Plant friends, today let’s talk about the Sonoran Desert, one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. As a former New Yorker turned Florida plant parent, I will never forget the first time I visited Arizona and that surreal feeling of standing in a place so unlike anywhere I’d ever been. And lucky for us, I have invited a new plant friend and someone who knows the Sonoran Desert ecosystem like the back of her hand. She’s called Sonoran Rosie, and she’s a herbalist, maker, and desert explorer who has dedicated her life to studying, honoring, and creating with the plants of the Sonoran Desert. Let's get started!

 

In this episode, we learn:

• [02:30] How Rosie became “Sonoran Rosie”
• [04:14] What makes the Sonoran Desert so unique?
• [04:58] The 4 biomes of the Sonoran Desert
• [07:22] How Sonoran plants survive extreme temperature and rainfall swings
• [08:21] Ideal springtime desert temperatures
• [09:06] What is summer like in the Sonoran Desert?
• [10:11] What a monsoon is like in the desert
• [11:44] What is creosote (chaparral), aka the plant behind the desert rain smell?
• [13:14] What are the medicinal properties of creosotes? (especially for skincare!)
• [14:43] Give the gift of ongoing joy and serenity with Wind River Chimes and use code GROWINGJOY!
• [16:22] Learn how to plan, grow, and preserve your crops with The Preserver's Garden by Staci and Jeremy Hill!
• [18:13] What do different seasons look like in the desert?
• [19:52] When is it best to plant tomatoes in the desert?
• [21:55] What is Rosie’s favorite spring desert plant?
• [23:04] What are keystone plants, and how important are they for desert wildlife?
• [25:39] How to make poppy tinctures
• [26:58] What are Rosie's favorite summer desert plants?
• [30:35] How Rosie harvests & preserves prickly pear fruit
• [31:53] What are Rosie’s favorite fall desert plants?
• [34:24] Jojoba (nut, oil, and skin-loving powerhouse)
• [37:34] Why harvesting agave destroys the whole plant
• [39:24] Why Brittlebush is Rosie’s favorite desert plant to work with as an herbalist
• [40:08] How Rosie's business began with a single creosote spray
• [42:17] Are there any Sonoran plants that we could have as houseplants? 
• [43:17] Where to find Sonoran Rosie’s book and products

 

 

 

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What Makes the Sonoran Desert So Unique?

If you think the desert is barren… think again. The Sonoran Desert is actually one of the most biologically diverse deserts in the world and is home to the iconic saguaro cactus, which only grows here. Some saguaros live over 200 years, expand and contract with rainfall, and act as homes for woodpeckers, owls, and many desert creatures.

 

4 Biomes of the Sonoran Desert

• Temperate Forest / Sky Islands – High-elevation mountains
• Grasslands – Lower elevation fields of grasses, vines, and wildflowers
• Thornscrub – The “classic desert” with saguaros, mesquite, cholla, etc.
• Riparian Zones – Lush ecosystems along rivers and streams

 

 

How the Sonoran Desert Seasons Shape Plant Life

Rosie described the Sonoran Desert’s seasons as extreme because, unlike temperate climates where seasons change subtly, the Sonoran Desert experiences sudden and drastic shifts. However, you’d be surprised how many plants literally grow here!

Spring in the Sonoran Desert

Rosie said spring in the desert is at its softest with 70°F days, massive day-night temperature swings, and generous rains. Here are the plants that grow this season:

• Saguaro Cactus – the most iconic cactus in the Sonoran and a keystone species that provides habitat, food, and water to desert animals.
• California Poppy – medicinal; its petals can be made into relaxing tinctures

 

Summer in the Sonoran Desert

Summer has two phases: the brutal heat in the early days followed by the monsoon season that brings sudden dark clouds, heavy rainfall, and the famous desert smell.

Here are the plants that grow during this season:

• Creosote Bush (Chaparral) – responsible for the smell of the desert after rain. It’s also medicinal and used for almost any skin issue (rashes, acne, bug bites, eczema, psoriasis, radiation burns. It’s also antibacterial, antifungal, and reduced anxiety when used as a spray.
• Velvet mesquite – this desert plant spread easily and produces seed pods used as flour (outer shell only tho)
• Engelmann Prickly Pear – produces juicy, edible fruits!

 

Autumn in the Sonoran Desert

Autumn is the dry-down period after the monsoon season. New growth dies back and the desert resets.

Here are the plants that grow this season:

• Fishhook Barrel Cactus – short and round cactus that produces yellow and sour fruits. Rosie actually makes barrel-cactus pico de gallo
• Jojoba – it produces edible nuts that taste like almonds (but it’s best eaten fresh and not in large amounts). Rosie uses it as the main oil in her products.

 

Winter in the Sonoran Desert

Winter is cool and mostly dry until the late-winter rains that trigger spring blooms. Since not many plants bloom in winter, Rosie highlights year-round desert staples here.

Here are the plants that grow this season:

• Palmer’s Agave – known for uses like tequila, mezcal, and agave syrup; blooms only once every 10-25 years!
• Teddy Bear Cholla – this is the desert plant with sharp spines that attaches to anything easily and is a common hazard for hikers.
• Brittlebush – desert wildflower that’s fragrant and smells like sage! It was also used as a toothbrush before due to its antimicrobial properties. Roses uses it in face mists and skincare.

 

 

The Heart of Herbalism in the Desert

What I love most about Rosie is how deeply she honors this landscape. She began making herbal remedies simply because she wanted to bottle the smell of desert rain. And now, years later, she owns a gorgeous shop in Tucson filled with her botanical creations, locally made art, and even native plants she propagates herself!

Her work is a love letter to the Sonoran Desert. Her love letter to its scents, its seasons, its healing gifts, and its quiet resilience.

 

 

The Lesson the Desert Leaves Us With

After exploring this ecosystem through Rosie’s eyes, I keep coming back to one thought:

Life blooms even in the harshest environments.

The Sonoran Desert is a testament to the fact that beauty can emerge from places of extreme heat, dryness, and challenge. And maybe, plant friend, that’s a reminder we all need sometimes.

 

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Seasons of the Desert book by Sonoran Rosie
• The Sonoran Collection

 

 

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

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Grab The Preserver's Garden at quarto.com and wherever books are sold and enjoy your garden bounty longer!

 

 

 

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