Clear Hills and Western Alberta Uplands is an ecoregion extending over west and central margins of Alberta and parts of the British Columbia/Alberta border, characterized by rolling uplands, a transition between boreal and cordilleran vegetation, and land use activities including commercial forestry, oil and gas exploration, and some agriculture.
Zone
Interior
Common Name
Clear Hills and Western Alberta Uplands
CEC Level III Code
5.4.2
CEC Level II Code
5.4 Boreal Plain
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Clear Hills and Western Alberta Uplands, CEC 5.4.2, Clear Hills & Western Alberta Uplands |
| Geographic Range | This ecoregion extends over two separate areas in the west and central margins of Alberta and in parts lying across the British Columbia/Alberta border. |
| Climate Snapshot | The Clear Hills and Western Alberta Uplands ecoregion has a mean annual temperature ranging from -0.5°C to 2°C, a mean summer temperature of 12.5°C, mean winter temperatures from -17.5°C to 8.5°C, and approximately 400-600 mm of annual precipitation. |
| Terrain Profile | This region consists of rolling uplands ranging from 550 to 1,500 meters above sea level, with a local relief of 100 to 200 meters, covered mainly by glacial morainal deposits. |
| Vegetation Cover | The region features a transition of boreal and cordilleran vegetation, dominated by a forest mixture of lodgepole pine, trembling aspen, and white spruce, with conifers prevalent at higher elevations and aspen more dominant in the lower plains. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The wildlife in this region includes large mammals such as moose, deer, elk, caribou, and black bear, alongside smaller animals like beaver, muskrat, mink, wolf, snowshoe hare, and various waterfowl and birds. |
Eco snapshot
The region features a transition of boreal and cordilleran vegetation, dominated by a forest mixture of lodgepole pine, trembling aspen, and white spruce, with conifers prevalent at higher elevations and aspen more dominant in the lower plains.
The wildlife in this region includes large mammals such as moose, deer, elk, caribou, and black bear, alongside smaller animals like beaver, muskrat, mink, wolf, snowshoe hare, and various waterfowl and birds.
Seasonal timing
Yearly needs
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 | Early nectar and pollen; safe places to warm up and nest | Leave some leaf litter; avoid spring “scorched earth” cleanup; plant early-blooming natives |
| Spring | A steady ramp-up of blooms; nesting materials and sites | Add a few spring bloomers; keep some bare soil; delay cutting back stems until warmer weather is established |
| Summer | Continuous flowers; water during dry spells; shade/rest spots | Plant mid-season natives in clumps; provide a shallow water dish with stones; keep some areas unmowed |
| Late summer / fall | Late blooms to fuel overwintering; seedheads and shelter | Plant late bloomers; stop deadheading some plants; leave stems and seedheads standing |
| Winter | Protected overwintering habitat | Leave stems, logs, and leaf litter; avoid disturbing garden beds; plan next year’s bloom sequence |
Seed mix concept
Spring starter: early bloomers (often shrubs and early perennials) to help pollinators get going.
Summer bridge: dependable mid-season flowers that carry the peak activity period.
Fall finisher: late-season asters/goldenrods (and other late bloomers) to support insects preparing for winter.
What You Can Do
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.
Native plants
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yarrow is a tough, easygoing wildflower that brings long-lasting blooms and steady pollinator visits to gardens, schoolyards, and even containers.
Pollinators
Adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms; their presence is a sign of diverse, functioning habitats.
Bumble bees are important pollinators of many wildflowers and garden plants, helping ecosystems and food crops reproduce.
Many visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while also playing important roles in local food webs.
Adults visit flowers for nectar and pollen, and many species’ larvae help keep plant-eating pests in check.
Adults can help move pollen as they nectar at flowers, and their caterpillars are an important part of local food webs.
They can move pollen between flowers while feeding on nectar, especially for blooms that open or scent up in the evening.
Many small moths move pollen while feeding on nectar, supporting wild plants and garden blooms—especially in the evening and at night.
Many adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while feeding.
They visit a wide range of flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
