Plants

close up of cobalt blue larkspur flowers
Close up of cobalt blue larkspur flowers

NPS

 

Not all plants at Petrified Forest National Park are fossils. Living plants are critical components within the grassland ecosystem found throughout the park. Plants capture particulate dust in the air, filter gaseous pollutants, convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, provide habitat for animals, and supply raw materials for humans.

Plants of the Painted Desert Community Complex Plaza
Painted Desert Inn Landscape Plants
Rainbow Forest Landscape Plants--upcoming

 
Trees and Shrubs
Trees and Shrubs

Trees and Shrubs

Wildflowers
Wildflowers

Wildflowers

Cactuses
Cactuses

Cactuses

Grasses, Reeds, Rushes, and Sedges
Grasses, Reeds, Rushes, and Sedges

Grasses, Reeds, Rushes, and Sedges

Mosses, Ferns, and Allies
Mosses, Ferns, and Allies

Mosses, Ferns, and Allies

Lichens
Lichens

Lichens

 
Purple Aster Flowers
Purple Aster flowers

NPS/Marge Post

Plant Adaptations

Plants of arid climates have adaptations which enable them to survive the extremes of temperature and precipitation. These adaptations can be grouped in two basic categories, drought escapers and drought resistors.

Escape

Drought escapers are plants which take advantage of favorable growing conditions when they exist, but go dormant when those conditions disappear. They are usually annuals, growing only when enough water is available. Seeds produced under good conditions can lie dormant for years if conditions are not favorable for germination. Most grasses and wildflowers are drought escapers.

 
yellow Prickly Pear Cactus flowers
Prickly Pear Cactus Flowers

NPS/Marge Post

Resistance

Drought resistors are typically perennials. They have mechanisms for reducing the damage a drought can cause. For example, some will drop their leaves if water is unavailable. Many have small, hairy leaves which reduce exposure to air currents and solar radiation and thereby limit the amount of water lost to evaporation.

Cacti, yuccas and mosses are examples of drought resistors. Yuccas have extensive taproots which can reach water beyond the ability of other plants. Mosses can tolerate complete dehydration. When rains return after extensive dry periods, mosses green up immediately.

Last updated: October 27, 2022

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Petrified Forest National Park
P.O. Box 2217
Attn.:

Petrified Forest, AZ 86028-2217

Phone:

928 524-6228

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