Desert Flowers To Brighten Your Day White Edition

Its that time of the year! Time to share some more desert flowers. If hoarding images was a thing, I’m guilty of hoarding flower photos for sure. This time I’m starting with whites and a bit of story behind the most interesting ones. Let’s see where this goes.

Argemone Albiflora, White Prickly Poppy
Native Americans have many uses for this plant but specially for its medicinal properties. Aztecs priests would use this plant in sacrificial rituals. The Comanches made offerings to this plant during harvesting.

Argemone albiflora commonly known as White Prickly Poppy. Without a doubt one of my finest finds out here. I am amazed at the contrast between the harsh prickly outside of the plant and it’s extremely delicate white flower. The petals are so thin they wrinkle and are almost see through. I’m always amazed at how the desert plants and animals have this tough outside and delicate inside.

Tobacco (Desert) Nicotiana Obtusifolia

Tabaquillo, Punche, Little Tobacco, Potato Family (Solanaceae)

This plant was used for tobacco and medicinal use and it’s still smoked by native peoples in traditional ceremonies.

Desert Chicory, Rafinesquia Neomexicana

Raphanus raphanistrum, (the wild radish, white charlock or jointed charlock)

It’s a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is sometimes claimed to be the ancestor of the edible radish, Raphanus sativus.

Native to western Asia, Europe and parts of Northern Africa.

Rock Daisy, Emory's rock daisy, Perityle Emoryi

Eremothera Refracta, Narrowleaf Suncup

What a fun and playful little flower!

Latin name: Eremothera Refracta
Pronunciation: er-em-oh-THEER-a re-FRAK-ta

Common name: Narrow-leaf sun cup
Family: Onagraceae (Evening primrose)
Habitat: Sandy flats and slopes, both deserts

Common name: Gravel ghost
Latin name: Atrichoseris platyphylla

Heads of white to purple-tinged flowers 1-inch across appear to hover in the air because the stems that support them are tall and thin.

Mohavea confertiflora,
the ghost flower

Mohavea confertiflora flowers March to April. This flower, which does not produce nectar, has adapted a morphology resembling the flower Mentzelia involucrata, which often grows in the same habitat. Mentzelia involucrata produces nectar to attract female bees of the genus Xeralictus.

Paleface or Rock Hibiscus

The paleface or rock hibiscus (Hibiscus denudatus)

Desert Lily or Ajo Lily

The bulbs of the desert lily were eaten by native peoples.

Hesperocallis undulata

I hope that you enjoyed this collection of white desert flowers. There are so many more that I may just have to do a part two. I have been having to do all of my editing and posting on my phone and I’m struggling. Thank you for your patience and continued support! Much love and best wishes of peace and good health!