Wyoming Basin is a broad intermontane basin in central and western Wyoming, with extensions into neighboring states, characterized by dry, mid-latitude steppe and desert climates, arid grasslands, and significant natural resource extraction.
Zone
Interior
Common Name
Wyoming Basin
CEC Level III Code
10.1.4
CEC Level II Code
10.1 Cold Deserts
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Wyoming Basin |
| Geographic Range | The Wyoming Basin is an intermontane basin spanning central and western Wyoming, with extensions into Montana, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho, primarily characterized by arid grasslands and shrublands. |
| Climate Snapshot | The Wyoming Basin has dry, mid-latitude steppe and desert climates with warm to hot summers, cold winters, a mean annual temperature of 0°C to 8°C, and mean annual precipitation of 296 mm (ranging from 130 to 500 mm). |
| Terrain Profile | The Wyoming Basin is a broad intermontane basin with elevations ranging from about 1,220 to 2,850 masl, interrupted by high hills, low mountains, piedmont plains, pediments, and badlands. |
| Vegetation Cover | The Wyoming Basin is dominated by arid grasslands and shrublands, featuring sagebrush steppes with species like Wyoming big sagebrush and black sagebrush, and desert shrublands including greasewood and saltbush. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The Wyoming Basin is home to a variety of animals, including mule deer, cougar, bobcat, coyote, pronghorn, jackrabbit, white-tailed prairie dog, golden eagle, prairie falcon, sage grouse, and Wyoming toad. |
Eco snapshot
The Wyoming Basin is dominated by arid grasslands and shrublands, featuring sagebrush steppes with species like Wyoming big sagebrush and black sagebrush, and desert shrublands including greasewood and saltbush.
The Wyoming Basin is home to a variety of animals, including mule deer, cougar, bobcat, coyote, pronghorn, jackrabbit, white-tailed prairie dog, golden eagle, prairie falcon, sage grouse, and Wyoming toad.
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 shelter as temperatures swing | Leave stems/leaf litter in place a bit longer; add early-blooming natives; provide a shallow water dish with stones for landing |
| Spring | Steady bloom; nesting sites (especially bare soil) | Plant or seed natives; avoid disturbing soil everywhere at once; keep a small undisturbed soil patch |
| Summer | Heat/drought resilience; continuous flowers; water access | Choose drought-tough natives; water deeply but infrequently while establishing; keep blooms going with mid-summer species |
| Late summer/fall | “Last chance” nectar/pollen to build reserves | Add late bloomers; avoid deadheading everything; leave some seedheads and stems for habitat |
| Winter or Dry Season | Protected overwintering sites (stems, leaf litter, soil) | Don’t over-tidy; leave stems standing; keep pesticide-free practices year-round |
Seed mix concept
Spring starter: early bloomers that wake up pollinators and support nest-building.
Summer bridge: heat- and drought-tough flowers that keep nectar/pollen available through the toughest months.
Fall finisher: late bloomers (often including shrubs like rabbitbrush) that provide crucial end-of-season fuel.
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.
