Native range

Native plants of Arizona

21 wild species and 13 plant groups in the BloomsEye library grow wild somewhere in Arizona, read from Kew's World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS. The 55 garden forms of them are listed apart below, each naming its wild parent.

34 plants

How this list is made

Derived from each plant's native-range record, checked against Kew's World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS with every decision on a ledger; Arizona is read off the record's own range, and the order is how many of the state's counties record each plant, as stored in the BloomsEye library, which was written with AI assistance. Of these 34 plants, 29 have been checked against outside sources; the rest have not been checked yet, and each plant's own page says which. The cards are AI-generated illustrations.

Range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 4.0, adapted) and USDA PLANTS. How the native range is credited.

Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
Full sun6.5 ftModerate1.5 ft wide
California Poppy
Eschscholzia
Full sunZones 6–1012 inLow
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Yellow California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
Full sunZones 6–1012 inLow
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Full sunZones 3–92 ftLow
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Part sunZones 3–93.5 ftHigh
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Golden Columbine
Aquilegia chrysantha
Part shadeZones 3–82.5 ftModerate
California Fuchsia
Epilobium canum
Full sunZones 7–112 ftLow
Foliage
Douglas Fir
Pseudotsuga menziesii
Full sunZones 4–659 ftModerate
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Full sunZones 3–93.5 ftLow
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Full sunZones 5–98.5 ftModerate
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
Full sunZones 3–98.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
California Flannelbush
Fremontodendron californicum
Full sunZones 8–1115 ftLow
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Full sunZones 4–95 ftLow
Bidens
Bidens ferulifolia
Full sunZones 8–1112 inLow
Foliage
Lady Fern
Athyrium filix-femina
Part shadeZones 4–82.5 ftModerate
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
Full sunZones 3–71.5 ftLow
Foliage
Colorado Blue Spruce
Picea pungens
Full sunZones 2–749 ftModerate
Potentilla
Potentilla fruticosa
Full sunZones 2–73 ftLow
Foliage
Boston Fern
Nephrolepis exaltata
Part shadeZones 9–112 ftHigh
Northern Sea Oats
Chasmanthium latifolium
Part shadeZones 3–83.5 ftModerate
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Full sunZones 3–94.5 ftLow
Penstemon
Penstemon
Full sunZones 3–82.5 ftLow
Aster
Symphyotrichum
Full sunZones 3–83 ftModerate
Goldenrod
Solidago
Full sunZones 3–93 ftLow
Perennial Sunflower
Helianthus
Full sunZones 4–95 ftModerate
Bluestar
Amsonia
Full sunZones 4–93 ftModerate
Blanket Flower
Gaillardia
Full sunZones 3–101.5 ftLow
Sneezeweed
Helenium
Full sunZones 3–83.5 ftModerate
Bee Balm
Monarda
Full sunZones 3–93 ftModerate
Spiderwort
Tradescantia
Part sunZones 3–91.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia
Full sunZones 3–92.5 ftLow
Coreopsis
Coreopsis
Full sunZones 4–92 ftLow
Joe Pye Weed
Eutrochium
Full sunZones 4–96 ftHigh
Serviceberry
Amelanchier
Part sunZones 4–820 ftModerate

Recorded across Arizona

How many of the state's 15 counties record each wild species growing wild, from USDA PLANTS: a plant recorded in many counties is widespread in Arizona; one recorded in few may be local, or simply under-recorded. A county's absence is not evidence a plant is absent. 20 of the wild species carry a county record here.

Garden forms of Arizona natives

55 garden forms, each a named selection of a species that grows wild in Arizona and each naming its wild parent. A garden form is not the wild plant, so it is listed here and never counted above.

  • Abbotswood

    Potentilla fruticosa 'Abbotswood' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • Adams Elderberry

    Sambucus canadensis 'Adams' · Garden form of American Elderberry

  • Alpine Carpet Juniper

    Juniperus communis 'Mondap' · Garden form of Juniperus communis

  • Arctic Fire Red Twig Dogwood

    Cornus sericea 'Farrow' · Garden form of Cornus sericea

  • Arctic Fire Yellow Dogwood

    Cornus sericea 'SMNCSBD' · Garden form of Cornus sericea

  • Autumn Beauty

    Helianthus annuus 'Autumn Beauty' · Garden form of Sunflower

  • Baby Blue

    Picea pungens 'Baby Blue' · Garden form of Colorado Blue Spruce

  • Blackhawks Big Bluestem

    Andropogon gerardi 'Blackhawks' · Garden form of Andropogon gerardi

  • Blaze

    Schizachyrium scoparium 'Blaze' · Garden form of Little Bluestem

  • Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass

    Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition' · Garden form of Bouteloua gracilis

  • Blue Arrow Juniper

    Juniperus scopulorum 'Blue Arrow' · Garden form of Juniperus scopulorum

  • California Poppy (Cream/White)

    Eschscholzia californica 'Alba' · Garden form of California Poppy

  • California Poppy (Rose/Pink Mix)

    Eschscholzia californica 'Carmine King' · Garden form of California Poppy

  • Campfire Red Ember Bidens

    Bidens ferulifolia 'DPWBIDCAPR' · Garden form of Bidens

  • Carolina Sapphire Arizona Cypress

    Hesperocyparis glabra 'Carolina Saphire' · Garden form of Hesperocyparis glabra

  • Chicklet Gold Tecoma

    Tecoma stans 'Smntsc' · Garden form of Tecoma stans

  • Claire Grace

    Monarda fistulosa 'Claire Grace' · Garden form of Monarda fistulosa

  • Fat Albert

    Picea pungens 'Fat Albert' · Garden form of Colorado Blue Spruce

  • Giant Sunflower

    Helianthus annuus 'Mammoth Russian' · Garden form of Sunflower

  • Globe Blue Spruce

    Picea pungens 'Globosa' · Garden form of Colorado Blue Spruce

  • Goldfinger

    Potentilla fruticosa 'Goldfinger' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • Gro-Low Fragrant Sumac

    Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low' · Garden form of Fragrant Sumac

  • Happy Face Yellow

    Potentilla fruticosa 'Happy Face Yellow' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • Heavy Metal

    Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal' · Garden form of Switchgrass

  • Hoopsii

    Picea pungens 'Hoopsii' · Garden form of Colorado Blue Spruce

  • Ivory Castle

    Eschscholzia californica 'Ivory Castle' · Garden form of California Poppy

  • Lemon Queen

    Helianthus annuus 'Lemon Queen' · Garden form of Sunflower

  • Lemony Lace Elderberry

    Sambucus racemosa 'SMNSRD4' · Garden form of Sambucus racemosa

  • Mammoth

    Helianthus annuus 'Mammoth' · Garden form of Sunflower

  • Mango Tango

    Potentilla fruticosa 'Mango Tango' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • McKay's White

    Potentilla fruticosa 'McKay's White' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • Mikado

    Eschscholzia californica 'Mikado' · Garden form of California Poppy

  • Montgomery

    Picea pungens 'Montgomery' · Garden form of Colorado Blue Spruce

  • Moulin Rouge

    Helianthus annuus 'Moulin Rouge' · Garden form of Sunflower

  • Northwind

    Panicum virgatum 'Northwind' · Garden form of Switchgrass

  • Orange Whisper

    Potentilla fruticosa 'Orange Whisper' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • Painted Orange Bidens

    Bidens ferulifolia 'Beedance Painted Orange' · Garden form of Bidens

  • Painted Red Bidens

    Bidens ferulifolia 'Beedance Painted Red' · Garden form of Bidens

  • Pink Beauty

    Potentilla fruticosa 'Pink Beauty' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • Pink Whisper

    Potentilla fruticosa 'Pink Whisper' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • Purple Gleam

    Eschscholzia californica 'Purple Gleam' · Garden form of California Poppy

  • Red Ace

    Potentilla fruticosa 'Red Ace' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • Ring of Fire

    Helianthus annuus 'Ring of Fire' · Garden form of Sunflower

  • River Mist

    Chasmanthium latifolium 'River Mist' · Garden form of Northern Sea Oats

  • Rose Chiffon

    Eschscholzia californica 'Rose Chiffon' · Garden form of California Poppy

  • Shenandoah

    Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah' · Garden form of Switchgrass

  • Skyrocket Juniper

    Juniperus scopulorum 'Skyrocket' · Garden form of Juniperus scopulorum

  • Snow Flurry

    Symphyotrichum ericoides 'Snow Flurry' · Garden form of Symphyotrichum ericoides

  • Soraya

    Helianthus annuus 'Soraya' · Garden form of Sunflower

  • Strawberry Blonde

    Helianthus annuus 'Strawberry Blonde' · Garden form of Sunflower

  • Sugar Shack Buttonbush

    Cephalanthus occidentalis 'SMCOSS' · Garden form of Buttonbush

  • Tangerine

    Potentilla fruticosa 'Tangerine' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • Teddy Bear

    Helianthus annuus 'Teddy Bear' · Garden form of Sunflower

  • Twilight Zone

    Schizachyrium scoparium 'Twilight Zone' · Garden form of Little Bluestem

  • Velvet Queen

    Helianthus annuus 'Velvet Queen' · Garden form of Sunflower

Plant groups native to Arizona

13 plant groups sold under one name whose wild species grow in Arizona; the count beside each is how many of its wild species the record finds in the state.

Keep exploring

Native to your own county

This page is the whole state. In the free garden planner, enter your ZIP and Garden Check lists these same plants for your location, marks the ones recorded growing wild in your county, and places any of them in your plan; its Browse tab answers for any of the 65 states, provinces and territories with no account.

Design your garden

Drop plants onto a 3D plan, see how they fill in, and watch the whole garden bloom across the year.

Open BloomsEye Studio →