Arizona/New Mexico Mountains is a disjunct region of mountains extending from northwestern Arizona into central and southern New Mexico, with a small section in west Texas, characterized by a variety of climates, chaparral, pinyon-juniper, and ponderosa pine forests, and a diverse geological makeup.
Zone
Interior
Common Name
Arizona/New Mexico Mountains
CEC Level III Code
13.1.1
CEC Level II Code
13.1 Upper Gila Mountains
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Arizona/New Mexico Mountains, Arizona New Mexico Mountains, Arizona–New Mexico Mountains |
| Geographic Range | This ecoregion is a disjunct mountainous area stretching from northwestern Arizona into central and southern New Mexico, with a small part in west Texas. |
| Climate Snapshot | The region experiences a variety of climates from alpine to steppe and desert, generally featuring warm to hot summers, mild winters, mean annual temperatures from 3°C to 19°C, and a mean annual precipitation of 477 mm, with over half occurring during July-September thunderstorms. |
| Terrain Profile | The terrain includes Colorado Plateau and Basin and Range physiography, featuring steep foothills, mountains, and deeply dissected high plateaus, with elevations ranging from 1,300 to over 3,800 masl. |
| Vegetation Cover | Vegetation ranges from chaparral and pinyon-juniper/oak woodlands at lower and middle elevations to ponderosa pine forests, along with Douglas fir, white pine, white fir, and aspen at higher elevations, marking the southernmost extent of spruce-fir forest. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The Arizona/New Mexico Mountains region is home to mule deer, bighorn sheep, cougar, and Mexican gray wolf, marking the northern extent for some Mexican wildlife species. |
Eco snapshot
Vegetation ranges from chaparral and pinyon-juniper/oak woodlands at lower and middle elevations to ponderosa pine forests, along with Douglas fir, white pine, white fir, and aspen at higher elevations, marking the southernmost extent of spruce-fir forest.
The Arizona/New Mexico Mountains region is home to mule deer, bighorn sheep, cougar, and Mexican gray wolf, marking the northern extent for some Mexican wildlife species.
Seasonal timing
Yearly needs
What pollinators need throughout the year, and what to do about it.
| Season | What pollinators need most | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Late winter/early spring | Early nectar/pollen; safe shelter as insects become active | Leave some leaf litter and stems; plant/plan early bloomers; avoid any pesticide use |
| Spring | Steady bloom; nesting sites (soil, stems, cavities) | Plant a mix of spring flowers; keep some bare ground; add a small bee house only if you can maintain it |
| Summer | Heat/dry resilience; continuous flowers; water sources | Add drought-tolerant mid-summer bloomers; provide a shallow water dish with stones; water new plants deeply but not constantly |
| Late summer/fall | “Last chance” nectar/pollen to build reserves | Plant late bloomers; avoid deadheading everything; leave seedheads and stems for habitat |
| Winter or Dry Season | Shelter from cold/dry conditions; undisturbed nesting | Don’t over-tidy; delay heavy cleanup; keep brush/leaf piles in a corner; plan next season’s bloom sequence |
Keystone plants
Mix early, mid, and late bloomers so pollinators always find food.
Seed mix concept
Early bloomers (often shrubs and early perennials) to feed emerging bees.
Heat- and sun-tolerant flowers that keep nectar/pollen available through the warmest stretch.
Late-season flowers (often asters/goldenrods-type plants) that help pollinators stock up before winter.
What You Can Do
Turn this knowledge into action. Whether you plant a single pot or a whole garden, you are building a vital bridge for local biodiversity.
Join the movement to restore our shared habitats.
Native plants
Agaves are bold, sculptural succulents that store water in thick leaves and thrive in bright, dry spots. Their flowers can be a big seasonal draw for pollinators when plants are mature and in bloom.
Creosote bush (genus Larrea) is a tough, sun-loving shrub known for its small yellow flowers and resin-scented leaves. It’s best for dry, open spaces where you want a low-water plant that can still offer nectar and pollen when in bloom.
Desert mallows (globe mallows) are tough, sun-loving plants in the genus Sphaeralcea that bring warm-colored blooms and easy pollinator value to dry, low-fuss gardens and containers.
Desert marigolds are sunny, daisy-like wildflowers in the genus Baileya that bring bright color and steady nectar to warm, open garden spots.
Mesquites are tough, drought-adapted trees in the genus Prosopis that can add shade and seasonal flowers to dry landscapes while offering nectar and pollen for a range of pollinators.
Ocotillo is a dramatic desert shrub in the genus Fouquieria, known for tall, wand-like stems and bright flower clusters that can be a valuable nectar stop when in bloom.
Organ pipe & relatives are columnar cacti in the genus Stenocereus, grown for their bold, upright stems and showy blooms that can offer nectar and pollen when flowers are open.
Penstemons (beardtongues) are hardy, flower-filled wildflowers that bring bright color and steady nectar to gardens and containers, especially in sunny spots with well-drained soil.
Phacelias are easygoing wildflowers in the genus Phacelia, known for their nectar-rich blooms that can bring lots of pollinator activity to gardens, schoolyards, and even containers.
Prickly pears are tough, sun-loving cacti (genus Opuntia) with bright blooms that can offer nectar and pollen when in flower. They’re best for warm, bright spots and gardeners who want a low-water plant with big character.
Prickly poppies (genus Argemone) are bold, spiny wildflowers with papery blooms that can add bright color and nectar to sunny, low-fuss garden spots.
Saguaros are iconic desert cacti that grow slowly, live a long time, and offer seasonal flowers that can support pollinators when grown in the right conditions.
Wild buckwheats (genus Eriogonum) are tough, long-blooming western native wildflowers that can turn dry, sunny spots into reliable pollinator stops.
Yucca is a group of bold, architectural plants with spiky leaves and tall flower stalks that can add structure to sunny gardens and containers. Many yuccas are tough once established and can be a low-fuss way to offer nectar to visiting pollinators when in bloom.
Pollinators
Adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms; their presence is a sign of diverse, functioning habitats.
Bumble bees are important pollinators of many wildflowers and garden plants, helping ecosystems and food crops reproduce.
Adults can move pollen between blooms, and their presence can signal how healthy local plant communities are.
They move pollen between flowers while feeding, helping wild plants and many garden plants set seed and fruit.
Adults visit flowers for nectar and pollen, and many species’ larvae help keep plant-eating pests in check.
They can move pollen between flowers while feeding on nectar, especially for blooms that open or scent up in the evening.
They move pollen between flowers while feeding, helping many plants reproduce.
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden plants set seed and fruit.
They move pollen between flowers as they feed, supporting seed and fruit set in many wild plants and some crops.
They move pollen between flowers over long distances, helping some plants set fruit and seed.
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden plants set seed and fruit.
They move pollen between flowers over long distances and help many plants set fruit and seed.
They can move pollen while drinking nectar, and they also help control many plant-eating insects.
Many small moths move pollen while feeding on nectar, supporting wild plants and garden blooms—especially in the evening and at night.
Many adults visit flowers and can move pollen between blooms, while also helping control some garden pests.
Many adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while feeding.
They help move pollen between flowers in gardens, parks, and natural areas, supporting seed and fruit production.
