Springtime intraspecies synchronicity of open flowers for desert willow, blue palo verde, velvet mesquite, and creosote bush in Tucson, Arizona.
Fabiana Murrieta Mercado1, Theresa Crimmins2, Martha Whitaker3
3Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences
2USA National Phenology Network
1Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
The University of Arizona. Tucson, AZ
Master Gardeners of Pima County, AZ host public workshops based on plant phenology, which are seasonal changes in plant behavior, such as blooming or leaf growth. This study aims to identify intraspecies bloom synchronicity among desert willow (Chilopsis linearis), blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida), velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina), and creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) to optimize workshop scheduling for multiple specimens. Using Tableau and Excel, first bloom dates were recorded and analyzed through box-and-whisker plots to identify overlapping bloom time frames from 2021 to 2024. Results show that desert willow blooms from late April to early May, blue palo verde within April, and velvet mesquite from late April to mid-May. The creosote bush showed no consistent springtime blooming pattern. Desert willow and blue palo verde demonstrated strong intraspecies bloom synchronicity. The data suggest that workshops featuring desert willow, blue palo verde, and velvet mesquite should be scheduled from mid-April to mid-May to maximize specimen visibility. These findings enable Master Gardeners to plan future springtime events more effectively and accommodate more workshop participants.