The Monument is located at the junction of three physiographic provences: the Colorado Plateau, Mojave Desert, and Great Basin. (click highlighted names to go to links with maps and descriptions of physiographic provences)

This results in a great diversity of habitat types, from the low (~2000 ft elev.), hot Mohave Desert creosote bush and Joshua trees, to the Great Basin pinyon-juniper and sagebrush, to the Colorado Plateau grasslands, shrubby red rock desert, and ponderosa pine, gambel oak, and aspen communities on the 8000 ft peaks. The lack of water across most of the Monument makes any riparian areas where springs emerge from the ground or cliffs and water flows jewels of green and oases of life for birds and animals.

Plants of the Parashant National Monument
    A preliminary plant species list