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We conducted a germination test with four moisture patterns as a base for a propagation protocol for native Chihuahuan Desert plant species. These moisture patterns were wet-dry sequences following precipitation characteristics of the Chihuahuan desert. The patterns were: a) High (12 wet days per month), b) Medium (10 wet days per month), c) Low (8 wet days per month) and d) Lowest (6 wet days per month). Each pattern was tested for one month and the rest of the days were treated as drought. The evaluated species were�Menodora scabra�A. gray.,�Yucca elata�(Engelm.) Engelm., and�Zinnia grandiflora�Nutt. First, we tested the viability/dormancy of the seeds with a tetrazolium and germination test. The results showed that�M. scabra�had the highest viability, followed by�Y. elata�and�Z. grandiflora�(91%, 87%, and 39% respectively). The germination tests indicated no seed dormancy in any species given the successful seed germination under laboratory conditions. Furthermore, seed germination of the three species (86%, 84%, and 20%) was highly related to seed viability. We also evaluated the germination, survival and growth of the three species under the four wet-dry sequences in the greenhouse. Results showed no germination differences among the high, medium and low sequences for both�M. scabra�and�Z. grandiflora.�Only the lowest irrigation sequence produced less germination than the other wetter sequences in both�M. scabra�and�Z. grandiflora. In�Y. elata, germination was not affected by treatments. Even the lowest irrigation sequence produced satisfactory germination. Also, the survival of all the species by the end of the experiment was not affected by treatments. Results indicate that�Y. elata�would germinate and survive in any of our treatments while the other species would require years with special rainfall conditions.