Purple
Paperbag Bush
Salazaria mexicanaHeight: Usually 2 to 4 feet tall
Habitat: Dry, rocky or sandy soils in desert washes, slopes, and scrublands
Elevation: Found from about 1,000 to 5,000 feet
Range: Southwestern United States—especially in California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and northern Mexico
Description:
Paperbag Bush is a tough desert shrub known for its unusual seed pods that look like tiny, inflated paper lanterns—giving the plant its name. It has slender branches with small, opposite leaves and delicate, lavender to pale pink flowers that bloom in spring. After flowering, the husk-like seed pods remain on the plant, sometimes for months, rustling in the wind.
Uses:
Traditional: Some Native American groups used parts of the plant in remedies for colds or to promote healing.
Ecological: The flowers attract native bees and other pollinators, while the seed pods provide shelter for small insects.
Note:
Paperbag Bush stands out in the desert landscape with its unique seed pods and gentle flowers. It’s one of those plants that doesn’t shout for attention—but once you notice it, you won’t forget it.
It is widespread in sandy and gravelly slopes, desert dry washes, and canyons, creosote bush scrub and Joshua tree woodland plant communities in the Mojave Desert
