Columbia Mountains/Northern Rockies is a topographically interesting region covering the Interior Wet Belt of British Columbia and surrounding areas, characterized by rugged topography, a severe mid-latitude climate, maritime-influenced forests, and characteristic wildlife like grizzly bear and mountain goat.
Zone
Interior
Common Name
Columbia Mountains/Northern Rockies
CEC Level III Code
6.2.3
CEC Level II Code
6.2 Western Cordillera
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Columbia Mountains/Northern Rockies, Columbia Mountains Northern Rockies, CEC 6.2.3 |
| Geographic Range | This region, known as the Interior Wet Belt of British Columbia, encompasses the Cariboo, Columbia, and Selkirk Mountains, extending into the Northern Rocky Mountains of eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and northwest Montana, and is characterized by rugged, high and low mountains, narrow valleys, and deep canyons. |
| Climate Snapshot | The ecoregion has a severe, mid-latitude climate with dry, warm summers and cold, snowy winters, featuring a mean annual temperature range of 0°C to 9°C and mean annual precipitation of 1,200 mm. |
| Terrain Profile | This region is characterized by rugged topography with high and low mountains, narrow valleys, and deep canyons, featuring some peaks over 3,000 meters above sea level. |
| Vegetation Cover | Forests in this region are influenced by maritime moisture, featuring Pacific indicator species such as western hemlock and western red cedar, alongside Douglas fir, spruce, and various pines and firs. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The Columbia Mountains/Northern Rockies region is home to characteristic wildlife including grizzly and black bear, woodland caribou, mountain goat, mule and white-tailed deer, American elk, moose, bobcat, cougar, snowshoe hare, various grouse, osprey, bald eagle, several jays and ravens, mountain bluebird, spotted and Pacific tree frogs, trout, and salmon. |
Eco snapshot
Forests in this region are influenced by maritime moisture, featuring Pacific indicator species such as western hemlock and western red cedar, alongside Douglas fir, spruce, and various pines and firs.
The Columbia Mountains/Northern Rockies region is home to characteristic wildlife including grizzly and black bear, woodland caribou, mountain goat, mule and white-tailed deer, American elk, moose, bobcat, cougar, snowshoe hare, various grouse, osprey, bald eagle, several jays and ravens, mountain bluebird, spotted and Pacific tree frogs, trout, and salmon.
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/pollen; safe shelter as insects emerge | Keep some leaf litter/stems until weather is consistently mild; plant/plan early bloomers |
| Spring | A steady ramp-up of blooms; nesting sites | Plant native perennials; leave some bare, well-drained soil; avoid all pesticides |
| Summer | Reliable flowers during peak activity; water during dry spells | Add mid-season “workhorse” flowers; provide a shallow water source with landing stones |
| Late summer/fall | Late blooms to fuel overwintering; seeds/structure | Plant late-season natives; avoid heavy fall cleanup; let some plants go to seed |
| Winter or Dry Season | Protected overwintering habitat | Leave stems standing; keep brush/wood piles tidy-but-present; plan next season’s bloom sequence |
Seed mix concept
Spring starter: early bloomers (often bulbs/perennials and early shrubs) to support emerging bees.
Summer bridge: long-blooming, mid-season flowers that carry the garden through peak activity.
Fall finisher: late-season asters/goldenrods/shrubs that help pollinators fuel up before 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.
