There are a number of desert flora that raise blood-red flowers or blooms . Some of the most mutual red - blooming desert plants include ocotillo , chuparosa , and several cactus metal money . This article will go over some of the most far-famed and beautiful desert plants that bloom in Red River . sleep together which plant life have bright cherry-red bloom can help you make horticulture decisions and delight the variety of plant life that grow in dry places .
One of the most striking red - blooming desert plants is ocotillo ( Fouquieria splendens ) . Ocotillo is a improbable , prickly plant that grows in the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts in the southwestern US and northern Mexico .
When the weather is veracious , ocotillo flora grow magniloquent , thin , spiny stems that can reach 20 feet in height . The stems are topped with bright crimson heyday that attract hummingbird and other pollinators . The flowers have five petals and ten protruding stamens tipped with yellow anther .

Ocotillo blooming full stop are dependant on rainfall . After a souse rainwater , ocotillo can speedily stock leaves and heyday straits . The works fell its leaves and goes hibernating during drouth stop to conserve piss . The smart carmine bloom counterpoint attractively against the drear desert skies and tan worldly concern .
In addition to its vivacious flowers , ocotillo is valued for its power to boom in red-hot , arid climate . Its long taproot can get to down over 20 feet to retrieve clandestine moisture . The plant ’s sparse leaves thin transpiration . Spines discourage herbivore from eating the plant life ’s stems and leaves .
Ocotillo is popular in xeriscaping and native plant gardens in ironic regions . It provides dramatic course , height , and pops of colour . hummingbird bet on its nectar - rich heyday . Ocotillo also serve as a protective nanny plant , providing tint and protection for seedlings of other species .
Another iconic red - bloom desert plant is chuparosa ( Justicia californica ) , also known as hummingbird bush or beloperone . This deciduous bush thrives in the deserts of the southwestern United States and northerly Mexico .
Chuparosa dumbfound its name from the Spanish words “ chupar ” meaning to lactate and “ rosa ” significance rose . This refers to the plant ’s tubular red flower which provide ambrosia for hummingbird and other pollinators .
The flowers have no petals . Instead , they have a red cannular calyx with a yellow peak . The flower are arrange in clump at the end of the stems and bloom most class - turn watch rains . A chuparosa bush can have thousand of bright red flowers that stand up out against the green leaves when it ’s in full bloom .
In addition to attracting pollinators , chuparosa provides food for thought and shelter for birds , hare , and desert reptilian . Animals will nibble on the leave-taking and foliage . The arm also make good nesting sites .
Chuparosa grows at a temperate gait and can reach heights of 4 - 8 human foot marvelous and spacious . The shoots and branches emerge at irregular angles , giving the shrub a sprawling , loose shape . Chuparosa flourish in rocky desert soils and requires very minuscule water once prove . These qualities make it an splendid selection for desert landscaping . Mass planting can produce drifts of red colour .
Several species of prickly pear tree cactus also produce showy cerise flowers in desert environment . Prickly pears are opuntia cacti that have flat , padded shank and are establish throughout North and South America . In the hot , dry deserts of the American Southwest , coloured prickly Pyrus communis blooms are a welcoming sight .
– Engelmann ’s prickly pear ( Opuntia engelmannii ) – Grows in drier areas of the Sonoran and Mojave comeuppance . Produces bombastic , smart carmine - over-embellished blossom .
– Beavertail cactus ( Opuntia basilaris ) – establish in the southwesterly U. S. and northern Mexico . Bears Battle of Magenta flower that can be over 4 inches wide .
– Tulip prickly pear ( Opuntia phaeacantha ) – Named for its flushed bloom resemble tulip . Native to central Mexico .
– Santa Rita prickly pear ( Opuntia santa - rita ) – in the first place from the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts . flower are deep red to purple .
Prickly pear cacti peak in spring and other summertime , providing bursts of colour against the drear desert background . The flowers open during the day to attract pollinator like bee , WASP , beetle , and hummingbirds . Many species have edible fruits that mature in tardy summertime .
In add-on to adding beauty , prickly pear cacti provide nutrient and shelter for desert wildlife . The pads are deplete by desert tortoises , packrats , and other brute . The spine help dissuade herbivores and protect the water - filled plant .
When people imagine desert landscapes , they often mean of flaxen , innocent vista with little color . But the desert is actually home to a stunning array of plants that produce brilliant red bloom . These fiery peak provide a splash of vivid color against golden grit dune or cacti with their muted greens and grays . have ’s explore some of the most beautiful desert plant life that digest fall upon scarlet , ruby and ruby flush .
Penstemons
One of the expectant groups of red - flowering desert plants are the Penstemon . With at least 271 specie , these repeated wildflowers thrive in waterless conditions from the Southwest U.S. to Mexico . genus Penstemon grow vasiform blossoms in an array of fiery Red usually with two lip give them their vulgar name of “ beardtongue . ”
Some genus Penstemon species with fantastic red blooming include
Scarlet penstemon ( Penstemon triflorus ) , which blanket hillsides in the Sonoran Desert with tubular blood-red blossom atop tall stalks .
Superb penstemon ( Penstemon superbus ) , sporting bushy spikes of all-encompassing blossoms in rich shadowiness of red and pink .
Little penstemon ( Penstemon subulatus ) , bearing touchy reddish trumpets on inadequate , woody stanch .
Eaton ’s penstemon ( Penstemon eatonii ) , showing off sight of brilliant ruby-red tubular blooms .
Red beardtongue ( Penstemon barbatus ) , named for its fuzzy red flowers .
Desert Mallow
This aptly distinguish perennial garden truck flowers redolent of hollyhocks . Desert mallow ( Sphaeralcea ambigua ) can be found turn across the hot , arid region of the Southwest . It produce delicate peak in orangey - reddened hues atop tall stems lined with gray-headed - green foliage . These gay blooms appear from spring into fall . Some types expose vivid red coloration .
Ocotillo
The ocotillo ( Fouquieria splendens ) is one of the most striking Sonoran Desert plant life when in bloom . This spiny , shrubby succulent sends up improbable , skinny stems lined with pointy leaves . But after rainfall , ocotillo stems erupt in flame - red flower that attract hummingbird . When not blooming , ocotillo appears leafless and otherworldly .
Chuparosa
Also call hummingbird bush , the chuparosa ( Justicia californica ) light up the desert landscape with vibrant red tubular blossoms beloved by hummingbird . This hardy bush thrives in red-hot , teetotal conditions across the Southwestern U.S. and down into Mexico . Red blossom smother the glossy green give virtually year - round depending on rain .
Texas Sage
Texas sage ( Leucophyllum frutescens ) is a rugged , woody shrub mutual to the Chihuahuan Desert of Texas , New Mexico and Mexico . When conditions are right , it burst into efflorescence with dense bunch of tubular red flowers . Called cenizo locally , it makes an attractive drought - liberal hedge or backdrop planting .
Indian Blanket
Indian cover ( Gaillardia pulchella ) is a wildflower prairie native also found across raging southwestern deserts . Its daisy - corresponding flowers come in various shades of red , from bold crimson - red to swell - orangeness . Short mounded leafage quell green year - rotund , and fluffy blush efflorescence summer into declivity , alight up dry landscapes with their vibrant colors .
Desert Marigold
This tough perennial ( Baileya multiradiata ) flourish across waterless Southwest deserts down into Mexico . Desert marigold produces pollyannaish chickenhearted blooms , but also comes in a more spectacular crimson - flower form . The red peak rise alone on tall wiry root , above silverish ferny foliation . prime last from spring well into summer , supply a bright berth of color .
Firecracker Penstemon
As its name suggests , the firecracker penstemon ( Penstemon eatonii ) produces blasts of perfervid red tubular flower that make it a hummingbird dearie . This penstemon variety display racy ruby blossoms along upright stem from late wintertime into natural spring across California deserts and the Southwest . Its vibrant blooms contrast attractively with blue - unripe foliage .
Desert Sand Verbena
This trailing repeated with bleary ellipse leave ( Abronia villosa ) blankets sandlike desert floors from California to Arizona with its pictorial heyday . Pale lilac or deep Battle of Magenta blooms open fully in good morning sun , endure only a day before new buds take over . Desert Baroness Dudevant verbena trust on pollenation from butterflies and native bees to produce its blankets of red - hued bloom each spring .
Parry’s Penstemon
Parry ’s penstemon ( Penstemon parryi ) produces some of the reddest tube-shaped flowers in the penstemon family . Fat efflorescence in blaze lip rouge - red hues line good stalks from mid to late spring . This motley thrives in live deserts and blend of the Southwest into California , perch them up with fervid bloom of youth .
Southwest Indian Paintbrush
This aboriginal wildflower is named for its red flowers that see like they ’ve been dipped in paint . Indian paintbrush ( Castilleja integra ) display bushy spikes of graphic blooms , ranging from crimson to red - orange depending on salmagundi and location . It thrives across the raging comeuppance of the Southwest during spring , sharing its ambrosia with hummingbird .
Arizona Rosewood
Arizona rosewood ( Vauquelinia californica ) is a large desert shrub or small tree diagram that erupts with fantastic flowers after ample rain . cluster of crinkly papery cerise blooms cover the stiff evergreen foliage from give into summer . This drought - deciduous plant drops its leaves in extreme drought . But the rosewood ’s vivid red flowers shine during wet years across the Southwest .
Barbara’s Buttons
This competently name annual wild flower ( Marshallia caespitosa ) blankets part of the Sonoran Desert in colored rosiness from March to April . Pincushion - like flush rise on short stems , with petals in hues from yellow to pale red . But the bright carmine cultivar ‘ Barbara ’s release ’ shows off rich reddish - red blossoms with yellow centers , decorating sandy washes with its vivid colour .
The desert is full of many more red - blossoming cacti , shrubs , perennial and yearly beyond this small sampling . So next metre you picture a desolate landscape of softened browns when hearing the word desert , commemorate the many plants with brilliant deep red flush waiting to show off when condition are right . The desert is full of coloured surprise .
Benefits of Red-Blooming Desert Plants
Desert plants with red flowers provide a identification number of important benefit and usage :
The vivacious red prime stand up out against the desert sands . By attract pollinators , they fend for the entire ecosystem . Desert - adapt plants like ocotillo , chuparosa , and prickly pear cacti bring life and knockout to harsh environments . Their striking flower are a testament to the botanic wonders of the desert .
Other Red-Blooming Desert Plants
Beyond ocotillo , chuparosa , and prickly pear cacti , there are many other ruby-red - blossom plants that light up desert landscape :
– Desert honeysuckle ( Anisacanthus thurberi ): This intermediate - sized shrub spring up in the desert and has clusters of tube - mould orangish flowers that bloom from spring to fall . Hummingbirds frequent the nectar - rich blooms .
– Claret loving cup cactus ( Echinocereus coccineus ) – This little , clump - form cactusnative to northern Mexico and the southwest U. S. has vivid red blooms in late outflow .
– Desert mallow ( Sphaeralcea ambigua ) is a aboriginal recurrent herb with orange - carmine flowers that can flower almost all year if the atmospheric condition are proper . An important nectar source .
The butterfly bush , or Buddleja marrubifolia , is a woody recurrent shrub that has long clusters of midget red tubular prime that butterfly and hummingbird get it on .
– Desert marigold ( Baileya multiradiata ) – A drought - liberal one-year or short - survive recurrent with yellow - eyed red daisy - alike blooms .
“ reddish hedgehog cactus ” ( Echinocereus coccineus ) has undimmed flushed peak clustering that appear in tardy spring on this small drum cactus .
As the name advise , the Mojave prickly pear ( Opuntia erinacea ) develop at high elevations in the Mojave Desert and has flowers that are a shade of purple . Hardy to 15 ° F .
13 Native Mojave Desert Plants – Catclaw Acacia, Creosote, Jojoba, Cholla, Opuntia, Ephedra
FAQ
What is the name of the plant with a ruby flower ?
What is the Southwest bush with red flowers ?
What are the red flowers in Texas ?
What is a desert plant ?
The easily recognizable feature of the desert plant is its marigold - corresponding flowers measuring 2 ” ( 5 cm ) across . The flush bloom in the desert from early give through late fall . This clumping desert plant fly high in inadequate , ironical soils and hot conditions . The marsh aster is a common flowering flora found in desert .
What plants grow in the desert ?
Some uncouth desert plants admit : – * * Cacti * * : The most common desert plants , cacti are have it off for their power to store water in their thick-skulled , overweight stem and leaves . Some popular species of cacti let in
What does a flower desert works count like ?
The flowering desert plant is a herbaceous plant that blossom with fragrant , funnel shape - shaped orange - yellowish flowers . The creeping herbaceous plant life has shiny , ellipse , or heart - shaped leaves with lob , rippled margins . It ’s a native plant in Arizona , California , and the Sonoran Desert .
What are the best desert perennial ?
Here , we will be discussing some especial desert perennials that will give your garden a vivacious touch modality . Desert Marigold ( Baileya multiradiata ) is a gold yellow flower that acquire in the dry soil of desert region . It thrive under full Lord’s Day and has low water requirement , making it ideal for the desiccated climate .