Desert Habitat Plants

Cacti and Succulents

• Succulents have water storage structures enabling them to endure dry conditions, located in their plant stems, leaves or even roots. A few succulents not part of the cactus family include aloes, agaves, sedums, yuccas and euphorbia. Cacti make up one the world's largest families of succulents, 2,500 of the total 10,000 succulent species, notes Wisconsin State University. Cacti have spines and store water in their stems. Their ribbed stems swell and shrink to let in moisture. Cactus spines are modified leaves used for protection, shade and insulation from cold weather. Its waxy skin helps reduce moisture loss and protects the plant from insects.

Mesquite Trees

• Mesquite trees are the most frequently seen shrub or small tree of the desert southwest, notes Desert USA. The most common species are honey mesquites, screwbean mesquites and velvet mesquites, which are all deciduous trees. As members of the legume family, they contain bean pods, which are a food source for humans and animals. Just as with most legumes, a mesquite tree can return nitrogen to the soil. The mesquite tree is a common plant in the regions such as the Mojave, Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts.

Big Sagebrush

• The big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentate) or big sage, is a desert perennial shrub with a fat trunk that bears several ascending side branches. This perennial shrub can grow from 2 to 7 feet high, notes Desert USA. It has smooth, silvery young stems, although they turn grayer with maturity. These plants have wedge-shaped evergreen foliage that is 1/4 to 2 inches long. Big sages produce thick clusters of cream-colored or yellow flowers on a main stalk. They grow best in mesas or rocky regions containing deep soils. Besides growing as a cold desert shrub, they also typically grow in some woodland areas. The sagebrush ecosystem is the largest habitat range in American, covering almost 475,000 square miles across western states.

Desert Willow

• Desert willows are fragile, small deciduous trees with thin leaves that look like willows. This desert plant produces fragrant flowers in showy clusters from late spring to fall. Their trumpet-shaped flowers include shades of pink, light violet, red and white. Desert willows can tolerate arid conditions and high heat but have an irregular growth pattern. They grow from 15 to 30 feet with a spread of 15 to 20 feet, according to Texas A & M University. This plant needs direct sun exposure and needs to be carefully watered, particularly in winter. Plant them in a raised bed if you live in a region receiving more than 30 inches of rainfall annually.