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East Cascades Outstanding Biodiversity Features
- High number of rare and endemic plants. The East Cascades ecoregion is home to at least 20 endemic plant species, including the Wenatchee valerian, the Kittitas larkspur, and Thompson’s clover.
- Diverse coniferous forests. These forests include a range of dominant species, from whitebark pine and subalpine fir at high elevations to ponderosa pine parklands lower down.
- Mardon skipper butterflies in southern fescue grasslands. Near the Columbia River Gorge, ponderosa pine savannas carpeted with fescue grass offer prime habitat for the endangered mardon skipper butterfly.
For details of this ecoregion within Washington, click a subheading in the left column.
View the more general description of this ecoregion in North America
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