MojaveU Desert Native Plants for Native Bees (& other insect pollinators)

The Mojave Desert is home to an estimated 750 native bee species. While many bees will pollinate a variety of flowering plants, some species have preferences for the types of flowers they pollinate. For example, the mallow bees Diadasia ochracea and D. diminuta, specialize on flowers of apricot mallow, while other Diadasia species only pollinate cactus flowers. Native bee diversity is important for maintaining native plant diversity and healthy ecosystems. Following is a list of plants that support a variety of native bee species.

Asclepias erosa—Desert milkweed—tarantula hawk wasps, sweat bees, oil-collecting bees Bahiopsis parishii—Parish’s goldeneye—leafcutter bees Baileya multiradiata—Desert marigold—sweat bees Bebbia juncea—Sweetbush—digger bees, oil-collecting bees, bumblebees, bee flies Cercocarpus betuloides—Mountain mahogany—mining bees Chaenactis species—Pincushion—sweat bees, bee flies, flower beetles Chilopsis linearis—Desert willow—sweat bees Cylindropuntia species—Cholla species—Diadasia bees (cactus bees), flower beetles Cucurbita palmata—Coyote melon—squash bees Encelia actoni—Acton encelia—mining bees, leafcutter bees, flower beetles E. farinosa—Brittlebush—mining bees, sweat bees, digger bees Ericameria species—Goldenbush, Rabbitbrush —cuckoo bees, digger bees, mason bees Eriogonum species—Buckwheat species—sweat bees, cellophane bees, leafcutter bees, mason bees Eschscholzia species—Poppy species—Perdita bees Isocoma acradenia—Alkali goldenbush—alkali bees, sweat bees Krameria erecta, K. bicolor—Rhatany—oil-collecting bees Larrea tridentata—Creosote bush—Perdita bees, mason bees, digger bees, oil-collecting bees Malacothrix glabrata—Desert dandelion—desert dandelion bee, sweat bees, mining bees, oil-collecting bees, owlet moths Opuntia basilaris—Beavertail cactus—Diadasia bees (cactus bees), sweat bees, flower beetles Parkinsonia florida—Blue palo verde—CA carpenter bee, oil-collecting bees, leafcutter bees Peritoma arborea—Bladderpod—digger bees, sweat bees, mining bees Prosopis glandulosa, P. pubescens—Honey mesquite, screwbean mesquite— cellophane bees, mason bees, CA carpenter bee, leafcutter bees Psorothamnus species—Indigo bush, smoke tree—digger bees, bee flies Rafinesquia neomexicana—Desert chicory—Diadasia bees Salvia species—Sage species—digger bees, oil-collecting bees, CA carpenter bee Scutellaria mexicana—Paperbag bush—digger bees Senecio flaccidus—Butterweed—mason bees Senegalia greggii—Catclaw—Diadasia bees, leafcutter bees Senna armata—Desert senna—bumblebees Sphaeralcea ambigua—Apricot mallow—Diadasia bees (mallow bees), sweat bees, mining bees Xylorhiza tortifolia—Mojave aster—Diadasia bees, sweat bees, Perdita bees, bee flies

Mojave Desert Native Plants for Birds

To create a garden that attracts birds, it is important to have a variety of native plants that provide food, nesting sites & materials, and protection from predators (cover). To make your garden bird-friendly, consider adding a source of clean water and avoid using pesticides.

Atriplex canescens—Fourwing saltbush—food, cover Atriplex lentiformis—Quail bush—food, cover Atriplex polycarpa—Cattle spinach—food, cover Bahiopsis parishii—Parish’s goldeneye—food Cercocarpus betuloides—Mountain mahogany—food, cover, nesting Chilopsis linearis—Desert willow—cover Cylindropuntia echinocarpa—Silver cholla—cover, nesting Encelia actoni—Acton encelia—food Encelia farinosa—Brittlebush—food Ephedra species—Ephedra—food Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium—Eastern Mojave buckwheat—food Hesperoyucca whipplei—Chaparral yucca—food Forestiera pubescens—Desert olive—food, cover, nesting Parkinsonia florida—Blue palo verde—cover Peritoma arborea—Bladderpod—food Prosopis glandulosa, P. pubescens—Honey mesquite, screwbean mesquite—cover, nesting Prunus fasciculata—Desert almond—food, cover, nesting Prunus ilicifolia—Hollyleaf cherry—food, cover, nesting Psorothamnus species—Indigo bush, Smoke tree—cover Quercus cornelius-mulleri—Desert scrub oak—food, cover, nesting Rhus ovata—Sugarbush—food, cover, nesting Rhus aromatica—Basket bush—food, cover Salvia species—Sage—food Senegalia greggii—Catclaw—cover Simmondsia chinensis—Jojoba—food, cover Sphaeralcea ambigua—Apricot mallow—food Stipa speciosa—Desert needlegrass—food Vitis girdiana—Desert wild grape—food Yucca brevifolia—Joshua tree—food, cover Yucca schidigera—Mojave yucca—food, cover

Mojave Desert Native Plants for Butterflies and Moths When creating a garden to attract butterflies and moths, it’s important to include plants that support the entire life cycle of the insect. This means having flowering plants for adults (nectar plants) and plants with foliage for their caterpillars to eat (larval food plants, or host plants). Adult butterflies often visit a variety of flowers, while their caterpillars typically feed only on certain species. Following are lists of host plants and nectar plants to attract desert butterflies and moths to your garden.

HOST PLANTS (food for caterpillars)

Acmispon glaber—Deerweed—Grey hairstreak, Acmon blue, Southern blue, Ceraus blue, Funereal duskywing, Harford’s sulfur Acmispon rigidus—Desert rock pea—Silvery blue, Ceraus blue, Acmon blue, Grey hairstreak Amsinckia tessellata—Fiddleneck—Painted lady Asclepias erosa, A. subulata—Desert milkweed, rush milkweed—Monarch butterfly, Queen butterfly Atriplex canescens—Fourwing saltbush—San Emigdio blue, Western pygmy blue, Mojave sootywing, Saltbush sootywing Bahiopsis parishii—Parish’s goldeneye—Variable checkerspot, California patch, Sunflower seed moth Ceanothus perplexans (C. greggii)--Mojave buckthorn—California tortoiseshell, California hairstreak, Echo blue, Pale swallowtail Chilopsis linearis—Desert willow—Wavy-lined emerald moth Datura wrightii—Sacred datura, jimsonweed—Tobacco hornworm Descurainia pinnata—Western tansy mustard—Desert orangetip Dudleya saxosa—Rock liveforever—Sonoran blue Epilobium canum—California fuchsia—White-lined sphinx moth Eriogonum species—Buckwheats—Behr’s metalmark, Desert metalmark (E. inflatum), Grey hairstreak, Pallid blue (E. plumatella) Hesperoyucca whipplei—Chaparral yucca—Giant yucca skipper Penstemon centranthifolius—Scarlet bugler—Chalcedon checkerspot Peritoma arborea—Bladderpod—Becker’s white Pinus monophylla—Single leaf pinyon—Gloveria arizonensis moth Prosopis glandulosa, P. pubescens—Honey mesquite, screwbean mesquite—Ceranus blue, Marine blue, Grey hairstreak, Leda hairstreak, Palmer’s metalmark Prunus fasciculata—Desert almond—Western tent moth Psorothamnus species—Indigo bush, Smoke tree—buck moth Salix species—Willows—Lorquin’s admiral, Mourning cloak, Western tiger swallowtail Senna armata—Desert senna—Cloudless sulfur, Sleepy orange Sphaeralcea ambigua—Apricot mallow—Grey hairstreak, Mallow scrub hairstreak, Painted lady, Small checkered skipper, Northern white skipper butterfly Stanleya pinnata—Prince's plume—Becker’s white, Checkered white, Desert orangetip, California marble Xylorhiza tortifolia—Mojave aster—Variable checkerspot Yucca brevifolia, Y. baccata, Y. schidigera—Joshua tree, Banana yucca, Mojave yucca—Yucca moth, Giant yucca skipper

NECTAR PLANTS (food for adult butterflies and moths)

Abronia villosa—Sand verbena Chaenactis species—Pincushion Condea emoryi—Desert lavender (frost tender—best at low elevations) Encelia actoni—Acton’s encelia Encelia farinosa--Brittlebush Ericameria species—Goldenbush, Rabbitbrush Eriogonum species—Buckwheats Eriophyllum confertiflorum—Golden yarrow Heliotropium curassavicum—Salt heliotrope Rhus ovata—Sugarbush Salvia species—Sages Senegalia greggii—Catclaw Verbena gooddingii—Southwestern mock vervain, Goodding’s verbena

Mojave Desert Native Plants for Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are attracted to brightly colored, tubular-shaped flowers that produce lots of sugary nectar. They love red blossoms, but are also drawn to lavender, purple, yellow, pink, and white. Hummingbirds also need protein which they get by feeding on small insects, so avoid using pesticides in the garden, especially during breeding season.

ANNUALS Phacelia campanularia, P. minor—Canterbury bells, California bluebells Salvia carduaceae—Thistle sage Salvia columbariae—Chia

PERENNIALS Cirsium neomexicanum—Desert thistle Diplacus longiflorus—Sticky monkeyflower Epilobium canum—CA fuchsia Monardella linoides—Flaxleaf monardella Nicotiana obtusifolia—Desert tobacco Penstemon centranthifolius—Scarlet bugler Penstemon eatonii—Firecracker penstemon Penstemon incertus—Mojave beardtongue Penstemon pseudospectabilis—Desert penstemon

SUCCULENTS Agave deserti—Desert agave Dudleya saxosa—Rock liveforever, Panamint dudleya Fouquieria splendens—Ocotillo

SHRUBS Arctostaphylos glauca—Bigberry manzanita Calliandra eriophylla—Pink fairyduster Condea emoryi—Desert lavender (frost tender—best at low elevations) Keckiella antirrhinoides—Yellow bush penstemon Justicia californica—Chuparosa (frost tender—best at low elevations) Peritoma arborea—Bladderpod Salvia apiana—White sage Salvia dorrii—Desert purple sage Salvia mohavensis—Mojave sage Salvia pachyphylla—Mountain or Rose sage

TREES Chilopsis linearis—Desert willow

Mojave Desert Native Plants for Restoration

If you are restoring a residential lot that has been scraped of native vegetation or is compacted due to years of use, we recommend starting with fast-growing perennials and common shrubs that are relatively easy to establish on disturbed sites. Keep in mind each site is unique, and all the plants on this list may not be appropriate for your site. Be sure to research what grows in your area by visiting calscape.org.

Ambrosia dumosa—White bursage, burrobush Ambrosia salsola—Cheesebush Atriplex canescens—Fourwing saltbush Atriplex polycarpa—Cattle spinach Cylindropuntia echinocarpa—Silver cholla Brickellia incana—Wooly brickellbush Datura wrightii—Sacred datura, jimsonweed Encelia actoni—Acton encelia E. farinosa—Brittlebush Ericameria linearifolia—Linear leaf goldenbush Ericameria nauseosa—Rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria teretifolia—Green rabbitbrush Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium—Eastern Mojave buckwheat Hilaria rigida—Big galleta grass Larrea tridentata—Creosote bush Senna armata—Desert senna Sphaeralcea ambigua—Apricot mallow Peritoma arborea—Bladderpod Salvia species—Sages Scutellaria mexicana—Paperbag bush Senecio flaccidus—Butterweed

Mojave Desert Native Plants for Desert Tortoise

The Mojave Desert tortoise feeds on a variety of native plant species during spring and summer months. This list is intended as a guide for enhancing tortoise habitat on private property. Please note: The desert tortoise is a Federally Threatened Species and it is illegal to touch, harm, harass, or remove a desert tortoise from the wild.

Abronia villosa—Sand verbena Amaranthus fimbriatus—Fringed amaranth Amsinckia tessellata—Fiddleneck Astragalus lentiginosus—Freckled milkvetch Baileya multiradiata—Desert marigold Boerhavia species—Spiderling Bouteloua curtipendula—Side-oats grama Chaenactis species—Pincushion Chilopsis linearis—Desert willow Emmenanthe penduliflora—Whispering bells Eriogonum species—Buckwheats Erodium texanum—Desert heron’s bill Euphorbia micromera—Sonoran sandmat Hilaria rigida—Big galleta grass Larrea tridentata—Creosote bush (shelter) Lasthenia species--Goldfields Layia glandulosa—White tidy-tips Lupinus species--Lupine Malacothrix glabrata—Desert dandelion Mirabilis laevis—Desert four o’clock Oenothera species—Primrose Opuntia basilaris—Beavertail cactus Pectis papposa--Chinchweed Plantago ovata—Desert plantain Rafinesquia neomexicana—Desert chicory Salvia carduaceae—Thistle sage Salvia columbariae—Chia Senna armata—Desert senna Sphaeralcea ambigua—Apricot mallow Stipa hymenoides—Indian rice grass Vitis girdiana—Desert wild grape

Additional plants for the low desert (these plants do not tolerate frost):

Abutilon palmeri—Indian mallow Justicia californica—Chuparosa