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Plants of Tucson, AZ

The plants most often spotted near Tucson, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

108,953
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 108,953 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near Tucson. The most frequently seen is the Saguaro, with 20,185 recorded sightings.

Most-observed plants near Tucson

Saguaro
Carnegiea gigantea
20,185 observations
Fishhook Barrel Cactus
Ferocactus wislizeni
9,011 observations
Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
7,854 observations
Chain-fruit Cholla
Cylindropuntia fulgida
6,201 observations
Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens
6,050 observations
Graham's Nipple Cactus
Cochemiea grahamii
4,770 observations · iNaturalist
Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus engelmannii
3,978 observations
Brittlebush
Encelia farinosa
3,131 observations · iNaturalist
Little-leaved Palo Verde
Parkinsonia microphylla
2,799 observations · iNaturalist
Thurber's Cholla
Cylindropuntia thurberi
2,241 observations · iNaturalist
Christmas Cholla
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
2,061 observations · iNaturalist
Jojoba
Simmondsia chinensis
1,868 observations · iNaturalist
Pink Fairy-duster
Calliandra eriophylla
1,724 observations · iNaturalist
Teddybear Cholla
Cylindropuntia bigelovii
1,572 observations
Spiny Hackberry
Celtis pallida
1,523 observations · iNaturalist
Velvet Mesquite
Neltuma velutina
1,462 observations · iNaturalist
Big Bursage
Ambrosia ambrosioides
1,372 observations · iNaturalist
Mesquite Mistletoe
Phoradendron californicum
1,342 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Ironwood
Olneya tesota
1,293 observations · iNaturalist
Engelmann's Pricklypear
Opuntia engelmannii
1,286 observations
Coues' Senna
Senna covesii
1,283 observations · iNaturalist
California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
1,235 observations
Desert Broom
Baccharis sarothroides
1,225 observations · iNaturalist
Blue Dicks
Dipterostemon capitatus
1,128 observations · iNaturalist
Parry's Beardtongue
Penstemon parryi
1,094 observations
Tree Cholla
Cylindropuntia imbricata
1,074 observations
Desert Zinnia
Zinnia acerosa
1,067 observations · iNaturalist
Triangle-leaf Bursage
Ambrosia deltoidea
1,066 observations · iNaturalist
London Rocket
Sisymbrium irio
1,040 observations · iNaturalist
Wheeler Sotol
Dasylirion wheeleri
1,032 observations
Trailing Windmills
Allionia incarnata
989 observations · iNaturalist
Blue Palo Verde
Parkinsonia florida
973 observations · iNaturalist
Sacred Datura
Datura wrightii
953 observations
Slender Janusia
Janusia gracilis
864 observations · iNaturalist
Lyreleaf Jewelflower
Streptanthus carinatus
861 observations · iNaturalist
Coulter's Lupine
Lupinus sparsiflorus
858 observations · iNaturalist
Soaptree Yucca
Yucca elata
816 observations
Whitethorn Acacia
Vachellia constricta
809 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Cotton
Gossypium thurberi
806 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Tobacco
Nicotiana obtusifolia
790 observations · iNaturalist
Catclaw Acacia
Senegalia greggii
771 observations · iNaturalist
Buffelgrass
Cenchrus ciliaris
763 observations · iNaturalist
Arizona Pencil Cholla
Cylindropuntia arbuscula
763 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Chicory
Rafinesquia neomexicana
757 observations · iNaturalist
Arizona Poppy
Kallstroemia grandiflora
757 observations · iNaturalist
Buckhorn Cholla
Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa
724 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Thorn-apple
Datura discolor
688 observations · iNaturalist
American Threefold
Trixis californica
684 observations · iNaturalist
Arizona Spikemoss
Selaginella arizonica
680 observations · iNaturalist
Graythorn
Condaliopsis divaricata
680 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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