Arizona/New Mexico Plateau is a region of plateaus, mesas, cliffs, and deep canyons covering parts of northern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southern Colorado, characterized by dry, mid-latitude steppe and desert climates and sparse water resources.
Zone
Interior
Common Name
Arizona/New Mexico Plateau
CEC Level III Code
10.1.7
CEC Level II Code
10.1 Cold Deserts
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Arizona/New Mexico Plateau, Arizona New Mexico Plateau, AZ/NM Plateau |
| Geographic Range | This region covers a large portion of northern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado, bordered by higher, more forest covered, mountainous ecoregions. |
| Climate Snapshot | The Arizona/New Mexico Plateau ecoregion has dry, mid-latitude steppe and desert climates, characterized by hot summers with low humidity and cool to cold dry winters, with a mean annual temperature mostly around 11°C and mean annual precipitation of 293 mm. |
| Terrain Profile | The region is characterized by plateaus, mesas, cliffs, deep canyons, valleys, and some irregular plains, with local relief varying from a few meters to well over 300 meters along tableland side slopes, and some volcanic cones reaching over 3,000 masl. |
| Vegetation Cover | Vegetation consists of shadscale, fourwing saltbush, greasewood, and various gramas at lower elevations, transitioning to pinyon-juniper woodlands and big sagebrush at higher elevations. |
| Wildlife Habitat | Wildlife in the Arizona/New Mexico Plateau includes mule deer, pronghorn, cougar, bobcat, various small mammals like prairie dogs and jackrabbits, and birds such as the greater roadrunner and Swainson's hawk, along with rattlesnakes and the Rio Grande silvery minnow. |
Eco snapshot
Vegetation consists of shadscale, fourwing saltbush, greasewood, and various gramas at lower elevations, transitioning to pinyon-juniper woodlands and big sagebrush at higher elevations.
Wildlife in the Arizona/New Mexico Plateau includes mule deer, pronghorn, cougar, bobcat, various small mammals like prairie dogs and jackrabbits, and birds such as the greater roadrunner and Swainson’s hawk, along with rattlesnakes and the Rio Grande silvery minnow.
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 nesting sites | Plant or protect early-blooming natives; leave some bare ground and last year’s stems |
| Spring | Steady bloom; nesting materials and undisturbed soil | Add a cluster of spring bloomers; avoid tilling; provide a shallow water source with stones |
| Summer | Heat-resilient flowers; shade and water nearby | Plant drought-tough summer bloomers; water deeply but less often; keep blooms going through hot spells |
| Late summer/fall | “Last chance” nectar/pollen to fuel overwintering | Add late-season bloomers; avoid deadheading everything; leave seedheads and stems |
| Winter or Dry Season | Shelter; intact habitat | Don’t over-tidy; keep leaf litter in corners; protect shrubs and perennial bases |
Keystone plants
Mix early, mid, and late bloomers so pollinators always find food.
Seed mix concept
Spring starter: early bloomers that wake up pollinators and start the season strong.
Summer bridge: heat-tough flowers that keep nectar/pollen available through the hottest stretch.
Fall finisher: late bloomers (often shrubs and asters/goldenrods) that provide crucial end-of-season fuel.
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
Asters are late-season wildflowers that bring a burst of daisy-like blooms when many gardens are winding down, making them a reliable choice for pollinator-friendly planting.
Blazing stars (Liatris) are upright, purple-pink wildflowers that bloom in showy spikes and are well-loved by many pollinators. They’re a strong choice for sunny gardens, borders, and meadow-style plantings.
Gilias (genus Gilia) are airy, nectar-rich wildflowers that can add quick color to sunny spots and help support a variety of pollinators.
Goldenrods are tough, sunny wildflowers in the genus Solidago that light up late-season gardens with golden blooms and provide reliable nectar and pollen when many other flowers are fading.
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.
Rabbitbrush is a tough, sun-loving shrub known for its bright yellow late-season blooms that can help keep pollinators fed when many other flowers are fading.
Sagebrushes are tough, aromatic shrubs in the genus Artemisia that can anchor a dry, sunny habitat and offer shelter and seasonal nectar for a range of insects.
Wild buckwheats (genus Eriogonum) are tough, long-blooming western native wildflowers that can turn dry, sunny spots into reliable pollinator stops.
Yarrow is a tough, easygoing wildflower that brings long-lasting blooms and steady pollinator visits to gardens, schoolyards, and even containers.
Pollinators
Adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms; their presence is a sign of diverse, functioning habitats.
Many brushfoots move pollen between flowers as they feed, and their caterpillars are part of healthy food webs.
Bumble bees are important pollinators of many wildflowers and garden plants, helping ecosystems and food crops reproduce.
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 foraging, helping many wild plants and garden plants set seed and fruit.
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden crops set seed and fruit.
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden plants set seed and fruit.
They can move pollen while drinking nectar, and they also help control many plant-eating insects.
They’re part of healthy food webs and plant communities, and their caterpillars depend on a wide range of native trees and shrubs.
Skippers visit many flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms while they feed.
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.
Adult swallowtails visit many flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
They help move pollen between flowers in gardens, parks, and natural areas, supporting seed and fruit production.
They visit a wide range of flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
