If you think that the desert is one boring place to visit or tour because it offers nothing but sand, think again. The desert is one place of paradise during the spring because most of the desert plants are in bloom. Just like any other flowering plants, desert plants bloom in spring season, too, and the flowers are indeed amazing. Although it is not a place where you can find green plants and leaves, it can be a perfect destination on this time of the year. Here is a list of the lovable desert plants and flowers blooming in spring:
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Desert sunflower
Commonly found in Mojave and Sonoram Deserts, the Desert Sunflower is a type of plant that is delightful to see. It looks like the classic Sunflowers which the bees and the birds love, but this type of Sunflower is one that is hardy and durable. It can thrive well even in hot weather and temperature. If you want to see the beautiful blooms of Desert Sunflowers, visit the Mojave Desert or the Sonoram desert in springtime.
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Desert Dandelion
Blooming in spring season, this bright yellow flowering plant is a favorite plant in the desert not only by people who come but also by birds and bees. This plant is native of the Deserts in the Central Asia but they grow in abundance in the wild plains in North America. Thriving in the sandy desert, it is such a lovely sight to view the yellow blooms covering the plains of the desert in springtime.
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Devil’s Claw
The copper-colored flower that you see in the desert is the Devil’s Claw flower. It is named as such because of the claw-shape of its fruit. Sometimes it has maroon flowers, too, and they are common in the deserts of southern California as well as in west Texas. The fruit of the Devil’s Claw is durable and strong when dried, which is why some people make use of them for different purposes. A group of indigenous people, the Tohono O’odham, located in southern Arizona dry these claw-like fruits and use them as needle in making baskets and other traditional and cultural crafts.
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Zebra Cactus
Usually compared to Aloe plant, the Zebra Cactus is a type of desert plant that grows slowly. It has dark green leaves with white striations contrasting the color of green. This plant makes a striking object for landscape in any desert, especially when its flowers bloom in late summer or early spring season. Its color, form, and beautiful flower make the plant a lovely addition to home or office decoration. Good thing that it is an easy to maintain plant, too.
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Desert Marigold
The lovely yellow flowers of Desert Marigold are a beautiful sight in the desert during the spring season. The flowers may last until the fall months. It is a native plant in the deserts of Mexico and America, especially in the western part of the country. The plant has hairy leaves, which block the UV rays from the direct sunlight and retain moisture and water for a long time.
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Desert Lily
Known as “Hesperocallis”, the Desert Lily offers an excellent display of beautiful blooms when they bloom in the desert in spring season. They are common in the deserts of Mexico and in the southwestern part of America. The cream color of its blooms is very attractive in the middle of the sandy desert.
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Ocotillo
Resembling the form of a cactus, Ocotillo is a type of desert plant that blooms beautifully after the rainy season. It has beautiful flowers in red and it gives an attractive set of lush leaves sprouting before the blooms. This plant may look or appear leafless for a long period of time when its roots hardly absorb water from the soil underneath the sandy desert. Commonly seen in Chihuahuan Desert and in Sonoran Desert, Ocotillo makes the desert a wonderful place to visit in spring season.
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Poison Ivy
Poison Ivy is a type of desert plant that can live and thrive well in any types of climates. Although it is a plant most commonly known as shrub in the gardens, it has the flexibility to withstand and endure the sandy and hot temperature in the desert. Its flowers and plant is poisonous not only to humans but also to animals. In fact, it is used in the desert as protection from wild predators.
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Desert Spoon
The Desert Spoon plant is called as the sea urchin of the desert because it has spine-like leaves growing out from the center. The leaves are thick to retain moisture and water, making the plant to survive the hot climate. Some indigenous people have used the leaves of this plant as food and as materials in making baskets and crafts.
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Prickly Pear Cactus
Growing in any kind of desert environments, the Prickly Pear Cactus is found in the North American Deserts and the Great Basin Desert as well. Flowers are produced to bloom beautifully through the stems, which retain water. The stems are like flat pads and are covered with spines. This plant is among the desert plants that produce beautiful flowers in various colors like orange, yellow, red, and purple. With more than 12 species of Prickly Pear Cactus, the deserts in America are a great place to visit, especially when it is time for these desert plants to bloom.
