Does Anything Grow in the Desert?

There are some plants that are able to survive in the desert. They may have to go without fresh water for over a year! They also have to adjust to very hot days and very cold nights. Some plants have very long roots which grow in to the ground to reach underground water sources.

Some suck up as much water as they can during the rain and save it in their stems and leaves. Some store the food and water underground in thick roots.

Rain brings life to the desert. Shortly after a big storm, billions of seeds come to life in the form of flowering plants. These plants are called ephemerals. Eight weeks after a rain, the flowers are gone.