Plants of Yosemite National Park, California

Natural Vegetation Zones in Yosemite and the Diversity of Plant Life

Sep 15, 2009

Yosemite National Park in California has many native and non-native plants due to a wide range of natural vegetation zones; discover many plants on a visit to Yosemite.

Yosemite National Park covers approximately 1,200 square miles of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California; within Yosemite National Park there are five natural vegetation zones which contain more than 20% of the 7,000 plant species to be found in California. In 1984, Yosemite National Park was designated a World Heritage Site; today, scientists and botanists continue to study the wide diversity of plant species to be found in Yosemite National Park.

Yosemite National Park is open year round (weather permitting) and is located 195 miles from San Francisco and 176 miles from Sacramento; Yosemite National Park is on many traveler's itineraries to California due to its outstanding beauty and the fact that 95% of Yosemite National Park is designated wilderness.

Vegetation Zones Within Yosemite National Park

There are five vegetation zones within Yosemite National Park and plant communities grow at elevations ranging from 1,800 feet to over 13,000 feet; factors which influence how plant communities grow and the species found at certain elevations include the climate, condition of the soil and moisture levels. The five vegetation zones located in Yosemite National Park are:

The Foothill-Woodland Zone in Yosemite National Park

The Foothill-Woodland Zone in Yosemite National Park occurs at approximately 1,800 feet; weather within the Foothill-Woodland Zone produces hot, dry summers and dry winters. The Foothill-Woodland Zone is located at the El Portal Administrative Site which is on the western side of Yosemite National Park; plants which grow in the Foothill-Woodland Zone include:

Lower Montane Forest in Yosemite National Park

The Lower Montane Forest in Yosemite National Park occurs at approximately 3,000 feet, above the Foothill-Woodland Zone; the climate in the Lower Montane Forest vegetation zone is Mediterranean and there is often snow fall in the winter. The Lower Montane Forest is located on the western side of Yosemite National Park and includes Big Oak Flat Roads, Hetch Hetchy, Wawona and the Yosemite Valley; trees which grow in the Lower Montane Forest include:

Upper Montane Forest in Yosemite National Park

The Upper Montane Forest in Yosemite National Park occurs at approximately 6,000 feet, above the Lower Montane Forest; summers are cool and moist and winters are long, cold and wet with a lot of snow fall. It is possible to see Upper Montane Forest in Yosemite National Park both north and south of Yosemite Valley and from Tioga Road, east of Crane Flat. Wildflowers are common in the short summer months (June – August) and trees include:

Subalpine Forest in Yosemite National Park

The Subalpine Forest in Yosemite National Park occurs at approximately 8,000 feet, above the Upper Montane Forest; long, cold winters with heavy snowfall is typical in the Subalpine Forest vegetation zone. The Subalpine Forest, within Yosemite National Park, is located at Tuolumne Meadows and east to Tioga Pass; in addition to meadow flowers, which blossom in July and August, plants found in the Subalpine Forest include:

Alpine Zone in Yosemite National Park

The Alpine Zone in Yosemite National Park occurs at approximately 9,500 feet, above the Subalpine Forest; summers in the Alpine Zone are cool and short and winters are long and hard, with lots of snow, making growing conditions harsh. The Alpine Zone in Yosemite National Park is located in the wilderness of Yosemite and can only be seen on foot; plants which survive in the Alpine Zone are herbaceous plants which grow and produce quickly.

Non-Native Plants of Yosemite National Park

In addition to native plants of California, which are found within Yosemite National Park, it is possible to find non-native, or exotic, plants which were introduced to the Yosemite area in the late 1850's by early pioneers to the region. Unfortunately, many non-native plant species threaten the existence of native California plants and can rapidly change the plant ecology systems in place; non-native plants which are found in Yosemite National Park include:

Trees and Wildflowers of Yosemite National Park

There is a wide variety of trees and wildflowers to discover on a visit to Yosemite National Park, depending on the time of year; it is possible to see some tree and flower species from the comfort of a vehicle. However, to truly appreciate the outstanding beauty of the Yosemite region and to enjoy the wilderness of Yosemite National Park, it is advisable to walk/hike and discover first hand the many plant species of Yosemite National Park.

References:

The copyright of the article Plants of Yosemite National Park, California in Plant Ecology is owned by Sharon Falsetto. Permission to republish Plants of Yosemite National Park, California in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.