It is likely that since its eruption some 20,000 years ago, Mount Elephant has supported an open woodland with a grassy understorey. A painting by Eugene von Guerard in 1857 showed scattered trees on the slopes , with apparently denser concentrations within the crater and around the base. A drawing of Mount Elephant also by von Guerard shows belts of stunted trees (probably manna gums, sheoaks, honeysuckles (Banksia marginata) and blackwoods on the stony rises at the base.

We can only guess that prior to pastoral settlement Mount Elephant was covered by “scoria cone woodland” (Commonwealth and Victorian RFA Steering Committee 2000). This vegetation type was dominated by manna gum, drooping sheoak, blackwood, banksias, sweet bursaria, and tree violet. The understorey  consisted largely of native grasses (especially common tussock grass and wallaby grass) bracken, and a conspicuous herb layer including native peas and daisies. The proportions of each of these species would vary across the mountain depending on their exposure to soil, sun, rain and wind.

The effects of pastoral settlement were dramatic on the vegetation of the Mount. The removal of timber for yards, huts and firewood and grazing by sheep would have favoured the grasses (especially the introduced annual grasses) over the tree regrowth and the native herb flora. Vegetation diversity was quickly diminished across the plains also. The arrival of rabbits in the district probably caused the most drastic decline in native vegetation. A photograph by Gabriel Knight held at the State Library of Victoria, taken of the north-east peak in 1911, shows scattered adult trees each about 30 metres in height, with many scattered stumps and dying trees.  There are thistles in the foreground, bare ground on the steeper slopes, and no young trees to be seen. Unfortunately since the devastating fires of 1944 and 1977 the only traces of trees are several charred logs.

Present situation:

It takes a keen eye to find traces of the original vegetation. We have not yet taken a complete inventory, however the different vegetation types can be easily seen. Shrubs of tree violet are surviving on the southern slope of the crater, and some charred logs of possibly drooping sheoak remain on the slopes of the north-east peak. Areas of native tussock (Poa sp.) and Danthonia sp. are on the north slope beside the access track to the crater. Introduced grasses include Phalaris and yorkshire fog grass growing on the sheltered southern and eastern slopes. Annual ryegrass, wild oats, scotch and variegated thistle grow on the lower parts of the exposed northern slopes and along the access track from the highway.