Coronado Historic Site
Plants of Kuaua










Coronado Historic Site sits on the north end of the Middle Rio Grande Basin within the Rio Grande Rift in central New Mexico on the west bank of the Rio Grande River. These two distinct, semi-arid ecoregions contain desert scrubland, grassland, and riparian woodland (bosque). Accordingly, the site is dominated by sand sagebrush, fourwing saltbush, soaptree yucca, and cholla and prickly pear cactus. Within the bosque, Rio Grande cottonwood and coyote willow are dominant. Despite the limited yearly rainfall and persistent drought conditions, a surprising number of plant species thrive and help support an active, healthy ecosystem. Visit the site between May and October to see the greatest variety of plant life!
Other plants that can be found on our playlist here:
- Tufted Evening Primrose
- American Vetch
- Gypsum Scorpionweed
- Fendler's Spring Parsley
- Snowball Sand Verbena
- Largeflower Onion
- Rose Heath
- Hoary Tansy Aster
- Narrowleaf Globemallow
- Fineleaf Hymenopappus
- Spectacle Pod
- Sowthistle Desert Dandelion
- Blanket Flower
- Pink-Flowering Hedgehog Cactus
- Long-Spined Prickly Pear
- Beehive Cactus
- Slender Goldenweed
- Three-Leaf Sumac
- Horsetail Milkweed
- Bush Morning Glory
- Pale Evening Primrose
- Hairy False Goldenaster
- Scarlet Beeblossom
- Redwhisker Clammyweed
- Coyote Willow
- Narrowleaf Four O'Clock
- Curlycup Gumweed
- Devil's Claw
- Rabbitbrush
- Common Purslane
- One-Seed Juniper
All images and information from iNaturalist
Coronado Historic Site
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- Plants of Kuaua
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- Volunteer - Friends of Coronado and Jemez
- SUPPORT - Museum of New Mexico Foundation