Desert Unicorn-Plant
Proboscidea althaeifolia
Family: Martyniaceae
Perennial plant from tuberous roots (the more common devil’s claw, Proboscidea parviflora, is an annual). Golden yellow flowers appear May through September followed by the famous devil’s claw fruits.
Full to part sun, moderate to low water with good drainage, hardy to at least 10°F, probably even lower since they are dormant in winter.
Larval food plant for the Carolina Sphinx (Manduca sexta).
The flowers, seeds, and immature green fruits are edible. The green fruits are likened to the flavor and texture of okra.
Photo by Fred Melgert / Carla Hoegen, iNaturalist
Proboscidea altheifolia on SEINET
There are 8 total species of Proboscidea native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. Proboscidea is from Greek proboskis, elephant’s trunk, and althaeifolia means with leaves like the genus Althaea. Proboscidea parviflora is the far more common annual species most often seen in gardens in southern Arizona, which have pink flowers. Though they usually die in the winter, they reseed themselves readily and are easy to save seed for and germinate in spring.
Desert unicorn plant is found on sandy-gravelly soils of arroyos, washes, and roadsides below 4,500 ft. in southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, southern Texas; south into northern Mexico.
Flower detail of Proboscidea althaeifolia, photo by Thyde on iNaturalist
The dried fruit of Proboscidea althaeifolia, photo by Matt Berger, iNaturalist
Much more common in the trade, and in the wild, is the annual devil's claw, Proboscidea parviflora, photo by Sue Carnahan, iNaturalist