Arizona Pincushion Cactus: Small Cactus of Desert Scrublands
The Arizona pincushion cactus sits so close to the ground that it can vanish among gravel, dry grass, limestone fragments, […]
Claret Cup Hedgehog Cactus: Flowering Cactus of Rocky Deserts
Claret cup hedgehog cactus can remain visually quiet for much of the year, its ribbed green stems blending with sandstone,
Silver Cholla: Cactus of the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts
Silver cholla is one of the most recognizable cholla cacti of the Mojave and Sonoran deserts, though its name can
Teddy Bear Cholla: Dense-Spined Cactus of the Sonoran Desert
Teddy bear cholla is one of the most recognizable cholla cacti of the Sonoran Desert. Its pale yellow spines look
Organ Pipe Cactus: Columnar Cactus of the Sonoran Desert
The organ pipe cactus (Stenocereus thurberi) is a many-stemmed columnar cactus of the Sonoran Desert. Instead of growing as one
Beavertail Prickly Pear: Flat-Padded Cactus of the Mojave Desert
Beavertail prickly pear (Opuntia basilaris) is one of the clearest plant signals of the Mojave Desert: low to the ground,
Fishhook Barrel Cactus: Hook-Spined Cactus of the Sonoran Desert
The fishhook barrel cactus is one of the most recognizable barrel cacti of the Sonoran Desert: a ribbed, heavy-bodied plant
Joshua Tree: Iconic Plant of the Mojave Desert
The Joshua tree, Yucca brevifolia, is one of the clearest living markers of the Mojave Desert. It is not a
Creosote Bush: One of the Toughest Desert Shrubs
Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) is a resinous evergreen shrub of the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts. It looks modest from
Saxaul Tree: The Desert Tree That Stabilizes Sand
The saxaul tree is one of the clearest examples of how a desert plant can shape the land around it.
Welwitschia: Ancient Desert Plant of the Namib
Welwitschia mirabilis is one of the Namib Desert’s most unusual plants: low to the ground, long-lived, cone-bearing, and built around
Saguaro Cactus: Giant Cactus of the Sonoran Desert
The saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) is the tall, branching cactus most closely linked with the Sonoran Desert. It is not
Desert Agriculture: How People Farm in Arid Regions
Desert agriculture begins with a simple limit: plants need water, while arid regions lose water fast. Yet farming still happens
Famous Deserts in History: Trade Routes, Wars & Exploration
Deserts often look empty on a map, yet history tells a different story. The Sahara, Taklamakan, Gobi, Arabian Desert, Mojave,
People Who Live in Deserts: Nomadic Desert Cultures
Desert nomadic cultures grew from a plain fact of arid land: water, grass, shade, salt, and safe routes are rarely
Desert Cities: Major Cities Built in Desert Regions
Desert cities are not built against the desert as much as they are built with it. Their streets, water systems,
Desert Canyons: How They Form and the World’s Greatest Examples
Desert canyons look dry, but most were cut by water. The work is uneven: long quiet periods, then a storm,
Salt Flats: What They Are, How They Form & Best Examples
Salt flats are flat desert surfaces where water has left behind salt and other minerals after repeated cycles of flooding,
Desert Rock Formations: Arches, Buttes & Mesas Explained
Desert rock formations look still from a distance, yet they are records of movement. Arches, buttes, mesas, fins, spires, caprock
Desert Wadis: Seasonal Rivers of the Desert World
Desert wadis are the dry river valleys that give many arid landscapes their hidden drainage system. For most of the
Desert Oases: What They Are, How They Form & Famous Examples
Desert oases are places where water reaches or stays close enough to the surface to support plants, soils, wildlife, and