Which plants grow naturally in the driest parts of the Great Plains?

In the driest, westernmost parts of the Great Plains, where precipitation is lowest, the vegetation is characterized by shortgrass and bunchgrass steppes. Because these areas receive limited rainfall, the grasses often grow in isolated bunches with patches of bare ground or gravel between them.12

Key plant species found in these arid regions include:

• Grasses: Buffalo grass and grama grass are the primary species in the shortgrass plains. Other common grasses include bluestem bunchgrass, thin needlegrass, and wire grasses.31
• Succulents and Shrubs: Cacti, including the prickly pear, are common in these marginal, dry areas. Sagebrush is also frequently found, and in the southern portions of the plains, mesquite grass may appear.12
• Other Vegetation: Yucca is also present in these drier, marginal environments.2

While much of the native vegetation has been altered by agriculture or overgrazing, these drought-tolerant species remain adapted to the region's continental climate, which features low humidity, high winds, and limited annual precipitation.423