The Patagonian Desert is swept by constant strong, dry winds blowing from the west, and temperatures can dip below freezing. The Atacama Desert, much of which is at high elevations, is also a relatively cold desert for much of the year. It is generally considered the driest place on Earth, receiving little or no rainfall.
Creosote bushes are common, as are various desert shrubs, cushion plants and some hardy tuft grasses such as poa and stipa.
Plants that can survive here tend to be deep-rooted, such as desert grasses and mesquite trees. Sage brush is found here, as is the ocotillo.
There is a high concentration of endemic plant life because of the harsh conditions in both deserts. For example, 550 species of endemic vascular plants have been discovered in the Atacama.
In 2008, the prickly, custard-smelling Anchor Plant, believed to thrive only in the South American deserts, was found growing in Cornwall, United Kingdom.
