I've not seen any desert willow on the south side of the I-10 freeway off Hayfield Road, but there are quite a few of them in the wash around Corn Springs in the Chuckwalla Mountains.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UG3eQbZHXR7jNe_lPpdt5I1ILoT8siuLFImKODFqWDSM8AhDwJZcaUyVz4E2L5M3F51VkDa5j1jAfxSxb5G3YGnW1mAsu8lnW2FObZlQParsu74L2N8JnIHkG60SVrotdJcHBLhWGUE/s400/4+desert+willow.jpg) |
The desert willow, center front, near Corn Springs. |
It can be a shrub or a tree. Those that I saw
ten years ago on the north side of Hayfield Road were more like shrubs and had larger flowers. I saw flowers that were both white and lavender. In Corn Springs the desert willows are trees and have smaller flowers and the flowers are predominantly white.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhREUgw5MfD1RNPDxTMT6AgmIKg9Bn6yUYRWKAW4m9CcNOiIrRCMD_4CQsiLK-4h__V_vamErK6No6ksZVo242EOF6g6FIGjFYAqOCiIwMprsl-wDgc8FdszzoIDSkOV6Ty-gMQJ5lS0/s400/10+desert+willow.jpg) |
The flowers have two ruffled upper lobes and three yellow and magenta streaked lower lobes. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJahzWYVBv0W5_ErjTK_5JNpkfBKgQSXThdLOO8t4wrAfCYFxUp0GHoMaQ9pB5SJB8sGw3WxjnO0sUj-VmLnIW4WDfiCxROzdGCJ_DLg9O269i8chv-xVmgtrosEKD4JZgSb0euItwX4/s400/15a+desert+willow+and+male+monarch+butterfly.jpg) |
A male monarch butterfly on a desert willow flower. This particular tree was being swarmed by butterflies. |
Up close, this almost looks like a tropical flower. Crazy!
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