Flower profile

Thurber's desert honeysuckle

Anisacanthus thurberi

Thurber's desert honeysuckle (Anisacanthus thurberi) is a shrub in the Acanthaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–May across the U.S.

Native to Arizona

Thurber's desert honeysuckle is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Arizona it's most often seen in bloom in March–May.

2states where USDA records it

1,585AZ sightings*

1,651U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Arizona

Quick look

Anisacanthus thurberi, also known as Thurber's desert honeysuckle, buckbrush, or desert honeysuckle, is a deciduous species of perennial flowering shrub in the family Acanthaceae. It is native to the Sonoran Desert, and can be found in south and central Arizona, as well as southwest New Mexico.
From Wikipedia's article Anisacanthus thurberi, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Acanthaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 2 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Arizona. ^NatureServe
In Arizona, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as red. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 4.5 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 1,585 research-grade sightings of it in Arizona, ranking #57 among the 132 flowers on our Arizona list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Arizona, most flowering sightings come in March–May.

Flowering records by month in Arizona (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (146 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G4 Apparently secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Arizona: Not listed Not on Arizona Native Plant Law protected plants (Ariz. Admin. Code R3-3 Art. 11, App. A, eff. Feb. 2, 2025). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arizona. ^{AAC R3-3 App. A}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records thurber's desert honeysuckle in 2 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, New Mexico.

Arizona counties with USDA records: Apache, Cochise, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yavapai, Yuma.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Thurber's desert honeysuckle a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.4 to 8.4 and winter lows down to -3 °F.

Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: High
Moisture use: Low
Soil textures it is adapted to: medium
Soil pH range: 6.4 to 8.4
Minimum temperature tolerated: -3 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 210
Annual precipitation range: 8 to 14 inches
Minimum root depth: 18 inches
Salinity tolerance: Low
Fertility requirement: Low
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: Long
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by: bare root, container, seed
Commercial availability: No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for ANTH2. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Drejera thurberi.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 16 counties across 2 states; the most are in Arizona (13), New Mexico (3).

More from the Acanthaceae family (12 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Carolina ruellia, American water-willow, Hairy ruellia, Mexican ruellia, Common wild petunia, Chuparosa, Black mangrove, Chinese violet.

More Arizona flowers

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Creosote bush

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Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ANTH2.
iNaturalist, Anisacanthus thurberi: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Anisacanthus thurberi (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Arizona: Arizona Native Plant Law protected plants (Ariz. Admin. Code R3-3 Art. 11, App. A, eff. Feb. 2, 2025).
Arizona: Arizona prohibited noxious weeds (Ariz. Admin. Code R3-4-245).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Anisacanthus thurberi (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Mark Pollock via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.