North Cascades is a region encompassing the northern end of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington State and southern British Columbia, also including the high Olympic Mountains to the west of the Puget Lowland.
Zone
Interior
Common Name
North Cascades
CEC Level III Code
6.2.5
CEC Level II Code
6.2 Western Cordillera
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | North Cascades, CEC 6.2.5 |
| Geographic Range | The North Cascades region encompasses the northern end of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington State and southern British Columbia, also including the high Olympic Mountains to the west of the Puget Lowland. |
| Climate Snapshot | The North Cascades region features a variety of climatic zones, ranging from a dry continental climate in the east to mild, maritime, rainforest conditions in the west, with dry warm summers, mild to cold wet winters, and mean annual precipitation ranging from 300 mm to over 6,000 mm. |
| Terrain Profile | The North Cascades region features mostly high, rugged mountains and glaciated peaks with some U-shaped valleys and contains the greatest concentration of active alpine glaciers in the conterminous United States. |
| Vegetation Cover | Lower western forests feature western hemlock, western red cedar, and Douglas fir, while subalpine forests include Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, and lodgepole pine, with ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and pine grass parklands in the east. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The North Cascades region is home to diverse wildlife, including black bear, mountain goat, black-tailed deer, cougar, bobcat, beaver, osprey, bald eagle, grouse, salmon, and steelhead. |
Eco snapshot
Lower western forests feature western hemlock, western red cedar, and Douglas fir, while subalpine forests include Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, and lodgepole pine, with ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and pine grass parklands in the east.
The North Cascades region is home to diverse wildlife, including black bear, mountain goat, black-tailed deer, cougar, bobcat, beaver, osprey, bald eagle, grouse, salmon, and steelhead.
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 | Plant/keep early bloomers; delay heavy cleanup; avoid pesticides |
| Spring | Steady bloom; nesting materials and sites | Add native shrubs and spring flowers; keep some bare ground; provide small brush/leaf areas |
| Summer | Continuous flowers; water; shade/shelter during heat | Plant drought-tolerant natives for your site; add a shallow water dish; keep blooms coming |
| Late summer / fall | “Last chance” nectar/pollen; places to overwinter | Plant late bloomers; leave seedheads; keep stems/leaves for shelter |
| Winter | Protection from disturbance; intact nesting sites | Don’t over-tidy; leave stems standing; plan next season’s bloom sequence |
Seed mix concept
Spring starter: early flowers (often including early-blooming shrubs and bulbs) to feed emerging pollinators.
Summer bridge: reliable mid-season bloomers that carry the garden through the busiest months.
Fall finisher: late-season flowers (like asters and goldenrods) that help pollinators stock 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.
