The forests in Pench tiger reserve are classified into three types:
- South Indian Tropical Moist Deciduous (slightly moist)
- Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Teak Forests and
- Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest
Mixed Dry deciduous forests occupy over one third of the area. The major species are Anogeissus latifolia, Boswellia serrata, Buchnania lanzan, Lannea coromandelica, Terminalia tomentosa, Diospyros melanoxylon, Tectona grandis etc. The riparian areas along the banks of streams have Terminalia arjuna, Syzygium cumini, Ficus glomarata, Ixora parviflora and Terminalia tomentosa. Open forests near old, abandoned villages have Madhuca indica, Butea monosperma, Ziziphus mauritiana, etc. About a quarter of the area has Tectona grandis (teak) dominated forest. In some area bamboo is overlapping with teak and miscellaneous species. Much of the area even under teak forests supports good grass cover and is consequently a fine habitat for herbivores, especially the Spotted deer.