Plants of Big Bend National Park
The plants most often spotted in Big Bend, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
29,064
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants
Naturalists have logged 29,064 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Big Bend. The most frequently seen is the ocotillo, with 1,657 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
1,657 observations
strawberry hedgehog cactus
Echinocereus stramineus
1,384 observations · iNaturalist
Havard's Century Plant
Agave havardiana
1,282 observations · iNaturalist
Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
1,192 observations
Strawberry Cactus
Echinocereus enneacanthus
1,152 observations · iNaturalist
scarlet hedgehog cactus
Echinocereus coccineus
1,063 observations
Russet Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus russanthus
1,038 observations · iNaturalist
lechuguilla
Agave lechuguilla
1,016 observations
Texas lignum-vitae
Guaiacum angustifolium
1,004 observations · iNaturalist
Devilshead
Echinocactus horizonthalonius
963 observations · iNaturalist
Texas rainbow cactus
Echinocereus dasyacanthus
885 observations
tree cholla
Cylindropuntia imbricata
870 observations
Blind Pricklypear
Opuntia rufida
688 observations
Texas madrone
Arbutus xalapensis
675 observations · iNaturalist
evergreen sumac
Rhus virens
646 observations · iNaturalist
Turk's Head
Hamatocactus hamatacanthus
634 observations · iNaturalist
Christmas cholla
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
586 observations · iNaturalist
Torrey's Yucca
Yucca torreyi
563 observations
little nipple cactus
Mammillaria meiacantha
515 observations · iNaturalist
Weeping Juniper
Juniperus flaccida
493 observations · iNaturalist
Purple Pricklypear
Opuntia azurea
482 observations · iNaturalist
tree tobacco
Nicotiana glauca
470 observations · iNaturalist
Texas False Agave
Hechtia texensis
457 observations · iNaturalist
Chisos Red Oak
Quercus gravesii
445 observations · iNaturalist
firecrackerbush
Bouvardia ternifolia
435 observations · iNaturalist
Mexican palo verde
Parkinsonia aculeata
433 observations
Big Bend Club-cholla
Grusonia aggeria
430 observations · iNaturalist
Leatherstem
Jatropha dioica
418 observations · iNaturalist
narrowleaf globemallow
Sphaeralcea angustifolia
417 observations · iNaturalist
candelilla
Euphorbia antisyphilitica
417 observations · iNaturalist
Mexican buckeye
Ungnadia speciosa
414 observations · iNaturalist
Texas Persimmon
Diospyros texana
408 observations · iNaturalist
Mexican pinyon
Pinus cembroides
400 observations · iNaturalist
Big Bend Bluebonnet
Lupinus havardii
387 observations
Whitecolumn Foxtail Cactus
Escobaria tuberculosa
377 observations · iNaturalist
Yellow Stingbush
Eucnide bartonioides
348 observations · iNaturalist
cenizo
Leucophyllum frutescens
346 observations · iNaturalist
Smooth Sotol
Dasylirion leiophyllum
342 observations
alligator juniper
Juniperus deppeana
341 observations · iNaturalist
Bicolor Fanmustard
Nerisyrenia camporum
328 observations · iNaturalist
yellow trumpet flower
Tecoma stans
322 observations · iNaturalist
Warnock's Cactus
Echinomastus warnockii
296 observations · iNaturalist
giant reed
Arundo donax
273 observations · iNaturalist
resurrection plant
Selaginella lepidophylla
267 observations · iNaturalist
little leaf sumac
Rhus microphylla
259 observations · iNaturalist
Emory oak
Quercus emoryi
256 observations
gray oak
Quercus grisea
250 observations · iNaturalist
Chautle Livingrock
Ariocarpus fissuratus
249 observations
desert willow
Chilopsis linearis
248 observations · iNaturalist
honey mesquite
Neltuma glandulosa
243 observations · iNaturalist
Plants in nearby places
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