Even though deserts look empty, they are home to a wide range of plants. A lot of plants in the desert have beautiful red flowers that stand out against the beige and sandy ground. Bright red blooms can grow on cacti, shrubs, and wildflowers even in harsh conditions.
Most people think of cacti first when they think of desert plants. Coral cactus, cane cholla, and Christmas cactus are just a few of the cactus species that have bright red flowers. Birds and insects that come to pollinate the flowers know that they will get sweet nectar in return. Even though cacti are good at keeping water from running off, they do bloom after it rains if the conditions are right.
In addition to cacti, many woody desert shrubs put on a floral display in red. Fairy duster produces fuzzy red pom-pom blooms above fine, fern-like foliage. Ocotillo, a shrubby succulent, sends up spiky red flower clusters. Desert mallow and chuparosa both have showy, poppy-like red blooms.
Wildflowers are a special component of the desert landscape. After winter and spring rains, they cover the sagebrush with carpets of color. Indian paintbrush, Arizona poppy, sand verbena, evening primrose, and winecups are all red plants. Their seeds can stay dormant for years and only sprout when the conditions are right.
Below are 25 of the most eye-catching desert dwellers that produce red flowers:
Cacti
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Coral Cactus – Round red blooms top this small barrel cactus
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Cane Cholla – Known for its spiny stems, it has vibrant red-orange tubular flowers.
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Christmas Cactus – A popular houseplant, it produces cherry red flowers during winter.
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Claret Cup Cactus – Red, nectar-filled blooms are held upright on this hedgehog-like cactus
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Hedgehog Cactus – Its spines are hidden by colorful magenta flower clusters.
Trees and Shrubs
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Ocotillo – Red flower spikes jut upward from this spiny succulent shrub.
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Chuparosa – Hummingbird bush has showy red tubular flowers with orange centers.
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Desert Mallow – Five-petaled red blooms open on this short-lived perennial shrub.
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Fairy Duster – Fluffy red flowers top this drought-tolerant groundcover shrub.
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Firecracker Bush – Red tubular blossoms cover this bushy desert perennial.
Wildflowers
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Indian Paintbrush – A classic wildflower, it has brush-tipped red flowers.
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Arizona Poppy – This poppy cousin lights up desert washes with orange-red blooms.
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Sand Verbena – Tiny five-petaled crimson flowers carpet areas of sandy soil.
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Desert Marigold – Cheery red daisy-like blooms shine on this drought-tolerant annual.
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Winecup – The aptly named winecup has dark red cup-shaped flowers.
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Evening Primrose – Showy yellow blossoms on this spreader open pink then fade red.
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Desert Lily – Trumpet-shaped blooms emerge red then fade to yellow on this bulb plant.
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Parry’s Penstemon – Spike-like red flowers shoot upward on this bushy perennial.
How to Grow Red-Flowering Desert Plants
A lot of desert plants that bloom in red can handle full sun and heat that is reflected off of them. Good drainage is very important, so if you need to, add gravel or sand to the soil. Group plants according to their water and sun needs. Plants that can survive in dry conditions, like cacti and succulents, need less water than wildflowers that don’t last long. Drip irrigation and mulch help conserve moisture.
Choose red flowering plants to coordinate with the existing colors in your desert garden. Repeat red tones for a bold, vibrant look. Or combine red blooms with pink, orange, yellow and purple flowers for a colorful blended palette. With the right plant choices, you can enjoy red blooms in the desert garden year-round.
Lost Dutchman State Park
Lost Dutchman is in Apache Junction, Arizona, at the base of the often-fabled Superstition Mountains. It is just outside of the Phoenix metro area. This rich Sonoran Desert ecosystem is home to a large variety of desert plants and animals that can be experienced from the campgrounds and the expansive network of trails that traverse the park. Take a day trip from Phoenix or stay for a while at a campsite or in a cabin. We’re sure there will be plenty of things to keep you busy here.
State Parks With Desert Plants
We hope you found this guide to Arizona’s desert plants helpful and that you plan to learn more about them in the parks! Pick one of the desert parks below to learn more about the variety of Arizona’s plants, and then get out there and hike and see these beautiful things for yourself.
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FAQ
What desert plant has red flowers?
So, ocotillos make the most of good times and get through bad ones. This is how most desert plants act. Ocotillos produce clusters of bright red flowers at their stem tips, which explain the plant’s name. Ocotillo means “little torch” in Spanish.
What are the red flowers in Arizona?
Shown here are southeastern Arizona plants with conspicuous red, scarlet, or dark magenta flowers. Acalypha phleoides – Shrubby Copperleaf. Anisacanthus thurberi – Thurber’s Desert Honeysuckle. Bouvardia ternifolia – Firecrackerbush. Castilleja austromontana – Rincon Mountain Indian Paintbrush.
What is the name of the plant with a red flower?
There are many beautiful red flowers that people like, such as roses, tulips, dahlias, hibiscus, poppies, geraniums, camellias, begonias, zinnias, anthuriums, amaryllis, peonies, salvias, celosias, and marigolds.
What kind of flowers bloom in the desert?
The variety of desert flowers allows gardeners to create seasonal interest and color throughout the year. Many perennial plants that grow in the desert, like Desert Marigold and Penstemon, can handle drought and bloom for a long time, adding pops of color in the spring and summer.