Guide To Desert Plants: Types, Adaptations, And Landscaping Tips

The most impactful experience I have had in a desert ecosystem was my trip through Saguaro National Park. It has been one of my lifelong goals to document the Saguaro cacti. An ancient variety of cactus, some dating back 200 years! It is a unique type of old-growth forest and quite awe inspiring. These long-lived cacti can grow to over 46 ft tall, and provide habitat for so much wildlife.

Arid desert gardens have always been my favorite garden design. These landscapes are not only easy to maintain but also showcase unique varieties of desert plants, making them a stunning addition to any outdoor space.

I wanted to create a guidebook to help better understand desert plants in their native habitat. And the best ways to bring them into your backyard landscape. So here is my guide to desert plants. You will learn all about desert plant types, their adaptations, and desert gardening tips so you can create a unique arid ecosystem.

Overview Of Desert Ecosystems

Did you know that desert ecosystems cover a total of 1/5th of the earth’s surface?! There are different types of desert biomes and they include:

Hot and dry deserts
Semi-arid deserts
Coastal deserts
Cold deserts

You might think a cold desert wouldn’t exist but Antartica is one!

Desert ecosystems are harsh and dry landscapes with very little rainfall. These ecosystems tend to have drastic temperature fluctuations, making these areas hard for plants to survive in. Desert soil classifications range from sandy gravel to stoney conditions. Specific desert flora and fauna have evolved to adapt to these harsh arid climates.

What Are Desert Plants?

There is an amazing range of drought-tolerant desert flora that has adapted to survive the harsh. arid ecosystems. They are also called xerophyte plants. They require little rainfall to survive and have the ability to store water in their leaves and plant tissue. Desert plants are typically leafless, and have spines and deeper root systems.

Adaptations Of Desert Plants

Dealing With Drought

Desert plants’ behavioral adaptations have evolved over millennia to deal with drought. They have developed certain mechanisms that allow them to undergo long periods without water. One way they deal with drought is their water storage mechanism. Some store water in their leaves, and some have thick skin to retain moisture. If the desert plant has leaves, they are typically small. This is because the small leaf size helps mitigate against evaporation by having less surface area.

Let’s dive deeper into each behavioral adaptation desert plants use to survive in desert climates.

Water Storage Mechanisms

Some desert plants have developed water storage mechanisms that help them conserve water. These plants include cactus and succulents. Their storage mechanisms allow them to go long periods without water. The adaptation works by allowing them to store water in their plant tissue which they are able to draw on during harsh times. They have also developed prickly spines, to deter animals from drinking their water reserves!

Leaf Adaptations

Leaf adoption of desert plants helps to reduce evaporation and conserve water during the heat of the day. Some of these adaptations include leafless plants. An example of this is succulent or cactus. These plants instead have tick pads that help to retain water in the plant. Plants that do have leaves tend to be small. An example of this is crape myrtle, with its small ovate leaf shape.

Adapted Photosynthesis In Desert Plants

Certain types of desert plants have adapted their photosynthesis process to occur at nighttime instead of the day. These plants include varieties of cacti and succulents. This adaptation works to conserve water and correlates with nighttime pollinators.

Photosynthesis in the daytime in the hot desert would cause a higher water loss percentage through transpiration and evaporation. Desert plants have solved this problem by opening their stomata at night, which helps to conserve water loss because the temperatures are lower. The stomata are pores found in the skin and other organs of the plant that help in the chemical exchange process of photosynthesis. This adaptation helps to reduce water evaporation and allows the plants to absorb and conserve water. It’s an impressive evolution!

Reproductive Adaptation

Desert plants have also evolved to support nocturnal pollination sources. Bats and moths are examples of the types of pollinators these flowers are attracting. Nighttime photosynthesis co-evolved along with nocturnal pollinators. By photosynthesizing at night while also attracting nocturnal pollinators, these plants increase their chances of survival.

Structural Adaptations

Structural adaptations of desert plants include the development of spines on the plant’s surface. Interestingly, the spines are used to displace wind to protect the pads from drying out and cracking.

Other structural adaptations include root development. Some plants have evolved deep root systems that reach for water deep in the earth. Other desert plants have root systems that spread out along the surface. This tactic is to absorb as much water from rain as possible.

Types Of Desert Plants

Typically, the qualities a desert plant needs to thrive are well-drained, sandy, gravel or rocky soil. They love to be in full sun and require minimal watering. They are resilient and thrive in harsh environmental growing conditions. Below you’ll find the specific care and maintenance needs in the information tables of each of the different desert plants.

Here’s some of my favorites.

Cacti & Succulents

Beavertail Cactus

Beavertail Cactus	Care Information
Origin	The Mojave and Sonoran deserts, California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah
Plant size	11 inches height x 5 ft wide (27.94 x 152.4 centimeters)
Flowering	March through june
Light	Full sun
Watering	Once every 3 weeks
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Quick draining, sandy gravel
Pruning	None
Repotting	Slow growing
Toxicity	None

Soaptree Yucca

Soaptree Yucca	Care Information
Origin	Mid-Arizona, New Mexico, Western parts of Texas
Plant size	18 feet tall (5.49 meters)
Flowering	Spring- fruiting into the summer
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Sandy or loamy soil
Pruning	None
Repotting	When you see roots matted on top of the soil
Toxicity	None

Century Plant

Century Plant	Care Information
Origin	Southern California, Texas and Mexico
Plant size	Ground plant with stalk that measures 25 feet (7.62 meters)
Flowering	June through august
Light	Full sun but withstand part shade
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Sandy soil
Pruning	None
Repotting	Every other year
Toxicity	Toxic to humans and animals

Saguaro Cactus

Saguaro Cactus	Care Information
Origin	Dry parts of California, Arizona and mexico. Their range only extends to about 4,000 ft above the sea. Therefore, they are only located in small pockets within the southern part of the states and a small area in Sonora, Mexico
Plant size	Can grow up to 46 feet (14.02 meters) tall and can live for almost 200 years.
Flowering	White flowers on crown
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Well drained sandy soil
Pruning	none
Repotting	Slow growing. Pot up as it grows.
Toxicity	Not toxic

Hedgehog Cactus

Hedgehog Cactus	Care Information
Origin	Southern California
Plant size	1 – 3 feet tall (0.3 – 0.9 meters)
Flowering	Bright red flowers that bloom at nightOnly blooms for 5 days
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Well drained sandy soil
Pruning	None
Repotting	Slow growing. Repot as it grows
Toxicity	Edible- produces fruits that birds eat and other wild animals

Fishhook Cactus

Fishhook Cactus	Care Information
Origin	New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California
Plant size	5 inches (12.7 centimeters) tall
Flowering	September through October
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	Non
Potting soil	Well drained sandy soil
Pruning	None
Repotting	Slow growing. Repot as it grows
Toxicity	Toxic to humans and animals

Senita Cactus

Senita Cactus	Care Information
Origin	Rocky hillsides of Sonoran desert
Plant size	25 ft (7.62 meters) tall
Flowering	Pale red and pink flowers
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Dry rocky soil
Pruning	None
Repotting	Every 2-3 years
Toxicity	Edible fruits

Agave

Agave	Care Information
Origin	Mexico and the southwestern United States, particularly the deserts of Mexico, Arizona, and Texas
Plant size	3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 meters) tall
Flowering	Tall flower stalks with tubular yellow, orange, or red flowers
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Dry rocky soil
Pruning	None
Repotting	Every 2-3 years
Toxicity	Not toxic

Varieties And Uses

There are three types of Agave that are a part of traditional medicine. Agave tequilana, Agave angustifolia, and Agave americana are anti-inflammatory. Their sap is used to treat inflammation. Agave tequilana Weber is also used in the making of Tequila. This is the only variety used in the making of tequila!

Aloe

Aloe	Care Information
Origin	Arabian Peninsula, Africa, and parts of the Mediterranean
Plant size	1-3 feet (0.3-0.9 meters) tall
Flowering	Tubular flowers that range in color from orange to red or yellow
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Dry rocky soil
Pruning	Remove dead or dying leaves
Repotting	Every 1-2 years
Toxicity	Generally safe for humans but can be toxic to pets, especially cats and dogs, if ingested

Varieties And Uses

Aloe vera is the most common type of aloe used for medical purposes. This desert plant is anti-inflammatory and very soothing. Other varieties used this way are Aloe perryi, Aloe ferox, and Aloe arborescens. Aloe is most commonly used for treating sunburns.

Ocotillo

Octillo	Care Information
Origin	Southwestern United States, Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts, and parts of northern Mexico
Plant size	10-20 feet (3-6 meters) tall
Flowering	Bright red tubular flowers
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Dry rocky soil
Pruning	Remove dead or dying leaves
Repotting	Every 2-3 years
Toxicity	Not toxic

Unique Characteristics And Uses

Ocotillo was once the bane of my existence as I hiked up a desert mountain in New Mexico! These plants are huge, gaining heights up to 20 ft. The plant’s long cacti-like pads are covered in sharp barbs. Which hurt a lot of you trying to hike around them! These barbs are a defense mechanism, used to conserve water by deterring wildlife and birds. This plant is used as a natural fencing as its sharp spines deter wildlife and humans from passing.

Desert Grasses, Trees & Shrubs:

California Fan Palm

California Fan Palm	Care Information
Origin	Mojave and Sonoran deserts
Plant size	20 feet (6 meters) tall
Flowering	White small flowers
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Moist sandy loamy soil that is well drained
Pruning	None
Repotting	Plant outside and give lots of space for growth
Toxicity	Edible seeds that feeds birds and other wild animals

Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea	Care Information
Origin	Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, and Argentina
Plant size	20-30 feet (6-9.14 meters) tall and wide if supported
Flowering	Spring through autumn
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal watering
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Well drained sandy loam
Pruning	Prune new growth and shoots from last year in early spring. Only take 1/3rd of a branch
Repotting	Best out of pots. Replant in early spring if moving shrubs
Toxicity	Not toxic

Mesquite Tree

Mesquite Tree	Care Information
Origin	Most of the South West
Plant size	20-50 feet (6-15.24 meters) tall
Flowering	Flowers bloom in spring and summer. Flower colors range from green to yellow
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Well drained sandy soil
Pruning	Need yearly pruning to maintain shape and to keep under control
Repotting	Best out of a pot. Very hard to replant as the tree grows very fast and has a deep tap root
Toxicity	Edible beans seed pods

Whitethorn Acacia

Whitethorn Acacia	Care Information
Origin	Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
Plant size	19 feet (5.8 meters) tall
Flowering	Yellow, puff ball flowers. Sweet smell at night
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Well drained sandy soil
Pruning	Prune in late winter or early spring to maintain form and shape!
Repotting	Best not to grow in a pot. Replant in spring
Toxicity	Yes, toxic to humans and animals

Crape Myrtle

Crape Myrtle	Care Information
Origin	Asia
Plant size	20-20 feet (6-9.14 meters) tall
Flowering	Late spring through summer
Light	Full sun
Watering	Once a week
Fertilizer	Organic all-purpose, well-balanced fertilizer. Apply every three weeks during the growing season
Potting soil	Well drained soil with compost
Pruning	Flowers grow on the new growth of the crape myrtle. pruning should be done prior to new growth, in late winter
Repotting	Should be grown in the garden and are hard to replant once roots have developed
Toxicity	Non-toxic

Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree	Care Information
Origin	Mojave Desert
Plant size	15 feet (4.57 meters) tall
Flowering	cream-white to yellow-green flowers, blooming in the spring. They have a sour scent
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Sandy well drained soil
Pruning	None
Repotting	Slow grower
Toxicity	Toxic to humans and animals

Desert Lavender

Desert Lavender	Care Information
Origin	Sonora, Baja, California
Plant size	10 feet (3.05 meters) tall
Flowering	Sweet smelling, spring blooming, violet flowers
Light	Full sun
Watering	Water deeply in the summer season and allow it to dry out completely before deep watering again
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Sandy, well drained soil
Pruning	Prune in late summer, aftering flowers are spent
Repotting	Replant in spring
Toxicity	Non toxic

Creosote Bush

Creosote Bush	Care Information
Origin	Southwestern desserts of Utah, Arizona, California, Mexico, Texas
Plant size	3-10 feet (0.9-3 meters) tall
Flowering	Yellow flowers bloom February to August. Will hold its flower most of the year
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Well drained sandy soil
Pruning	Prune in early spring to maintain shape
Repotting	Transplant in late winter
Toxicity	Toxic to human and animals

Desert Flower Varieties:

California Poppy

California Poppy	Care Information
Origin	Western Oregon to Southern California
Plant size	6-12 inches (15.24-30.48 centimeters) tall
Flowering	Bright orange flowers bloom in early summer
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Sandy, well drained soil
Pruning	None
Repotting	No
Toxicity	Toxic to humans and animals

Ghost Flower

Ghost Flower	Care Information
Origin	Nevada, Arizona, California
Plant size	10 inches (25.4 centimeters) tall
Flowering	Translucent pale cream
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Well drained sandy soil
Pruning	None
Repotting	Repot in spring
Toxicity	Toxic to humans and animals

Desert Marigold

Desert Marigold	Care Information
Origin	Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Mexico and Texas
Plant size	10 inches (25.4 centimeters) tall
Flowering	Yellow flowers bloom March – November
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Well drained Sandy or rocky soil
Pruning	None
Repotting	No
Toxicity	Brown seeds edible by birds

Yellow Nightshade

Yellow Nightshade	Care Information
Origin	Deserts of western North America
Plant size	32 inches (81.28 centimeters)
Flowering	Bell shaped, bright yellow flower
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Well drained
Pruning	None
Repotting	Every 1 to 2 years
Toxicity	Poisonous, Highly Toxic

Desert Willow

Desert Willow	Care Information
Origin	California
Plant size	18 feet (5.49 meters) tall
Flowering	Light purple
Light	Full sun
Watering	Once a month
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Rocky slopes
Pruning	Prune back late winter, early spring
Repotting	Replant in the fall. Doesn’t do well grown in pots
Toxicity	Non-toxic

Brittlebush

Brittlebush	Care Information
Origin	Southwestern USA, Northern Mexico
Plant size	2-5 feet (0.61-1.52 meters) tall
Flowering	Purple, orange, and yellow daisy-like flowers. Bloom time March to May
Light	Full sun
Watering	Water when soil is dry
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Rocky, gravel soil
Pruning	Prune late in spring to keep shape
Repotting	Replant in fall. Not suggested to grow in pots
Toxicity	Non-toxic

Desert Lily

Desert Lily	Care Information
Origin	Mojave and Sonoran deserts
Plant size	4 feet (1.22 meters) tall
Flowering	Cream flowers that that a sweet smell
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Well drained sandy loam
Pruning	None
Repotting	After blooming in early summer
Toxicity	Toxic to humans and animals

Desert Grevillea

Desert Grevillea	Care Information
Origin	Australia
Plant size	3-4 feet (0.91-1.22 meters) tall
Flowering	Blooms in spring
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Well drained sandy soil
Pruning	Cute back late winter, early spring
Repotting	Replant in fall. Not recommended for pots
Toxicity	Toxic to humans and animals

Desert Senna

Desert Senna	Care Information
Origin	Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert in California, Nevada, and Arizona and northern Mexico.
Plant size	2 feet (0.6 meters) tall
Flowering	Yellow blooms April through October
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Sandy, well drained soil
Pruning	None
Repotting	Repot in spring
Toxicity	Toxic to animals and human

Mexican Poppy

Mexican Poppy	Care Information
Origin	Arizona, New Mexico, California, Texas, Colorado, Utah and Nevada
Plant size	8-18 inches (20.32-45.72 centimeters)
Flowering	Yellow blooms February through May
Light	Full sun
Watering	Minimal
Fertilizer	None
Potting soil	Well drained, sandy and gravel soil
Pruning	None
Repotting	Repot in fall
Toxicity	Toxic to humans and animals

Benefits And Uses Of Desert Plants

Wildlife Habitat

Desert plant species support many desert animals. A wonderful example of this is the Saguaro Cacti. The Saguaro Cacti are keystone species, meaning many forms of wildlife depend on these plants to survive. They provide food and shelter to desert animals including a variety of:

Birds
Bats
Honey bees
Various mammals

They support bird species by providing them with nesting habitat & food sources. Gila woodpeckers will excavate holes in the prickly cactus skin to make nests. They excavate new holes each year, continually providing a variety of other birds and mammals with vacant holes to nest in. Mammals like the bobcat will use the cacti to perch on top to rest and hunt. Some birds that use the saguaro cactus are:

Elf owls
House finches
Flycatchers
Purple martins

Herbal Medicines

Many desert plants have medical properties. Plants like aloe vera have been used for generations to cool burns and soothe the skin. Soaptree yucca has roots that are used to make soap. Creosote bush leaves were chewed and used for healthy oral hygiene. It was also used as a treatment for toothaches, dandruff, and even fevers by the local indigenous peoples.

Landscaping With Desert Plants

Landscaping with desert plants is one of my favorite design themes. These specialized plants can be impactful, eye-catching, and wildlife-friendly! They are low maintenance and drought tolerant.

An important aspect of desert plant gardens is being aware of what plant species can survive in the area you live. As we have learnt, these are specialized plants that require certain habitat requirements to thrive! Understanding your hardiness zone and the hardiness zones each plant can survive in, is your key to creating a successful desert landscape.

Popular Desert Plants For Landscaping

Yucca

Yucca is a great filler plant for the garden. It is short and stout, with a long flowering spike that stands off the ground when flowering. It is evergreen and if planted strategically throughout the garden, can be a great plant, adding cohesive flow throughout the space.

Desert Grevillea

Desert grevillea is a great shrub for your garden. An added benefit is that it provides hummingbirds with a food source! This shrub is also evergreen, adding structure and color all year in the garden.

Crape Myrtle

Crape myrtle is a great statement tree. They bloom for most of the summer and come in a variety of colors, including pink, dark pink, purple, and white. Plant them close together to create quite the decorative hedge row. They have unique paper bark and smaller leaves. They add a delicate touch to any garden.

California Poppies

California poppies make a great ground cover. They self-seed and are quite impactful when there is a mass group all in bloom. Make sure you are in an area where California poppies are native. This plant has invasive tendencies and is good at spreading!

Prickly Pear Cactus

For our colder climates, Prickly pear cactus is a great addition to a desert plant garden. These cacti are cold-tolerant and are found all over North America. They have big pads with beautiful flowers and look lovely in a mass planting on rocky outcrops.

Design Tips For Desert Landscapes

Height is an important factor with desert plants, and most are slow-growing. Place taller plants along the back edge of the garden bed. Plants arranged in groups of 3, 5, or 7 follow basic design principles that create a fuller, more aesthetically pleasing look in the garden.

Do you want to include your favorite desert plant but live in the wrong climate? Trying planting in pots! Keep them in your yard all summer and bring them inside once the winter gets cold. Make sure you feel your plants in a full sun, south-facing window.

How To Grow & Care For Desert Plants

Below you will find generally guidance on desert plants’ basic needs. For more detailed information on the different species’ requirements, please refer to the individual information tables above.

Sun

Desert plants like it hot! These types of desert vegetation require full sun. It’s important to place dessert plants in areas that will receive 6+ hours of sunlight (if not more) daily.

Soil

Optimal soil conditions for desert plants are drained sandy soil. If you want to incorporate desert plants into your garden space or are having trouble with drainage problems, try mixing sand or gravel into the soil.

Water

Water plants deeply but less frequently. Like in a natural desert ecosystem, when it rains, it pours. Water plants deeply and then drought. Try watering once a month and allowing the plants to completely dry out before watering again. Over-watering cacti kills them faster than underwatering them. Remember that!