The New Caledonia Dry Forests ecoregion contain 379 native plant species, 59 of which are found only in the dry forests. There are 5 near-endemic mammals and 23 near-endemic bird species.
This forest's deciduous trees are dense but not too tall, only 9-12 m (30-40 ft). The dry forests also have a thick, unstratified under story of shrubs and grasses. 59 endemic plants are hanging on in the last remnants of forest, such as the yellow-flowered Pittosporum pancheri, the fragrant Gardenia urvillei, and the thin-leaved Codiaeum peltatum. A variety of wild rice, Oryza neocalidonea, adapted to dry conditions; and the rare plant, Captaincookia margaretae - is found in the New Caledonian dry and moist forests.