Canyonlands National Park is located on the east edge of the Colorado Plateau, a high desert environment that may see only 9-14" of rain per year and temperatures that can dip to zero and exceed 100 degrees. A surprising diversity of plants and flowers have adapted to these extreme conditions, with a kaleidoscopic range of shapes and colors. Click here to see a list of hiking trails.

The Pale Evening Primrose genus name Oenothera means 'wine-scented', referring to the use of its roots in wine making

Some claret cup cacti have 22 chromosomes, and others 44; those with 44 chromosomes are considered to be scarlet hedgehog cactus

Bluestem Penstemon is in the Figwort Family, a large and complex group with many parasitic and semi-parasitic members

Mariposa Lily's genus name 'Calochortus' is from the Greek word 'kalos', which means beautiful

600 aster species are found throughout the world in a wide range of habitats and climates

Globe Mallow has been found to be an effect defense against certain invasive plant species

Cliffrose is an important food source for mule deer and bighorn sheep

Prickly Pear flower stamens curl in when touched, a reflex designed to coat insects with pollen

Prince's Plume is a perennial herb in the mustard family; it can grow 10' tall and is often associated with soils containing selenium

Lupine is a member of the pea family; it's generally toxic to livestock and horses

Paintbrush is a semi-parasitic plant that survives drought by attaching to roots of other plants and siphoning off water

The fruit of Prickly Pear Cactus is known as 'tuna'

Scorpionweed is of the genus Phacelia from the Greek 'phakelos', which means 'shallow rounded teeth'

Only four of Penstemon's five stamens produce pollen

Fremont's Mahonia is a member of the Barberry Family, which also includes Oregon grape

Non-native Tamarisk was originally planted to mitigate erosion, but is now attributed to increased fire, lower plant and animal diversity, and can significantly alter stream hydrology

The Pretty Buckwheat flower

Wavyleaf Oak is one of three oak species native to Utah; it's only found near streams, springs and rivers in Canyonlands

Mariposa Lily are generally lighter in the east end of their range

Cottonwoods are water-needy trees relative to other desert plants, found mainly near springs, creeks and rivers

Yucca is now recognized as part of the agave family; it had previously been assigned to the Lily family