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Plants of Arizona

The plants most often spotted in Arizona, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

396,526
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 396,526 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Arizona. The most frequently seen is the Saguaro, with 55,290 recorded sightings.

Most-observed plants in Arizona

Saguaro
Carnegiea gigantea
55,290 observations
Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
35,027 observations
Fishhook Barrel Cactus
Ferocactus wislizeni
20,345 observations
Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus engelmannii
19,836 observations
Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens
19,590 observations
Brittlebush
Encelia farinosa
14,104 observations · iNaturalist
Buckhorn Cholla
Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa
11,519 observations · iNaturalist
Chain-fruit Cholla
Cylindropuntia fulgida
11,271 observations
Graham's Nipple Cactus
Cochemiea grahamii
11,264 observations · iNaturalist
California Barrel Cactus
Ferocactus cylindraceus
10,749 observations
Stinknet
Oncosiphon pilulifer
8,799 observations · iNaturalist
Soaptree Yucca
Yucca elata
8,107 observations
Southwestern Ponderosa Pine
Pinus brachyptera
7,414 observations · iNaturalist
Teddybear Cholla
Cylindropuntia bigelovii
7,138 observations
Little-leaved Palo Verde
Parkinsonia microphylla
6,801 observations · iNaturalist
Silverleaf Nightshade
Solanum elaeagnifolium
6,264 observations · iNaturalist
California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
5,996 observations
Desert Ironwood
Olneya tesota
5,574 observations · iNaturalist
Sacred Datura
Datura wrightii
5,531 observations
Jojoba
Simmondsia chinensis
5,479 observations · iNaturalist
Banana Yucca
Yucca baccata
5,223 observations
Tree Cholla
Cylindropuntia imbricata
5,220 observations
Triangle-leaf Bursage
Ambrosia deltoidea
5,168 observations · iNaturalist
Velvet Mesquite
Neltuma velutina
4,921 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Broom
Baccharis sarothroides
4,828 observations · iNaturalist
Palmer's Agave
Agave palmeri
4,612 observations · iNaturalist
Christmas Cholla
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
4,557 observations · iNaturalist
Blue Dicks
Dipterostemon capitatus
4,508 observations · iNaturalist
Pointleaf Manzanita
Arctostaphylos pungens
4,378 observations · iNaturalist
Coulter's Lupine
Lupinus sparsiflorus
4,231 observations · iNaturalist
Coues' Senna
Senna covesii
4,185 observations · iNaturalist
Wheeler Sotol
Dasylirion wheeleri
4,163 observations
Catclaw Acacia
Senegalia greggii
4,077 observations · iNaturalist
Arizona Sycamore
Platanus wrightii
3,977 observations · iNaturalist
Beavertail Pricklypear
Opuntia basilaris
3,966 observations
Mesquite Mistletoe
Phoradendron californicum
3,966 observations · iNaturalist
Gambel Oak
Quercus gambelii
3,944 observations
Pink Fairy-duster
Calliandra eriophylla
3,889 observations · iNaturalist
Frémont Cottonwood
Populus fremontii
3,776 observations
Engelmann's Pricklypear
Opuntia engelmannii
3,759 observations
Big Bursage
Ambrosia ambrosioides
3,597 observations · iNaturalist
Great Mullein
Verbascum thapsus
3,518 observations
Baker Kingcup Cactus
Echinocereus bakeri
3,484 observations · iNaturalist
Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus rigidissimus
3,444 observations · iNaturalist
Spinystar
Escobaria vivipara
3,440 observations
Desert Marigold
Baileya multiradiata
3,250 observations · iNaturalist
Alligator Juniper
Juniperus deppeana
3,189 observations · iNaturalist
Trailing Windmills
Allionia incarnata
3,168 observations · iNaturalist
Spiny Hackberry
Celtis pallida
3,116 observations · iNaturalist
Blue Palo Verde
Parkinsonia florida
2,874 observations · iNaturalist

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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