoxys acaulis Angelita daisy
Hymenoxys cooperi Cooper's rubberweed
Hyptis emoryi Desert lavender
Ipomopsis arizonica Arizona scarlet gilia
Isocoma acradenia Alkali goldenbush
Juniperus californica California juniper
Juniperus osteosperma Utah juniper
Justicia californica Chuparosa
Kallstroemia californica California caltrop
Krameria erecta Pima rhatany
Krameria grayi White rhatany
Krascheninnikovia lanata Winter fat
Langloisia setosissima ssp. punctata Lilac sunbonnet
Langloisia setosissima ssp. setosissima Bristly langloisia
Lappula redowskii Stickseed
Layia glandulosa Desert tidy tips
Lepidium flavum Yellow peppergrass
Lepidium fremontii Desert alyssum
Lepidium lasiocarpum^ Hairy peppergrass
Lepidium montanum Mountain pepperweed
Lesquerella kingii King's bladderpod
Lesquerella tenella Bead pod
Lessingia lemmonii Lemmon's lessingia
Lewisia rediviva var. minor Bitterroot
Linanthus aureus Golden linanthus
Linanthus aureus Golden linanthus (white)
Linanthus bigelovii Bigelow's linanthus
Linanthus breviculus Mojave linanthus
Linanthus demissus Desert snow
Linanthus maculatus Little San Bernardino Mtns. linanthus
Linanthus parryae Sandblossoms (blue)
Linanthus parryae Sandblossoms (white)
Loeseliastrum matthewsii Desert calico
Loeseliastrum schottii Schott's calico
Lomatium mohavense Desert parsley
Lomatium nevadense Desert lomatium
Lotus argyraeus Canyon lotus
Lotus haydonii? Pygmy lotus?
Lotus procumbens Silky deerweed
Lotus rigidus Desert rock pea
Lotus rigidus Desert rock pea (flower)
Lupinus andersonii Anderson's lupine
Lupinus arizonicus Arizona lupine
Lupinus brevicaulis Sand lupine
Lupinus flavoculatus Yellow eyes
Lupinus odoratus Royal lupine
Lupinus shockleyi Desert lupine
Lycium andersonii Anderson's thornbush
Lycium brevipes Common desert thorn
Lycium cooperi Peach thorn
Lycium fremontii Fremont's box-thorn
Lyrocarpa coulteri Coulter's lyrepod
Lyrocarpa coulteri Coulter's lyrepod (fruit)
Machaeranthera arida Silver Lake daisy
Machaeranthera pinnatifida Goodding's aster
Malacothamnus densiflorus Yellow-stem bush mallow
Malacothrix coulteri Snake's head
Malacothrix glabrata Desert dandelion
Malacothrix sonchoides Yellow saucers
Mammillaria dioica Fishhook cactus
Mammillaria tetrancistra Fishhook cactus (fruit)
Marina parryi Parry's marina
Menodora scabra Rough desert olive
Menodora scoparia Desert olive
Menodora spinescens Spiny desert olive
Mentzelia affinis Yellow blazing star
Mentzelia albicaulis White-stemmed stickleaf
Mentzelia involucrata Sand blazing star
Mentzelia polita Elegant blazing star
Mentzelia reflexa Reflexed mentzelia
Mimulus androsaceus Rockjasmine monkeyflower
Mimulus bigelovii Bigelow's monkeyflower
Mimulus nanus Dwarf monkeyflower
Mimulus palmeri Palmer's monkeyflower
Mimulus parishii Seep monkeyflower
Mimulus rubellus Red monkeyflower
Minuartia nuttallii? Brittle sandwort?
Mirabilis bigelovii Desert wishbone plant
Mirabilis pumila Trailing four-o'clock
Mohavea breviflora Lesser mohavea
Mohavea confertiflora Ghost flower
Monoptilon bellidiforme Daisy desert star
Monoptilon bellioides Desert star
Monoptilon bellioides Desert star (lavender)
Mortonia utahensis Utah mortonia
Nama demissum Purple mat
Nama pusillum Small-leaved nama
Nemacladus glanduliferus Redtip threadstem
Nemacladus longiflorus Long-flowered threadplant
Nicolettia occidentalis Hole-in-the-sand plant
Nicotiana clevelandii Cleveland's tobacco
Nicotiana obtusifolia Desert tobacco
Nitrophila occidentalis Western niterwort
Nolina parryi Parry's nolina
Oenothera caespitosa Tufted evening primrose
Oenothera californica California evening primrose
Oenothera deltoides Birdcage evening primrose
Oenothera deltoides Birdcage evening primrose (dead)
Oenothera primiveris Large yellow primrose
Oligomeris linifolia Oligomeris
Olneya tesota Ironwood
Opuntia Xfosbergia Pink teddy-bear cholla
Opuntia acanthocarpa Buckhorn cholla
Opuntia acanthocarpa Buckhorn cholla (flower)
Opuntia basilaris Beaver-tail cactus
Opuntia bigelovii Teddy-bear cholla
Opuntia bigelovii Teddy-bear cholla (flower)
Opuntia chlorotica Pancake cactus
Opuntia echinocarpa Silver cholla
Opuntia engelmannii Engelmann's prickly pear
Opuntia erinacea Old man cactus
Opuntia erinacea Old man cactus (flower)
Opuntia ganderi Gander's cholla
Opuntia parishii Dead cactus
Opuntia ramosisima Pencil cholla
Opuntia wolfii^ Wolf's cholla
Orobanche californica California broomrape (yellow)
Orobanche cooperi Desert broomrape
Palafoxia arida Spanish needles
Panicum urvilleanum Panic grass
Pectis papposa Chinch-weed
Pectocarya platycarpa Broad-nut comb-bur
Pectocarya recurvata Curve-nut Comb-bur (fruit)
Pectocarya setosa Stiff-stemmed comb-bur
Penstemon bicolor Bi-colored beardtongue
Penstemon eatonii Eaton's penstemon
Penstemon floridus Rose penstemon
Penstemon fruticiformis Death Valley beardtongue
Penstemon incertus Mojave beardtongue
Penstemon palmeri Palmer's penstemon
Penstemon pseudospectabilis Desert penstemon
Penstemon scapoides Pinyon beardtongue
Penstemon utahensis Utah penstemon
Petalonyx thurberi Sandpaper plant
Peucephyllum schottii Desert fir
Peucephyllum schottii Desert fir (flowers)
Phacelia anelsonii Aven Nelson's phacelia
Phacelia calthifolia Caltha-leaved phacelia
Phacelia campanularia Desert Canterbury bells
Phacelia coerulea Sky blue phacelia
Phacelia crenulata var. ambigua Notched-leaf phacelia
Phacelia crenulata var. ambigua Notched-leaf phacelia (white)
Phacelia crenulata var. minutiflora Notched-leaf phacelia
Phacelia cryptantha Limestone phacelia
Phacelia fremontii Yellow throats
Phacelia neglecta Alkali phacelia
Phacelia pachyphylla Thick-leafed phacelia
Phacelia pedicellata Specter phacelia
Phacelia rotundifolia Roundleaf phacelia
Phacelia vallis-mortis Death Valley phacelia
Phlox stansburyi Stansbury phlox
Pholisma arenarium Sand plant
Pholistoma membranaceum White fiesta flower
Phoradendron californicum Desert mistletoe
Phoradendron californicum Desert mistletoe (fruit)
Physalis crassifolia Ground cherry
Physalis hederifolia Ivy-leaved ground cherry
Physalis lancifolia Narrow-leaved tomatillo (fruit)
Physalis lobata Lobed ground cherry
Pilostyles thurberi^ Thurber's stemsucker
Pinus longaeva Bristlecone pine
Pinus longaeva Bristlecone pine (cone)
Plantago ovata Desert plantain
Plantago patagonica Woolly plantain
Pleuraphis rigida Big galleta
Pleurocoronis pluriseta Arrow-leaf
Pluchea sericea Arrowweed
Poa secunda One-sided bluegrass
Polygala acanthoclada Desert milkwort
Porophyllum gracile Odora
Prenanthella exigua Bright white
Prosopis sp. Mesquite
Prunus andersonii Desert peach
Prunus fasciculata Desert almond
Psathyrotes annua Turtleback
Psathyrotes ramosissima Turtleback
Psilostrophe cooperi Paper daisy
Psorothamnus arborescens Mojave indigo bush
Psorothamnus fremontii Fremont's indigo bush
Psorothamnus schottii Schott's indigo bush
Psorothamnus spinosus Smoke tree
Psorothamnus spinosus Smoke tree (flowers)
Psorthamnus emoryi Indigo bush
Purshia mexicana Antelope brush
Purshia tridentata Bitter brush
Purshia tridentata var. glandulosa Desert bitterbrush
Rafinesquia neomexicana Desert chicory
Ranunculus cymbalaria Desert buttercup
Rumex hymenosepalus Wild rhubarb
Salazaria mexicana Paper-bag bush
Salvia dorrii Desert sage
Sanvitalia abertii Abert's sanvitalia
Sarcostemma cyanchoides Climbing milkweed
Sarcostemma hirtellum Rambling milkweed
Schkuhria multiflora Many-flowered bahia
Sclerocactus polyancistrus Mojave fishhook cactus
Senecio californicus California butterweed
Senecio flaccidus var. monoensis Mono groundsel
Senecio mohavensis Mojave groundsel
Senecio multilobatus Basin butterweed
Senecio multilobatus Basin butterweed (rayless)
Senecio spartiodes Broom groundsel
Senna armata Desert senna
Senna covesii Coues' cassia
Simmondsia chinensis Jojoba (male)
Sisyrinchium idahoense Idaho blue-eyed grass
Sphaeralcea ambigua Apricot mallow
Sphaeralcea ambigua Apricot mallow (flower)
Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rosacea Apricot mallow
Sphaeralcea angustifolia Narrow-leaved desert mallow
Sphaeralcea rusbyi var. eremicola Rusby's desert mallow
Stanleya pinnata Prince's plume
Stephanomeria exigua Mitra
Stephanomeria pauciflora Wire lettuce
Stillingia linearifolia Narrow-leaved stillingia
Streptanthella longirostris Long-beaked twist-flower
Streptanthus cordatus var. cordatus Heartleaf jewelflower
Suaeda moquinii Bush seepweed
Symphoricarpos longiflorus Desert snowberry
Syntrichopappus fremontii False woolly daisy
Tetracoccus hallii Purple bush
Tetracoccus hallii Purple bush (in fruit)
Tetradymia axilaris Cotton-thorn
Thamnosma montana Turpentine broom
Thymophylla pentachaeta Five-needle pricklyleaf
Tidestromia oblongifolia Honeysweet
Tidestromia oblongifolia Honeysweet (flowers)
Tiquilia canescens Woody crinklemat
Tiquilia palmeri Palmer's crinklemat
Tiquilia plicata Fanleaf crinklemat
Tragia ramosa Noseburn
Trianthema portulacastrum Lowland purslane
Trichoptilium incisum Yellowdome
Trixis californica Trixis
Verbena gooddingii Southwestern verbena
Viguiera parishii Viguiera
Washingtonia filifera California fan palm
Xylorhiza cognata Mecca aster
Xylorhiza orcuttii Orcutt's aster
Xylorhiza tortifolia Mojave aster
Yucca baccata Banana yucca
Yucca brevifolia Joshua tree
Yucca schidigera Mojave yucca
Zigadenus brevibracteatus Desert zygadene
Ziziphus obtusifolia Graythorn (fruit)

^ = new photo (as of February 27, 2010)



Copyright @ 2001-10 by Jay Sullivan. The photographs contained in this website may not be reproduced without the express consent of the author.