The rich and lush ecosystem of the Santa Cruz Mountains is a
major asset of Little Basin. The mosaic of vegetation, which supports a very complex food chain,
can be found in one or more of the five distinctive environmental
zones at Little Basin: (1) meadow zone, (2) riparian
zone (creekside), (3) forest edge zone, (4) mixed
evergreen forest zone, and (5) ridge top zone. Many of these
plants and trees can be seen when walking around the site or on
one of the trails.
| Zone |
Native
trees: |
Other native vegetation: |
| Meadow Zone |
- Coastal Redwood
- Douglas-Fir
- Greasewood
- Madrone |
- California Vervain
- Sky Lupine
- California Poppy
- Blueblossom |
| Riparian Zone |
- Alder
- Arroyo Willow
- Big Leaf Maple
- California Bay
- Coastal Redwood
- Douglas Fir
- Madrone
- Tanbark Oak |
- Blueblossom
- Coffeeberry
- Equisetum
- Evergreen Huckleberry
- Giant Chain Fern
- California Polypody Fern
- Maidenhair Fern
- Poison Oak
- Salal
- Western Azalea
- Western Sword Fern
- Wild Iris
- Yerba Buena |
| Forest Edge Zone |
- Coastal Redwood
- Douglas-Fir
- Madrone |
- Blueblossom
- Deer Brush
- Sticky Monkey Flower |
| Mixed Evergreen Forest Zone |
- Coastal Redwood
- Douglas-Fir
- Madrone
- Tanbark Oak |
- California Wax Myrtle
- Evergreen Huckleberry
- Poison Oak
- Salal
- Coastal Wood Fern |
| Ridge Top Zone |
- Douglas-Fir
- Knobcone Pine
- Ponderosa Pine |
- Blueblossom
- Deerbrush
- Eastwood Manzanita
- Golden Fleece
- Holly-Leaved Cherry
- Chaparral Pea
- Sticky Monkey Flower |
