It boasts more than 1,290 cataloged plant species.

The flora of Sierra Mágina reflects the meeting point between the Mediterranean mountains and the olive-growing countryside. In the lower areas, olive groves dominate, shaping not only the landscape but also forming the basis of the local economy and the Sierra Mágina Protected Designation of Origin olive oil. Interspersed among the olive groves are orchards, almond groves, cherry trees, and small fruit trees that take advantage of the water from springs and fountains, recalling the region's long agricultural tradition.

In the higher elevations, the climate is colder and the soil stonier. Here, low-lying and very hardy plants grow, such as creeping juniper and hawthorn, along with some Corsican pine forests in places like the Pinar del Gargantón. These peaks are also home to some plants unique in the world, such as the endangered Junirea fontqueri, the glandora, some twenty different species of wild orchids, and others that make Sierra Mágina one of the richest and most unique places in Andalusia.

At intermediate elevations, mixed forests of holm oaks and gall oaks, interspersed with abundant shrubs such as juniper and savin juniper, predominate. The Pinar de Cánava stands out as one of the best examples of black pine forest.

The valleys and riverbanks complete the mosaic of vegetation: along the Cuadros River, for example, an extensive oleander grove is preserved, constituting one of the most representative formations of riparian vegetation in the area; and in places like Pegalajar, the terraced orchards demonstrate the historical adaptation of the population to the terrain and the traditional use of water.