All posts by T. Beth Kinsey

Asteraceae - Aster Family, Fall Blooming Plants, Herbs and Forbs, Native Wildflowers and Plants, Perennials, Riparian and Wetland Plants, Summer Blooming Plants, White Arizona Flowers, Yellow Arizona Flowers, Yellow Flowers

Bidens aurea – Arizona Beggarticks

Bidens aurea - Arizona Beggarticks, Apache Beggarticks, Bur Marigold (flowers)

Bidens aurea - Arizona Beggarticks, Apache Beggarticks, Bur Marigold (leaf)

Bidens aurea - Arizona Beggarticks, Apache Beggarticks, Bur Marigold

Plant Name

Scientific Name: Bidens aurea

Synonyms: Bidens heterophylla, B. ferulifolia, Coreopsis aurea, C. ferulifolia

Common Names: Arizona Beggarticks, Apache Beggarticks, Bur Marigold

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial

Growth Habit: Herb/Forb

Arizona Native Status: Native

Habitat: Riparian. This wildflower can be found growing in sunny locations in moist soil along streams, seeps, and rivers in the deserts and uplands. Because of its showy flowers, it is also cultivated as an ornamental garden plant.

Flower Color: Golden yellow. The cultivated forms can also have solid white or bicolored yellow and white rays.

Flowering Season: Late summer, Fall

Height: Up to 4 feet (1.2 m) tall

Description: The flower heads are up to 3 inches (7.6 cm) wide and have 5 or 6 elliptical, golden yellow, lengthwise-pleated rays and yellow, tubular disk flowers with brown staminal tubes. The leaves have either entire (untoothed) or serrate margins and are green, petiolate, hairless or minutely hairy, opposite on the lower part of the plant, and variably lance-shaped, 1-pinnately lobed with 3 to 5 (or more) narrowly lance-shaped lobes, or 2-pinnatisect and fernlike with deep, narrow lobes. The stems are long, slender, green, and branched.

The other Bidens species found here have smaller, much less showy flowers.

Classification

Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae – Aster family
Genus: Bidens L. – beggarticks
Species: Bidens aurea (Aiton) Sherff – Arizona beggarticks

More About This Plant

Arizona County Distribution Map

Agavaceae - Century-plant Family, Edible Plants, Herbs and Forbs, Mountain Plants, Native Wildflowers and Plants, Perennials, Protected Native Plants, Shrubs, Spring Blooming Plants, Subshrubs, Summer Blooming Plants, Unusual Shrubs, Upland Plants, White Arizona Flowers, White Flowers

Yucca baccata – Banana Yucca

Yucca baccata - Banana Yucca, Datil Yucca (flowers)

Yucca baccata - Banana Yucca, Datil Yucca

Yucca baccata - Banana Yucca, Datil Yucca

Plant Name

Scientific Name: Yucca baccata

Synonyms: Yucca confinis, Y. vespertina

Common Names: Banana Yucca, Datil Yucca

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial, Evergreen

Growth Habit: Shrub, Subshrub, Herb/Forb, Unusual Shrub

Arizona Native Status: Native

Habitat: Upland, Mountain. This yucca grows in sunny, dry areas in the uplands and at lower elevations in the mountains.

Flower Color: Creamy white to tinged green, pink, or purple

Flowering Season: Spring, Early Summer. The flowers bloom during the spring and summer dry period (usually in April) before the summer monsoon rains.

Height: Up to 6 feet (1.8 m) tall

Description: The flowers are in large, dense, erect, paniculate inflorescences that are either entirely within to mostly above the leaf rosettes. The pendent, bell-shaped individual flowers have 6 fleshy tepals (petals and petal-like sepals) that are joined together at the base. The moth-pollinated flowers are followed by fleshy, succulent, pendent, banana-like, green fruits that remain on the plant. The leaves form large rosettes and are erect, rigid, dark glaucous green in color, spine-tipped, curly white-filiferous (producing curled white strings), concavo-convex, and linear-lanceolate in shape with smooth, narrow brown margins. The plants are solitary to clump-forming, either stemless or short-stemmed, and will flower repeatedly over their long lives.

The similar Soaptree Yucca (Yucca elata) has taller stems and much narrower leaves with narrow white margins and white strings, while Sierra Madre Yucca (Yucca madrensis) has leaves with narrow red margins and either no strings or only a few gray or brown strings.

Special Characteristics

Edible – The flowers and the fully ripe, sweet fruits are edible and were eaten by the Native Americans.

Legal Status – Protected Native Plant (Salvage Restricted)

Classification

Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Liliopsida – Monocotyledons
Subclass: Liliidae
Order: Liliales
Family: Agavaceae – Century-plant family
Genus: Yucca L. – yucca
Species: Yucca baccata Torr. – banana yucca

More About This Plant

Arizona County Distribution Map

Edible Plants, Herbs and Forbs, Liliaceae - Lily Family, Mountain Plants, Native Wildflowers and Plants, Perennials, Shrubs, Subshrubs, Summer Blooming Plants, Unusual Shrubs, Upland Plants, White Arizona Flowers, White Flowers

Yucca madrensis – Sierra Madre Yucca

Yucca madrensis - Sierra Madre Yucca, Mountain Yucca

Yucca madrensis - Sierra Madre Yucca, Mountain Yucca (flowers)

Yucca madrensis - Sierra Madre Yucca, Mountain Yucca

Plant Name

Scientific Name: Yucca madrensis

Synonym: Yucca schottii auct. non Engelm.

Common Names: Sierra Madre Yucca, Mountain Yucca

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial, Evergreen

Growth Habit: Shrub, Subshrub, Herb/Forb, Unusual Shrub

Arizona Native Status: Native

Habitat: Upland, Mountain. This common mountain yucca grows on slopes and in canyons in Madrean pine-oak woodlands.

Flower Color: Creamy white to pink-tinged

Flowering Season: Summer. The flowers bloom with the summer monsoon rains.

Height: Up to 10 feet (3 m) tall

Description: The flowers are in large, showy, erect, paniculate inflorescences that only partly emerge from the leaf rosettes. The pendent, egg-shaped individual flowers have 6 fleshy tepals (petals and petal-like sepals) that are either separate from each other or only barely joined at the base. The flowers are pollinated by moths and are followed by large, fleshy, succulent, pendent, green fruits. The leaves form large, dramatic rosettes of erect young leaves and increasingly reflexed older leaves. The leaves are green to glaucous blue-green in color, thin, flexible, elongated, flat to upfolded lengthwise, lance-shaped with smooth, narrow red margins and sharply pointed dark tips, and usually non-filiferous (not producing strings) or rarely sparsely brown- to gray-filiferous. The stout stems are upright, unbranched, short to trunk-like, and covered with a skirt of drooping dead leaves. The plants are solitary (not clump-forming), single-stemmed, and will flower repeatedly over their long lives.

The similar Banana Yucca (Yucca baccata) has leaves with narrow brown margins and white strings, while Soaptree Yucca (Yucca elata) has leaves with narrow white margins and white strings.

Special Characteristics

Edible – The flowers, young flower stalks, and the fruits are edible and were eaten by the Native Americans.

Classification

Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Liliopsida – Monocotyledons
Subclass: Liliidae
Order: Liliales
Family: Agavaceae – Century-plant family
Genus: Yucca L. – yucca
Species: Yucca madrensis Gentry

Desert Plants, Fall Blooming Plants, Herbs and Forbs, Native Wildflowers and Plants, Perennials, Pink Arizona Flowers, Pink Flowers, Portulacaceae - Purslane Family, Riparian and Wetland Plants, Subshrubs, Summer Blooming Plants, Upland Plants

Talinum paniculatum – Jewels of Opar

Talinum paniculatum - Jewels of Opar, Jewels-of-Opar, Pink Baby-breath, Pink Baby's Breath, Big Talinum (flowers)

Talinum paniculatum - Jewels of Opar, Jewels-of-Opar, Pink Baby-breath, Pink Baby's Breath, Big Talinum (leaves)

Talinum paniculatum - Jewels of Opar, Jewels-of-Opar, Pink Baby-breath, Pink Baby's Breath, Big Talinum

Plant Name

Scientific Name: Talinum paniculatum

Synonyms: Portulaca paniculata, Talinum chrysanthum, T. reflexum, T. spathulatum

Common Names: Jewels of Opar, Jewels-of-Opar, Pink Baby-breath, Pink Baby's Breath, Big Talinum

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial

Growth Habit: Subshrub, Herb/Forb

Arizona Native Status: Native

Habitat: Desert, Upland, Riparian. It is often found in or near desert or upland washes and riparian areas. This attractive plant is also cultivated as a garden ornamental and will often reseed itself.

Flower Color: Pink

Flowering Season: Summer, Fall. This wildflower blooms after the summer monsoon rains have begun.

Height: Up to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall

Description: The small flowers are in large, conspicuous panicles (branched inflorescences) that are either erect or leaning. The individual flowers have 5 egg-shaped petals in varying shades of pink, yellow anthers with pink anther filaments, a rounded, green superior ovary, and sepals that are usually deciduous. The flowers are followed by small, rounded, green to red seed capsules. The leaves are green, fleshy, hairless, alternate, and elliptic to egg-shaped with a tapering leaf base and smooth margins. The stems are erect, hairless, usually reddish in color, and semi-woody. The plants have thick, fleshy roots.

Classification

Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Caryophyllidae
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Portulacaceae – Purslane family
Genus: Talinum Adans. – fameflower
Species: Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn. – jewels of Opar

More About This Plant

Arizona County Distribution Map

Allergenic Plants, Annuals, Asteraceae - Aster Family, Desert Plants, Fall Blooming Plants, Green Arizona Flowers, Green Flowers, Herbs and Forbs, Native Wildflowers and Plants, Summer Blooming Plants, Upland Plants

Parthenice mollis – Annual Monsterwort

Parthenice mollis - Annual Monsterwort (flowers)

Parthenice mollis - Annual Monsterwort

Parthenice mollis - Annual Monsterwort (leaves)

Parthenice mollis - Annual Monsterwort

Plant Name

Scientific Name: Parthenice mollis

Common Name: Annual Monsterwort

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual

Growth Habit: Herb/Forb

Arizona Native Status: Native

Habitat: Desert, Upland. This plant grows in desert washes, on slopes, and along roadsides.

Flower Color: Green

Flowering Season: Summer, Fall. It blooms after the summer monsoon rains have begun.

Height: Up to 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 m) tall

Description: The light green, finely-haired, rayless flower heads have tiny, yellowish disk flowers and drooping flower stalks. The flowers are followed by hairless cypselae (seeds). The leaves have 3 pale green main veins and are grayish green in color, alternate, egg-shaped, petioled, variably toothed and/or shallowly lobed, progressively smaller toward the stem tips, up to 10 inches (25 cm) long near the base of the plant, and covered in short, fine hair like the rest of the plant. The stems are green, finely-haired, erect, and well-branched above. The mature plants are large and conspicuous and often appear to have wilted lower leaves.

Special Characteristics

Allergenic – The flower pollen is a moderate allergen.

Classification

Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae – Aster family
Genus: Parthenice A. Gray – parthenice
Species: Parthenice mollis A. Gray – annual monsterwort

More About This Plant

Arizona County Distribution Map

Fall Blooming Plants, Fragrant Flowers and Plants, Herbs and Forbs, Lamiaceae - Mint Family, Mountain Plants, Native Wildflowers and Plants, Perennials, Purple and Blue Arizona Flowers, Purple and Blue Flowers, Subshrubs, Summer Blooming Plants, Upland Plants

Agastache wrightii – Sonoran Giant Hyssop

Agastache wrightii - Sonoran Giant Hyssop

Agastache wrightii - Sonoran Giant Hyssop (leaves and a native Sonoran Desert bee)

Agastache wrightii - Sonoran Giant Hyssop

Plant Name

Scientific Name: Agastache wrightii

Common Name: Sonoran Giant Hyssop

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial

Growth Habit: Subshrub, Herb/Forb

Arizona Native Status: Native

Habitat: Upland, Mountain. This plant grows in canyons and on slopes in grassy oak and pine woodlands or chaparral in upland areas and at lower elevations in the mountains.

Flower Color: Blue to violet-blue

Flowering Season: Summer, Fall. This wildflower blooms after the summer monsoon rains have begun.

Height: Up to 2 feet (60 cm) tall

Description: The tiny flowers are in interrupted whorls along long, slender, erect flower spikes. The individual flowers are tubular and have a 2-lobed upper lip and a 3-lobed lower lip. The flowers are followed by small, brown, oblong nutlets that are tipped with small hairs. The leaves are bright green above, paler and grayer green below, triangular to lance-shaped, serrate to toothed, point-tipped, petioled, 1 1/2 to 2 times longer than wide, and in a basal rosette at the base of the plant and paired opposite on the stems. The stems are erect to sprawling, light green in color, and covered with short, fine gray-white hairs.

The similar White Giant Hyssop (Agastache micrantha) has white flowers and leaves that are 2 1/2 to 3 times longer than wide. All the other Agastache species found here in southeastern Arizona have much larger, showier flowers.

Special Characteristics

Fragrant – The plants are pleasantly aromatic.

Classification

Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae – Mint family
Genus: Agastache Clayton ex Gronov. – giant hyssop
Species: Agastache wrightii (Greenm.) Woot. & Standl. – Sonoran giant hyssop

More About This Plant

Arizona County Distribution Map