Vegetation Around Las Vegas, Desert Almond (Prunus fasciculata)

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Desert Almond (Prunus fasciculata)
Shrubs Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas

Leafless plant during winter; twigs widely diverging

General: Desert Almond (Prunus fasciculata) are robust, twiggy shrubs almost always found along washes. The species is deciduous, but even without leaves, this twiggy shrub with angular joints, spiny tips, and branches with leaf fascicules, is recognizable.

The leaves are narrow, about 1/3- to 1/2-inches long, and grouped in clusters on the tips very short lateral branchlets. The lateral branchlets, appearing like bumps on the side of a branch, are referred to as fascicules, and the leaves are said to be fasciculated [fascicule = a bundle of structures].

Desert Almond is a common component of wash communities in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) life zones.

Family: Rose (Rosaceae).

Other Names: Desert Peach

Plant Form: A widely branched shrub growing in clumps and thickets along the rocky washes.

Height: Usually grows 3-5 feet tall (to 6 feet).

Bark: Gray

Stems: Many branches; short and rigid, occurring at widely diverging angles, with a spiny tip.

Leaves: Narrow (1-3 mm wide), 1/3 to 1/2 inch long, and entire; grouped in clusters on short lateral branchlets (i.e., fasciculated).

Flowers: Flowers during spring. Flowers are small, white to yellowish; grow from leaf axils.

Ripe fruits

Fruit and Seeds: Fruit resembles a small, fuzzy peach; about 1/2 inch long; covered with dense, brown hairs. Seed surrounded by a thin, dry pulp.

Habitat: Dry, well-drained sandy, gravelly, and rocky soils along washes; occasionally found away from washes on rocky hillsides.

Elevation: Generally 3,000 to 6,500.

Distribution: Utah to Baja California

Comments: This is one of the species most often seen along washes around Las Vegas.

Western Tent Caterpillar Moths (Malacosoma californicum fragile) usually lay their eggs in Desert Almonds. The eggs hatch, and the caterpillars build a "tent" for protection while they feed on leaves. When present, this is a good way to identify this plant species in our area.


Desert Almond during winter	Angular nature of the stems is apparent
Without leaves, the angular nature of the stems is apparent	Angular nature of the stems is apparent
Angular nature of the stems is apparent	Angular nature of the stems is apparent
Bark is gray	Bark is gray
Fasciculated leaves	Fasciculated leaves
Fasciculated leaves	Fasciculated leaves
Desert Almond flowers	Desert Almond flowers
Desert Almond flowers	Desert Almond flowers
Desert Almond flowers	Desert Almond flowers
Desert Almond spent flowers	Desert Almond spent flowers
Developing fruits	Developing fruits
Developing fruits	Developing fruits

Developing fruits	Developing fruits


Ripe fruits	Shrub heavily laden with ripe fruits
Shrub heavily laden with ripe fruits	Shrub heavily laden with ripe fruits
Ripe fruits	Ripe fruits
Ripe fruits	Ripe fruit open (the nut was tasty)
Seeds eaten by rodents	Seeds eaten by rodents
In some year, Desert Almonds put on an extraordinary number of fruits	In some year, Desert Almonds put on an extraordinary number of fruits
Extraordinary number of Desert Almond fruits on the ground	Extraordinary number of Desert Almond fruits on the ground

Western Tent Caterpillar Moths usually lay their eggs in Desert Almonds. The eggs hatch, and the caterpillars build a "tent" for protection while they feed on leaves.

Desert Almond along a desert wash with tent caterpillar nests	Western Tent Caterpillar Moths (Malacosoma californicum fragile)
Western Tent Caterpillar Moths (Malacosoma californicum fragile)	Western Tent Caterpillar Moths (Malacosoma californicum fragile)

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
; Last updated 220815

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