Yuma and Tucson Area in Arizona
Where to Find the Wildflowers
We'd like to see your pictures too. E-mail your digital photos and reports to Jim@desertusa.com. Use Wildflower Report as the subject of your e-mail. Let us know where you took the photo and the date .
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2021 Southern AZ Wildflowers Locations and Pictures
Feb 15 Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument reports: Do you like looking for rare plants? If you do, then you may enjoy hunting for the elusive “shrub live oak” in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
Quercus turbinella is commonly found in semi-arid parts of the Southwestern United States, but it makes only a rare appearance here. It usually takes the form of a shrub, but sometimes appears as a tree up to 15 feet tall with a trunk several feet thick. Its leaves are reminiscent of holly and they usually stay on the plant year-round which is characteristic of a “live oak.” Like all oaks, it produces acorns, but you may not see any as they are a favorite food of many animals and birds that will pick them off as soon as they ripen.
Some botanists have actually awarded our local oak its own special designation, “Ajo Oak” (Quercus ajoensis), because of taxonomic details not obvious to the casual observer. Look for this stunning oak in Alamo Canyon, Arch Canyon, and in the higher elevations of the Ajo Range.

Photo/ Ranger Mike
Feb 9 Picacho Peak State Park reports: We're expecting a very low-key wildflower season this year compared to recent seasons! Wildflowers like plenty of water in the winter, and a dry season means you'll only see a few on the path—please leave them be, so we can have a great wildflower show next year!

Feb 9 Saguaro National Park reports: Thanks to our long-term volunteers and interns who have diligently helped remove fountain grass from our beautiful desert streams this winter. Pulling out this tough, invasive grass helps restore native plants and reduce desert fires. While we are still not able to start up volunteer group weed pulls due to Covid, we appreciate our regular volunteers who are helping us out in small groups every weekend!

NPS photo
When will the desert wildflowers bloom? We start our report in January, plan your visit to coincide with the peak of the bloom - keep up to date with DesertUSA's Wildflower Reports. Be sure to bookmark this page for weekly updates.
We'd like to see your pictures too. E-mail your digital photos and reports to Jim@desertusa.com. Use Wildflower Report as the subject of your e-mail. Let us know where you took the photo and the date. We will post them on our wildflower reports. Thanks for your support and photos.
Photos tips: Most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a macro function - usually symbolized by the icon of a little flower. When you turn on that function, you allow your camera to get closer to the subject, looking into a flower for example. Or getting up close and personal with a bug. More on desert photography.
Mojave Desert Wildflowers - This book is the standard by which all other wildflower books are measured. The author, Jon Mark Stewart, has combined super photography with concise information. This book has an entire color page for each wildflower covered, with a discussion of the wildflower. 210 pages with 200 color photos. More...
What's Blooming Now - Check the Wildflower Reports
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Mojave Desert Wildflowers book 200 color photos
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