Native Plants for Alaska - What to Plant, and When
Alaska spans 4 ecoregions:Marine West Coast ForestTundraTaigaNorthwestern Forested Mountains
70 plants on this site are native to Alaska, 19 of them keystone species that feed the most caterpillars and bees. Alaska spans 4 ecoregions (Marine West Coast Forest, Tundra, Taiga, Northwestern Forested Mountains), and the plants here are the ones that evolved in them. Hardiness zones in the state run 1a to 8b, which is why the list sorts by zone rather than by state.
Start with the keystones (an oak or native cherry if you have room, then goldenrods, asters and milkweeds), and plant in early fall or early spring, at least six weeks before a frost. Pick your zone above and each plant shows its own sowing and bloom window for where you garden.
Alaska Paper Birch
Betula neoalaskana
Zones 2a–6b · native to 7 states and provinces
Arrowleaf Ragwort
Senecio triangularis
Zones 4a–8b · native to 16 states and provinces
Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 4a
Bog Blueberry
Vaccinium uliginosum
Zones 2a–6b · native to 26 states and provinces
Blooms May – Jun in zone 4a
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
Zones 2a–7b · native to 55 states and provinces
Blooms Apr – May in zone 4a
Douglas Aster
Symphyotrichum subspicatum
Zones 5a–9b · native to 10 states and provinces
Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 4a
Douglas Fir
Pseudotsuga menziesii
Zones 4a–7b · native to 15 states and provinces
Douglas Spirea
Spiraea douglasii
Zones 5a–8b · native to 8 states and provinces
Blooms May – Jul in zone 4a
Edible Thistle
Cirsium edule
Zones 5a–8b · native to 5 states and provinces
Blooms Jul – Sep in zone 4a
Feltleaf Willow
Salix alaxensis
Zones 2a–6b · native to 7 states and provinces
Goldenrod
Solidago canadensis
Zones 3a–9a · native to 57 states and provinces
Blooms Aug – Oct in zone 4a
Gray Alder
Alnus incana
Zones 3a–6b · native to 44 states and provinces
Pacific Crabapple
Malus fusca
Zones 5a–9b · native to 5 states and provinces
Blooms May – Jun in zone 4a
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
Zones 2a–7a · native to 32 states and provinces
Pin Cherry
Prunus pensylvanica
Zones 2a–6b · native to 43 states and provinces
Blooms Apr – May in zone 4a
Quaking Aspen
Populus tremuloides
Zones 2a–6b · native to 49 states and provinces
Red Alder
Alnus rubra
Zones 6a–9b · native to 7 states and provinces
Sitka Spruce
Picea sitchensis
Zones 6a–8b · native to 5 states and provinces
Western Hemlock
Tsuga heterophylla
Zones 6a–8b · native to 8 states and provinces
White Spruce
Picea glauca
Zones 2a–6b · native to 27 states and provinces
Alpine Azalea
Kalmia procumbens
Zones 2a–6b · native to 9 states and provinces
Blooms May – Jul in zone 4a
American Vetch
Vicia americana
Zones 3a–9b · native to 49 states and provinces
Blooms May – Aug in zone 4a
Beach Strawberry
Fragaria chiloensis
Zones 5a–9b · native to 6 states and provinces
Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 4a
Black Crowberry
Empetrum nigrum
Zones 2a–6b · native to 22 states and provinces
Blue Flax
Linum lewisii
Zones 3a–9b · native to 26 states and provinces
Blooms Sep – Jan in zone 4a
Bluejoint
Calamagrostis canadensis
Zones 2a–7b · native to 51 states and provinces
Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 4a
Broadleaf Cattail
Typha latifolia
Zones 3a–10b · native to 60 states and provinces
Bunchberry
Cornus canadensis
Zones 2a–6b · native to 40 states and provinces
Blooms May – Jul in zone 4a
Canadian Burnet
Sanguisorba canadensis
Zones 3a–8b · native to 29 states and provinces
Blooms Aug – Dec in zone 4a
Cloudberry
Rubus chamaemorus
Zones 2a–6a · native to 17 states and provinces
Blooms May – Jul in zone 4a
Common Bladderwort
Utricularia macrorhiza
Zones 3a–9b · native to 36 states and provinces
Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 4a
Common Butterwort
Pinguicula vulgaris
Zones 2a–7b · native to 24 states and provinces
Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 4a
Common Snowberry
Symphoricarpos albus
Zones 3a–7b · native to 45 states and provinces
Blooms Jun – Jul in zone 4a
Fireweed
Chamerion angustifolium
Zones 3a–8b · native to 38 states and provinces
Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 4a
Goat's Beard
Aruncus dioicus
Zones 3a–7b · native to 36 states and provinces
Blooms Jun – Jul in zone 4a
Harebell
Campanula rotundifolia
Zones 2a–7b · native to 49 states and provinces
Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 4a
Horsetail
Equisetum hyemale
Zones 3a–11b · native to 61 states and provinces
Blooms Apr – Apr in zone 4a
Juniper Bush
Juniperus communis
Zones 2a–6b · native to 49 states and provinces
Kinnikinnick
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Zones 2a–8b · native to 42 states and provinces
Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 4a
Lady Fern
Athyrium filix-femina
Zones 4a–8b · native to 46 states
Blooms Apr – Oct in zone 4a
Marsh Marigold
Caltha palustris
Zones 3a–7b · native to 41 states and provinces
Blooms Apr – May in zone 4a
Miner's Lettuce
Claytonia perfoliata
Zones 6a–10b · native to 13 states and provinces
Blooms Jul – Sep in zone 4a
Moss Campion
Silene acaulis
Zones 1a–6b · native to 24 states and provinces
Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 4a
Mountain Avens
Dryas octopetala
Zones 2a–6b · native to 9 states and provinces
Blooms May – Jul in zone 4a
Nodding Bur Marigold
Bidens cernua
Zones 3a–9b · native to 57 states and provinces
Blooms Jul – Sep in zone 4a
Nootka Lupine
Lupinus nootkatensis
Zones 2a–6b · native to 4 states and provinces
Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 4a
Nootka Rose
Rosa nutkana
Zones 4a–9b · native to 12 states and provinces
Blooms May – Jul in zone 4a
Ostrich Fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Zones 3a–7b · native to 23 states
Blooms Apr – Oct in zone 4a
Pacific Ninebark
Physocarpus capitatus
Zones 5a–9b · native to 9 states and provinces
Blooms May – Jul in zone 4a
Pearly Everlasting
Anaphalis margaritacea
Zones 3a–8b · native to 45 states and provinces
Blooms Aug – Oct in zone 4a
Purple Mountain Saxifrage
Saxifraga oppositifolia
Zones 1a–6b · native to 21 states and provinces
Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 4a
Red Elderberry
Sambucus racemosa
Zones 3a–7b · native to 44 states and provinces
Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 4a
Red Fescue
Festuca rubra
Zones 2a–8b · native to 26 states and provinces
Red-twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea
Zones 2a–7b · native to 53 states and provinces
Blooms May – Jun in zone 4a
River Beauty
Epilobium latifolium
Zones 1a–6b · native to 18 states and provinces
Blooms Jun – Sep in zone 4a
Salal
Gaultheria shallon
Zones 6a–9b · native to 6 states and provinces
Blooms May – Jul in zone 4a
Saskatoon Serviceberry
Amelanchier alnifolia
Zones 2a–7b · native to 22 states and provinces
Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 4a
Sea Thrift
Armeria maritima
Zones 3a–9b · native to 13 states and provinces
Blooms Mar – Jul in zone 4a
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
Zones 3a–7b · native to 53 states and provinces
Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 4a
Showy Jacob's Ladder
Polemonium pulcherrimum
Zones 3a–8b · native to 16 states and provinces
Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 4a
Shrubby Cinquefoil
Dasiphora fruticosa
Zones 2a–7b · native to 43 states and provinces
Blooms May – Sep in zone 4a
Tamarack
Larix laricina
Zones 2a–5b · native to 28 states and provinces
Tufted Hairgrass
Deschampsia cespitosa
Zones 4a–9b · native to 43 states and provinces
Blooms May – Aug in zone 4a
Twinberry Honeysuckle
Lonicera involucrata
Zones 3b–9a · native to 22 states and provinces
Blooms Aug – Nov in zone 4a
Twinflower
Linnaea borealis
Zones 2a–6b · native to 35 states and provinces
Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 4a
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
Zones 4a–9b · native to 14 states and provinces
Blooms May – Jul in zone 4a
Western Dog Violet
Viola adunca
Zones 2a–8b · native to 35 states and provinces
Blooms Mar – May in zone 4a
Western Sword Fern
Polystichum munitum
Zones 5a–9b · native to 7 states and provinces
Blooms Apr – Oct in zone 4a
White Fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium 'Album'
Zones 2a–7b · native to 31 states and provinces
Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 4a
Woolly Geranium
Geranium erianthum
Zones 2a–6b · native to 3 states and provinces
Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 4a
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Zones 3a–9b · native to 50 states
Blooms Jun – Sep in zone 4a
Direct-sow ~8 wks after your last spring frost
Common questions
- What plants are native to Alaska?
- Alaska Paper Birch, Alpine Azalea, American Vetch, Arrowleaf Ragwort, Beach Strawberry, Black Crowberry, Blue Flax, Bluejoint, and 62 more are native to Alaska. Every one links to its own growing page.
- When should I plant natives in Alaska?
- Timing depends on your hardiness zone. Each plant on this page shows its sowing and bloom window relative to your zone's last spring and first fall frost, so the dates stay correct wherever in Alaska you garden. As a rule, plant perennials and shrubs in early fall, at least six weeks before the first frost, or in spring once the soil drains.
- What hardiness zones does Alaska cover?
- Alaska runs from zone 1a to 8b. Pick your zone at the top of the page and the list re-sorts for it.
- Which keystone plants should I start with in Alaska?
- Alaska Paper Birch, Arrowleaf Ragwort, Bog Blueberry, Chokecherry, Douglas Aster, Douglas Fir, among others. Keystone plants host the most caterpillar species in their ecoregion, which is what feeds nesting birds; one oak or native cherry does more than a bed of showy non-natives. Use the Keystones only toggle to see all 19.
How this list is built
Native ranges follow the USDA PLANTS Database; hardiness ranges follow USDA Plant Hardiness Zones; pollinator value draws on the Xerces Society. Where a reference almanac would stop at “confirm with your local authority,” we go one step further - every plant here links to its full growing page with frost-relative tasks for your zone.
Nature timing varies year to year. To calibrate to your own yard, the Garden Digest builds a weekly task list around your plants and frost dates.
The month ahead in your zone, free in your inbox.
What to sow, plant and watch for, timed to your frost dates. Once a month.
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