Page "Grant County, Oregon" Paragraph 12

Grant County includes the southern part of the Blue Mountains.

One unique characteristic of the typical forestland of the area is the relatively low density of underbrush.

Travelers and emigrants of the 19th century remarked that the absences of underbrush, and the wide spacing of the trees, made it possible to drive a wagon and team of horses virtually anywhere the grade would permit.

The forested land of the county vary from sparse stands of Western Juniper in more arid, open, or rocky ground, to Sub-Alpine and High-Alpine fir stands in the highest terrain.

Other forested areas ( mainly above in elevation ) are marked by stands of Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir, White Fir, Western Larch ( a deciduous conifer commonly called “ Tamarack ”), Lodgepole Pine, Spruce stands in some higher elevation sites and a few stands of White Pine, as well as Cottonwood trees along some rivers and streams, and Birch and Quaking Aspen groves, mainly at higher elevations.

There is also a rare and isolated stand of Alaskan Yellow Cedar in the Aldrich Mountains.

Other flora includes a wide variety of native grasses and wildflowers, huckleberries, wild strawberries, elderberries, several types of edible mushrooms and Oregon Grape, the state plant.

Non-native Russian Cheatgrass is also prevalent in many areas of the county.