Mid-Boreal Uplands and Peace-Wabaska Lowlands extends from the Peace River area in British Columbia to the inter-lakes region of Manitoba, characterized by a climate of short, cool summers and cold winters, featuring mixed coniferous and deciduous forests on uplands covered by moraine and lacustrine deposits, with main land use activities being pulpwood operations, water-oriented recreation, and agriculture in southern parts.
Zone
Interior
Common Name
Mid-Boreal Uplands and Peac-Wabaska Lowlands
CEC Level III Code
5.4.1
CEC Level II Code
5.4 Boreal Plain
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Mid-Boreal Uplands and Peac-Wabaska Lowlands, CEC 5.4.1 |
| Geographic Range | This ecoregion extends from the Peace River area in British Columbia southeasterly to the inter-lakes region of Manitoba. |
| Climate Snapshot | The climate is characterized by predominantly short, cool summers and cold winters, with a mean annual temperature ranging from -1°C to 1°C and mean annual precipitation between 350 and 550 mm. |
| Terrain Profile | The landforms consist mainly of uplands covered by moraine and lacustrine deposits, with elevations ranging from 400 to over 800 meters above sea level. |
| Vegetation Cover | The region is part of the continuous mid-boreal mixed coniferous and deciduous forest, featuring closed stands of trembling aspen and balsam poplar, along with white and black spruce, balsam fir, tamarack, and black spruce in cold, poorly drained fens and bogs. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The region is home to mammals such as moose, white-tailed deer, elk, black bear, timber wolf, and smaller animals like snowshoe hare and beaver, along with bird species including common loon, red-tailed hawk, waterfowl, and neotropical migrants. |
Eco snapshot
The region is part of the continuous mid-boreal mixed coniferous and deciduous forest, featuring closed stands of trembling aspen and balsam poplar, along with white and black spruce, balsam fir, tamarack, and black spruce in cold, poorly drained fens and bogs.
The region is home to mammals such as moose, white-tailed deer, elk, black bear, timber wolf, and smaller animals like snowshoe hare and beaver, along with bird species including common loon, red-tailed hawk, waterfowl, and neotropical migrants.
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 | Leave last year’s stems/leaves in place; plan for early-blooming natives; avoid spring “clean-up” that removes shelter |
| Spring | Steady pollen for bee brood; fresh blooms; nesting sites | Plant early bloomers; keep a small patch of bare, well-drained soil; avoid pesticides and “weed-and-feed” products |
| Summer | Continuous nectar; water; shade/shelter during heat | Add mid-season flowers; provide a shallow water dish with stones; keep blooms coming in sunny clusters |
| Late summer/fall | High-energy nectar for late-season insects; seeds/structure | Plant late bloomers; avoid deadheading everything; leave some seedheads and stems standing |
| Winter or Dry Season | Overwintering shelter; undisturbed nesting | Leave stems, leaf litter, and a “messy corner”; delay major cutbacks until the next growing season |
Seed mix concept
Spring starter: early bloomers (often shrubs and early perennials) to help emerging bees.
Summer bridge: reliable mid-season flowers that carry pollinators through the busiest months.
Fall finisher: late-season asters/goldenrods (or other late natives) to fuel the last wave of pollinators 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.
