Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which desert plants grow along the lower Rio Grande?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande basin and its drainage network.
Along the lower reaches of the Rio Grande, the landscape transitions into a hot desert climate. This environment supports a variety of desert vegetation, including:
- Mesquite
- Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata)
- Cactus (including prickly pear, or Opuntia species)
- Yucca
- Other desert plants12
These species are characteristic of the arid conditions found in the Chihuahuan Desert, through which the river flows before reaching the Gulf Coastal Plain.12