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Plants of Tucson, AZ

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

108,556
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 108,556 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near Tucson. The most frequently seen is the Saguaro, with 20,150 recorded sightings.

Most-observed plants near Tucson

Saguaro
Carnegiea gigantea
20,150 observations
Fishhook Barrel Cactus
Ferocactus wislizeni
8,983 observations
Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
7,841 observations
Chain-fruit Cholla
Cylindropuntia fulgida
6,189 observations
Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens
6,030 observations
Graham's Nipple Cactus
Cochemiea grahamii
4,735 observations · iNaturalist
Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus engelmannii
3,947 observations
Brittlebush
Encelia farinosa
3,126 observations · iNaturalist
Little-leaved Palo Verde
Parkinsonia microphylla
2,795 observations · iNaturalist
Thurber's Cholla
Cylindropuntia thurberi
2,240 observations · iNaturalist
Christmas Cholla
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
2,052 observations · iNaturalist
Jojoba
Simmondsia chinensis
1,861 observations · iNaturalist
Pink Fairy-duster
Calliandra eriophylla
1,723 observations · iNaturalist
Teddybear Cholla
Cylindropuntia bigelovii
1,571 observations
Spiny Hackberry
Celtis pallida
1,515 observations · iNaturalist
Velvet Mesquite
Neltuma velutina
1,456 observations · iNaturalist
Big Bursage
Ambrosia ambrosioides
1,366 observations · iNaturalist
Mesquite Mistletoe
Phoradendron californicum
1,341 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Ironwood
Olneya tesota
1,293 observations · iNaturalist
Engelmann's Pricklypear
Opuntia engelmannii
1,284 observations
Coues' Senna
Senna covesii
1,282 observations · iNaturalist
California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
1,232 observations
Desert Broom
Baccharis sarothroides
1,154 observations · iNaturalist
Blue Dicks
Dipterostemon capitatus
1,128 observations · iNaturalist
Parry's Beardtongue
Penstemon parryi
1,094 observations
Tree Cholla
Cylindropuntia imbricata
1,073 observations
Desert Zinnia
Zinnia acerosa
1,061 observations · iNaturalist
Triangle-leaf Bursage
Ambrosia deltoidea
1,059 observations · iNaturalist
London Rocket
Sisymbrium irio
1,040 observations · iNaturalist
Wheeler Sotol
Dasylirion wheeleri
1,030 observations
Trailing Windmills
Allionia incarnata
983 observations · iNaturalist
Blue Palo Verde
Parkinsonia florida
970 observations · iNaturalist
Sacred Datura
Datura wrightii
946 observations
Lyreleaf Jewelflower
Streptanthus carinatus
861 observations · iNaturalist
Coulter's Lupine
Lupinus sparsiflorus
858 observations · iNaturalist
Slender Janusia
Janusia gracilis
855 observations · iNaturalist
Soaptree Yucca
Yucca elata
807 observations
Desert Cotton
Gossypium thurberi
806 observations · iNaturalist
Whitethorn Acacia
Vachellia constricta
804 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Tobacco
Nicotiana obtusifolia
789 observations · iNaturalist
Catclaw Acacia
Senegalia greggii
771 observations · iNaturalist
Arizona Pencil Cholla
Cylindropuntia arbuscula
763 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Chicory
Rafinesquia neomexicana
757 observations · iNaturalist
Buffelgrass
Cenchrus ciliaris
755 observations · iNaturalist
Arizona Poppy
Kallstroemia grandiflora
751 observations · iNaturalist
Buckhorn Cholla
Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa
723 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Thorn-apple
Datura discolor
687 observations · iNaturalist
Arizona Spikemoss
Selaginella arizonica
678 observations · iNaturalist
Graythorn
Condaliopsis divaricata
674 observations · iNaturalist
American Threefold
Trixis californica
667 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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