We have dedicated web pages for over 150 low desert plants that includes details about each plant’s characteristics and the role they play as part of the pollinator web; these pages are part of our Interpretive Trails Project.
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Not every landscape plant qualifies for the Recommended Plant list, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a place in your landscape. Some common low desert landscape plants have aesthetic value, but perhaps not so many benefits to native bees or pollinators – these plants are organized under this page.
You can search for a name on this page:
The list of plants that grow in the Southwest and can serve as host or nectar plants can be overwhelming. Selecting plants for your garden is made even more difficult by the dizzying array of plants sold at box stores.
If you’re serious about supporting pollinators, you can whittle down the list by removing plants that have been hybridized for color, plants that take a lot of water to make it through the summer heat, and plants that have been treated with pesticides to increase their beauty and shelf life.
Regarding pesticides, ask a store attendant if they can definitively say that their plants are pesticide free. Unless, of course, the label on the plant explicitly states that no pesticides were used. Neonicotinoid pesticides are especially harmful, and can stay in the plant for a season or more. As an aside, this also means that you shouldn’t use pesticides in your pollinator garden either – here is a list of common pesticides.

“Most cultivars, including nativars, are propagated by cloning, so that each plant has the same genetic makeup as the parent plant, and so on. A cloned cultivar has a set genetic package. Sometimes these clones go on to participate in the natural reproductive cycle by cross-pollinating with other true natives, sometimes they do not.”
MPPH – Maricopa Pollinator Pathway Host Starter Palette
MPPN – Maricopa Pollinator Pathway Nectar Starter Palette
* – Coming Soon
A, B
- Agave spp American Agave, Rough Agave, Golden-flowered Agave, False Sisal, Desert Agave, Slim-footed Agave, Harvard Agave, Holly Agave, Lechuguilla, Murphey’s Agave, Plamer’s Agave, Parry’s Agave, Grand Canyon Agave, Schott’s Agave, Coastal Agave, Sisal, Toumey’s Agave, McKelvey’s Agave, Octopus Agave, Queen Victoria Agave, Twin-flowered Agave, Utah Agave, Sacred Mountain Agave
- Aloe spp Aloe Vera, Aloe x ‘Blue Elf’, Tree Aloe
- Angelita Daisy (Tetraneuris acaulis) Stemless Four-nerve Daisy, Stemless Hymenoxys, Stemless Rubberweed
- Arizona Ash (Fraxinus velutina) Velvet Ash, Desert Ash, Leather Leaf Ash, Smooth Ash, Toumey As, Fresno Ash, Modesto Ash
- Arizona Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus wislizenii) Southwestern Barrel Cactus, Candy Barrel Cactus, Fishhook Barrel Cactus, Compass Barrel Cactus
- Arizona Foldwing (Dicliptera resupinata)
- Arizona Milkweed (Asclepias angustifolia) Slim Milkweed
- Arizona Rosemallow (Hibiscus biseptus) Tulipán
- Arizona Rosewood (Vauquelinia californica)
- Arizona Spurge (Euphorbia Xanti) Baja Spurge, White Spurge, Liga, Confetti Flower
- Arizona Wrightwort (Carlowrightia arizonica) Arizona Carlowrightia
- Baja Fairy Duster (Calliandra californica) Red Fairy Duster, Tabardillo
- Baja Ruellia (Ruellia peninsularis) Desert Ruellia
- Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus spp)
- Bear Grass (Nolina microcarpa) Saw Grass, Sacahuista, Texas Beargrass, Bigelow’s Beargrass, Blue Beargrass Tree
- Beebrush (Aloysia wrightii)
- Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum) – MPPN
- Bladdermallow (Herissantia crispa) Curly Abutilon, Pelotazo
- Blanketflower (Gaillardia spp) Firewheel,
- Bottlebrush (Melaleuca viminalis, Callistemon viminalis) Weeping Bottlebrush
- Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) – MPPN
- Broom Snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) Broomweed, Kindlingweed, Matchbrush, Matchweed, Perennial Snakeweed, Snakeweed, Stinkweed, Texas Snakeweed, Turpentine Weed, Yellow Top
- Buckhorn Cholla (Cylindropuntia Acanthocarpa) Choya, Tasajo
- Burrobush (Ambrosia dumosa) Burro Weed, Desert Ragweed, White Bursage, Chicurilla, Estafiate, Ambrosia, Huizapol, Hierba del Burro, Chamizo
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Butterfly Milkweed
C, D
- Cape Honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis)
- Cascalote (Țară cacalaco) Caesalpinia cacalaco, Coulteria mexicana, Russellodendron cacalaco, Poinciana horrida
- California Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus) Desert Barrel Cactus, Miner’s Compass, biznaga
- Catclaw Acacia (Senegalia greggii) Devilsclaw, Gregg Acacia, Gregg Catclaw, Long-flower Acacia, Long-flower Catclaw, Texas Catclaw, Wait-a-Minute Bush, Uña de Gato, Tèsota, Gatuño, Palo Chino, Algarroba, Tepame
- Chain Fruit Cholla (Cylindropuntia fulgida) Opuntia fulgida, Cholla Brincadora, Chain-fruit Cholla, Hanging Chain Cholla, Choya, Velas de Coyote
- Chocolate Flower (Berlandiera lyrata) Chocolate Scented Daisy
- Chollas (Cylindropuntia spp)
- Chuparosa (Justicia californica) California Beloperone, Hummingbird Bush
- Citrus spp – MPPH
- Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii) California Blue Sage
- Collectable Succulent Tags
- Colorado Four O’clock (Mirabilis multiflora) Wild Four O’clock, Froebel’s Four O’clock
- Coreopsis spp Plains coreopsis, Golden Tickseed, Lanceleaf Tickseed, Desert Coreopsis
- Cowpen Daisy (Verbesina encelioides) Cowpen Crownbeard, Golden Crownbeard, American Dogweed, Butter Daisy, Crown-beard, Gold Weed, Wild Sunflower, South African Daisy
- Creosote (Larrea tridentata) Covillea tridentata, Larrea divaricata, Zygophyllum tridentatum
- Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) Trumpet Vine, Trumpet Flower
- Dalea (Dalea spp) Black Dalea, Trailing Dalea, Bush Dalea, Dalea frutescens, Dalea pulchra, Soft Prairie Clover, Downy Dalea, Hairy Dalea, Soft Prairie-Clover, Silk Dalea, Feather Dalea, Featherplume, Indigobush, Scruffy Prairie Clover, White Flower Dalea, Whiteflower Prairieclover
- Damianita (Chrysactinia mexicana) Calanca, Damianita Daisy, False Damiana, Garanona, Mariola, Romerillo, San Nicolas, Yeyepaxtle, Hierba de San Nicolas
- Desert Bluebells (Phacelia campanularia) Arizona Bluebell, California Bluebell, Desert Bells
- Desert Broom (Baccharis sarothroides) Broom Baccharis, Greasewood, Groundsel, Rosin Bush, Romerillo, Hierba del Pasmo, Escoba Amarga
- Desert Ceanothus (Ceanothus greggii)
- Desert Cotton (Gossypium thurberi) Thurber’s Cotton, Arizona Wild Cotton, Algondoncillo
- Desert Globe Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) Desert Mallow, Desert Hollyhock, Apricot Mallow
- Desert Hackberry (Celtis pallida) Chaparral, Desert Hackberry (Spiny), Granjeno, Garambullo, Cumbro, Bainoro, Garabato, Granjeno, Granjeno Huasteco, Huasteco, Vaino Blanco, Acebuche, Capul, Palo de Guila, Rompecapa
- Desert Honeysuckle (Anisacanthus thurberi) Cola de Gallo
- Desert Lavender (Hyptis emoryi) Salvia del Sesierto, Lavanda
- Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata) Paper Daisy, Desert Baileya
- Desert (Rush) Milkweed (Asclepias subulata) Desert Milkweed, Rush Milkweed, and Ajamete
- Desert Rosemallow (Hibiscus coulteri) Coulter Hibiscus, Desert Hibiscus and Desert Rose Mallow, Tulipán, Hibisco
- Desert Senna (Senna covesii) – MPPH
- Desert Willow (Chilopsis spp) Desert Catalpa
- Dill (Anethum graveolens) – MPPH
- Dogweed (Thymophylla pentacheata) Five-needle Prickly Leaf, Golden Dyssodia
E, F, G, H, I, J
- Eastern Mojave Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium) California buckwheat, eastern Mojave Wild Buckwheat, Flattop Buckwheat, Yellow Buckwheat, Maderista, Valeriana, Gordo Lobo
- Emu Bush (Eremophila spp) Red Valentine, Yellow Emu, Blue Emu, Blue Bells, Winter Blaze
- Engelmann’s Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus engelmannii) Strawberry Cactus, Purple Torch, Sinita Barbona, Cacto Fresa, Pitahayita
- Evening Primrose (Oenothera spp) Mexican Evening Primrose, White-tufted Primrose, Chihuahuan Primrose, Hooker’s Evening Primrose, Baja Primrose
- False Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa)
- False Tansy Aster (Dieteria asteroides) Aster amplifolius, A. canescens var. latifolius, A. canescens var. tephrodes, A. tephrodes, Dieteria asteroids, Starry Spine Aster
- Fennel (Ferula vulgare) – MPPH
- Frost Sensitive (see Specialty tags below)
- Four Wing Saltbush (Atriplex canescens) Fourwing Saltbush, Four-wing Saltbush, Hoary Saltbush, Shadscale, Wing-scale, Cenzio, Chamiso
- Grama Grass (Bouteloua spp) Sprucetop Grama, Side-oats Grama, Black Grama, Hairy Grama, Blue Grama, Slender Grama, Rothrock Grama, Needle Grama, Six Weeks Grama
- Graythorn (Ziziphus obtusifolia) Lotebush, Gray-thorn, Gumdrop Tree, Lote Bush, Lote-bush Condalia, White Crucillo, Barchata, Ciruela de Monte, Abrojo
- Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii, Eupatorium greggii, Conoclinium dissectum) Eupatorium greggii, Blue Mistflower
- Guayacan (Guaiacum coulteri) Pockwood, Sonora Guaiacum, Tree of Life, Wood of Life
- Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus spp)
- Heart Leaved Hibiscus (Hibiscus cardiophyllus) Tulipan del Monte, Hibiscus cardiophyllus
- Hooker’s Evening Primrose (Oenothera elata ssp. hookeri) Giant Evening Primrose
- Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) – MPPH
- Hopseed Bush(Dodonaea viscosa) Hopseed Bush, Sticky Hop Bush, Switch Sorrel, Varnish Leaf, Casol, ‘A’ali’i
- Ironwood (Olneya tesota) Tesota, Palo De Hierro
- Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) Goat Nut, Coffee Berry, Deer Nut, Pignut, Wild Hazel, Quinine Nut, Gray Box Bush
K, L, M, N, O
- Lantana spp Trailing Lantana Lantana camara, Confiturilla, Tangerine, Irene, Carnival, Gold Mound, Radiation, Spreading Sunshine, Trailing Yellow
- Littleleaf Ash (Fraxinus greggii) Gregg’s Ash, Gregg Ash, Littleleaf Ash, Dogleg Ash, Escobilla, Barreta China
- Littleleaf Cordia (Cordia parvifolia) Small-leaf Geigertree, Smallleaf Cordia, Vara Prieta, Palo Prieto, San Juanito
- Mastic Tree (Pistachio lentiscus) Terebinthus lentiscus, Lentiscus vulgaris
- Mealy Cup Sage (Salvia farinacea) Victoria, Victoria White, Strata, Rhea, Cirrus, Blue Sage, Texas Violet
- Mesquite Trees (Prosopis spp) Argentine Mesquite, Prosopis alba, Chilean Mesquite, Prosopis chilensis, Honey Mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa, Velvet Mesquite, Prosopis velutina, Screw bean Mesquite, American Screwbean, Fremont Screwbean, Screwbean, Screwbean Mesquite, Screwpod Mesquite, Twisted Bean, Tornillo, Mezquite Tornillo, Arizona Mesquite, South American Mesquite, White Carob Tree, Algarrobo Blanco, Algarrobo Panta
- Mexican Bird of Paradise (Erythrostemon mexicanus) Caesalpinia mexicana, Poincianella mexicana, Yellow Bird of Paradise, Mexican Holdback, Mexican Poincianella, Mexican Caesalpinia, Mexican Poinciana
- Mexican Elderberry (Sambucas mexicana) Sambucus cerulea, Blue Elderberry
- Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) Goldylocks, Tree Marigold, Mexican Tournesol, Bolivian Sunflower
- Mexican Tree Sunflower (Tithonia fruticosa) Mirasol
- Mexican Hat (Ratibida columnifera) Red-spike Mexican Hat, Upright Prairie Coneflower, Prairie Coneflower, Long-headed Coneflower, Thimbleflower
- Mexican Honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera) Firecracker Plant, Firecracker Bush
- Milkweed (Asclepias spp)
- Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia spp) Muhlenbergia capillaris, Pink Muhly, Muhlenbergia rigens, Deer Grass, Muhlenbergia fragilis, Delicate Muhly, Muhlenbergia arizonica, Arizona Muhly, Muhlenbergia lindheimeri, Big Muhly, Muhlenbergia dumosa, Bamboo Muhly
- New Mexico Thistle (Cirsium neomexicanum) Desert Thistle, Foss Thistle, Lavender Thistle, Powderpuff Thistle, Utah Thistle
- Oaks (Quercus spp) Arizona White Oak, Canyon Live Oak, Belota, Gambel’s Oak, Gray Oak, Silverleaf Oak, Chinquapin Oak, Mexican Blue Oak, Dunn’s Oak, Sandpaper Oak, Netleaf Oak, Tourmey Oak, Scrub Oak, Emory, Shrub Live, Wavy-leaf Oak, Dunn Oak, Palmer Oak
- Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) Buggywhip, Coachwhip, Candlewood, Slimwood, Desert Coral
- Odora (Porophyllum gracile) Slender Poreleaf, Slenderleaf Poreleaf
- Orange Jubilee (Tecoma X ‘Orange Jubilee) Orange Bells
- Oreganillo (Aloysia wrightii) Wright’s Beebrush, Bee Brush, Lemon Verbena, Mintbush Lippia, Wright Aloysia, Wright Lippia
P, Q
- Paleface Hibiscus (Hibiscus denudatus) Rock Hibiscus, Naked Hibiscus
- Palo Verde Trees (Parkinsonia spp) Foothill Palo Verde, Little Leaf Palo Verde, Parkinsonia macrophylla, Blue Palo Verde, Parkinsonia florida, Palo Brea, Sonoran Palo Verde, Parkinsonia praecox, Mexican Palo Verde, Parkinsonia aculeata, Desert Museum Palo Verde, Parkinsonia x ‘Desert Museum’
- *Pam’s Pink Honeysuckle
- Parish’s Goldeneye (Bahiopsis parishii) Nevada Goldeneye, Parish’s Scrub-Aster, Shrubby Goldeneye
- Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) – MPPH
- Passion Vine (Passiflora spp) Passiflora arida, Passiflora arizonica, Passiflora incarnata, Maypop, Passion Flower, Purple Passion Vine, Passiflora foetida
- Penstemon spp Beardtongues, Beardtongue, Parry’s Penstemon, Firecracker Penstemon, Penstemon eatonii, Penstemon parryi, Jarritos, Red Penstemon, Penstemon barbatus, Scented Beardtongue, Penstemon palmeri, Arizona Penstemon, Penstemon pseudospectabilis, Hill Country Penstemon, Penstemon triflorus
- Perennial Rockcress (Boechera perennans) Arabis angulata, Arabis arcuata var. perennans, Arabis eremophila, Arabis gracilenta, Arabis perennans, Arabis recondite
- Pesticide Free Zone (see Specialty tags below)
- Pineleaf Milkweed (Asclepias linearis) Hierba del Cuervo
- Pink Fairyduster (Calliandria eriophylla) False Mesquite, Hairy-Leaved Calliandra, Mesquitella, Mock Mesquite, Pink Fairyduster, Pink-flowered Acacia, Pink Mimosa, Stickpea, Huajillo, Mezquitillo, Cosahui, Pelo de Angel, Cabeza de Angel
- Poppies (Eschscholzia spp) Eschscholzia californica, California poppy, Eschscholzia glyptosperma, Desert Poppy, Eschscholzia mexicana, Mexican gold poppy, Eschscholzia minutiflora, Small-flowered poppy, Eschscholzia cespitosa, Tufted poppy, Goldenpoppy, Amapola, Amapola del Campo, Amarilla
- Prairie Acacia (Acaciella angustissima) Whiteball Acacia, Fern Acacia, Ocpatl, Prairie Acacia, Prairie Wattle, White Ball Acacia, Whiteball Acacia, Spanish: Guajillo, Day, Cantemó Palo de Pulque, Barbas de Chivo
- Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp) Engelmann’s Prickly Pear, Indian Fig, Opuntia ficus-indica, Opuntia engelmannii, Santa Rita, Opuntia santa-rita, Plains, Opuntia polycantha, Purple, Opuntia macrocentra, Old Mexico, Opuntia gomei
- Purple Threeawn (Arstida purpurea) Red Threeawn, Purple Three Awn
- Queen’s Wreath (Antigonon leptopus) Coral Vine, Confederate Vine, Mexican Coral Vine, Mexican Creeper, Mountain-rose Coralvine, Pink Vine, Queen’s Jewels, Sanmiguelito, Flor de San Miguel, Coronella, Coronillo, Bellissima, Cadeña de Amor
R, S
- Red Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) Pride of Barbados, Barbados Fencepost, Dwarf Poinciana, Mexican Bird-of-Paradise, Peacock Flower, Poinciana, Pride-of-Barbados, Red Bird-of-Paradise, Barba del Sol, Tetezo, Flamboyant-de-Jardin, Flor de Camarón, Flos Pavonis, Tabachín, Tabaquín, Talcapache, -de Guacamaya
- Red Push Pistache (Pistacia X ‘Red Push’) P. atlantica, P. integerrima, Pistacia atlantica x integerrima
- Rock Penstemon (Penstemon baccharifolius) Rock Beardtongue, Cut-leaf Penstemon, Cut-leaf Beardtongue, Baccharis-leaf Penstemon, Baccharis-leaf Beardtongue
- Rubber Rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) Chamisa, Goldenbush, Chrysothamnus collinus, Chrysothamnus frigidus var. concolor, Chrysothamnus nauseosus, Chrysothamnus nauseosus subsp. nauseosus, Chrysothamnus nauseosus subsp. uintahensis, Chrysothamnus nauseosus subsp. viridulus, Chrysothamnus nauseosus subsp. viscosus Chrysothamnus nauseosus var. macrophyllus, Chrysothamnus nauseosus var. uintahensis, Chrysothamnus pallidus
- Rue of the Mountains (Thamnosma texana) Texas desert-rue, Dutchman’s breeches, ruda del monte, Thamnosma texanum
- Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii) Western Jimson Weed, Angel’s Trumpet, Devil’s Weed, Indian-apple, Jimson Weed, Pricklyburr, Sacred Thorn-apple, Sacred Thornapple, Thornapple, Toloachè, Toloachè Grande, Tecuyaui, Belladona
- Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea)
- San Felipe Dogweed (Adenophyllum porophylloides) San Felipe Dyssodia
- Sandpaper Verbena (Glandularia rigida)
- Scorpionweed (Phacelia spp) P. arizonica, Arizona Scorpionweed, P. campanularia, Desert Bluebells, P. crenulata, Notch-leaved Scorpionweed, P. distans, Distant Phacelia, Cleftleaf Wildheliotrope, Caterpillar Weed, Caterpillarweed, Cleft-leaf Wild Heliotrope, Heliotrope Phacelia, Notchleaf Phacelia, Notch-leafed Phacelia, Notch-leaf Scorpion-weed, Scorpion-weed
- Seep Willow (Baccharis salicifolia) Mule-fat, Mule’s Fat, Seep Willow, Seep-willow, Seepwillow Baccharis and Water Wally, Batamote, Jara, Jarilla, Hierba del Pasmo, Jarillla
- Shrubby Deervetch (Acmispon rigidus) Ottleya rigida, Lotus rigidus, Desert Rock Pea
- Shrubby Indian Mallow (Abutilon abutiloides) Abutilon americanum, Abutilon jacquinii, Abutilon lignosum, Malva Pintapán
- Snapdragon Vine (Maurandya antirrhiniflora) Creeping Snapdragon, Climbing Snapdragon, Purple Twining Snapdragon, Blue Snapdragon Vine, Little Snapdragon Vine, Roving Sailor
- Sonoran Kidneywood (Esenhardtia orthocarpa) Palo Cuate, Palo Dulce, Palo Azul, Desert Kidneywood
- Spreading Fleabane (Erigeron divergens) Branching Fleabane, Desert Fleabane, Fleabane Daisy, Spreading Daisy
- Staghorn Cholla (Cylindropuntia Versicolor)
- Sunflowers (Helianthus spp) Helianthus annuus, Common Sunflower, Helianthus anomalous, H. nuttallii
- Superstition Mallow (Abutilon palmeri) Palmer’s Indian Mallow, Indian Mallow, Palmer Indian Mallow
- Sweetbush (Bebbia juncea) Chuckwalla’s Delight
T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
- Tahoka Daisy (Machaeranthera tanacetifolia) Tansy-leafed aster, Tanseyleaf Goldenweed, Aster tanacetifolius, Machaeranthera coronopifolia, Machaeranthera parthenium
- Teddy Bear Cholla (Cylindropuntia bigelovii) Jumping Cholla
- *Texas Olive
- Texas Sage (leucophyllum spp) Texas Rangers or Barometer Bushes, Compact Texas Sage, Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Compacta’, Silver Cloud Sage, Leucophyllum candidum‘Silver Cloud’, Thunder Cloud Sage, Leucophyllum candidum ‘Thunder Cloud’, Sierra Bouquet, Leucophyllum pruinosum Sierra BouquetTM, Houdini, Leucophyllum revolutum HoudiniTM, Cimarron, Leucophyllum zygophyllum Cimarron®, Convent, Leucophyllum X ‘Convent’, Green Cloud Sage, Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Green Cloud’, Chihuahuan Sage, Leucophyllum laevigatum, Summer Snow, Leucophyllum laevigatum ‘Summer Snow’, Lynn’s Legacy, Leucophyllum langmaniae ‘Lynn’s Legacy’, Rio Bravo, Leucophyllum langmaniae Rio Bravo®, Heavenly Cloud, Leucophyllum X ‘Heavenly Cloud’
- Tree Morning Glory (Ipomoea arborescens) Palo Santo, Tree Morningglory, Morning Glory Tree
- Thornbush Wolfberry (Lyceum exsertum) Arizona Desert-thorn, Boxthorn, Littleleaf Wolfberry, Wolfberry, Frutilla, Lycium fremontii var. bigelovii
- Triangle Leaf Bursage (Ambrosia deltoidea) Canyon Bursage, Rabbit Bush, Triangle Bursage, Triangleleaf Bursage, Triangle Bur Ragweed
- Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus arbors var. drummondii) Manzanilla, Little Apple, Texas Mallow, Mexican Apple, Red Mallow, May Apple, Scotchman’s Purse, Bleeding Heart, Drummond’s Wax Mallow
- Turpentine Bush (Ericameria laricifolia) Ericameria, Turpentine Brush, Turpentinebush, Hierba De Conejo, Aplopappus laricifolius, Aster laricifolius, Aster laricifolia, Bigelowia nelsonii, Chrysocoma laricifolia, Chrysoma laricifolia, Ericameria nelsonii, Haplopappus laricifolius
- Verbena (Verbena spp) Glandularia, Goodding’s Verbena, G. gooddingii, Moss Verbena, G. pulchella, Sandpaper Verbena, G. rigida
- Western Goldenrod (Euthamia occidentalis) Western Goldentop, Aster baccharoides, Euthamia californica, E. linearifolia, Haplopppus baccaroides, Solidago lanceolata, S. occidentalis, western flat-topped goldenrod, grass-leaf goldenrod
- White Sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana) Louisiana sage, Wormwood, Chamizo Cenizo, Estafiata de Castilla
- White stemmed milkweed (Asclepias albicans) Wax milkweed, Whitestem Milkweed
- Wild Petunia (Ruellia nudiflora) Violet Ruellia, Common Wild Petunia, Violet Wild Petunia, Wild Petunia, Hierba De La Calentura Ruellia ciliatiflora
- Wildflower Area (see Specialty tags below)
- Willow Ragwort (Barkleyanthus salicifolius) Willow Groundsel, Ruina, Cineraria salicifolia, Senecio salignus
- Willows (Salix spp) Salix arizonica, Arizona Willow, Salix gooddingii, Goodding’s Willow, Salix exigua, Sandbar or Coyote Willow, Salix amygdaloides, Peachleaf Willow, Salix lasiolepis, Arroyo Willow, Salix laevigata, Red Willow, Salix scouleriana, Scouler’s Willow
- Wolfberries (Lycium spp) Lycium brevipes, Baja Desert Thorn, Fruitilla, Lycium andersonii, Anderson Wolfberry, Desert Wolfberry, Thornberry, Lycium berlandieri, Berlandier’s Wolfberry, Lycium californicum, California Box Thorn, Lycium exsertum, Arizona Desert Thorn, Thornbush, Lycium fremontii, Fremont’s Thornbush
- Wooly Butterfly Bush (Buddleia marrubifolia) Buddleia marrubifolia, Buddleja
- Wright’s Buckwheat (Eriogonum wrightii) Bastardsage, Shrubby Buckwheat, Wright’s Buckwheat, Eriogonum helianthemifolium, Eriogonum trachygonum, Eriogonum wrightii subsp. wrightii
- Yellow Orchid Vine (Callaeum macropterum) Butterfly Vine, Yellow Butterfly Vine, Butterfly Pea Vine, gallinita
- Yellow Rabbitbrush (Chrysothammus viscidiflorus) Sticky Rabbitbrush, Yellow Chamisa, Arizona Rabbitbrush, Chrysothamnus molestus, Ericameria molesta
- YourName Pollinator Garden (see Specialty tags below)
- Yucca (Yucca spp) Banana Yucca, Yucca baccata, Mojave Yucca, Yucca schidigera, Spanish Bayonet, Yucca aloifolia, Joshua Tree, Yucca brevifolia, Soaptree Yucca, Yucca elata
- Zinnia (Zinnia spp) Zinnia elegans, Common Zinnia, Zinnia acerosa, Desert Zinnia