Psiloritis, with its raw beauty of life and nature, is a true paradise endowed with high peaks, picturesque plateaus, ravines with springs and rivers offering abundant water, forests teeming with life, rocks that have risen from the depths of the earth, gorges serving as gateways to the great mountain, caves that shelter wild animals, fertile valleys, and cultivated lowlands.

The mountain’s varied relief has favored the development of diverse vegetation, with different types of flora found in each area. The gorges harbor perhaps the richest botanical wealth. In the Gorge of Gafaris within the Rouvas Forest, one encounters Kermes oak (Quercus coccifera), cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), and holm oak (Quercus ilex), alongside remarkable endemic species such as Cretan arum (Arum creticum), Cretan cyclamen (Cyclamen creticum), and two endemic orchids: Cretan helleborine (Cephalantheracucullata) and Acerasanthropophorum var. creticum. In the more inaccessible gorges of Vorizia and Kamares, visitors can admire spectacular chasmophytes, many endemic to Crete, including rock lettuce (Petromarulapinnata), Zeus’s St. John’s wort (Hypericum jovis), and the symbolic plant of Crete, Cretan dittany (Origanumdictamnus). Patsos Gorge 
is of great botanical interest, hosting giant plane trees (Platanusorientalis), tiny Solenopsisminuta, wild cherry laurel (Prunus prostrata), and endemic mulleins (Verbascum spp.). In the Gorge of Gonies, visitors will gather oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum) and admire stachywort (Stachyscretica), knapweeds (Centaurea spp.), the endemic ploumi (Clematis cirrhosa), and autumn cyclamens (Cyclamen hederifolium). The plateaus too harbor unique vegetation and rare species.

The endemic red tulip (Tulipadoerfleri) spreads impressively across the plateau of IousKampos in Amari, along with saffron crocus (Crocus oreocreticus) and the creeping endemic Nevrida (Nepeta sphaciotica) on the Nida Plateau. Around Mount Skinakas grows one of Crete’s rarest and most endangered plants, Horstrisseadolinicola, threatened with extinction due to grazing. The geological and climatic diversity of the mountain is reflected in its vegetation types.
 
The Rouvas Forest, one of Crete’s largest, is dominated by massive Kermes oaks (Quercus coccifera), intermixed with deciduous maples (Acer sempervirens). It is also a vital habitat for Crete’s endemic tree, the Cretan zelkova (Zelkova abelicea), often called the “Unknown tree” due to its rarity. A smaller but equally impressive oak forest can be found at Vromonero near Krousonas.

On the southern slopes of the mountain, one finds forests of cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) and Calabrian pine (Pinus brutia), while deciduous oaks (Quercus pubescens) thrive near Margarites and Vroulidia of Anogeia. Particularly striking are the almond-leaved pears (Pyrus spinosa) and hawthorns (Crataegusazarolus), which break the monotony of the scrublands when fruiting. Also notable are the forest of Mesa Mylopotamos and the oak woods at Kalyvos. Compared to the forests, the phrygana (low Mediterranean scrub) show even greater biodiversity.

In spring and summer, the lower slopes of Psiloritis burst into colors and fragrances: thorny burnet (Sarcopoterium spinosum), sea squill (Drimiamaritima), savory of Crete (Saturejathymbra), thyme (Thymus capitatus), sage (Salvia fruticosa), St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), spiny brooms (Calicotomevillosa), and mulleins (Verbascum spp.). These plants protect themselves with spines against grazing, shed or adapt their foliage to resist dehydration, and release fragrances to attract pollinators or repel threats.

Other species found here include branchedasphodel (Asphodelusramosus), cyclamen (Cyclamen graecum), Common Roman Squills(Bellevalia spp.), tulips (Tulipacretica), dragon arum (Dracunculus vulgaris), and a wide range of orchids (Orchidaceae). At higher altitudes, phrygana become lower due to wind and snow and thornier due to prolonged grazing. Here grow Greek Spiny Spurges(Euphorbia acanthothamnos), milkvetches (Astragalus spp.), centaureas (Centaurea raphanina), sea lavenders (Limonium spp.), glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxacretica), Cretan meadow saffron (Colchicum cretense), and Sieber'scrocuses (Crocus sieberi).

The shrubs forming the maquis vegetation are evergreen: carob trees (Ceratonia siliqua), wild olives (Olea europaea var. sylvestris), mastic trees (Pistacia lentiscus), shrubby cypresses (Juniperus phoenicea), bay laurels (Laurus nobilis), and strawberry trees (Arbutus unedo), all of which withstand the Cretan summer drought with leathery leaves and deep roots. Impenetrable thickets are created by heathers (Erica manipuliflora) and strawberry trees on the northern slopes of Mount Kouloukonas.