Rough Mules Ear

The Rough Mules ear grows in the south east quarter of the state of Utah. It has these beautiful yellow flowers. These photos were taken in Arches National Monument near Moab, Utah. Another one of the plants that grow without much rain fall. These were growing in sandy soil. There are nearly 4,000 different native plants and trees in Utah.

Eriogonum umbellatum, Sulfur Buckwheat

This is called the Sulfur Buckwheat. The Latin name for it is Eriogonum umbellatum. It is a striking flower in the late spring. There are large populations that turns a whole hillside yellow. the plant is fairly short, but the flower spikes may get twelve inches tall. In the garden and in the desert it grows with only the water that falls from the sky. In my area that may be 10-20 inches of annual rainfall.

Fallugia paradoxa, Apache Plume

The flowering Fallugia paradoxa was astonishing this year. This is not the flower but the plumes of the seed. The plumes emerge from the white with a pinkish glow which then turns white. There are a few flowers on through out the summer. This has been growing in my yard since about 2000. It was started from seed, transplanted into a tube, and then transplanted to its present location.

Penstemon palmerii, Palmer's Penstemon

This is a great specimen located at the parking lot exit at the visitor's center at the Dead Horse Point near Moab, Utah. Penstemon palmerii or Palmer's Penstemon. It is very tough. Here a seed was lodged in a crack of the asphalt, and began to grow. There are very drought tolerant. It is one of the few penstemons that have an order. Walking past patch of them is a pleasant olephactory experinece. They are a welcome plant in the landscape. Over water them and they get root rot and die.