Plants of Big Bend National Park
The plants most often spotted in Big Bend, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
29,159
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants
Naturalists have logged 29,159 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Big Bend. The most frequently seen is the ocotillo, with 1,660 recorded sightings.
Rarer finds confirmed in Big Bend include Big Bend Bluebonnet and Living Rock Cactus - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.
Most-observed plants in Big Bend
ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens
1,660 observations
strawberry hedgehog cactus
Echinocereus stramineus
1,389 observations · iNaturalist
Havard's Century Plant
Agave havardiana
1,284 observations · iNaturalist
Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
1,198 observations
Strawberry Cactus
Echinocereus enneacanthus
1,152 observations · iNaturalist
scarlet hedgehog cactus
Echinocereus coccineus
1,065 observations
Russet Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus russanthus
1,043 observations · iNaturalist
lechuguilla
Agave lechuguilla
1,022 observations
Texas lignum-vitae
Guaiacum angustifolium
1,010 observations · iNaturalist
Devilshead
Echinocactus horizonthalonius
965 observations · iNaturalist
Texas rainbow cactus
Echinocereus dasyacanthus
884 observations
tree cholla
Cylindropuntia imbricata
872 observations
Blind Pricklypear
Opuntia rufida
692 observations
Texas madrone
Arbutus xalapensis
676 observations · iNaturalist
evergreen sumac
Rhus virens
649 observations · iNaturalist
Turk's Head
Hamatocactus hamatacanthus
632 observations · iNaturalist
Christmas cholla
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
588 observations · iNaturalist
Torrey's Yucca
Yucca torreyi
569 observations
little nipple cactus
Mammillaria meiacantha
515 observations · iNaturalist
Weeping Juniper
Juniperus flaccida
497 observations · iNaturalist
Purple Pricklypear
Opuntia azurea
482 observations · iNaturalist
tree tobacco
Nicotiana glauca
474 observations · iNaturalist
Texas False Agave
Hechtia texensis
460 observations · iNaturalist
Chisos Red Oak
Quercus gravesii
445 observations · iNaturalist
firecrackerbush
Bouvardia ternifolia
440 observations · iNaturalist
Mexican palo verde
Parkinsonia aculeata
436 observations
Big Bend Club-cholla
Grusonia aggeria
427 observations · iNaturalist
narrowleaf globemallow
Sphaeralcea angustifolia
418 observations · iNaturalist
candelilla
Euphorbia antisyphilitica
418 observations · iNaturalist
Leatherstem
Jatropha dioica
418 observations · iNaturalist
Mexican buckeye
Ungnadia speciosa
415 observations · iNaturalist
Texas Persimmon
Diospyros texana
409 observations · iNaturalist
Mexican pinyon
Pinus cembroides
400 observations · iNaturalist
Big Bend Bluebonnet
Lupinus havardii
388 observations
Whitecolumn Foxtail Cactus
Escobaria tuberculosa
375 observations · iNaturalist
Yellow Stingbush
Eucnide bartonioides
348 observations · iNaturalist
cenizo
Leucophyllum frutescens
347 observations · iNaturalist
Smooth Sotol
Dasylirion leiophyllum
343 observations
alligator juniper
Juniperus deppeana
341 observations · iNaturalist
Bicolor Fanmustard
Nerisyrenia camporum
327 observations · iNaturalist
yellow trumpet flower
Tecoma stans
325 observations · iNaturalist
Warnock's Cactus
Echinomastus warnockii
300 observations · iNaturalist
giant reed
Arundo donax
274 observations · iNaturalist
resurrection plant
Selaginella lepidophylla
267 observations · iNaturalist
little leaf sumac
Rhus microphylla
262 observations · iNaturalist
Emory oak
Quercus emoryi
256 observations
Chautle Livingrock
Ariocarpus fissuratus
255 observations
desert willow
Chilopsis linearis
251 observations · iNaturalist
gray oak
Quercus grisea
250 observations · iNaturalist
honey mesquite
Neltuma glandulosa
246 observations · iNaturalist
Plants in nearby places
Out spotting plants in Big Bend?
Take Huck with you. Identify any plant you find in seconds and build your collection.
Get HuckLove plants? Get Huck field notes
Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.