Native Plant List – Arizona & New Mexico
Last updated: October 3, 2026
This is a "starter" list of native plants for Arizona and New Mexico. It is intended for residential or commercial landscapers who want to create attractive and varied native landscapes.
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Arizona and New Mexico Trees
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitethorn Acacia | Acacia constricta | F | D | 10 ft | Caliche okay. White blossoms. |
| Sweet Acacia | Acacia farnesiana | F | D | 15 ft | Yellow fragrant blossoms. Fast grower. |
| Arizona Madrone | Arbutus arizonica | F | D | 20-45 ft | Slow evergreen Sky Island tree; peeling pink bark, berries for birds |
| Crucifixion Thorn | Canotia holacantha | F | D | 10-20 ft | Leafless spine-tipped green stems; very slow growing; sculptural |
| Western Redbud | Cercis occidentalis | F-P | D | 10–20 ft | Spectacular bare-branch spring bloom; needs sharp drainage |
| Desert Willow | Chilopsis linearis | F | D | 20 ft | Pink or purple flowers attract hummingbirds. Deciduous. |
| River Hawthorn | Crataegus rivularis | F-P | A-W | 10-25 ft | Thicket-forming streamside hawthorn; dark fruit, intermontane West |
| Fleshy Hawthorn | Crataegus succulenta | F-P | A-W | 13-26 ft | Most wide-ranging US hawthorn; thorny thicket shrub, red fleshy fruit |
| Arizona Cyprus | Cupressus arizonica | F | A | 70 ft | Drought and heat tolerant. Soft, grey-green foliage. |
| California Ash | Fraxinus dipetala | F-P | A-D | 10-20 ft | Fragrant 2-petaled spring flowers; very drought tolerant |
| Gregg Ash | Fraxinus greggii | F-P | A-D | 15 ft | Good food for wildlife. |
| Fantex Ash | Fraxinus velutina | F | A | 40 ft | Lush look. Holds dense canopy. |
| Arizona Walnut | Juglans major | F | A-W | 40–50 ft | Male & female flowers on same tree. Deciduous. |
| Alligator Juniper | Juniperus deppeana | F | A-D | 20-50 ft | Slow-growing SW tree; checkered bark; needs sharp drainage |
| One-seed Juniper | Juniperus monosperma | F | A-D | 7-20 ft | Deer-resistant evergreen; winter berries feed birds |
| Feather Tree | Lysiloma watsonii | F-P | D | 15–25 ft | Rare in AZ (Rincon Mts); freeze-sensitive, lacy bipinnate foliage |
| Desert Ironwood | Olneya tesota | F | D | 25 ft | Protect from extended frost. Slow grower. |
| Mexican Palo Verde | Parkinsonia aculeata | F | D | 15-30 ft | Fast, thorny desert tree; invasive outside native south TX/AZ range |
| Foothill Palo Verde | Parkinsonia microphylla | F | D | 15-25 ft | Slow, long-lived desert tree; saguaro nurse plant; AZ-protected |
| Engelmann Spruce | Picea engelmannii | F-P | A | 80-130 ft | High-elevation conifer; cold-hardy; needs moist, well-drained soil |
| Screwbean Mesquite | Prosopis pubescens | F | A-D | 15–30 ft | Desert wash tree; coiled screw-shaped pods; needs deep water access |
| Velvet Mesquite | Prosopis velutina | F | A-D | 20-30 ft | Thorny desert shade tree; nitrogen-fixer; very drought tolerant |
| Chickasaw Plum | Prunus angustifolia | F-P | A-D | 6–25 ft | Thorny thicket-forming plum; early white bloom, red-orange fruit |
| Arizona Oak | Quercus arizonica | F | A-D | 20–60 ft | Slow-growing evergreen oak of SW sky-island woodlands |
| Emory Oak | Quercus emoryi | P | D-A | 66 ft | Acorns are food for many mammals and birds. |
| Chinkapin Oak | Quercus muehlenbergii | F-P | A-D | 40-60 ft | Limestone-loving shade tree; sweet low-tannin acorns feed wildlife |
| Mexican Blue Oak | Quercus oblongifolia | F | D | 15-25 ft | Evergreen desert oak; silvery-blue leaves; very drought tolerant |
| California Fan Palm (Desert Palm) | Washingtonia filifera | F | A-W | 40-60 ft | Desert oasis palm; needs reliable groundwater to reach full size |
| Joshua Tree | Yucca brevifolia | F | A-D | 15-40 ft | Mojave Desert icon; pollinated only by the yucca moth |
Arizona and New Mexico Shrubs
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie Acacia | Acacia angustissima | F-P | A | 4 ft | Generally thornless. White blossoms. |
| Triangle-leaf Bursage | Ambrosia deltoidea | F | D | 1–2.5 ft | Rounded Sonoran Desert shrub; very low water; saguaro nurse plant |
| False Indigo Bush | Amorpha fruticosa | F | A | 6–10 ft | Erosion control. Wildlife food and cover. |
| Desert Honeysuckle | Anisacanthus thurberi | F | D | 4 ft | Red flowers and brown seeds. |
| Sand Sagebrush | Artemisia filifolia | F | D | 4 ft | Evergreen. Provides ground cover for wildlife. |
| Four-Wing Saltbush | Atriplex canescens | F | D | 5 ft | Great for birds. Good for erosion control. |
| Shadscale | Atriplex confertifolia | F | A-D | 1-3 ft | Spiny gray shrub; extreme drought/salt tolerance, winter browse |
| Quail Brush | Atriplex lentiformis | F | D | 8 ft | Great for birds. Hedges. Deciduous. |
| Seepwillow | Baccharis salicifolia | F-P | W-A | 6-15 ft | Fast-growing riparian pioneer; stabilizes wash banks |
| California Brickellbush | Brickellia californica | F-P | A-D | 2-5 ft | Late-blooming shrub for dry, rocky soil; not bursage |
| Fairy Duster | Calliandra eriophylla | F | D | 36 in | Pink, fluffy ball-shaped blossoms. Evergreen. |
| Desert Hackberry | Celtis pallida | F | D | 8 ft | Great for wildlife. Hedges. Spiny. Erosion control. |
| Littleleaf Mountain Mahogany | Cercocarpus intricatus | F | D | 3-10 ft | Very slow desert shrub; feathery seed plumes; rocky, dry soil |
| Mountain Mahogany | Cercocarpus montanus | F-P | D | 16 ft | White/pink blossoms. Evergreen. |
| Fern Bush | Chamaebatiaria millefolium | F-P | A-D | 5 ft | Attracts butterflies. Semi-evergreen. White blossoms. |
| Western White Clematis | Clematis ligusticifolia | P | A | 15 ft | White blossoms. Tolerates many soils. |
| Blackbrush | Coleogyne ramosissima | F | D | 1–6 ft | Very slow-growing desert shrub; rocky, well-drained soil only |
| Ragged Rock Flower | Crossosoma bigelovii | F | D | 4 ft | Fragrant flowers. |
| Feather Dalea | Dalea formosa | F | D | 24 in | Good for low border or groundcover. |
| Mormon Tea | Ephedra nevadensis | F | D | 36 in | Slow growth. Inconspicuous yellow flowers. |
| Joint Fir | Ephedra trifurca | F | D | 6 ft | Male plants produce yellow flowers in spring. |
| Turpentine Bush | Ericameria laricifolia | F | D | 24 in | Yellow clusters of blossoms in fall. |
| Flat-topped Buckwheat | Eriogonum fasciculatum v. poliofolium | F | D | 18 in | Tortoises like it. White blossoms in spring. |
| SW Coral Bean | Erithrina flabelliformis | F | D | to 10 ft | Poisonous scarlet beans. |
| Kidneywood | Eysenhardtia orthocarpa | F | A-D | 6-15 ft | Fragrant white flower spikes spring-fall; excellent bee/honey plant |
| Apache Plume | Fallugia paradoxa | F | A-D | 6 ft | Hedge plant. Fuzzy fruit. |
| Tarbush | Flourensia cernua | F | D | 2-4 ft | Resinous, tar-scented Chihuahuan Desert shrub; fall yellow blooms |
| Desert Olive | Forestiera neomexicana | F | D | 12 ft | Fruit great for wildlife. |
| Ocotillo | Fouquiera splendens | F | D | 12 ft | Vulnerable to overwatering. |
| California Coffeeberry | Frangula californica | F-P | D-A | 3-12 ft | Evergreen; long fruiting season feeds birds; drought tolerant |
| Flannel Bush | Fremontodendron californicum | F | D | 6–20 ft | CA/AZ chaparral; big yellow blooms; hairs irritate skin/eyes |
| Desert Rose-mallow | Hibiscus coulteri | F | D | 36 in | Nice blossoms. Grows well under larger shrubs. |
| Rock Hibiscus | Hibiscus denudatus | F | D | 24 in | Lavender flowers. |
| Desert Lavender | Hyptis emoryi | F | D | 4-8 ft | Fragrant gray-leaved shrub, superb bee/hummingbird plant, washes |
| Chuparosa | Justicia californica | F | D | 3-5 ft | Drought-deciduous; top hummingbird plant for low desert |
| Texas Lantana | Lantana urticoides | F-P | D-A | 3-6 ft | Nectar-rich, blooms Apr-Oct; unripe berries toxic |
| Creosote Bush | Larrea tridentate | F | D | 6 ft | Slow growing. |
| Desert Wolfberry | Lycium andersonii | F | D | 6 ft | Red berries. Great for wildlife. |
| Agarita | Mahonia trifoliolata | F-P | D | 3-6 ft | Spiny evergreen; fragrant yellow flowers Feb-Apr; edible red berries |
| Mariola | Parthenium incanum | F | D | 24 in | Evergreen. White blossoms. Tough. |
| Hoary Rosmarymint | Poliomintha incana | F | D | 4 ft | Excellent fragrance. |
| Honey Mesquite | Prosopis glandulosa | F | D | 25 ft | Great for shade and wildlife. |
| Scrub Oak | Quercus turbinella | P | D | 8 ft | Evergreen. |
| Littleleaf Sumac | Rhus microphylla | F-P | D | 8 ft | Fruit great for wildlife. Deciduous. Can be hedge. |
| Sugar Sumac | Rhus ovata | F-P | D | 10 ft | Evergreen. More water/shade needed at lower elevations. |
| New Mexico Locust | Robinia neomexicana Vaquelina californica | F | D | to 15 ft | Pink blossoms. Seeds may be poisonous. |
| Roemer's Acacia | Senegalia roemeriana | F | D | 3–7 ft | Thorny honey-plant shrub; caliche/limestone soil; low water |
| Texas Mountain Laurel | Sophora secundiflora | F-P | A-D | 10-15 ft | Evergreen; fragrant purple blooms; toxic seeds; slow-growing |
| Yellow Bells | Tecoma stans | F | D-A | 3-8 ft | Native shrub form; blooms nearly year-round, hummingbird favorite |
| Arizona Rosewood | Vaquelina californica | F | D | 14 ft | Evergreen. |
Arizona and New Mexico Perennials
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbian Monkshood | Aconitum columbianum | F-P | W-A | 2–6 ft | Highly toxic (aconitine), all parts; wet meadows/stream banks only |
| Desert Agave | Agave deserti | F | D | 18 in | Forms colonies to 10' diameter. Yellow flowers. |
| Palmer Agave | Agave palmeri | F-P | D | 36 in | Flowers to 15' stalk. Hillsides and oak woodland. |
| Parry's Agave | Agave parryi | P | D | 24 in | One of the most cold-hardy agave plants. |
| Nodding Wild Onion | Allium cernuum | F-P | A-D | 8–20 in | Dry soil; nodding white-pink summer flowers; deer resistant |
| Rosy Pussytoes | Antennaria rosea | F | A-D | 2-4 in (stems to 12 in) | Mat-forming silver groundcover; rose-pink blooms; host plant |
| Mountain Death Camas | Anticlea elegans | F-P | A-D | 1-2.5 ft | HIGHLY TOXIC bulb/foliage; do not confuse with edible Camassia |
| Golden Columbine | Aquilegia chrysantha | P-S | A-W | 1.5-4 ft | Long-spurred yellow flowers; needs seep or streamside moisture |
| Arizona Milkweed | Asclepias angustifolia | F-P | A | 1-2 ft | Rare AZ borderlands native; narrow leaves, monarch host, toxic sap |
| Antelope Horns | Asclepias asperula | F-P | D-A | 8–24 in | Clustered pale flowers. Seed pods curve, look like horns. |
| Showy Milkweed | Asclepias speciosa | F-P | A-D | 2-4 ft | Monarch host plant; toxic sap; spreads by rhizome |
| Purple Aster | Aster bigelovii | F | D | 30 in | Lavender blossoms. Reseeds prolifically. |
| Desert Bahia | Bahia absinthifolia | F | D | 12 in | Yellow blossoms. |
| Woolly Desert Marigold | Baileya pleniradiata | F | A-D | 6–18 in | Toxic to sheep/goats; woolly gray foliage; yellow flowers most of year |
| Desert Mariposa Lily | Calochortus kennedyi | F | D | 4-20 in | Vivid orange-red desert bulb; dry summer rest, never dig wild bulbs |
| Desert Paintbrush | Castilleja angustifolia | F | A-D | 6-16 in | Root hemiparasite; needs host shrub/grass; don't dig from wild |
| Wholeleaf Indian Paintbrush | Castilleja integra | F | D-A | 0.5-1.5 ft | Hemiparasitic; plant near native bunchgrass host to establish |
| Scarlet Paintbrush | Castilleja miniata | F-P | A-D | 8-32 in | Root hemiparasite; needs grass/sedge host; don't dig from wild |
| Water Hemlock | Cicuta maculata | F-P | W | 3-6 ft | Extremely toxic; wetlands/ditches only, not for gardens |
| Miner's Lettuce | Claytonia perfoliata | P-S | A-W | 4-12 in | Shade groundcover; edible mild green; self-sows, dies back in summer |
| Atlantic Pigeonwings | Clitoria mariana | F-P | D | 1–2 ft | Twining vine; dry sandy/rocky soil; showy upright lavender flowers |
| Desert Spoon | Dasylirion wheeleri | F-P | D | 4 ft | Slow growth. |
| Sacred Datura | Datura wrightii | F-P | D | 1-5 ft | Huge night-blooming white flowers; all parts toxic; desert xeriscape |
| Carolina Larkspur | Delphinium carolinianum | F-P | A-D | 1-3 ft | Toxic to livestock & pets; blue flowers; dry, sharp drainage |
| Blue Dicks | Dichelostemma capitatum | F-P | D | 6 in–2 ft | Fire-follower spring bulb; dry summer dormancy required |
| Hoary Tansyaster | Dieteria canescens | F | D | 0.5-2 ft | Bushy gray-hairy wildflower; purple fall rays, very drought tolerant |
| California Fuchsia | Epilobium canum | F | D | 1-3 ft | Hummingbird magnet; scarlet fall flowers; needs sharp drainage |
| Showy Fleabane | Erigeron speciosus | S | A | 18 in | Semi-evergreen. |
| Wright Buckwheat | Eriogonum wrightii | F | D | 18 in | Blooms July - October. |
| California poppy | Eschscholzia californica | F | A-D | 8–24 in | Orange wildflower; self-sows; needs sharp drainage |
| Butterfly Mist | Eupatorium greggii | F-P | A | 18 in | Attracts butterflies. |
| Red Dome Blanketflower | Gaillardia pinnatifida | F | D | 8-22 in | Long-blooming SW native; thin rocky/gypsum soils; low water |
| Sweet-scented Bedstraw | Galium triflorum | P-S | A | 6-24 in trailing groundcover | Fragrant shade groundcover for rich, consistently moist soil |
| Northern Gentian | Gentianella amarella | F-P | W-A | 4–16 in | Fringed purple autumn flowers; wet mountain meadows & fens |
| Desert Sunflower | Geraea canescens | F | D | 8–24 in | Mojave/Sonoran annual; gold daisy blooms; drives superblooms |
| Richardson's Geranium | Geranium richardsonii | P | A | 1–3 ft | White purple-veined flowers; aspen groves & moist mountain meadows |
| Globe Gilia | Gilia capitata | F-P | D-A | 4 in–3 ft | Round blue flower heads; sandy/rocky soil; self-sows from seed |
| Goodding's Verbena | Glandularia gooddingii | F | D | 6-12 in | Spreading desert wildflower, long bloom, very low water |
| Snakeweed | Guttierrizia sarothrae | F | D | 18 in | Good groundcover. Yellow blossoms. Tough plant. |
| Cow parsnip | Heracleum maximum | F-P | A-W | 4-8 ft | Striking wildflower; sap is phototoxic, causes skin burns in sun |
| Camphorweed | Heterotheca subaxillaris | F | D | 5 ft | Yellow/orange blossoms. Grows well in disturbed areas. |
| Burroweed | Isocoma tenuisecta | F | D | 1–3 ft | Toxic to livestock (tremetol); overgrazing indicator |
| Tall Blue Lettuce | Lactuca biennis | F-P | A-W | 3–8 ft | Biennial; milky sap can irritate skin |
| Twinflower | Linnaea borealis | P-S | A-W | 2-4 in | Evergreen groundcover for cool, acidic, shaded sites; slow to spread |
| Blue Flax | Linum lewisii | F | D | 24 in | Vase-shaped with light blue blossoms. |
| Coulter's Lupine | Lupinus sparsiflorus | F | D | 4–16 in | Desert annual; mass-blooms in wet winters, toxic if eaten |
| Starry False Lily | Maianthemum stellatum | P-S | A-D | 8-18 in | Rhizomatous woodland groundcover; starry flowers; berries inedible |
| Snapdragon-vine | Maurandya antirrhiniflora | F-P | D | 10 ft | Beautiful blossoming vine. Does well in hanging baskets. |
| Blackfoot Daisy | Melampodium leucanthum | F-P | D | 8 in | Attractive to bees, butterflies, birds. Resistant to deer. |
| American Wild Mint | Mentha arvensis | F-P | W-A | 6in-2ft | Native wetland mint; spreads by rhizome; flowers at leaf joints |
| Mountain Bluebells | Mertensia ciliata | P-F | W | 1–4 ft | Streamside wildflower; pink buds open sky blue |
| Lemon Beebalm | Monarda citriodora | F-P | A-D | 1-2.5 ft | Aromatic annual wildflower; reseeds freely; magnet for native bees |
| Spotted Beebalm | Monarda punctata | F | D | 1-3 ft | Thyme-scented; purple-spotted flowers draw wasps and bees |
| Bigelow Nolina | Nolina bigelovii | F | D | 8 ft | Requires well-drained soils. |
| Tufted Evening Primrose | Oenothera caespitosa | F | A | 12 in | Showy flower. |
| Scarlet Beeblossom | Oenothera suffrutescens | F | D | 1–3 ft | Full sun, dry soil; moths pollinate; spreads by rhizomes |
| Penstemon | Penstemon spp. | F | A | to 36 in | Wide variety of flower colors. Attract bees, hummingbirds. |
| Distant phacelia | Phacelia distans | F-P | D | 6-32 in | SW desert annual; valuable for pollinators; mild skin irritant |
| Texas Frogfruit | Phyla nodiflora | F-P | W-D | 2-6 in, spreading 3+ ft | Mat-forming lawn alternative; butterfly host; tolerates mowing |
| Violet Ruellia | Ruellia nudiflora | S | A | 12 in | Long, tubular, funnel-shaped flowers. |
| Lindheimer Senna | Senna lindheimeriana | F-P | D | 5 ft | Yellow flowers, soft green leaves. Resistant to deer. |
| Tall Goldenrod | Solidago altissima | F-P | A-D | 3–7 ft | Spreads by rhizome; vital late-season pollinator nectar source |
| Goldenrod | Solidago Sparsiflora | P | D | 6 ft | Yellow blossoms. |
| Globe Mallow | Spharalcea ambigua | F | D | 36 in | Short-lived, reseeds. |
| Banana Yucca | Yucca baccata | F | D | 4 ft | Very tough plant. |
| Soaptree Yucca | Yucca elata | F | D | 15 ft | NM state flower. Light shade ok. Don't cut dead leaves. |
| Prairie Zinnia | Zinnia grandiflora | F | D | 6 in | Yellow blossoms. |
Arizona and New Mexico Grasses
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sand Bluestem | Andropogon hallii | F | D-A | 3-7 ft | Rhizomatous dune grass; blue summer stems, bronze fall color |
| Silver Beard Grass | Andropogon saccharoides | F-P | D | 24 in | Attractive to wildlife. Self-seeds freely. |
| Purple Threeawn | Aristida purpurea | P | D | 12 in | Purplish-hued bunchgrass. Good fill-in grass. |
| Sideoats Grama | Bouteloua curtipendula | F-P | D | 24 in | Reseeds easily. High forage value. |
| Black Grama | Bouteloua eriopoda | F | D | 4–12 in (culms to 20 in) | Slow-spreading desert bunchgrass; needs sharp drainage, full sun |
| Blue Grama | Bouteloua gracilis | F-P | D | 18 in | Good erosion control. Great for tortoises. |
| Hairy Grama | Bouteloua hirsuta | F-P | D | 24 in | Does well at lower elevations. |
| California Brome Grass | Bromus carinatus | F-P | A-D | 1.5-5 ft | Fast-establishing native bunchgrass; good for erosion control |
| Fox sedge | Carex vulpinoidea | F-P | A-W | 1–3 ft | Sunny wet meadow sedge; bristly brown spikes; rain gardens, pond edges |
| California Oatgrass | Danthonia californica | F-P | A-D | 1-3 ft | Cool-season bunchgrass for meadows and prairie restoration |
| Slender Hairgrass | Deschampsia elongata | P | A | 30 in | Blossoms in fall. |
| Arizona Cottontop | Digitaria californica | F | D | 36 in | Blooms late summer to fall. Tortoise grass. |
| Salt Grass | Distichlis stricta | F | A | 12 in | Salt tolerant. Good greywater plant. |
| Bottlebrush Squirreltail | Elymus elymoides | P | A | 18 in | Requires more water & shade a lower elevations. |
| Brittlebrush | Encelia farinose | F | D | 36 in | Yellow flowers. Vulnerable to overwatering. |
| Arizona Fescue | Festuca arizonica | F-P | D | 2–4 ft | Fine blades. High forage value. |
| Pili Grass | Heteropogon contortus | F | D | 1-3 ft | Native bunchgrass of HI & SW deserts; twisted awns; not native in FL |
| Curly Mesquite | Hilaria belangeri | F | D | 6 in | Short sod grass. Prefers loamy soils. |
| June Grass | Koeleria micrantha | P | A | 12 in | High forage value. Larger at higher elevations. |
| Arizona Muhly | Muhlenbergia arizonica | F-P | A-D | 6-20 in | Rare SE AZ/SW NM canyon grass; long hair-thin awns; rocky soil |
| Mountain Muhly | Muhlenbergia montana | F | A-D | 1-3 ft | Key ponderosa pine forage grass; deep roots; needs sharp drainage |
| Bush-muhly | Muhlenbergia porteri | F | D | 36 in | Purplish. High forage value. Great for tortoises. |
| Deergrass | Muhlenbergia rigens | F | A-D | 3-5 ft | Classic basketry grass; fountain form, tough and low-water |
| Spike Muhly | Muhlenbergia wrightii | F | A-D | 6 in-2 ft | Slow-establishing bunchgrass; tolerates alkaline/caliche soil |
| Beargrass | Nolina microcarpa | F-P | D | 5 ft | Handsome flowering clumps. |
| Vine Mesquite | Panicum obtusum | F-P | A-D | 12 in | Low, spreading grass. |
| Switchgrass | Panicum virgatum | F-P | A | 3–5 ft | Large bunchgrass. |
| Indian Grass | Sorghastrum nutens | P | A | 36 in | Large bunchgrass. |
| Alkali Sacaton | Sporobolus airoides | F | D | 24 in | Small bunchgrass. |
| Sand Dropseed | Sporobolus cryptandrus | F | D | 2–5 ft | Prefers well-drained soil. |
Arizona and New Mexico Cacti
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lechuguilla | Agave lechuguilla | F | D | 1-2 ft | Spiny Chihuahuan Desert agave; flowers once, then dies |
| Saguaro | Carnegiea gigantea | F | D | 40-60' | AZ state wildflower; white night blooms May-June; very slow growing |
| Teddy Bear Cholla | Cylindropuntia bigelovii | F | D | 1.5-5 ft | Spiny; detachable joints; keep away from paths/pets |
| Jumping Cholla / Chainfruit Cholla | Cylindropuntia fulgida | F | D | 3-10 ft | Sonoran Desert cactus tree; barbed spines; keep away from paths/pets |
| Hedgehog Cactus | Echinocereus engelmannii | F | D | 2' | Magenta flowers. |
| California Barrel Cactus | Ferocactus cylindraceus | F | D | 2–6 ft | Mojave/Sonoran barrel cactus, red spines. Protected, no collecting. |
| Fishhook Barrel | Ferocactus wislizeni | F | D | 6' | Reddish orange flowers. Needs very little water. |
| Organ Pipe Cactus | Stenocereus thurberi | F | D | 12-20 ft | Protected AZ native; cold-tender; buy nursery stock only |
| Sun Exposure | Soil Moisture | Drought Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| F = Full Sun | W = Wet | E = Excellent |
| P = Part Sun | A = Average | G = Good |
| S = Shade | D = Dry | M = Moderate |
| P = Poor |
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