The Great Basin's vegetation consists largely of desert scrub, including sagebrush and other drought-tolerant plants.

The Great Basin is a dry, arid region, so its vegetation is adapted to limited water availability. It primarily features sparse desert scrub, such as sagebrush, juniper, and other hardy shrubs. While there are pockets of coniferous forests in higher elevations, they are not the dominant vegetation. The lowlands and valleys are characterized by plants that thrive in dry, alkaline soil conditions. Wetland vegetation is rare in this predominantly arid region, and tropical rainforests do not occur in this climate zone.