Plants in Bloom at the Rio Grande Botanic Garden
Spring Season
Plants with images are grouped by location and listed alphabetically within their plant family. Region or country of origin are included after the plant name.
A list of Winter Blooms is now available (no images). Many of the winter blooming plants may be found in the Mediterranean Conservatory.
We are making an effort to include more photos of individual plants on this page. If you would like to contribute a digital photo of a garden plant to this webpage, please send it to the webmaster at biopark@cabq.gov.
Desert Conservatory top
MONOCOTS
Agaves - Agavaceae
Manfreda (Manfreda sp.) -- Southern Texas and Northeastern Mexico
Banana yucca (Yucca baccata) - Southwestern United States
DICOTS
Cactus Family - Cactaceae
Ladyfinger Cactus (Echinocereus pentalophus) -- Southern Texas, Northeastern Mexico
Spiny Claret Cup, Beehive Cactus (Echinocereus coccineus ) - Southwestern US
Sea Lavender - Plumbaginaceae
Plumbago (Plumbago scandens) -- Southern US to Central America
Pea family - Fabaceae
Baja fairyduster (Calliandra california) -- Baja Sonoran Desert
Littleleaf palo verde (Cercidium macrophyllum) -- Mojave and Sonoran Deserts
Spurge family - Euphorbiaceae
Shrubby euphorbia (Euphorbia xantii) -- Baja Sonoran Desert
Caltrops - Zygophyllaceae
Morkillia (Morkillia acuminata) -- Mexico
Creosote (Larrea tridentata) -- Southwest American deserts
Catalpas - Bignoniaceae
Trumpet flower (Tecomeria spp.) -- South Africa
Sea Holly - Acanthaceae
Chuparosa (Justicia californica, J. candicans and J. sonorae) -- Sonoran Desert
Sunflower family - Asteraceae
Damianita (Chrysactinia mexicana) -- Chihuahuan Desert
Mediterranean Conservatory top
MONOCOTS
Bloodwort family - Haemodoraceae
Kangaroo paws (Anigozanthos flavidas) -- Australia
Lilies - Liliaceae
Sweet garlic (Tulbaghia fragrans) -- South Africa
Society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea) -- South Africa
Irises - Iridaceae
‘Orange Drop’ fotnight lily (Dietes cultivar)
Peacock flower, fortnight lily (Dietes bicolor) -- South Africa
Large wild iris (Dietes grandiflora) -- South Africa
Sedges - Cyperaceae
Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) -- North Africa
This is the paper of ancient Egypt, and it does have flowers, although they are very small.
DICOTS
Mallows - Malvaceae
Cape mallow (Anisodontea x hypomandaum) -- South Africa
Rock Roses - Cistaceae
Grey-leaved Rockrose (Cistus albidus) Mediterranean
Rockrose (Cistus x hybridus) -- Mediterranean
Sunset rockrose (Cistus x pulverulentus “Sunset”) -- Mediterranean
Rockrose (Cistus x verguinii) -- Mediterranean
Myrtles, Eucalyptus and Clover Family - Myrtaceae
Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus) -- Australia
Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus ‘Little John”) -- Australia
Periwinkles and Oleanders - Apocynaceae
Natal plum (Carissa grandiflora) South Africa
Oleander (Nerium oleander ‘Sister Agnus’) – Southwestern Europe, East Asia
Borages - Boraginaceae
Pride of Madeira (Echium fastuosum) -- Madeira islands near Portugal
Olives, Ashes and Lilacs - Oleaceae
Jasmine (Jasminum odoratissimum) -- Madeira
Snapdragons - Scrophulariaceae
Island snapdragon (Galvezia speciosa) – Southern California
Monkeyflower (Mimulus cardinalis) – Southwestern US coast to Mexico
Monkeyflower (Mimulus longifolius) – California coast
Mints - Lamiaceae
Goodwin Creek Gray Lavender (Lavandula spp.) -- Mediterranean
Jerusalem Sage (Phlomis fruticosa) -- Mediterranean
Andean silver-leaf sage (Salvia discolor) -- Peru
Outdoor Grounds top
MONOCOTS
Lilies - Liliaceae
Daffodil (Narcissus cultivars) - Europe, Asia, North Africa
Tulip (Tulipa cultivars) - North America, Eurasia, North Africa
Irises - Iridaceae
Iris (Iris cultivars) - North America, Europe
Grasses - Poaceae
Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) - North America, Asia
DICOTS
Barberries - Berberidaceae
Red barberry (Mahonia haematocarpa) - Southwestern United States and northern Mexico
Creeping barberry (Mahonia repens) - Western United States and northern Mexico
Algerita (Mahonia trifoliolata) - Southwestern United States and northern Mexico
Buttercups - Ranunculaceae
Yellow columbine (Aqulegia chrysantha) - Western United States
Akebias and Holboellias - Lardizbalaceae
Chocolate vine (Akebia quinata) - Eastern United States
Sea Lavendars and Thrift - Plumbaginaceae
Sea thrift (Armeria spp.) - Worldwide
Violets - Violaceae
Violet (Viola cultivars) - Worldwide
Heath Family - Ericaceae
Texas madrone (Arbutus texana) - Southern New Mexico, West Texas
Rose Family - Rosaceae
Apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa) - Southwestern United States and northern Mexico
Crabapples and colonnade apples (Malus cultivars) - Eastern Turkey, nouthwestern Russia, North America
Kwanzan Cherry (Prunus serrulata) - Japan
Roses, assorted (Rosa sp.)
Currants - Grossulariaceae
Golden current (Ribes aureum) - United States
Currants, Hydrangeas and Saxifrages - Saxifragaceae
Coralbells (Heuchera sanguinea) - New Mexico and Arizona
Pea Family - Fabaceae
Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) - Western United States
Spainsh Broom (Spartium junceum) - Mediterranean
Purple robe locust (Robinia “Purple Robe”) - North America
Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) - Japan
Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) - China
Dogwoods - Cornaceae
Red-Twig dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) - North America
Sapindaceae
Texas buckeye (Ungnadia speciosa) - New Mexico and Texas
Cashews, Mangos, Sumacs and Poison Ivy - Anacardiaceae
Three-leaf sumac (Rhus trilobata) - Western United States and northern Mexico
Oleaceae - Olive, Ashes and Lilacs
Lilacs (Syringa spp.) - Southeast Europe and Eastern Asia
Phlox Family - Polemoniaceae
Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) - Eastern United States
Verbeneaceae - Verbenas and Teaks
Rough Verbena (Verbena rigida) - South America
Mints – Lamiaceae
Ajuga (Ajuga reptans) - Europe
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) - Mediterranean
Cherry sage (Salvia greggii) - Southwestern United States and northern Mexico
Valerians - Valerianaceae
Red valerian (Centranthus ruber) - Europe and northern Africa to Asia
Elders and Honeysuckles - Caprifoliaceae
Glossey abelia (Abelia grandiflora) - China
Sunflower Family - Asteraceae
Yarrow (Achillea filipendulina) - Eurasia
Mat daisy (Anacyclus depressus) - Morocco
Chocolate flower (Berlandiera lyrata) - Southwestern United States and northern Mexico
Angelina daisy (Hymenoxys acaulis) - Southwestern United States and northen Mexico
Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum) - Eurasia
Winter Blooms top
Abutilon palmeri
Palmer's Indian Mallow Feb-Mar
Acacia baileyana
Golden Mimosa Nov-Jan
Acanthus mollis
Bear's Breeches Nov-Dec
March
Adenium obesum
Desert Rose March
Anacyclus depressus
Mat Daisy March
Anigozanthos flavidas
Kangaroo Paws March
Anisacanthus quadrifidus
Flame Anisacanthus Nov-Dec
March
Anisodontea x hypomandrum
Cape Mallow Dec-June
Arbutus marina
Strawberry Tree Nov-May
Banksia integrifolia
Coast Banksia Nov-Jan
Berberis haematocarpa
Red Barberry Mar-May
Berberis repens
Creeping Barberry Mar-May
Berberis trifoliolata
Three-leafed Barberry Mar-Apr
Buddleya marrubifolia (in)
Woolly Butterflybush Dec-June
Calliandra california
Baja Fairy Duster Dec-May
Callistemon cintrinus
Red Bottlebrush Dec-June
Callistemon cintrinus Little John
Little John Bottlebrush
Dec-June
Callistemon jeffersii
Dwarf Bottlebrush Dec.
Mar-Apr
Ceratostygma absinthincum
Plumbago Mar
Cercidium floridum
Blue Palo Verde Feb-Mar
Cercis canadensis
Western Redbud March
Chaemomeles sp.
Quince Mar-Apr
Chamaerops humilis
Mediterranean Fan Palm Dec-Mar
Chrysactinia mexicana
Damianita Dec-Jan
Mar-Apr
Cistus incanus creticus
Pink Rockrose Jan-June
Cistus salviifolius (in)
Sageleaf Rockrose Jan-June
Cistus salviifolius (in)prostrate
Sageleaf Rockrose
Jan-Apr
Cistus x pulverulentus (in) “Sunset”
Sunset Rockrose
Jan-June
Coleonema pluchrum
Pink Breath of Heaven Jan-Mar
Correa pulchella
Australian Fuschia Dec-Jan
Convolvulus mauritanius
Ground Morning Glory Jan, Mar
Narcissus sp
Daffodil
Mar
Dalea bicolor (in)
Blue Dalea Dec- Jan
Mar-June
Dietes “Orange Drop”
Fortnight Lily Jan-Mar
Dietes grandiflora
Large Wild Iris Jan-Mar
Echium fastuosm
Pride of Madeira Mar
Encelia farinose (in)
Brittlebrush Feb-Mar
Erigeron glaucus
Seaside Daisy Jan-Mar
Erigeron karvinskianus
Mexican Daisy Jan-June
Erisimum "Bowles Mauve"
Lavender Wallflower March
Euphorbia
Gopher Spurge Feb-Mar
Euphorbia xantii
Shrubby Euphorbia Dec-May
Ferraria crispa
Black Flag Feb-Mar
Foresteria neomexicana
New Mexico Olive March
Forsythia x intermedia
Forsythia March
Galvezia speciosa
Island Snapdragon Dec-July
Greville thelemanniana
Hummingbird Bush Jan-May
Heuchera “Canyon Pink”
Coralbells Feb-May
Hymenoxys acalus
Angelina Daisy Feb
Mar-June
Jasminum nudiflorum
Jasmine Jan-Mar
Jasminum odoratissimum
Jasmine Dec-Jan
Mar-July
Justicia californica
Chuparosa Dec-June
Justicia candicans
Chuparosa Dec-Mar
Justicia sonorae
Chuparosa Dec-May
Larrea tridentata
Creosote Mar-May
Lavandula “Munstead”
Munstead Lavender Dec-Jan
Mar-Apr
Lavandula multifida
Fernleaf Lavender Sept-July
Lavandula stoechas
Spanish Lavender Jan-June
Malephora crocea
Ice Plant Feb
Melaleuca elliptica
Granite Honey Myrtle Jan-April
Mimulus longifolius (in)
Long-leafed Monkeyflower Dec-July
Mimulus cardinalis
Red Monkeyflower Feb-July
Morkillia acuminate
Morkillia Jan
Mar-Apr, June
Nerium oleander “Petite Pink”
Oleander
Feb
May-July
Origanum syriaca
Oregano Dec-Jan
June
Plectranthus hadiansis
December
Phlomis fruticosa (in)
Jerusalem Sage Jan-July
Phlox subulata
Creeping Phlox Jan-May
Phygelius capensis
Cape Fuschia Feb-Mar
May-July
Plumbago auriculata
Cape Leadwort Dec-July
Plumbago scandens
Plumbago Dec-June
Psoralea pinnata
Scurfy Blue Pea Shrub Feb-May
Rosemarinus officinalis HC
Rosemary Sept-Jan
Mar-April
Ruellia peninsularis
Desert Ruellia Dec-Jan
April-May
Salvia discolor
Andean Silverleaf Sage Dec-June
Salvia leucantha
Mexican Sage January
Tagetes lemmonii (inside)
Mountain Marigold Jan-May
Tecoma stans “Gold Star”
Yellow Bells; Yellow Elder Dec.
Feb-Mar
Tecomeria capensis
Trumpet Flower Dec-June
Titanopsis calcarca
Jewel Plant February
Tulbaghia fragrans
Sweet Garlic Dec-Mar
May-June
Tulbaghia violacea
Society Garlic Feb-July
Veltheimia bracteata
Forest Lily; Sand Onion Dec-March
Mammillaria heyderii
Little Nipple Cactus Feb-Mar
