Metro Phoenix Ecoflora | Desert Botanical Garden

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Metro Phoenix Ecoflora Logo

The Metro Phoenix EcoFlora project is making plant science meaningful and open for everyone, while we learn about the biodiversity of our urban desert home. We need your help! 

A rare plant in a park? A sleeping bobcat in the backyard? What else could be out there? Let’s find out!

Using iNaturalist, a free app that can identify plants and animals, you can help document urban biodiversity. Join the Metro Phoenix EcoFlora project to study plants and wildlife in metro Phoenix. Plus, enjoy events, rewards, EcoQuest challenges and more.

This is an opportunity to contribute to real-life science while studying plants in metro Phoenix, what is happening with them, and how these plants are interacting with other organisms. The information gathered through this project will provide insight into bigger biodiversity science questions and contribute to local conservation efforts.

What are Ecoquests?

In addition to the overall project, each month brings a new EcoQuest to participate in. EcoQuests are like hide-and-seek games for urban biodiversity, seeking certain plants or plant interactions. Each quest is like a mini project, filled with information and resources about the monthly subject. The results from the EcoQuests can provide information for research, such as pollinator counts, invasive species mapping or wildlife habitat.

Saguaro Census Results 2024

Desert Botanical Garden’s Saguaro Census in May 2023 recorded 3,670 saguaro observations across metro Phoenix in May with the support of Valley residents and volunteers, expanding its total number of observations to more than 19,000 since the project’s launch in 2022.

Saguaro Census Result 2023

Desert Botanical Garden’s Saguaro Census in May 2023 recorded 3,670 saguaro observations across metro Phoenix in May with the support of Valley residents and volunteers, expanding its total number of observations to more than 19,000 since the project’s launch in 2022.

Urban Saguaro Census Returns May 2023

Desert Botanical Garden will hold its second annual urban Saguaro Census during the month May to documents more saguaros throughout the Phoenix metro area, as well as monitor the ones that were recorded last year.

September EcoQuest: Tracking Tamarisk Beetles

Join the September EcoQuest: Tracking Tamarisk Beetles. Join the EcoQuest WHAT TO OBSERVE:Find and map as many tamarisk beetles (larvae too!) (Diorhabda spp.) and tamarisk trees (Tamarix spp.) as...

August 2022 EcoQuest: Palms on Parade

Join the August EcoQuest: Palms on Parade Find and map as many palm trees as possible.Join the EcoQuestSee them on iNaturalist. WHAT TO OBSERVE: Any and all palm trees (Arecaceae). Palm trees have a...

July 2022 EcoQuest: The Leaf Connection

July 2022 EcoQuest: The Leaf Connection IMPORTANT: Be sure to include the hashtag #theleafconnection in the notes section of your observation. WHAT TO OBSERVE: Any kind of leaf, whether on the...

June 2022 EcoQuest: Unfamiliar Pollinators

Join the June EcoQuest: Unfamiliar Pollinators WHAT TO OBSERVE: Let’s celebrate Pollinator Week, June 20-26! Pollinator Week is an annual event celebrated internationally in support of pollinator...

Counting Saguaros

Looking for a great family activity? Head outside in your neighborhood and help the Garden in its first-ever Saguaro Census. This all-ages project aims to better understand the health and adaptation...

Why Desert Botanical Garden is Studying Urban Saguaros

During the summer of 2020, the Phoenix metropolitan area recorded its hottest summer ever. Not being able to move, the effects of those record temperatures affected the most vulnerable: plants....

Care and Keeping of Saguaros

Explore three plants kids can grow with help from an adult family member. Growing vegetables is a simple way to introduce young children to gardening.

Stay Connected

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Community Collaborators

CAZCA Logo

The Metro Phoenix EcoFlora is in collaboration with the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance (CAZCA), an initiative of Desert Botanical Garden, who supports organizations and the people of Arizona to protect and care for natural, open spaces that serve our communities and protect the habitat of the Sonoran Desert in Central Arizona.

Looking to collaborate with EcoFlora? Send a message to ecofloraphx@dbg.org.

FAQ

Should I use the iNaturalist website or app?

Both! The app is great for observations on-the-go or in the field, and the website is great for community, sending messages, making identifications and more.

Why do I need to join the project?

Joining the project adds your observations to the project and keeps you up to date with happenings, announcements and more.

Can I observe the plants in my yard or animals at the zoo?

Domesticated or captive animals (like cats, dogs or animals at the zoo) and houseplants should not be observed. Cultivated plants (planted by humans) can be observed, preferably those that exist in a place for a long time (think trees, cactus, etc.). Planting beds or containers that are regularly replanted are not recommended for observing.

How do I observe a lot of one species in one place?

Observe each one individually or observe one and accompany it with a “note” estimating how many are in the area. Also include an image showing the overall site. Individual observations are preferred, but we understand that can be a daunting task! One observation is better than no observation.

How do I observe a plant and an animal or insect in one photo?

Upload one observation for the plant and one for the insect or animal. It’s okay to use the same images for both.

Why urban biodiversity?

We are experiencing rapid urbanization here in the Valley. We have floras or are working on floras for most of the parks in the area, but we don’t really know what is in urban areas. What species are living here? Are there potentially invasive species? Have we lost biodiversity, or gained more? As urban areas continue to increase, we need to understand how this impacts biodiversity and how we can best guide conservation.

The EcoFlora project was developed by the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). The project launched in 2016 and has seen great success. NYBG, in collaboration with four gardens across the country (including Desert Botanical Garden, Denver Botanic Gardens, Chicago Botanic Garden and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens), received a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to scale up the EcoFlora project. The Metro Phoenix EcoFlora project is also in collaboration with the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance (CAZCA).

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Dec. 13-15: Last Garden entry is 3 p.m. The Garden will reopen at 5:30 p.m. to Las Noches de las Luminarias ticket holders.
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