Plants of Big Bend National Park
The plants most often spotted in Big Bend, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
30,095
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants
Naturalists have logged 30,095 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Big Bend. The most frequently seen is the ocotillo, with 1,714 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
1,714 observations
strawberry hedgehog cactus
Echinocereus stramineus
1,470 observations · iNaturalist
Havard's Century Plant
Agave havardiana
1,292 observations · iNaturalist
Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
1,221 observations
Strawberry Cactus
Echinocereus enneacanthus
1,198 observations · iNaturalist
Russet Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus russanthus
1,087 observations · iNaturalist
scarlet hedgehog cactus
Echinocereus coccineus
1,075 observations
lechuguilla
Agave lechuguilla
1,062 observations
Texas lignum-vitae
Guaiacum angustifolium
1,050 observations · iNaturalist
Devilshead
Echinocactus horizonthalonius
1,029 observations · iNaturalist
Texas rainbow cactus
Echinocereus dasyacanthus
937 observations
tree cholla
Cylindropuntia imbricata
887 observations
Blind Pricklypear
Opuntia rufida
719 observations
Texas madrone
Arbutus xalapensis
686 observations · iNaturalist
Turk's Head
Hamatocactus hamatacanthus
683 observations · iNaturalist
evergreen sumac
Rhus virens
665 observations · iNaturalist
Christmas cholla
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
612 observations · iNaturalist
Torrey's Yucca
Yucca torreyi
583 observations
little nipple cactus
Mammillaria meiacantha
520 observations · iNaturalist
Weeping Juniper
Juniperus flaccida
507 observations · iNaturalist
tree tobacco
Nicotiana glauca
499 observations · iNaturalist
Purple Pricklypear
Opuntia azurea
499 observations · iNaturalist
Texas False Agave
Hechtia texensis
463 observations · iNaturalist
Big Bend Club-cholla
Grusonia aggeria
458 observations · iNaturalist
Chisos Red Oak
Quercus gravesii
451 observations · iNaturalist
Mexican palo verde
Parkinsonia aculeata
447 observations
firecrackerbush
Bouvardia ternifolia
444 observations · iNaturalist
Leatherstem
Jatropha dioica
441 observations · iNaturalist
narrowleaf globemallow
Sphaeralcea angustifolia
426 observations · iNaturalist
Mexican buckeye
Ungnadia speciosa
425 observations · iNaturalist
candelilla
Euphorbia antisyphilitica
424 observations · iNaturalist
Texas Persimmon
Diospyros texana
420 observations · iNaturalist
Mexican pinyon
Pinus cembroides
402 observations · iNaturalist
Whitecolumn Foxtail Cactus
Escobaria tuberculosa
398 observations · iNaturalist
Big Bend Bluebonnet
Lupinus havardii
389 observations
cenizo
Leucophyllum frutescens
351 observations · iNaturalist
Smooth Sotol
Dasylirion leiophyllum
351 observations
Yellow Stingbush
Eucnide bartonioides
348 observations · iNaturalist
alligator juniper
Juniperus deppeana
344 observations · iNaturalist
Warnock's Cactus
Echinomastus warnockii
332 observations · iNaturalist
yellow trumpet flower
Tecoma stans
331 observations · iNaturalist
Bicolor Fanmustard
Nerisyrenia camporum
331 observations · iNaturalist
giant reed
Arundo donax
279 observations · iNaturalist
resurrection plant
Selaginella lepidophylla
278 observations · iNaturalist
little leaf sumac
Rhus microphylla
269 observations · iNaturalist
Chautle Livingrock
Ariocarpus fissuratus
265 observations
desert willow
Chilopsis linearis
264 observations · iNaturalist
Emory oak
Quercus emoryi
264 observations
gray oak
Quercus grisea
255 observations · iNaturalist
silverleaf nightshade
Solanum elaeagnifolium
250 observations · iNaturalist
Plants in nearby places
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