NPS/D. Goodman Colorado has five distinct life zones - plains, foothills, montane, subalpine, and alpine. Black Canyon contains mostly the foothills (canyon rim and uplands) and montane (highest elevations in the park and some parts of the inner canyon). The foothills, ranging from 6,000–8,000 ft (1830-2440 m), is characterized by Gambel oak shrubland, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and some groves of deciduous trees. Wildflowers in this life zone are common. In western Colorado, some wildflowers and flowering cactus from the Colorado Plateau (much of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico) are seen. The montane, approximately 8,000–10,000 ft (2,440–3,050 m) is more densely forested and receives more moisture than the foothills. Some parts of the inner canyon, despite being lower in elevation, have plant communities typically found in the montane. Wildflowers grow beneath the forest canopy, but also in the cracks and "hanging gardens" of the canyon walls. The albums below show a sampling of wildflowers you may see at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. White flowers are the most common, followed by yellow and blue/purple. Some wildflowers have phases and are not always the same color. This is due to seasons, pH levels in soil, and genetic changes to attract different pollinators. Mammoser, Don. and Stan Tekiela. Wildflowers of Colorado Field Guide 2nd Edition. Adventure Publications. Cambridge, Minnesota. 2022.
NPSpecies Vascular Plants Checklist. National Park Service, Integrated Resource Management Applications. https://irma.nps.gov/NPSpecies/Search/SpeciesList/BLCA William A. Weber and Ronald C. Wittmann, Colorado Flora – Western Slope. University Press of Colorado, 2012. |
Last updated: January 30, 2025