This is a guide to Sonoran Desert plants that can possibly recover/resprout, plants that can reestablish themselves by seed, and plants that can be planted to help create natural environmental conditions for other plants to begin to grow after a fire.
To the best of knowledge, natural fires have not historically been a significant part of the Sonoran Desert. Unlike fire-adapted ecosystems, most of the plant life in the desert is not built to withstand intense, large-scale wildfires. Compounding factors such as climate change, invasive species, and a rise in outdoor recreation have contributed to an increase in major fires here in the Sonoran Desert. These larger, and often hotter fires that are happening closer together in time, do not play well with desert plants that are not adapted for it. This includes iconic cactus like saguaro and prickly pear, as well as agaves, and the desert’s rare plants, which may find it even more difficult to recover on a species level.
You can read in depth about wildfire and the Sonoran Desert in our EcoFlora journal post: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/metro-phoenix-ecoflora/journal/37791
Unfortunately, cactus, trees, and Ocotillo (Foquieria splendens) do not fare well with intense fire. Foothills Palo Verde (Parkinsonia microphylla) and Ironwood (Olneya tesota) may survive if they are not overly scorched. The best thing to do for plants that do not survive is to plant new and/or plant vegetation that provides shelter and habitat for them to germinate and grow naturally.
It is NOT recommended to remove charred plants or soil. Disturbing the soil makes it much easier for invasive species to move in and dominate, and native plant seed may be unintentionally removed in the process. This can also worsen erosion impacts. If plants must be removed for safety reasons, try to leave the roots intact.
To help protect young plants from hungry animals, you can surround them with a ½ inch mesh galvanized hardware cloth cage.
Consider waiting to plant until the hottest and driest part of summer is over. This will give newly planted plants a better chance to adjust and grow successfully.
For a list of local nurseries that offer a variety of native plants and/or seed:
https://aznps.com/wp-content/uploads/AZNPS-PHX-retail-nurseries-list-Mar2019
Plants that can resprout:
Fairy Duster (Calliandra eriophylla)
Mormon Tea (Ephedra spp.)
White Rattany (Krameria bicolor)*
Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis)
Catclaw (Senegalia greggii)
Whitethorn Acacia Vachellia constricta
Banana yucca (Yucca baccata)
Creosote (Larrea tridentata)*
Ironwood (Olneya tesota)*
*not as likely to resprout
Plants that can naturally reestablish from seed:
Wire lettuce (Stephanomeria spp.)
Desert Broom (Baccharis sarothroides)
Snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae)
Globe Mallow (Sphaeralcea spp.)
Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa)
Triangle-Leaf Bursage (Ambrosia deltoidea)
Recommended for planting:
Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa)*
Triangle-Leaf Bursage (Ambrosia deltoidea)*
Engelmann’s Prickly Pear (Opuntia engelmanni)i**
Brown-spined Prickly Pear (Opuntia phaeacantha)**
Buckhorn Cholla (Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa)**
Jumping Cholla (Cylindropuntia fulgida fulgida)**
Boxing Glove Cactus (Cylindropuntia fulgida mammillata)**
Saguaro (Carnegia gigantea)***
Graham’s Fishhook Cactus (Mammillaria grahamii)***
California Barrell Cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus)***
Engelmann’s Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus engelmannii)***
*Triangle-Leaf Bursage and Brittlebush are highly recommended because they are considered “nurse plants.” They provide shelter and a favorable place for young seedlings and plants to grow.
**If these cactus are not severely scorched, they can be grown from healthy pieces/paddles. 18-20 inch stems are recommended.
***Plant new, full plants
This is not an all-inclusive list, but a place to start for restoration (especially in the neighborhood landscape).
This guide was created by the Metro Phoenix EcoFlora. In collaboration with the Desert Botanical Garden and the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance (CAZCA), the Metro Phoenix EcoFlora project will serve to provide insight into bigger biodiversity science questions, increase understanding and appreciation of plant life, and contribute to local conservation efforts in metropolitan Phoenix. You can find and join the project here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/metro-phoenix-ecoflora.
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Sonoran Desert Wildfire Plants (July 2020 EcoQuest Guide)
