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
Argentine Hedgehog or Red Torch Cactus
Echinopsis huascha
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
Crow’s Claw or Devil’s Tongue Barrel Cactus
Fiesta Prickly Pear Cactus
Opuntia ‘Fiesta’
Mammillaria albilanata
Mammillaria albilanata
Mexican Fence Post
Pachycereus marginatus
Mojave Prickly Pear Cactus
Opuntia phaeacantha var. mojavensis
Funny Bunny or Crested Bunny Ears
Opuntia microdasys var. pallida f. cristata
Crown Cactus
Rebutia tarvitaensis
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
Tecoma stans