Riparian plants in the foreground, while red rocks reflect off the Colorado River.
NPS Photo / Ty Karlovetz
Some of the riparian plants found along the Colorado River and its perennial tributaries include coyote willow, arrowweed, seep willow, cottonwood seedlings and non-native tamarisk. Riparian plants grow in areas of freshwater, which comes in the form of seeps and springs within the canyon (there are no natural water sources on the rim of Grand Canyon). This plant list barely scratches the surface of what is found at Grand Canyon. For an in-depth look, refer to a more complete list of plants in the park.
Coyote Willow Salix exigua – Salicaceae
NPS Photo
Coyote Willow
Salix exigua – Salicaceae
Appears as a large shrub or a small tree
Can be found along areas of freshwater, from low elevation to high elevation; at Grand Canyon, they are mostly found in creeks that run into the Colorado River, around 2000 feet elevation
Leaves are narrow and pointed at the end, alternating on every other side of the branches
Flowers can be green to yellow color, and releases cotton-like seeds
Branches and twigs were used for medicinal purposes, but also as material to make baskets, split-twig figurines, rope, and more
Large shrub-like plant, whcih grows in streams and creek beds, and can increase in areas that have been degraded
Can be found anywhere below 5000 feet (1500 meter) elevation
Leaves are medium green and have a saw-like pattern (serration) on their edges
Flowers are made up of multiple white discs and generally bloom from March till October
Used by native people as a hair cleaning product; stems could be used for making hunting equipment, such as arrows, for small animals
Emory's Seep Willow Baccharis emoryi – Asteraceae
NPS Photo / Kate Watters
Emory's Seep Willow
Baccharis emoryi – Asteraceae
Shrub found near streams or creek beds, generally anywhere between 500 and 5000 feet (150 to 1500 meters) in elevation; at Grand Canyon, it is generally found in creeks that feed into the Colorado River
Leaves alternate along the branches; they are long and narrow, but have a scalloped shape on the tip of each leaf, differentiating it from other plants
Flowers are cone shaped, with purple dots, and white fluffy seeds that stick out the top
Used for baseket weaving, fuel for fires, and even as toys
Named after Major William H. Emory, an 1800s American soldier, not Emory Kolb, of the infamous Kolb Brothers
Shrub or tree that grows along creeks and rivers, especially on the Colorado River corridor
Has narrow branches and has grey-green scale-like leaves; can have white or pink flowers which bloom from March thru September
Originally, it was introduced to help with erosion controll in the 1800s, but spread to the west and now has been clasified as an invasive species at Grand Canyon
On-going efforts are made to remove Tamarisk spp.to allow native vegetation to grow along the river
