Northern Basin and Range forms part of the northern Great Basin, covering southeast Oregon, northern Nevada, southern Idaho, and a small portion of northern Utah, characterized by arid mid-latitude steppe and desert climates, tablelands, intermontane basins, and scattered north-south trending mountains.
Zone
Interior
Common Name
Northern Basin and Range
CEC Level III Code
10.1.3
CEC Level II Code
10.1 Cold Deserts
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Northern Basin and Range, CEC 10.1.3 |
| Geographic Range | The Northern Basin and Range ecoregion is part of the northern Great Basin, covering portions of southeast Oregon, northern Nevada, southern Idaho, and northern Utah, characterized by tablelands, intermontane basins, and scattered north-south trending mountains. |
| Climate Snapshot | The Northern Basin and Range ecoregion has an arid, mid-latitude steppe and desert climate characterized by hot summers, cold winters, a mean annual temperature between 5°C and 9°C, and a mean annual precipitation of 351 mm. |
| Terrain Profile | The region features tablelands, intermontane basins, dissected lava plains, scattered north-south trending mountains, and valleys with long, gently sloping alluvial fans, with elevations ranging from about 800 masl in deep canyons to over 3,000 masl on the highest mountain peaks. |
| Vegetation Cover | Non-mountain areas feature sagebrush steppe vegetation and cool season grasses, while ranges are covered in mountain sagebrush, mountain-mahogany, juniper, and Idaho fescue, with Douglas fir and aspen common at higher elevations. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The Northern Basin and Range supports prominent species like mule deer, pronghorn, and coyotes, along with a significant waterfowl migration route and endemic desert fish in its lakes and springs. |
Eco snapshot
Non-mountain areas feature sagebrush steppe vegetation and cool season grasses, while ranges are covered in mountain sagebrush, mountain-mahogany, juniper, and Idaho fescue, with Douglas fir and aspen common at higher elevations.
The Northern Basin and Range supports prominent species like mule deer, pronghorn, and coyotes, along with a significant waterfowl migration route and endemic desert fish in its lakes and springs.
Seasonal timing
Yearly needs
What pollinators need throughout the year, and what to do about it.
| Season | What pollinators need most | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Late winter/early spring | Early nectar/pollen; safe nesting start sites | Add early-blooming natives; keep some bare, well-drained ground; avoid spring pesticide applications |
| Spring | A strong run of blooms; nesting materials and undisturbed soil | Plant a mix of spring bloomers; leave stems/leaf litter in a corner; provide a shallow water dish with stones |
| Summer | “Bridge” flowers during hot/dry periods; shade and water access | Add drought-tough summer bloomers; water young plants deeply but infrequently; keep blooms going in pots |
| Late summer/fall | Late nectar to fuel overwintering; seed/cover habitat | Plant late bloomers; avoid deadheading everything; leave seedheads and some standing stems |
| Winter or Dry Season | Shelter; intact nests; minimal disturbance | Don’t over-tidy; delay heavy cleanup; keep brush/leaf piles in a tucked-away spot |
Seed mix concept
Spring starter: early bloomers that support the first wave of native bees (often the most time-sensitive).
Summer bridge: heat- and drought-tough flowers that reduce the mid-season nectar gap.
Fall finisher: late bloomers (often rabbitbrush/asters/goldenrods) that help pollinators fuel up before winter.
What You Can Do
Turn this knowledge into action. Whether you plant a single pot or a whole garden, you are building a vital bridge for local biodiversity.
Join the movement to restore our shared habitats.
Native plants
Asters are late-season wildflowers that bring a burst of daisy-like blooms when many gardens are winding down, making them a reliable choice for pollinator-friendly planting.
Blazing stars (Liatris) are upright, purple-pink wildflowers that bloom in showy spikes and are well-loved by many pollinators. They’re a strong choice for sunny gardens, borders, and meadow-style plantings.
Gilias (genus Gilia) are airy, nectar-rich wildflowers that can add quick color to sunny spots and help support a variety of pollinators.
Goldenrods are tough, sunny wildflowers in the genus Solidago that light up late-season gardens with golden blooms and provide reliable nectar and pollen when many other flowers are fading.
Penstemons (beardtongues) are hardy, flower-filled wildflowers that bring bright color and steady nectar to gardens and containers, especially in sunny spots with well-drained soil.
Phacelias are easygoing wildflowers in the genus Phacelia, known for their nectar-rich blooms that can bring lots of pollinator activity to gardens, schoolyards, and even containers.
Rabbitbrush is a tough, sun-loving shrub known for its bright yellow late-season blooms that can help keep pollinators fed when many other flowers are fading.
Sagebrushes are tough, aromatic shrubs in the genus Artemisia that can anchor a dry, sunny habitat and offer shelter and seasonal nectar for a range of insects.
Wild buckwheats (genus Eriogonum) are tough, long-blooming western native wildflowers that can turn dry, sunny spots into reliable pollinator stops.
Yarrow is a tough, easygoing wildflower that brings long-lasting blooms and steady pollinator visits to gardens, schoolyards, and even containers.
Pollinators
Adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms; their presence is a sign of diverse, functioning habitats.
Many brushfoots move pollen between flowers as they feed, and their caterpillars are part of healthy food webs.
Bumble bees are important pollinators of many wildflowers and garden plants, helping ecosystems and food crops reproduce.
Adults visit flowers for nectar and pollen, and many species’ larvae help keep plant-eating pests in check.
They can move pollen between flowers while feeding on nectar, especially for blooms that open or scent up in the evening.
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden plants set seed and fruit.
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden crops set seed and fruit.
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden plants set seed and fruit.
They can move pollen while drinking nectar, and they also help control many plant-eating insects.
They’re part of healthy food webs and plant communities, and their caterpillars depend on a wide range of native trees and shrubs.
Skippers visit many flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms while they feed.
Many small moths move pollen while feeding on nectar, supporting wild plants and garden blooms—especially in the evening and at night.
Many adults visit flowers and can move pollen between blooms, while also helping control some garden pests.
Adult swallowtails visit many flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
They help move pollen between flowers in gardens, parks, and natural areas, supporting seed and fruit production.
They visit a wide range of flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
