Your Guide to Plants and Wildlife YUMA'S Welcome to Yuma, where the spirit of the desert pulsates a rich variety of flora and fauna uniquely adapted to thrive under the sun. The region’s three national wildlife refuges —Imperial, Cibola and Kofa — each play a crucial role in protecting this biodiversity, extending past the forest into habitats that range from desert and upland to riparian and grassland areas. Use this guide to spot and learn about some of the most fascinating species during your visit, from cacti to curlew: A vibrant ecosystem brimming with life FLORA - ROOTS OF RESILIENCE Not a true cactus, this plant has long, prickly stems that burst into bright red flowers after rainfall. Blooms: Spring (Fouquieria splendens) This yucca sprouts a flamboyant cluster of fragrant, purple-tinged white flowers atop a long stalk, a key resource for native insects. Blooms: Spring (Hesperoyucca whipplei) Blooming after rain, this rare beauty shoots up white, fragrant trumpet-shaped flowers resembling Easter lilies from sandy soil. Blooms: Late winter through spring Watch (from a distance) for this cactus with its silvery sharp spines and greenish-yellow flowers that bloom under the beaming sun. Blooms: Spring (Opuntia acanthocarpa) This tough shrub with spiny leaves bears yellow flowers and red berries. It is distinctive to the Sonoran Desert and is found in the shady, rocky canyons of the Kofa mountain range. Blooms: Late winter through spring (Berberis harrisoniana) Desert Lily (Hesperocallis undulata) Kofa Mountain Barberry Silver Cholla Ocotillo Chaparral Yucca Growing up to seven feet tall, its clusters of creamy flowers turn rusty red, providing food for many desert creatures. Blooms: Spring through fall (Eriogonum fasciculatum) California Buckwheat This iconic tree-like cactus can grow over 40 feet tall and live for more than 150 years. The saguaro is Arizona's state wildflower and provides food and shelter for many desert species. Blooms: Spring through fall (Carnegiea gigantea) Saguaro DID YOU KNOW? The saguaro cactus has been protected in Arizona since 1933 when Saguaro National Park was established as a national monument to protect the cactus and its habitat. 14 E X P L O R E
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