Chihuahuan Desert Scrub

Dominant plant species in Chihuahuan desert scrub in our region include the ever-present creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), tarbush (Florensia cernua), viscid acacia (Acacia neovernicosa), little-leaf sumac (Rhus microphylla), ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), and many grass species. Much of the Chihuahuan desert has been converted to shrubland from a more grass-dominated landscape.

The Chihuahuan desert is enormous and varies dramatically in species composition. In our region the main areas of Chihuhuan Desert are the far SE corners of Arizona and NE corner of Sonora, as well as most of SW New Mexico and Chihuahua.