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Plants of Arizona

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

398,043
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 398,043 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Arizona. The most frequently seen is the Saguaro, with 55,353 recorded sightings.

Most-observed plants in Arizona

Saguaro
Carnegiea gigantea
55,353 observations
Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
35,107 observations
Fishhook Barrel Cactus
Ferocactus wislizeni
20,389 observations
Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus engelmannii
19,881 observations
Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens
19,574 observations
Brittlebush
Encelia farinosa
14,126 observations · iNaturalist
Buckhorn Cholla
Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa
11,572 observations · iNaturalist
Graham's Nipple Cactus
Cochemiea grahamii
11,316 observations · iNaturalist
Chain-fruit Cholla
Cylindropuntia fulgida
11,289 observations
California Barrel Cactus
Ferocactus cylindraceus
10,800 observations
Stinknet
Oncosiphon pilulifer
8,809 observations · iNaturalist
Soaptree Yucca
Yucca elata
8,288 observations
Southwestern Ponderosa Pine
Pinus brachyptera
7,433 observations · iNaturalist
Teddybear Cholla
Cylindropuntia bigelovii
7,166 observations
Little-leaved Palo Verde
Parkinsonia microphylla
6,806 observations · iNaturalist
Silverleaf Nightshade
Solanum elaeagnifolium
6,285 observations · iNaturalist
California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
6,002 observations
Sacred Datura
Datura wrightii
5,562 observations
Desert Ironwood
Olneya tesota
5,557 observations · iNaturalist
Jojoba
Simmondsia chinensis
5,487 observations · iNaturalist
Banana Yucca
Yucca baccata
5,244 observations
Tree Cholla
Cylindropuntia imbricata
5,227 observations
Triangle-leaf Bursage
Ambrosia deltoidea
5,175 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Broom
Baccharis sarothroides
4,996 observations · iNaturalist
Velvet Mesquite
Neltuma velutina
4,927 observations · iNaturalist
Palmer's Agave
Agave palmeri
4,696 observations · iNaturalist
Christmas Cholla
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
4,570 observations · iNaturalist
Blue Dicks
Dipterostemon capitatus
4,512 observations · iNaturalist
Pointleaf Manzanita
Arctostaphylos pungens
4,389 observations · iNaturalist
Coulter's Lupine
Lupinus sparsiflorus
4,232 observations · iNaturalist
Coues' Senna
Senna covesii
4,207 observations · iNaturalist
Wheeler Sotol
Dasylirion wheeleri
4,168 observations
Catclaw Acacia
Senegalia greggii
4,087 observations · iNaturalist
Arizona Sycamore
Platanus wrightii
4,046 observations · iNaturalist
Gambel Oak
Quercus gambelii
4,008 observations
Beavertail Pricklypear
Opuntia basilaris
3,988 observations
Mesquite Mistletoe
Phoradendron californicum
3,971 observations · iNaturalist
Frémont Cottonwood
Populus fremontii
3,930 observations
Pink Fairy-duster
Calliandra eriophylla
3,902 observations · iNaturalist
Engelmann's Pricklypear
Opuntia engelmannii
3,765 observations
Big Bursage
Ambrosia ambrosioides
3,607 observations · iNaturalist
Great Mullein
Verbascum thapsus
3,528 observations
Baker Kingcup Cactus
Echinocereus bakeri
3,498 observations · iNaturalist
Spinystar
Escobaria vivipara
3,463 observations
Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus rigidissimus
3,453 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Marigold
Baileya multiradiata
3,261 observations · iNaturalist
Alligator Juniper
Juniperus deppeana
3,200 observations · iNaturalist
Trailing Windmills
Allionia incarnata
3,189 observations · iNaturalist
Spiny Hackberry
Celtis pallida
3,126 observations · iNaturalist
Blue Palo Verde
Parkinsonia florida
2,876 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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