Flora of the Colorado Desert

More than half of the Colorado Desert's plant species are herbaceous annuals, and appropriately timed winter rains produce abundant early Spring wildflowers.

Hardy perennials and the In the Colorado Desert's arid environment, aquatic and wetland habitats are limited in extent but are critically important to wildlife.

Springs and seeps feed oases, freshwater marshes, and a few foothill perennial streams year round.

In some places, summer rains produce short-lived seasonal pools that host uncommon species like Couch's spadefoot toad.

Desert riparian habitats support Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), willows (Salix species).