Animals & Gardens
Explore Habitats and Encounter Our Majestic Animals.
African Safari
Embark on the African Safari Trail adventure and get up close with majestic black rhinos, enjoy feeding the friendly giraffes, and explore the Petting Kraal in the vibrant Village WaTuTu, all while savoring the delightful melodies of diverse birdlife.
Stars of the African Safari
Australian Adventures
Experience Australia’s unique wildlife and landscapes without leaving Palm Springs. Wander through the Land Down Under, encountering wallabies, emus, and more as you immerse yourself in the beauty of this captivating ecosystem.
Stars of Australian Adventures
Wild Americas
Step into the Wild Americas where diverse animals, lush botanical gardens like Baja Oasis and Hummingbird Garden, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of animal care await. Enjoy outdoor play at the playground in this immersive experience, a journey into the heart of nature’s marvels.
Stars of the Wild Americas
Gardens
Wander the botanical beauty of The Living Desert’s gardens, a vibrant tapestry of rare and enchanting plants that celebrate the diverse flora of the world’s arid regions.
Chihuahuan Garden
Wild Americas
Within this garden, native northern Chihuahuan desert plants thrive and showcase their resilience in the arid landscape. Prickly pear cacti, towering yuccas, and majestic sotols adorn the sandy terrain, creating a picturesque scene that truly captures the essence of North America's largest hot desert.
Within this garden, native northern Chihuahuan desert plants thrive and showcase their resilience in the arid landscape. Prickly pear cacti, towering yuccas, and majestic sotols adorn the sandy terrain, creating a picturesque scene that truly captures the essence of North America's largest hot desert.
East Africa and Madagascar Gardens
African Safari
Explore plants from the Horn of Africa and the thorn forests of southwest Madagascar. Acacia, Commiphora, and Boswellia (frankincense) are typical trees found in East Africa and with 150 million years of separation from Africa, the island of Madagascar has many plant species that occur nowhere else on earth.
Explore plants from the Horn of Africa and the thorn forests of southwest Madagascar. Acacia, Commiphora, and Boswellia (frankincense) are typical trees found in East Africa and with 150 million years of separation from Africa, the island of Madagascar has many plant species that occur nowhere else on earth.
Foothills of Sonora
Wild Americas
Explore the Foothills of Sonora Garden where the Sonoran Desert and tropical deciduous forest meet. This unique environment is where plants co-exist at either their southern limits or northern limits due to rainfall and/or temperature, comingling in a mosaic of succulents and arborescent cacti and short tree forest. Also, the home of our jaguar habitat.
Explore the Foothills of Sonora Garden where the Sonoran Desert and tropical deciduous forest meet. This unique environment is where plants co-exist at either their southern limits or northern limits due to rainfall and/or temperature, comingling in a mosaic of succulents and arborescent cacti and short tree forest. Also, the home of our jaguar habitat.
Baja California
Wild Americas
Find yourself immersed in the unique landscape of Baja California when you step into this garden. Inside, you'll find yourself surrounded by the peninsula’s unique and sarcocaulescent plant species such as the whimsical Boojum tree and the gnarled Baja elephant tree.
Find yourself immersed in the unique landscape of Baja California when you step into this garden. Inside, you'll find yourself surrounded by the peninsula’s unique and sarcocaulescent plant species such as the whimsical Boojum tree and the gnarled Baja elephant tree.
Mojave and Upper Colorado Desert Gardens
Wild Americas
These two gardens represent our own local desert environs and the opportunity to discover more about what's in your own backyard. The Mojave Desert Garden replicates our high desert with the iconic Joshua tree and its cohabitants including desert tortoises. And the Upper Colorado Desert Garden replicates the western edge of our subdivision of the Sonoran Desert near the Santa Rosa Mountains and along the eastern slopes of the Peninsular Ranges where chaparral transitions into desert.
These two gardens represent our own local desert environs and the opportunity to discover more about what's in your own backyard. The Mojave Desert Garden replicates our high desert with the iconic Joshua tree and its cohabitants including desert tortoises. And the Upper Colorado Desert Garden replicates the western edge of our subdivision of the Sonoran Desert near the Santa Rosa Mountains and along the eastern slopes of the Peninsular Ranges where chaparral transitions into desert.
Plants
Wander the botanical beauty of The Living Desert’s gardens, a vibrant tapestry of rare and enchanting plants that celebrate the diverse flora of the world’s arid regions.
African Ocotillo
Explore the African Ocotillo, a striking stem succulent from Madagascar's spiny desert, adorned with tiny white flowers at the tip of its thorny stems.
Baja Fairy Duster
Spot the vibrant Baja Fairy Duster with its feathery red blooms, a favorite in Baja California's gravelly flats and desert washes, and remember, it's not a Bottlebrush!
Calico Hedgehog
Behold the Calico Hedgehog Cactus, also known as the Strawberry Hedgehog, standing tall in the rocky soils of the Sonora and Mojave deserts, dazzling with flowers that turn into sweet red fruits.
California Sagebrush
Discover the California Sagebrush, a vital part of the coastal sage scrub habitat, and a sanctuary for the endangered California Gnatcatcher.
Coastal Agave
Admire the Coastal Agave's resilience on the plains and slopes of Baja California, with new leaves showcasing striking yellow or reddish spines.
Coyote Melon
Experience the fleeting beauty of the Coyote Melon's wide flowers that bloom before dawn and wilt by late morning in the sandy terrains of the Southwest.
Desert Baccharis
Meet the Desert Baccharis, also known as Waterweed, a shrub that thrives in seasonal streambeds and indicates the presence of water in arid landscapes.
Desert Milkweed
Explore the Desert Milkweed, also known as the Rush Milkweed or Ajamete, a sub-shrub with pale yellow flowers that offer a rich source of nectar, nestled in the desert washes of the Southwest.
Desert Willow
Marvel at the Desert Willow, a tree that graces the Southwest's desert washes with flowers that hum with bees and flutter with hummingbirds.
Elephant Tree
Encounter the Elephant Tree, also known as the Torote Colorado, a relative of the Frankincense and Myrrh producers, whose aromatic sap has been used for everything from fuel to medicine.
Flattop Buckwheat
Delight in the Flattop Buckwheat, a shrub that becomes a hub of activity in the summer as butterflies swarm to sip its nectar.
Goosefoot Bursage
Peek under the Goosefoot Bursage, a shrub from the Sunflower family, and you might find it playing the role of a nurse plant in its native hillsides and plains of Baja California and Coastal Sonora.
Kokerboom
Encounter the Kokerboom, or Quiver Tree, a succulent that doubles as a nectar cafe in the arid regions of Southwestern Africa, attracting a bustling crowd of birds, insects, and even baboons.
Mexican Bird of Paradise
Admire the Mexican Bird of Paradise, a member of the Pea family, which serves as a charming patio tree or background shrub and a magnet for hummingbirds.
Mexican Blue Palm
Gaze upon the Mexican Blue Palm, also known as the Blue Hesper Palm, renowned for its striking blue-gray leaves that stand out in the canyon bottoms and arroyos of Baja California.
Palo Blanco
Experience the unique charm of the Palo Blanco tree, celebrated for its light-colored, paper-like exfoliating bark, adorning the rocky landscapes of Western Sonora and Northwestern Sinaloa.
Red Bird of Paradise
Bask in the vibrant allure of the Red Bird of Paradise, also known as the Dwarf Poinciana, which thrives in the heat of summer with its glorious flowers.
Red Elephant Tree
Discover the Red Elephant Tree, also known as Copalquin, a hardy shrub whose wood is favored by the Seri Indians for carving, thanks to its resistance to cracking as it dries.
Saguaro
Stand tall with the Saguaro, the iconic cactus of the Sonoran Desert, whose blossom is Arizona's state flower and a vital resource for desert wildlife.
San Felipe Dyssodia
Delight your senses with the San Felipe Dyssodia, also known as San Felipe Dogweed, whose enchanting scent and subtle flowers make it a unique treasure in any butterfly garden.
Teddy Bear Cholla
Encounter the Teddy Bear Cholla, affectionately named for its fuzzy appearance, but beware of its detachable spines that easily attach to passersby, aiding in the plant's spread across the desert.
Umbrella Thorn
Shade yourself under the Umbrella Thorn, an African icon, whose fragrant, creamy-white flowers are a summer delight for monkeys and baboons across the savannahs.
White-Stemmed Milkweed
Marvel at the White-Stemmed Milkweed, a striking desert dweller whose pale branches stretch towards the sky, adding a touch of elegance to the rugged desert landscape.
Wooly Butterfly Bush
Be charmed by the Wooly Butterfly Bush, a favorite among fluttering butterflies and admiring humans alike, thriving in the canyons and arroyos of the Southwest.
Nature & Hiking Trails
Journey through Sonoran Desert habitats on our nature trails, from tranquil woodlands to rugged canyons. Encounter wildlife, distinctive plants, and stunning vistas. Delight in Coachella Valley’s untouched beauty from October to May!
Live Cams
Get a wild view anytime, anywhere with our live animal cams at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens!
