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Region profile

Alaska Range

Alaska Range is a south central Alaska ecoregion marked by high and steep mountains with ice fields and glaciers, a subarctic continental climate, and vegetation ranging from barren areas and dwarf scrub communities to sparse forests of white and black spruce in low-elevation drainages.

Zone

Interior

Common Name

Alaska Range

CEC Level III Code

6.1.2

CEC Level II Code

6.1 Boreal Cordillera

Overview Eco Snapshot Calendar Habitat Seed Mix

Overview

About This Region

The Alaska Range, a vast mountainous region, presents unique challenges for pollinators. Short, cool summers limit flowering periods and insect activity. High elevation and harsh weather conditions, including snow and strong winds, restrict habitat availability. Climate change contributes to earlier snowmelt and altered plant bloom times, potentially causing a temporal mismatch for native pollinators. However, the diverse alpine and subalpine flora supports specialized species, making conservation efforts focused on habitat protection and monitoring crucial for the persistence of these cold-adapted pollinators.

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Region facts

At a glance

Category	Details
Aliases	Alaska Range, CEC 6.1.2
Geographic Range	The Alaska Range ecoregion spans a wide area of south central Alaska.
Climate Snapshot	The Alaska Range has a subarctic continental climate with cool summers, cold winters, a mean annual temperature ranging from approximately -6°C to 1°C, and widely varying precipitation from about 350 mm in lowlands to over 3,000 mm on high peaks.
Terrain Profile	The Alaska Range features high and steep mountains, rocky slopes, ice fields, and glaciers, with elevations ranging from sea level up to over 6,100 masl, and is characterized by a complex mix of deformed metamorphic rocks, granitic batholiths, and large, active volcanoes.
Vegetation Cover	The Alaska Range features areas barren of vegetation, dwarf scrub communities at higher elevations, shrub communities of willow, birch, and alder on lower slopes, and rare forests of white and black spruce in low-elevation drainages.
Wildlife Habitat	The Alaska Range wildlife includes large mammals such as brown bear, gray wolves, wolverines, caribou, and moose, along with Dall sheep and pikas on middle and upper slopes, and salmon running in the streams.

Eco snapshot

What shapes this region

Climate pattern

Short summers and long winters are typical.
Weather can shift quickly, especially in mountain terrain.
Microclimates (small local weather differences) can be created by slope direction, wind exposure, and nearby water.

Vegetation profile

The Alaska Range features areas barren of vegetation, dwarf scrub communities at higher elevations, shrub communities of willow, birch, and alder on lower slopes, and rare forests of white and black spruce in low-elevation drainages.

Wildlife profile

The Alaska Range wildlife includes large mammals such as brown bear, gray wolves, wolverines, caribou, and moose, along with Dall sheep and pikas on middle and upper slopes, and salmon running in the streams.

Why pollinators matter here

Short bloom seasons mean pollinators need reliable flowers whenever conditions allow.
Sheltered, sunny patches can act like “refueling stations” across a big landscape.
Native plants are often adapted to cold, wind, and lean soils—good matches for low-input gardening.
Avoiding pesticides helps protect small, local pollinator populations that may have limited recovery time each year.

Seasonal timing

Planting seasons

Timing varies by microclimate; use this as a flexible guide.

Seasonal timing

After snowmelt / early growing season: Focus on site prep and planting hardy perennials or sowing cold-tolerant natives where appropriate.
Mid-season: Add “bridge” blooms and keep plants watered during dry spells (especially in windy sites).
Late season: Prioritize late-blooming natives and leave stems/leaf litter for shelter.

Quick seasonal checklist

Choose the sunniest, most wind-sheltered spot you can.
Plant in clumps (easier for pollinators to find).
Add a shallow water source (like a dish with stones).
Leave some natural mess (stems, leaves) for nesting and overwintering.

Yearly needs

Pollinator calendar

What pollinators need throughout the year, and what to do about it.

Season	What pollinators need most	What you can do
Late winter / early spring	Safe shelter as temperatures fluctuate; early food when available	Avoid “spring clean-up” that removes stems/leaves too early; plan your plant list and site
Spring	Early blooms; sunny, wind-sheltered foraging spots	Plant or protect early-blooming natives; create windbreaks with rocks/logs or fencing where appropriate
Summer	Steady nectar/pollen; water; nesting materials	Keep a continuous bloom sequence; provide shallow water; leave some bare, well-drained soil patches
Late summer / fall	Late blooms; places to overwinter	Add late-blooming natives; stop deadheading some plants; leave stems standing
Winter	Undisturbed shelter	Leave leaf litter and stems; avoid disturbing likely nesting areas until conditions truly warm

Seed mix concept

A Billion Small Steps Seed mix

A simple way to plan is to think in three layers, so something is blooming whenever pollinators can fly:

Spring starter

Spring starter: early-blooming, cold-tough flowers for the first active days.

Summer bridge

Summer bridge: reliable mid-season bloomers that carry the peak foraging period.

Fall finisher

Fall finisher: late-blooming plants that help pollinators fuel up before winter.

What You Can Do

Make a difference for native habitats.

Turn this knowledge into action. Whether you plant a single pot or a whole garden, you are building a vital bridge for local biodiversity.

Join the movement to restore our shared habitats.

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Native plants

Plants that thrive in this region

Alders

Alders are fast-growing trees in the genus Alnus that are especially useful in damp spots and along edges where you want quick cover and early-season pollen for insects.

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Asters

Asters are late-season wildflowers that bring a burst of daisy-like blooms when many gardens are winding down, making them a reliable choice for pollinator-friendly planting.

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Birches

Birches are graceful trees in the genus Betula, known for their often light-colored bark and early-season pollen and catkins that support springtime insects.

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Blueberries & huckleberries

Blueberries and huckleberries (genus Vaccinium) are berry-producing shrubs with spring flowers that can support pollinators and later feed people and wildlife—great for gardens, schoolyards, and even large containers.

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Clovers

Clovers are small, easygoing plants in the genus Trifolium that can add nectar and pollen to gardens, lawns, and pots while helping cover bare soil.

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Fireweed

Fireweed is a tough, fast-growing wildflower in the genus Chamerion that brings bright pink blooms and lots of pollinator activity to sunny, open spaces.

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Fleabanes

Fleabanes (genus Erigeron) are easygoing wildflowers with daisy-like blooms that can brighten gardens, schoolyards, and balcony pots while offering steady nectar and pollen for many small pollinators.

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Goldenrods

Goldenrods are tough, sunny wildflowers in the genus Solidago that light up late-season gardens with golden blooms and provide reliable nectar and pollen when many other flowers are fading.

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Kinnikinnick

Kinnikinnick is a tough, low-growing evergreen groundcover in the genus Arctostaphylos (often called bearberry) that forms a tidy mat and offers small spring flowers followed by red berries.

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Manzanitas

Manzanitas are tough, beautiful western shrubs with urn-shaped flowers that can feed early-season pollinators and evergreen leaves that keep gardens looking good year-round.

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Poplars, aspens & cottonwoods

Poplars, aspens, and cottonwoods (genus Populus) are fast-growing trees best known for their fluttering leaves and soft “cottony” seeds. They can support early-season pollinators with spring catkins, but they’re also big, thirsty, and often short-lived in small yards—so they’re best chosen with space and roots in mind.

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Rushes

Rushes are tough, grass-like wetland plants (genus Juncus) that thrive in damp soil and help create calm, sheltered habitat at the edges of ponds, rain gardens, and low spots.

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Sedges

Sedges (genus Carex) are grass-like plants that form tidy clumps and thrive in many garden conditions, especially where soil stays a bit damp. They add texture, cover bare ground, and can support small wildlife by providing shelter and nesting material.

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Willowherbs

Willowherbs (genus Epilobium) are easygoing wildflowers that pop up in sunny, open spots and offer simple, nectar-rich blooms that many small pollinators can use.

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Willows

Willows are fast-growing trees and shrubs in the genus Salix that offer some of the earliest pollen and nectar of the year, making them a strong choice for pollinator-friendly yards, parks, and school grounds.

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