Interior Highlands and Klondike Plateau is an ecoregion in Alaska and Canada characterized by a continental subarctic climate, steep rounded ridges, low mountains, and valleys, sustaining dwarf scrub vegetation, spruce stands, and associated with the Yukon River drainage network, where land uses include wilderness recreation, tourism, hunting, trapping, fishing, and mining.
Zone
Interior
Common Name
Interior Highlands and Klondike Plateau
CEC Level III Code
6.1.1
CEC Level II Code
6.1 Boreal Cordillera
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Interior Highlands and Klondike Plateau, CEC 6.1.1, Interior Highlands & Klondike Plateau |
| Geographic Range | The Interior Highlands and Klondike Plateau ecoregion extends from just east of Fairbanks, Alaska, southeast across the international border into Yukon, Canada. |
| Climate Snapshot | The Interior Highlands and Klondike Plateau has a continental subarctic climate with short, warm summers and long, cold winters, featuring a mean annual temperature of approximately -6°C. |
| Terrain Profile | The region is characterized by steep rounded ridges, low mountains (rising to at least 1,200 masl and some up to 2,100 masl in Canada) often surmounted by rugged peaks, some rolling plateaus, and incised valleys, with elevations typically around 500 masl in the valleys. |
| Vegetation Cover | The vegetation primarily consists of dwarf scrub, willow, and open spruce stands, with black spruce and paper birch on permafrost slopes, white spruce, birch, and aspen on south-facing slopes, and low birch, ericaceous shrubs, and Dryas-lichen tundra dominating above treeline. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The Interior Highlands and Klondike Plateau are home to characteristic wildlife such as caribou, grizzly and black bear, moose, wolves, and various bird species including the peregrine falcon and golden eagle, along with salmon and arctic grayling in the waterways. |
Eco snapshot
The vegetation primarily consists of dwarf scrub, willow, and open spruce stands, with black spruce and paper birch on permafrost slopes, white spruce, birch, and aspen on south-facing slopes, and low birch, ericaceous shrubs, and Dryas-lichen tundra dominating above treeline.
The Interior Highlands and Klondike Plateau are home to characteristic wildlife such as caribou, grizzly and black bear, moose, wolves, and various bird species including the peregrine falcon and golden eagle, along with salmon and arctic grayling in the waterways.
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 places to warm up and nest | Prioritize early bloomers (especially shrubs), keep some leaf litter, avoid spring pesticide use |
| Spring | Steady bloom; nesting materials and undisturbed ground | Plant a mix of early and mid-season natives; leave some bare soil; delay heavy cleanup |
| Summer | Reliable nectar/pollen; water during dry spells | Add mid-summer flowers; provide a shallow water source with landing stones; keep blooms coming |
| Late summer / fall | “Finishing” blooms to build reserves; shelter | Plant late bloomers; leave seedheads; keep stems standing where safe |
| Winter | Protected overwintering sites | Leave stems/leaves in a corner; avoid stripping the garden “clean” |
Seed mix concept
Spring starter: early bloomers (often shrubs and early perennials) to feed pollinators as soon as they emerge.
Summer bridge: reliable mid-season flowers to keep nectar and pollen steady.
Fall finisher: late bloomers (like asters and goldenrods) to help pollinators build reserves 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.
