Native Plants for Alaska — What to Plant, and When
Sorted for your zone and your frost date. Not typical patterns for a whole state — a plan you can act on this week.
Beach Strawberry
Fragaria chiloensis
Zones 5a–9b · native to 5 states
Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 4a
Blue Flax
Linum lewisii
Zones 3a–9b · native to 18 states
Blooms Sep – Jan in zone 4a
Bunchberry
Cornus canadensis
Zones 2a–6b · native to 27 states
Blooms May – Jul in zone 4a
Canadian Burnet
Sanguisorba canadensis
Zones 3a–8b · native to 25 states
Blooms Aug – Dec in zone 4a
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
Zones 2a–7b · native to 44 states
Blooms Apr – May in zone 4a
Common Snowberry
Symphoricarpos albus
Zones 3a–7b · native to 38 states
Blooms Jun – Jul in zone 4a
Douglas Aster
Symphyotrichum subspicatum
Zones 5a–9b · native to 7 states
Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 4a
Fireweed
Chamerion angustifolium
Zones 3a–8b · native to 26 states
Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 4a
Goldenrod
Solidago canadensis
Zones 3a–9a · native to 50 states
Blooms Aug – Oct in zone 4a
Harebell
Campanula rotundifolia
Zones 2a–7b · native to 36 states
Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 4a
Horsetail
Equisetum hyemale
Zones 3a–11b · native to 50 states
Blooms Apr – Apr in zone 4a
Juniper Bush
Juniperus communis
Zones 2a–6b · native to 25 states
Kinnikinnick
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Zones 2a–8b · native to 29 states
Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 4a
Miner's Lettuce
Claytonia perfoliata
Zones 6a–10b · native to 12 states
Blooms Jul – Sep in zone 4a
Moss Campion
Silene acaulis
Zones 1a–6b · native to 14 states
Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 4a
Nootka Rose
Rosa nutkana
Zones 4a–9b · native to 10 states
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 8 states
Blooms May – Jul in zone 4a
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
Zones 2a–7a · native to 20 states
Pin Cherry
Prunus pensylvanica
Zones 2a–6b · native to 32 states
Blooms Apr – May in zone 4a
Purple Mountain Saxifrage
Saxifraga oppositifolia
Zones 1a–6b · native to 11 states
Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 4a
Red-twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea
Zones 2a–7b · native to 39 states
Blooms May – Jun in zone 4a
Salal
Gaultheria shallon
Zones 6a–9b · native to 5 states
Blooms May – Jul in zone 4a
Saskatoon Serviceberry
Amelanchier alnifolia
Zones 2a–7b · native to 15 states
Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 4a
Sea Thrift
Armeria maritima
Zones 3a–9b · native to 4 states
Blooms Mar – Jul in zone 4a
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
Zones 3a–7b · native to 49 states
Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 4a
Showy Jacob's Ladder
Polemonium pulcherrimum
Zones 3a–8b · native to 12 states
Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 4a
Shrubby Cinquefoil
Dasiphora fruticosa
Zones 2a–7b · native to 31 states
Blooms May – Sep in zone 4a
Tufted Hairgrass
Deschampsia cespitosa
Zones 4a–9b · native to 29 states
Blooms May – Aug in zone 4a
Twinberry Honeysuckle
Lonicera involucrata
Zones 3b–9a · native to 15 states
Blooms Aug – Nov in zone 4a
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
Zones 4a–9b · native to 11 states
Blooms May – Jul in zone 4a
White Fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium 'Album'
Zones 2a–7b · native to 17 states
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
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.
What's coming into bloom near you — every Friday.
A short note for your zone, free in your inbox.
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