Zion

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Zion National Park Common Plants The following abbreviations are used to describe where and when certain plants may be found in Zion National Park. Heath Family (Ericaceae) Manzanita - Arctostaphylos species (2) PST/W-Sp Location C = Canyons D = Desert, lower washes, and sandy areas H = Hanging gardens and seeps P = Plateau R = Riparian S = Slickrock and cliffs T = Talus slopes Honeysuckle Family (Caprifioliaceae) Snowberry - Symphoricarpos species (5) CP/Sp-Su Joint-fir Family (Ephedraceae) Ephedra/Mormon tea - Ephedra species (3) CDT/Sp Mint Family (Lamiaceae) Dorr’s sage - Salvia dorrii CDT/Sp Oleaster Family (Elaeagnaceae) Russian olive* - Elaeagnus angustifolia Roundleaf buffaloberry - Shepherdia rotundifolia CR/Sp DT/W-Sp Pea Family (Fabaceae) Indigobush/Desert beauty - Dalea fremontii DT/Sp Potato Family (Solanaceae) Wolfberry - Lycium pallidum CD/Sp Rose Family (Rosaceae) Saskatoon serviceberry - Amelanchier alnifolia Utah serviceberry - Amelanchier utahensis Mountain mahogany - Cercocarpus species (3) Blackbrush - Coleogyne ramosissimum Western chokecherry - Prunus virginiana Cliffrose - Purshia stansburyana Antelope bitterbrush - Purshia tridentata Wood’s rose - Rosa woodsii CP/Sp CPT/Sp S/Sp CD/Sp P/Sp CDST/Sp CPT/Sp CPR/Su Silk-Tassel Family (Garryaceae) Ashy silk-tassel - Garrya flavescens C/W Blooming Season Sp = Spring Su = Summer F = Fall W = Winter N = No flower An asterisk * denotes introduced (non-native) species. A circle ° denotes endemic species - those found only in this region. Trees Birch Family (Betulaceae) Water birch - Betula occidentalis Hemp Family (Cannabaceae) Netleaf hackberry - Celtis reticulata Juniper or Cypress Family (Cupressaceae) Utah juniper - Juniperus osteosperma Rocky Mountain juniper - Juniperus scopulorum CR/Sp CT/Sp DPST/N PRT/N Maple Family (Aceraceae) Bigtooth maple - Acer grandidentatum CPS/Sp Boxelder - Acer negundo CRS/Sp Crimson Monkeyflower (Erythranthe verbenacea) Zion National Park is located at the convergence of three distinct ecological regions: the Colorado Plateau, the Mojave Desert, and the Great Basin. This unique location, along with Zion’s dramatic landscape and the prevalence of water, creates ideal habitat for a wide variety of plants. In all, Zion is home to over 1,000 species of plants. This list provides a glimpse of the incredible biodiversity that can be found within the park. Updated 7/2021 Oak Family (Fagaceae) Gambel oak - Quercus gambelii Sonoran scrub oak - Quercus turbinella Wavyleaf oak - Quercus x undulata CPST/Sp CDST/Sp CP/Sp Olive Family (Oleaceae) Singleleaf ash - Fraxinus anomala Velvet ash - Fraxinus velutina CST/Sp CR/Sp Pea Family (Fabaceae) New Mexico locust - Robinia neomexicana Black locust* - Robinia pseudoacacia C/Sp C/Sp Pine Family (Pinaceae) White fir - Abies concolor CP/N Piñon pine - Pinus edulis CPST/N Singleleaf piñon - Pinus monophylla CPST/N Ponderosa pine - Pinus ponderosa SP/N Douglas fir - Pseudotsuga menziesii CSP/N Rose Family (Rosaceae) Apple tree* - Malus domestica C/Sp Tamarix Family (Tamaricaceae) Tamarisk/Saltcedar* - Tamarix ramosissima CR/Sp-F Willow Family (Salicaceae) Fremont cottonwood - Populus fremontii Quaking aspen - Populus tremuloides Willow - Salix species (9) CRS/Sp PS/Sp CR/Sp Zion Shootingstar (Primula pauciflora var. zionensis) Shrubs Agave Family (Asparagaceae) Narrow-leaved yucca - Yucca angustissima Datil yucca - Yucca baccata Utah yucca - Yucca utahensis CDPST/Sp CDT/Sp CDPST/Sp Borage Family (Boraginaceae) Narrowleaf yerba-santa - Eriodictyon angustifolium CDS/Su Barberry Family (Berberidaceae) Creeping mahonia - Berberis repens Fremont barberry - Berberis fremontii CP/Sp CDS/Sp Cashew/Sumac Family (Anacardiaceae) Smooth sumac - Rhus glabra Western poison ivy -Toxicodendron rydbergii Skunkbush sumac - Rhus trilobata Fragrant sumac - Rhus aromatica CDT/Sp CHR/Sp-Su CDT/Sp CDT/Sp Composite Family (Asteraceae) Big sagebrush - Artemisia tridentata Old man sagebrush - Artemisia filifolia Waterwillow - Baccharis emoryi Rabbitbrush/goldenbush - Ericameria species (4) Broom snakeweed - Gutierrezia sarothrae Bush encelia - Encelia frutescens virginensis CDP/F CDT/Sp, F CR/F CD/F CDT/F DT/Su Dogwood Family (Cornaceae) Red-osier dogwood - Cornus stolonifera P/Sp Cacti Elder Family (Viburnaceae) Red elderberry - Sambucus racemosa Blue elderberry - Sambucus caerulea P/Su CRP/Su Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae) Four-wing saltbush - Atriplex canescens Shadscale - Atriplex confertifolia CD/Su DT/Sp Grape Family (Vitaceae) Canyon wild grape - Vitis arizonica CR/Sp Cactus Family (Cactaceae) Hedgehog cactus - Echinocereus species (3) Pricklypear cactus - Opuntia species (7) Beavertail cactus - Opuntia basilaris Cholla - Cylindropuntia species (3) Whipple’s Cholla - Cylindropuntia whipplei CD/Sp DST/Sp CDT/Sp-Su CDT/Sp-Su CD/Su CD/Su Herbs Agave Family (Asparagaceae) Bluedicks - Dichelostemma pulchellum Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley - Smilacina stellata CPST/Sp CHR/Sp Bellflower Family (Campanulaceae) Cardinal-flower - Lobelia cardinalis CHR/Su-F Borage Family (Boraginaceae) Yellow cryptanth - Oreocarya confertiflora Stickseed - Hackelia species (4) Western waterleaf - Hydrophyllum occidentale Wand phacelia - Phacelia heterophylla CT/Sp DRT/Sp CR/Sp CDP/Su Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae) Wild buckwheat - Eriogonum species (20) Sulfur buckwheat - Eriogonum umbellatum Desert trumpet - Eriogonum inflatum Knotweed - Polygonum species (5) Canaigre/Wild rhubarb - Rumex hymenosepalus DPST/Su-F CDPS/Su D/Sp-F DPRT/Sp CD/Sp Bunchflower Family (Melanthiaceae) Foothill Death-camas - Toxicoscordion paniculatum DP/Sp Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae) Golden columbine - Aquilegia chrysantha Larkspur - Delphinium species (3) Buttercup - Ranunculus species (5) Blue clematis - Clematis columbiana Western virgin’s-bower - Clematis liguisticifolia Meadow-rue - Thalictrum fendleri CHR/Sp-Su CDPS/Sp S/Sp CR/Sp CR/Su CRH/Sp-Su Caltrop Family (Zygophyllaceae) Puncturevine* - Tribulus terrestris DT/Su Composite Family (Asteraceae) Yarrow - Achillea millefolium Mountain dandelion - Agoseris species (3) Desert marigold - Baileya multiradiata Arrowleaf balsamroot - Balsamorhiza sagittata Dusty-maiden - Chaenactis douglasii Arizona thistle - Cirsium arizonicum Fleabane - Erigeron species (9) Spreading daisy - Erigeron divergens Zion daisy° - Erigeron sionis Hopi blanketflower - Gaillardia pinnatifida Curlycup gumweed - Grindelia squarrosa Common sunflower - Helianthus annuus Hairy goldenaster - Heterotheca villosa Tansy-aster - Machaeranthera species (3) Basin groundsel - Packera multilobata Broom groundsel - Senecio spartioides Goldenrod - Solidago species (3) Wire lettuce - Stephanomeria tenuifolia Yellow salsify* - Tragopogon dubius Showy goldeneye - Viguiera multiflora CP/Su P/Sp DT/Sp-F P/Sp CDP/Sp CDT/Sp-Su All/Sp-Su CDPRT/Sp H/Sp-Su DT/Sp-Su CDS/Su CDST/Su DPT/Su-F CD/Su-F DT/Sp CD/F CD/Su-F All/Sp CDP/Sp-Su RT/Sp-Su Sacred datura (Datura wrightii) Dogbane Family (Apocynaceae) Antelope-horns - Asclepias asperula Butterfly milkweed - Asclepias tuberosa Horsetail milkweed – Asclepias subverticillata CD/Sp-Su CDR/Sp-Su CDP/Sp-Su Evening-Primrose Family (Onagraceae) Yellow camissonia - Chylismia multijuga Hummingbird flower – Epilobium canum Tufted evening-primrose - Oenothera caespitosa Pale evening-primrose - Oenothera pallida Longstem evening-primrose - Oenothera longissima CDST/Sp CPS/Su-F ST/Sp-Su CDPS/Sp CR/Su Figwort Family (Scrophulariaceae) Common mullein* - Verbascum thapsus CPR/Su Flax Family (Linaceae) Lewis flax - Linum lewisii CDPT/Su Four-O’Clock Family (Nyctaginaceae) Great Basin sand-verbena - Abronia elliptica Showy four-o’clock - Mirabilis multiflora CDST/Sp, F CDT/Sp-Su Gentian Family (Gentianaceae) Monument plant – Frasera speciosa Desert green gentian - Frasera albomarginata PR/Sp P/Sp-Su Geranium Family (Geraniaceae) Filaree/storksbill* - Erodium cicutarium CS/Sp-F Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae) Russian thistle/Tumbleweed* - Salsola tragus CD/Su Gourd Family (Cucurbitaceae) Coyote gourd - Cucurbita foetidissima Lily Family (Liliaceae) Sego lily - Calochortus nuttallii Spotted fritillary - Fritillaria atropurpurea Lopseed Family (Phrymaceae) Monkeyflower – Erythranthe species (4) Crimson monkeyflower° - Erythranthe verbenacea Madder Family (Rubiaceae) Bedstraw - Galium species (6) Madder* - Rubia tinctoria Onion family (Amaryllidaceae) Hooker’s onion - Allium acuminatum CP/Sp Orchid Family (Orchidaceae) Stream Orchid - Epipactis gigantea Bog Orchid - Platanthera sparsiflora HR/Sp-Su HR/Sp-Su Paintbrush Family (Orobanchaceae) Desert paintbrush - Castilleja chromosa Wyoming paintbrush – Castilleja linariifolia Rough paintbrush - Castilleja scabrida CDT/Sp CDPS/Sp-Su S/Sp Pea Family (Fabaceae) Milkvetch - Astragalus species (20) Stinking milkvetch - Astragalus praelongus Zion milkvetch° - Astragalus zionis Prairie clover - Dalea searlsiae Zion sweetpea° - Lathyrus zionis Utah deerclover/trefoil - Lotus utahensis Elegant lupine - Lupinus concinnus Thompson peteria - Peteria thompsonae Lean clover - Trifolium macilentum Goldenpea - Thermopsis montana American vetch - Vicia americana CDT/Sp CDT/Sp CDT/Sp D/Sp CDT/Sp CDS/Sp DPT/Sp CDP/Sp-Su CHP/Sp P/Sp CT/Sp Phlox Family (Polemoniaceae) Grand collomia - Collomia grandiflora Gilia - Ipomopsis species (5) Arizonia ipomopsis - Ipomopsis arizonica Nuttall’s linanthus - Leptosiphon nuttallii Mountain phlox - Phlox austromontana Long-leaf phlox - Phlox longifolia CPT/Sp-Su CPRT/Sp-Su CR/Su CS/Sp CS/Sp P/Sp Sego Lily (Calochortus nuttallii) Spider Flower Family (Cleomaceae) Yellow beeplant - Peritoma lutea DS/Su-F Spiderwort Family (Commelinaceae) Western spiderwort - Tradescantia occidentalis CPT/Sp Spurge Family (Euphorbiaceae) Whitemargin spurge – Euphorbia albomarginata CDT/Sp Ferns & Fern Allies Grasses & Grass-like Plants Potato Family (Solanaceae) Sacred datura/Moonflower - Datura wrightii Silverleaf nightshade - Solanum elaeagnifolium CPT/Sp CPS/Sp CDPT/Sp HR/Sp PT/Sp CDT/Sp CDS/Sp CDPT/Sp CDPT/Sp CDSP/Sp CDSP/Sp-Su CDPT/Sp-Su CPST/Sp CDT/Sp-F CD/Sp-Su CHR/Sp, F CHR/Sp, F Mustard Family (Brassicaceae) Rockcress - Arabis species (5) Zion draba° - Draba zionensis Wallflower - Erysimum asperum Watercress* - Nasturtium officinale Twinpod - Physaria species (8) Prince’s plume - Stanleya pinnata Heartleaf twistflower - Streptanthus cordatus Snapdragon family (Plantaginaceae) Penstemon/Beardtongue – Penstemon species (16) Firecracker penstemon - Penstemon eatonii Zion penstemon° - Penstemon humilis obtusifolius Southwesern beardtongue - Penstemon laevis Toadflax penstemon - Penstemon linarioides Palmer’s penstemon - Penstemon palmeri Utah penstemon - Penstemon utahensis HR/N HR/N Poppy Family (Papaveraceae) Prickly poppy - Argemone munita H/Sp HR/Sp P/Sp CHS/Su P/Sp Scouring-rush Family (Equisetaceae) Horsetail - Equisetum species (3) Rough Horsetail - Equisetum hyemale CDPT/Sp CDPT/Sp Miner’s Lettuce Family (Montiaceae) Lanceleaf springbeauty - Claytonia lanceolata Miner’s lettuce - Claytonia perfoliata Southwestern bitterroot - Lewisia brachycalyx Saxifrage Family (Saxifragaceae) Pink alumroot - Heuchera rubescens Woodland star - Lithophragma tenellum CPS/Su DHPS/Sp-Su CDPST/Sp CDPST/Sp S/F P/Sp-Su HR/N HR/N HR/N CHT/N CDT/Su Mallow Family (Malvaceae) Globemallow - Sphaeralcea species (5) HR/Sp Ferns (Polypodiales) Black maidenhair fern - Adiantum capillus Western maidenhair fern - Adiantum aleuticum Bracken fern - Pteridium aquilinum Cliffbrake - Pellaea species (3) Pink Family (Caryophyllaceae) Sandwort - Eremogene species (6) Common chickweed - Stellaria media C/Sp-Su C/Sp-Su Primrose Family (Primulaceae) Zion shootingstar - Primula pauciflora v. zionensis Rose Family (Rosaceae) Rock spiraea - Holodiscus dumosus Cinquefoil - Potentilla species (3) Grass Family (Poaceae) Purple three-awn - Aristida purpurea Cane Bluestem - Bothriochloa barbinodis Blue grama - Bouteloua gracilis Ripgut brome* - Bromus diandrus Cheatgrass* - Bromus tectorum Squirreltail - Elymus elymoides Mutton grass - Poa fendleriana Needle-and-thread grass - Stipa comata Indian ricegrass - Stipa hymenoides Desert needlegrass - Stipa speciosa CT/Sp-Su CT/Su-F CT/Su-F CD/Sp CD/Sp CDP/Sp CDP/Sp CD/Sp CDST/Sp DT/Su Rush Family (Juncaceae) Rushes - Juncus species (7) Swordleaf rush - Juncus xiphioides HR/Sp-Su HR/Sp Sedge Family (Cyperaceae) Sedges - Carex species (9) Kaibab sedge° - Carex curatorum Ovalhead sedge - Carex festivella Panicled bulrush - Scirpus microcarpus HR/Sp-Su HR/Sp-Su HR/Sp-Su HR/Sp-Su