Oregon Caves National Monument - Plants

The Monument"s forest is mainly comprised of old-growth evergreen forest. With a variation from 45 to 55 inches of annual precipitation, the landscape has rich biodiversity. Within the Monument, the main overstory trees are comprised of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), white fir (Abies concolor), Port Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens), and pacific madrone. Pacific madrone is one of the park’s more recognizable trees. The madrone is one of only a few trees that can undergo photosynthesis without its leaves. The Monument is home to one of Oregon’s largest known Douglas-fir trees, with a circumference of 41feet around.
The understory species in the park are just as diverse as its overstory. Some of the more prevalent species are deerfoot vanilla-leaf (Achlys californica), serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia), lady-fern, (Athyrium fili-femina), sword-fern (Polystichum munitum var. imbricans), ocean spray (Holodiscus discolor), tan oak (Lithocarpus densiflorus), common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus), wild lily-of -the-valley, (Maintaemum racemosum) and Oregon grape (Berberis repens).