Flora of the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region


The flora of the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the Western United States.
The flora is generally characterized by plant adaptations to the arid conditions of the region, and a wide variation of plant communities from wide variations in elevation and soil types. The elevation variation results in temperature variation. Differing soil types are largely due to erosion of different sedimentary layers in the canyons, from the layers at lowest point of canyons of the Colorado River network, to the top layers of the plateau. Exceptions to flora adapted to aridity occur in lowland riparian areas, at springs, and in hanging gardens.

Plant communities

Salt desert shrub community

The salt desert shrub is a plant community or vegetation type found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region. It is characterized by very alkaline and saline soils and plants that can tolerate these conditions. Dominant plant species include shadscale, greasewood, and Mormon tea.

Lowland riparian community

Hanging gardens community

Blackbrush scrub community

Sand desert shrub community

The sand desert shrub is a plant community, or vegetation type, found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region in areas of shifting sands or very sandy soils. Dominant plant species include old man sage, yucca, Indian ricegrass, and wavy leaf oak. A common characteristic of plants in this community is a very deep and extensive root system, which helps stabilize the sand dunes, or an ability to adjust to the shifting sands. In the Glen Canyon area, it can be found in lower elevation mesas, canyons, and terraces to in elevation.

Mixed desert shrub community

Mixed desert shrub is a plant community, or vegetation type, found in the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region of the southwestern United States. It is supported by a range of overlapping and intergrading soil types. Characteristic dominant plant species include rubber rabbitbrush, fourwinged saltbrush, blackbrush, and dwarf mountain mahogany. It is generally located at the elevation belt above sand desert shrub and below cool desert shrub.

Cool desert shrub community

Pinyon juniper woodland community

Warm desert shrub community

Mountain brush community

Mountain brush is a plant community or vegetation type of the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region. It covers large parts of the mountain foothills and shaded canyons in areas below the Ponderosa pine community. It is characterized by dominance by shrubby Gambel's Oak, Utah serviceberry, sagebrush, and mountain mahogany.

Ponderosa pine forest