If you’re looking to add more native plants to your southwest garden, but aren’t sure what plants to include, here’s a list of over 120 native plants that make attractive, low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly landscape plants.
Native plants offer many benefits over non-natives. Since they evolved to grow in harsh desert conditions — extreme heat, drought, poor soil, and intense storms — they perform better with less care. And they are usually more attractive to important pollinators and other wildlife.
Plants included here have native ranges that include the Sonoran, Mojave, and/or Chihuahuan Deserts, or that naturally occur in southwestern states. We’ve also included a few hybrids or cultivars of native plants to give you the most options.
If you want more information on a particular plant, the scientific name link will take you to a comprehensive plant profile. Or you can browse through our native plant library here.
Native Flowers
Most natives on this list are flowering perennials, but there are also several wildflowers, ground covers, and a few annuals.
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Angelita daisy | Tetraneuris acaulis |
| Arizona milkweed | Asclepias angustifolia |
| Blackfoot daisy | Melampodium leucanthum |
| Blanket flower | Gaillardia x grandiflora |
| Chocolate flower | Berlandiera lyrata |
| Coral fountain | Russelia equisetiformis |
| Damianita | Chrysactinia Mexicana |
| Desert bluebells | Phacelia campanularia |
| Desert marigold | Baileya multiradiata |
| Desert milkweed | Asclepias subulata |
| Desert senna | Senna covesii |
| Firecracker penstemon | Penstemon eatonii |
| Goodding’s verbena | Verbena gooddingii |
| Gregg’s mist | Conoclinium greggii |
| Mexican evening primrose | Oenothera speciosa |
| Mexican petunia | Ruellia simplex |
| Mexican sunflower | Tithonia rotundifolia |
| Mt. Lemmon marigold | Tagetes lemmonii |
| Palmer’s penstemon | Penstemon palmeri |
| Paperflower | Psilostrophe cooperi |
| Parry’s penstemon | Penstemon parryi |
| Rock penstemon | Penstemon baccharifolius |
| Sacred datura | Datura wrightii |
| Trailing indigo bush | Dalea greggii |
| Tufted evening primrose | Oenothera cespitosa |
| Wild sunflower | Helianthus annuus |
| Yellow dot | Sphagneticola trilobata |
Native Grasses
These native grasses are “ornamental” rather than lawn grasses.
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Bamboo muhly | Muhlenbergia dumosa |
| Big muhly | Muhlenbergia lindheimeri |
| Blue grama | Bouteloua gracilis |
| Bull grass | Muhlenbergia emersleyi |
| Deer grass | Muhlenbergia rigens |
| Mexican feather grass | Nassella tenuissima |
| Purple muhly | Muhlenbergia rigida |
| Sideoats grama | Bouteloua curtipendula |
Native Shrubs & Trees
Whether a plant is a tree or a shrub can be subjective, depending on how it’s pruned. So I’ve combined them into one chart.
Native Succulents
Native Vines
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Arizona grape ivy | Cissus trifoliata |
| Arizona passionflower | Passiflora arizonica |
| Cat’s claw vine | Dolichandra unguis-cati |
| Purple orchid vine | Mascagnia lilacina |
| Queen’s wreath | Antigonon leptopus |
| Yellow orchid vine | Callaeum macropterum |
| Yuca vine | Distimake aureus |
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