Native Alaskan and Exotic Plants Used by Wildlife, Alaska Department of Fish and Game

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Native Alaskan and Exotic Plants
Used by Wildlife

[varied thrush] Use these tables to select plants for landscaping. In addition to their values to wildlife, these plants will add natural beauty to an area. Trees also provide shade in summer, and protection from winter winds, which can mean energy savings in heating and cooling your home. Real estate records show that landscaping with trees and shrubs often increases property values 10-20%.

Local Alaskan greenhouses carry seeds and seedlings of many species; other species can be obtained from mail-order greenhouses. The University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service publishes a list of plant sources for Alaska.

Plant species with low shade tolerance in sunny areas.
Do not apply lime to soil near plants with low or moderate acid tolerance.

CONIFEROUS TREES	Height	Alaska Distribution						Tolerance		Soil Moisture	Propagation Methods	Values to Wildlife
CONIFEROUS TREES	Height	No	We	Sw	Sc	Ce	Se	Acid	Shade	Soil Moisture	Propagation Methods	Values to Wildlife
White Spruce Picea glauca*	40-115'		P	P		x		high	mod	dry	SE, TR	Coniferous trees provide food in the form of seeds to Red and White-winged Crossbills, Pine Siskins, Chestnut-backed and Boreal Chickadees, Pine Grosbeaks, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Red and Northern Flying Squirrels, and a variety of other species. Coniferous trees also provide feeding and nesting sites for insect-eating birds including Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped and Townsend's Warblers, Varied Thrushes, Gray Jays, and Northern Three-toed Woodpeckers. Gray Jays and Steller's Jays also nest in coniferous trees. Excepting larch, these trees provide excellent winter cover for chickadees, Pine Grosbeaks, Bohemian Waxwings, Dark-eyed Juncos, Boreal Owls, grouse and many others.
Black Spruce Picea mariana*	15-60'		P	P		x		high	mod	wet	SE, TR
Sitka Spruce Picea sitchensis	160-225'				x		x	high	mod	moist	SE, TR
Mountain Hemlock Tsuga mertensia	50-100'				x	P	x	mod	high	moist	SE, TR
Western Hemlock Tsuga heterophyla	100-150'				x	P	x	mod	high	moist	SE, TR, SC
Alaska Redcedar Chamaecyparis nootkatensis	40-80'				P		x	high	mod	wet	SE, TR, SC
Tamarack (Larch) Larix laricina*	30-60'					x		high	mod	dry or wet	SE, TR
Siberian Larch Larix laricina*	30-60'					E		high	mod	dry or wet	SE, TR

x = present throughout most of the region
P = present in portions of the region
E = exotic species

*Commercially available in Alaska.
**Non-native, but similar species available commercially.

SE = seed (see seed-collecting, Step 5)
SC = softwood cutting (see cuttings, Step 5)
ST = hardwood cutting (see cuttings, Step 5)
RC = root cutting (see suggested references)
TR = seedling or transplant (see transplanting, Step 5)
LA = layering (see suggested references)

DECIDUOUS TREES	Height	Alaska Distribution						Tolerance		Soil Moisture	Propagation Methods	Values to Wildlife
DECIDUOUS TREES	Height	No	We	Sw	Sc	Ce	Se	Acid	Shade	Soil Moisture	Propagation Methods	Values to Wildlife
Balsam Poplar Populus balsamifera	30-50'	P	P	x	P	x	P	mod	low	moist	ST, SE, TR, RC	Deciduous trees are important feeding sites for Yellow-rumped, Blackpoll, and Orange-crowned Warblers, Black-capped Chickadees, Hermit and Swainson's Thrushes, American Robins, Common Flickers, and Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers. Redpolls thrive on birch seeds in winter and spring. Pine Grosbeaks, Ruffed and Blue Grouse, snowshoe hares and moose feast on the buds, shoots and twigs of these deciduous trees. During summer, these trees provide valuable cover.
Black Cottonwood Populus trichocarpa*	80-100'				x	P	x	mod	low	moist	ST, SE, TR, RC
Quaking Aspen Populus tremuloides*	20-80'				P	x	P	mod	low	dry	SE, TR, RC
Birch Betula papyrifera*	20-80'		P	x	x	x	x	high	low	moist	SE, TR

TALL SHRUBS	Height	Alaska Distribution						Tolerance		Soil Moisture	Propagation Methods	Values to Wildlife
TALL SHRUBS	Height	No	We	Sw	Sc	Ce	Se	Acid	Shade	Soil Moisture	Propagation Methods	Values to Wildlife
Feltleaf Willow Salix alaxensis	20-30'	x	x	x	x	x	x	mod	low	moist to wet	ST, SE, TR	Willow catkins, buds and twigs are excellent food for Pine Grosbeaks, Ruffed Grouse, Ptarmigan and moose. Wilson's and Yellow War4blers, Tree Sparrows, and Blackpoll Warblers frequent them for feeding and/or nesting.
Douglas Maple Acer glabrum	20-30'					E	x	mod	mod	moist	SE, TR, SC	Maple seeds are eaten by Ruffed Grouse, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Red-breated Nuthatches, Pine Grosbeaks, and Northern Flying Squirrels. Maple also provides excellent cover.
Sitka Alder Alnus sinuata	5-30'		P	x	x	P	x	mod	low	dry to moist	SE, TR, ST	Alder provides food and cover for Sabannah, Golden-crowned, White-crowned, Tree, Song and Fox Sparrows; cover for Hermit, Swainson's and Varied Thrushes; a variety of flycatchers (notably Alder Flycatchers); and is particularly popular with redpolls.
Red Alder Alnus rubra	20-40'						x	mod	mod	moist	SE, TR, ST
Thinleaf Alder Alnus tenuifolia	15-30'			P	x	x	P	high	low	moist	SE, TR, ST
American Green Alder Alnus crispus	3-13'	P	x	P		x		high	low	dry to wet	SE, TR, ST
Oregon Crabapple Malus diversifolia	25'				x		x	mod	mod	wet	TR, SE	These native plants produce fruits that attract a variety of birds, including American Robin; Hermit, Gray-cheeked and Swainson's Thrushes; Pine Grosbeaks; Bohemian Waxwings; Common Flickers and Steller's Jays. Black-capped and Boreal Chickadees, Yellow-rumped Warblers and other birds will use these shrubs for cover during summer and fall.
Green Mountain Ash Sorbus scopulina	3-13'		P	P	P	P	P	mod	mod	well- drained	SL, TR, ST, SE
Sitka Mountain Ash Sorbus sitchensis	4-20'			P	x		x	mod	mod	well- drained	SL, TR, ST, SE
*Saskatoon Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia*	16'				P	P	P	mod	low	dry	SE, TR
*Pacific Serviceberry Amelanchier florida*	16'			P	P		P	mod	low	dry to moist	TR, SE
Red-osier Dogwood Cornus stolonifera	3-12'					P	x	mod	mod	well- drained to wet	SE, TR, SC
Pacific Red Elder Sambucus callicarpa	6-12'			x	x		x	mod	mod	well- drained to wet	TR
*High Bush Cranberry Viburnum edule	2-12'	P	P	P	x	x	x	mod	mod	dry	SE, TR, ST
Early Blueberry Vaccinium ovalifolium	5'			x	x	P	x	high	high	wet or dry	SE, TR
Siberian crabapple Malus* spp.	20'				E	E	E	mod	mod	wet	TR, SE	These exotic fruit-producing plants attract some of the same species as the above native Alaskan plants, and these have been shown to be hardy in parts of Alaska. Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks in particular seem to be attracted by teh berries of these plants.
European Mountain Ash Sorbus acuparia*	20-90'				E	E	E	mod	mod	well- drained	TR, SE
Chokecherry Prunus virginiana*	20'			E	E	E	E	mod	mod	moist	SE, TR
Bird Cherry Prunus paedus*	10-15'				E	E	E	mod	mod	dry to moist	TR
Lilac Syringa* spp.	6'				E	E	E	mod	mod	moist	TR	These plants produce fragrant flowers and provide cover for a variety of birds. Lilac seeds are eaten by Pine Grosbeaks.

x = present throughout most of the region
P = present in portions of the region
E = exotic species

*Commercially available in Alaska.
**Non-native, but similar species available commercially.

LOW SHRUBS	Height	Alaska Distribution						Tolerance		Soil Moisture	Propagation Methods	Values to Wildlife
LOW SHRUBS	Height	No	We	Sw	Sc	Ce	Se	Acid	Shade	Soil Moisture	Propagation Methods	Values to Wildlife
Willow Salix spp.	prostrate to 10'	varies by species						mod	low	moist to wet	ST, SE, TR	Willow catkins and buds are eaten by Pine Grosbeaks, Ruffed Grouse, Ptarmigan and moose. Yellow Warblers frequently nest in willows, as do Wilson's Warblers and Tree Sparrows. Yellow Wagtails, Arctic Warblers and redpolls are provided cover and feeding areas by willow patches.
Willow Salix spp.	prostrate to 10'	x	x	x	x	x	x	mod	low	moist to wet	ST, SE, TR
Dwarf Birch Betula nana Betula glandulosa	1-3' 1-5'	P P	x P	x	P	x x	P P	high high	low low	well- drained to wet	TR, SE TR, SE	Dwarf birch provides cover and seeds used by Black-capped Chickadees, redpolls, and a variety of other birds. Rock Ptarmigan and moose eat the buds and twigs.
*Northern Black Current Ribes hudsonianum*	3-6'			P	P	x		mod	mod	well- drained	TR, ST	These berry-bearing low shrubs attract White-crowned Sparrows, American Robins, Pine Grosbeaks, Bohemian Waxwings, Black-billed Magpies, Ruffed Grouse, Hermit and Varied Thrushes, Steller's Jays, and other species. These birds feed on the berries and use the shrubs for nesting and escape cover.
*Wild Current Ribes triste*	2-3'	P	P	P	x	x	P	mod	mod	moist or well- drained	SE, TR, ST
*Raspberry Rubus idaeus*	2-4'			P	P	x	P	mod	low	dry	SE, RC, TR, ST
Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis	2-7'			x	x	x		mod	low	dry	SE, TR, ST, RC
Thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus	2-5'						x	mod	low	moist	SE, TR, RC, ST
Wild Rose Rosa acicularis	1-4'	P	P	P	x	x		high	mod	moist	SE, TR, ST
Buffaloberry Shepherdia canadensis	2-6'	P	P			x	P	mod	low	dry	SE, TR
Silverberry Eleagnus commutata*	3-12'					P		mod	low	dry	SE, TR, ST
Common Juniper Juniperus communis*	1-2'	P	P	P	P	x	x	high	low	dry	TR, ST, LA	Juniper provides excellent cover for many species as well as berries eaten by Pine Grosbeaks, American Robins, Townsend's Solitaires, and Bohemian Waxwings.
Salal Gaultheria shallon	2-3'						P	low	low	moist	TR, SE	These species provide valuable cover for wildlife. Blue and Spruce Grouse eat salal, and snowshoe hares browse on Labrador tea.
Labrador Tea Ledum spp.	1-3'	x	x	x	x	x	x	high	high	moist	TR
*Bush Cinquefoil Potentilla fruticosa	1-5'	P	x	P		x	P	mod	high	dry or moist	SE, TR
Lapland Rosebay Rhododendron lapponicum	1-2'	P	P			x		mod	low	dry or wet	SE, TR	Provides nesting cover for Tree Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, and produces beautiful pink flowers.
Sweetgale Myrica gale*	1-4'		P	P	x	P	x	high	low	wet	SE, SL, TR	Provides food and cover to Yellow-rumped Warblers, chickadees, and other birds.

GROUND COVERS & HERBACEOUS PLANTS	Alaska Distribution						Tolerance		Soil Moisture	Propagation Methods	Values to Wildlife
GROUND COVERS & HERBACEOUS PLANTS	No	We	Sw	Sc	Ce	Se	Acid	Shade	Soil Moisture	Propagation Methods	Values to Wildlife
Dwarf Dogwood Cornus canadensis		P	x	x	x	x	mod	high	dry to moist	TR, RC, SE	These berry-producing groundcovers will protect your soil from erosion and provide food for Ruffed, Spruce and Blue Grouse; Pine Grosbeaks; Tree and Fox Sparrows; American Robins; Common Flickers; Gray-crowned Rosyfinches and Snow Buntings. They also provide food for voles and lemmings, and cover for voles, lemmings, shrews, and a variety of ground-feeding and nesting birds.
Cloudberry Rubus chamaemorus	x	x	x	x	x	x	mod	mod	moist to wet	SE, TR
Nagoonberry Rubus arcticus		x			x		mod	mod	moist to wet	SE, TR, RC
Bearberry (Kinnikinnik) Arctostaphylos uva-ursi*	P		x		x	P	mod	low	dry	ST, SE
Alpine Bearberry Arctostaphylos alpina	x	x	x	x	x		mod	low	dry	SE, ST
Mountain Cranberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea	x	x	x	x	x	x	mod	high	dry to moist	TR, SE
Blueberry Vaccinium spp.	varies by species						mod	high	moist to wet	ST, TR, SE
Crowberry Empetrum nigrum	P	x	x	x	x	x	high	high	moist to wet	ST, SE, TR
Jacob's Ladder Polemonium acutiflorum	x	x	x	x	x	x	mod	low	moist to wet	SE, TR	These flowering herbs will add color to your landscaped area and provide seeds eaten by redpolls, Snow Buntings, Dark-eyed Juncos, Gray-crowned Rosyfinches, Tree and White-crowned Sparrows, Ruffed Grouse, and other seed-eating birds. Mountain avens and some others also provide food for snowshoe hares. All of these provide cover for small, ground-feeding and nesting birds and small mammals.
Buttercup Ranunculus spp.	varies by species							low	moist to wet	SE, TR
Goldenrod Solidago multiradiata	x	x	x	x	x	x		low	dry	SE, TR
Aster Aster sibiricus*	x	x	x	x	x	x		low	dry	SE, TR
Mountain Avens Dryas octopetala*	P	x	x		x	P	high	mod	well-drained or wet	SE, TR
Arnica Arnica frigida	P	x	P	x	x			low	dry	SE, TR
Cinquefoil Potentilla spp.			x	x	x	x		varies	dry to moist	SE, TR, SC
Geranium Geranium erianthum*			P	x	P	x	mod	high	moist	SE, SL, TR
Lupine Lupinus nootkatensis Lupinus arcticus	x	x	x	x	x	x		low	dry to moist	SE, TR	These showy flowering plants will add beauty to your landscaped area. In southwestern and south coastal Alaska, they will attract and provide food for Rufous Hummingbirds. In addition, they provide feeding sites and cover for a variety of ground and shrub feeding and nesting species.
Larkspur Delphinium* spp.	P	x	x		x		mod	low	wet	SE, TR
*Columbine Aquilegia brevistyla Aquilegia formosa				x	P	x		mod mod	dry to moist	SE, TR
Dock (Sorrel) Rumex spp.	x	x	x	x	x	x	mod	low	moist to wet	SE, TR	These herbaceous plants have small flowers, but they produce abundant seeds eaten by Snow Buntings, Gray-crowned Rosyfinches, Dark-eyed Juncos, Lapland Lonspurs, redpolls, Savannah and White-crowned Sparrows, ptarmigan and other seed-eating birds. They also provide cover for a variety of ground-dwelling birds.
American Bistort Polygonum bistorta	x	x	P		x			mod	moist to wet	SE, TR
Buckwheat Polygonum viviparum	x	x	x	x	x	x		low	dry	SE, TR
Artemisia Artemisia tilesii	x	x	x	P	x			low	dry to moist	SE, TR

GRASSES & SEDGES	Height	Alaska Distribution						Tolerance		Soil Moisture	Propagation Methods	Values to Wildlife
GRASSES & SEDGES	Height	No	We	Sw	Sc	Ce	Se	Acid	Shade	Soil Moisture	Propagation Methods	Values to Wildlife
Bluejoint Reedgrass Calamagrostis canadensis	3-6'	P	x	x	x	x	x	mod	mod	moist	SE, TR	Unmowed grasses are valuable seed sources for White-crowned, Golden-crowned, and Savannah Sparrows; Horned Larks; Snow Buntings and Gray-crowned Rosyfinches. They also provide valuable concealing cover for ground-nesting birds like grouse, sparrows and warblers. Grasses also provide cover for small mammals like voles and shrews.
Alyeska Polargrass Arctagrostis latifolia*	3-5'	x	x	x	P	x		mod	mod	moist	SE, TR
Arctared Red Fescue Festuca rubra*		x	x	x	x	x	x	mod	low	moist	SE
Bluegrass Poa spp.*		varies by species						mod	low	moist	ST, SE
Sedges Carex spp.	2-10"	varies by species						high	low	dry to wet	SE, TR

AQUATIC PLANTS	Height	Alaska Distribution						Planting Methods	Values to Wildlife
AQUATIC PLANTS	Height	No	We	Sw	Sc	Ce	Se	Planting Methods	Values to Wildlife
Duckweed Lemna spp.	floating		P				x	TR	Most dabbling ducks feed on aquatic plants. These are among the most valuable food-producing aquatics in Alaska and are used by Mallards, Gadwalls, Pintails, Northern Shovelers, Green-winged Teal, and American Wigeons. Common Snipe, Pectoral Sandpipers, Red-winged Blackbirds and other marsh birds also occasionally consume their seeds.
Spikerush Eleocharis spp.	2-7"			P	x	x	x	TR
Pondweed Potamogeton* spp.	submerged or floating	P	x	x	x	x	x	TR
Wigeongrass Ruppia spiralis	submerged			x	x		x	TR (brackish water)
Water Milfoil Myiophyllum spicatum	submerged		P			x	P	TR
Smartweed Polygonum amphibium	submerged or floating				x	P		TR, SE
Buckbean Menyanthes trifoliata	floating	P	P	x	x	x	x	TR
Cattail Typha latifolia	2-6'					P		TR, RC	Cattails, bulrushes, arrowgrass and other emergents provide many species cover for nesting and escape from predators, and also produce seeds eaten by ducks and other waterbirds.
Bulrush Scirpus spp.	12-40"					P	x	TR
Burreed Sparganium* spp.	1-3'	P	x	x	x	x	x	TR
Arrowgrass Triglochin spp.	30"		P	x	x	P	x	TR
Pendant Grass Arctophia fulva	1-3'	x	x	P	x	x	P	TR
Pond lily Nuphar polysepalum	floating		P	x	x	x	x	TR	Pond lily provides cover for young ducklings, as well as frogs, and is eaten by moose and other animals.

x = present throughout most of the region
P = present in portions of the region
E = exotic species

*Commercially available in Alaska.
**Non-native, but similar species available commercially.

Native Alaskan and Exotic PlantsUsed by Wildlife

Written by Susan E. Quinlan, ADF&G, and Sal Cuccarese, AEIDC. Illustrated by: Susan E. Quinlan

Native Alaskan and Exotic Plants
Used by Wildlife

Written by Susan E. Quinlan, ADF&G, and Sal Cuccarese, AEIDC.
Illustrated by: Susan E. Quinlan