- Related topics
of interest...
Native Alaskan and Exotic Plants
Used by Wildlife
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 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No | We | Sw | Sc | Ce | Se | Acid | Shade | |||||
*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 |
*Commercially available
in Alaska. SE = seed (see seed-collecting,
Step 5) |
DECIDUOUS TREES | Height | Alaska Distribution | Tolerance |
Soil Moisture |
Propagation Methods |
Values to Wildlife | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No | We | Sw | Sc | Ce | Se | Acid | Shade | |||||
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 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No | We | Sw | Sc | Ce | Se | Acid | Shade | |||||
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 |
*Commercially available
in Alaska. SE = seed (see seed-collecting,
Step 5) |
LOW SHRUBS | Height | Alaska Distribution | Tolerance |
Soil Moisture |
Propagation Methods |
Values to Wildlife | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No | We | Sw | Sc | Ce | Se | Acid | Shade | |||||
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. | |||||
x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||
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 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No | We | Sw | Sc | Ce | Se | Acid | Shade | ||||
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. |
|
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 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No | We | Sw | Sc | Ce | Se | Acid | Shade | |||||
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" |
|
high | low | dry to wet | SE, TR |
AQUATIC PLANTS | Height | Alaska Distribution |
Planting Methods |
Values to Wildlife | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No | We | Sw | Sc | Ce | Se | ||||
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 |
*Commercially available in Alaska.
SE = seed (see seed-collecting, Step 5) |