NPS

Vibrant pink flowers of the Cane Cholla cactus can be found in the lower regions of El Malpais.

The high desert environment is home to a wide array of plants. The Juniper-Pinon forest dominates the lower country, with Ponderosas, Douglas Fir, and other subalpine species appearing at higher elevations.

Some of the oldest Douglas Fir trees are found in the tortured basalt lava flows on the west side of the park. The extreme conditions cause the trees to grow very slowly. Small gnarled trees in a surreal miniature forest result from this. Despite their tiny size some are many hundreds of years old.