Guide to Desert Plants
For more plant information, please see the
Guide to Desert Plants Part 2
This section is under construction. New entries will be added as time permits.
Please send names and/or pictures of desert plants you suggest should be included. Also, please point out any corrections that may be needed.
Send these to davidwieg@aol.com
Golden Barrel Cactus
Echinocatus grusonii
Variegated Caribbean Agave
Agave Angustifolia
Bishop’s Cap
Astrophytum Myriostigma
Thorn Crested Agave
Agave Lophantha Splendida
Yellow Variegated Agave
Agave americana var. marginata
Artichoke Agave
Agave Parryi
Medicinal Aloe or Aloe Vera
Aloe barbadensis or Aloe vera
Bunny Ears Cactus
Opuntia microdasys var. pallida
Peruvian Apple Cactus
Cereus peruvianus
Scarlet or Arizona Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus coccineus
Mexican Fan Palm
Washingtonia robusta
Golden Torch
Echinopsis spachiana
Hedgehog (violet flower) Cactus
Echinocereus brandegeei
Mediterranean Fan Palm
Chamaerops humilis
Jacob’s staff or Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens
Paper Spine Cactus
Tephrocactus articulatus var. papyracanthus
Firestick or Pencil Cactus
Euphorbia tirucalli
Peruvian Old Man Cactus
Cephalocereus Senilis
Chenille Prickly Pear Cactus
Opuntia aciculata var. orbiculata
Purple Prickly Pear Cactus
Opuntia santarita
Oleander
Nerium oleander
Cape Honeysuckle
Tecoma capensis
Fishhook, Arizona, Compass, or Candy Barrel Cactus
Ferocactus wislizeni
Red Ice Plant
Malephora crocea
Chalk Fingers or Finger Aloe
Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga
Cactus Apple or Engelmann Prickly Pear Cactus
Opuntia engelmannii
Opuntia Polyacantha var. Grapes Ranch Cactus
Opuntia Polyacantha var. Grapes Ranch
Dwarf Papyrus or Umbrella Plant
Cyperus papyrus
Indian Fig Prickly Pear Cactus
Opuntia ficus-indica
Boxing Glove Cholla
Cylindropuntia fulgida var. mamillata
Totem Pole Cactus
Pachycereus Schottii Monstrosus
Crown of Thorns
Euphorbia milii
Slipper Plant or Lady Slipper
Pedilanthus macrocarpus or Euphorbia lomelii
Arizona Water Willow or Red Justicia
Justicia candicans
Dragon Fish Bone Cactus
Euphorbia grandialata
Century Plant or Blue Steel Agave
Agave americana
Variegated Smooth Agave
Agave desmettiana variegata
White Striped Century Plant
Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’
Beavertail Prickly Pear Cactus
Opuntaria basilaris
Cow’s Tongue Prickly Pear Cactus
Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis
Jumping or Teddy Bear Cholla
Opuntia bigelovii
Little John Bottlebrush
Callistemon viminalis ‘Little John’
Spruce Cone Cactus or Cholla
Tephrocactus articulatus var. diadematus
Argentine Giant
Echinopsis candicans
Red and Yellow Yucca
Hesperaloe-parviflora
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea spectabilis
Cinnamon Bunny Ears Cactus
Opuntia microdasys subsp. rufida
Curiosity Plant or Monstrose Apple Cactus
Cereus peruvianus monstrosus
Joshua Tree
Yucca brevifolia
Lantana
Lantana camara
Purple Trailing Lantana
Lantana montevidensis
Sago Palm
Cycas revoluta
Saguaro
Carnegiea gigantea
Black Spined Agave
Agave macroacantha
Purple Heart or Purple Heart Wandering Jew
Tradescantia Pallida
African Milk Plant
Euphorbia trigona
Snow Prickly Pear Cactus
Opuntia ercinacea ursine
Shin Dagger Agave
Agave lechuguilla
Smooth Agave
Agave Desmettiana
Candeiilla
Euphorbia Antisyphilitica
Grizzly Bear Prickly Pear Cactus
Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea
Aloe Lateritia
Aloe lateritia
Candelabra Aloe
Aloe Arborescens
Fiesta Prickly Pear Cactus
Opuntia ‘Fiesta’
Mammillaria albilanata
Mammillaria albilanata
Mexican Fence Post
Pachycereus marginatus
Mojave Prickly Pear Cactus
Opuntia phaeacantha var. mojavensis
Warm Hand Cactus or Variegated Prickly Pear
Opuntia cochenillifera f. variegata or Nopalea cochenillifera f. variegata
Phoenix Palm or True Date Palm
Phoenix dactylifera
Diploid Purple Prickly Pear or Coyotillo
Opuntia azurea var. diplopurpurea
Moroccan Mound
Euphorbia resinifera
Desert Spoon
Dasylirion wheeleri
Bismarck Palm
Bismarckia nobilis
Desert Bluebells or Desertbells
Phacelia campanularia ssp. vasiformis
Texas Sage
Leucophyllum
Sullu Spurge
Royleana Euphorbia
Queen Victoria Agave
Agave victoriae-reginae
Echinopsis tubiflora or RUSSIAN (Русский)
Echinopsis tubiflora
Organ Pipe Cactus
Stenocereus thurberi
Whisker or Senita cactus
Pachycereus schottii
Easter Lily Cactus
Echinopsis oxygona
Murphy’s or Hohokam Agave
Agave murpheyi
Agave Ferox
Agave salmiana var. ferox
Arizona Yellow Bells
