Hills and Interior Plains with Xeric Shrub and Mesquite Low Forest is traditionally known as the Bajío region, covers an area of 66,921 km2 across parts of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Querétaro, Hidalgo, Mexico, and Jalisco, and is characterized by temperate and sub-humid climates, altered plant communities, and important hydrological basins including the Lerma River basin.
Zone
Interior
Common Name
Hills and Interior Plains with Xeric Shrub and Mesquite Low Forest
CEC Level III Code
12.2.1
CEC Level II Code
12.2 Chihuahuan Desert
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Hills and Interior Plains with Xeric Shrub and Mesquite Low Forest, Chihuahuan Desert hills and interior plains |
| Geographic Range | This region, traditionally known as the Bajío, covers 66,921 km2 and includes the states of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Querétaro, the southwestern part of Hidalgo, plus portions of the state of Mexico and central/eastern Jalisco. |
| Climate Snapshot | The predominant climates are temperate and sub-humid with summer rains, variable temperatures in mountainous areas and semi-warm in the Bajío region, with dry, temperate, steppe, and semi-dry climates with warm summers and cool winters in other parts of the subregion. |
| Terrain Profile | The region is characterized by valleys and plains from fluvial and lacustrine systems, with massive tuff deposits, evidence of pyroclastic cones and lava overflows, and the remains of ancient volcanoes forming mountainous areas like the Sierra de Guanajuato and Sierra de Pánjamo. |
| Vegetation Cover | The vegetation has been significantly altered by agriculture and grazing, now consisting primarily of tropical deciduous forests, remnants of mesquite forests in low areas, and oak and mixed oak-pine forests in mountainous areas, despite likely having been predominantly grassland historically. |
| Wildlife Habitat | Despite intensive agricultural activity, the region maintains typical central Mexican wildlife such as white-tailed deer, coyote, and various birds, alongside a variety of adapted fish and endemic aquatic species in its water bodies. |
Eco snapshot
The vegetation has been significantly altered by agriculture and grazing, now consisting primarily of tropical deciduous forests, remnants of mesquite forests in low areas, and oak and mixed oak-pine forests in mountainous areas, despite likely having been predominantly grassland historically.
Despite intensive agricultural activity, the region maintains typical central Mexican wildlife such as white-tailed deer, coyote, and various birds, alongside a variety of adapted fish and endemic aquatic species in its water bodies.
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 temperatures swing | Add a few early-blooming natives; keep some leaf litter/brush in a corner; provide a shallow water dish with stones for landing |
| Spring | Steady bloom; nesting materials and undisturbed soil | Plant a mix of spring bloomers; leave some bare, well-drained ground; avoid tilling and pesticides |
| Summer | Heat-resilient flowers; water access; shade/shelter | Prioritize drought-tough summer bloomers; offer a small, refreshed water source; include some light shade from shrubs |
| Late summer/fall | “Last chance” nectar/pollen to fuel overwintering and migration | Plant late bloomers; avoid deadheading everything; let some plants set seed and leave stems standing |
| Winter or Dry Season | Shelter from cold/dry wind; intact nesting sites | Don’t over-tidy; keep stems, seedheads, and some natural debris; plan next season’s bloom sequence |
Keystone plants
Mix early, mid, and late bloomers so pollinators always find food.
Seed mix concept
Spring starter: early-blooming, drought-tough wildflowers to “kick off” nectar and pollen.
Summer bridge: heat-hardy bloomers that keep flowers available through hot, dry stretches.
Fall finisher: late-season flowers (often composites like goldenrods/asters in suitable areas) to close the season strong.
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.
