Prickly Pear

Opuntia - commonly called prickly pear cactus - is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family, Cactaceae. The most common species of Opuntia in the Sonoran Desert, the Engelmann prickly pear, is known for its flat, edible green pads (“nopales”), vibrant orange / yellow spring flowers, and purple-red summer fruit (“tuna”)

Saguaro

Carnegiea gigantea, or the saguaro, is a cactus species native to the Sonoran Desert that can grow to heights greater than 40 feet tall. Though these cacti have a lifespan often exceeding 150 years, they may only grow their first side arm around the age of 75-100

The saguaro blossom is the state wildflower of Arizona

Beetroot

Beetroot is the taproot portion of a beta vulgaris plant. This nutrient-rich vegetable is known for its vibrant color, earthy flavor, and health benefits

Watermelon

The watermelon - citrullus lanatus - is a species of flowering plant that grows large, edible berry with a hard rind and high water content (over 90%)

Roadrunner

The roadrunner - geococcyx californianus - is an iconic resident of Arizona’s deserts. These birds run up to speeds of 25 mph, and can be characterized by their long tail, dark crest, and X-shaped footprints

Banana

Botanically a berry, the banana is known for its elongated shape and soft, sweet flesh. It is produced by several types of large treelike herbaceous flowering plants in the genus musa

Strawberry

The garden strawberry is a wildly grown plant cultivated for its bright red fruit. Botanically, the strawberry is not a berry, but an aggregate accessory fruit. Each apparent ‘seed’ on its outside is actually an achene which contains a single seed inside