Landscaping for Wildlife
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.
| Name | Height | Alaska Distribution | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Spruce Picea glauca |
40-115' | Western – in portions of the region Southwestern – in portions of the region Central – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: high Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: dry |
| Black Spruce Picea mariana |
15-60' | Western – in portions of the region Southwestern – in portions of the region Central – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: high Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: wet |
| Sitka Spruce Picea sitchensis |
160-225' | Southcoastal – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: high Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: moist |
| Mountain Hemlock Tsuga mertensia |
50-100' | Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in portions of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: high Soil Moisture: moist |
| Western Hemlock Tsuga heterophyla |
100-150' | Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in portions of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: high Soil Moisture: moist |
| Alaska Redcedar Chamaecyparis nootkatensis |
40-80' | Southcoastal – in portions of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: high Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: wet |
| Tamarack (Larch) Larix laricina |
30-60' | Central – in most of the region | Acid Tolerance: high Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: dry or wet |
| Siberian Larch Larix laricina |
30-60' | Central – exotic species | Acid Tolerance: high Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: dry or wet |
| Name | Height | Alaska Distribution | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balsam Poplar Populus balsamifera |
30-50' | Northern – in portions of the region Western – in portions of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in portions of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in portions of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: moist |
| Black Cottonwood Populus trichocarpa |
80-100' | Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in portions of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: moist |
| Quaking Aspen Populus tremuloides |
20-80' | Southcoastal – in portions of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in portions of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry |
| Birch Betula papyrifera |
20-80' | Western – in portions of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: high Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: moist |
| Name | Height | Alaska Distribution | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feltleaf Willow Salix alaxensis |
20-30' | Northern – in most of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: moist to wet |
| Douglas Maple Acer glabrum |
20-30' | Central – exotic species Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: moist |
| Sitka Alder Alnus sinuata |
5-30' | Western – in portions of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in portions of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry to moist |
| Red Alder Alnus rubra |
20-40' | Southeastern – in most of the region | Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: moist |
| Thinleaf Alder Alnus tenuifolia |
15-30' | Southwestern – in portions of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in portions of the region |
Acid Tolerance: high Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: moist |
| American Green Alder Alnus crispus |
3-13' | Northern – in portions of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in portions of the region Central – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: high Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry to wet |
| Oregon Crabapple Malus diversifolia |
25' | Southcoastal – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: wet |
| Saskatoon Serviceberry Amelanchieralnifolia |
16' | Southcoastal – in portions of the region Central – in portions of the region Southeastern – in portions of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry |
| Pacific Serviceberry Amelanchierflorida |
16' | Southwestern – in portions of the region Southcoastal – in portions of the region Southeastern – in portions of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry to moist |
| Red-osier Dogwood Cornus stolonifera |
3-12' | Central – in portions of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: well- drained to wet |
| Pacific Red Elder Sambucus callicarpa |
6-12' | Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: well- drained to wet |
| High Bush Cranberry Viburnum edule |
2-12' | Northern – in portions of the region Western – in portions of the region Southwestern – in portions of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: dry |
| Early Blueberry Vaccinium ovalifolium |
5' | Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in portions of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: high Shade Tolerance: high Soil Moisture: wet or dry |
| Siberian crabapple Malus spp. |
20' | Southcoastal – exotic species Central – exotic species Southeastern – exotic species |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: wet |
| Lilac Syringa spp. |
6' | Southcoastal – exotic species Central – exotic species Southeastern – exotic species |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: moist |
| Name | Height | Alaska Distribution | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willow Salix spp. |
prostrate to 10' | varies by species | Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: moist to wet |
| Dwarf Birch Betula spp. |
1-5' | varies by species | Acid Tolerance: high Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: well- drained to wet |
| Northern Black Currant Ribes hudsonianum |
3-6' | Southwestern – in portions of the region Southcoastal – in portions of the region Central – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: well- drained |
| Wild Currant Ribes triste |
2-3' | Northern – in portions of the region Western – in portions of the region Southwestern – in portions of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in portions of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: moist or well- drained |
| Raspberry Rubus idaeus |
2-4' | Southwestern – in portions of the region Southcoastal – in portions of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in portions of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry |
| Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis |
2-7' | Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry |
| Thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus |
2-5' | Southeastern – in most of the region | Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: moist |
| Wild Rose Rosa acicularis |
1-4' | Northern – in portions of the region Western – in portions of the region Southwestern – in portions of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: high Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: moist |
| Buffaloberry Shepherdia canadensis |
2-6' | Northern – in portions of the region Western – in portions of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in portions of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry |
| Silverberry Eleagnus commutata |
3-12' | Central – in portions of the region | Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry |
| Common Juniper Juniperus communis |
1-2' | Northern – in portions of the region Western – in portions of the region Southwestern – in portions of the region Southcoastal – in portions of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: high Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry |
| Salal Gaultheria shallon |
2-3' | Southeastern – in portions of the region | Acid Tolerance: low Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: moist |
| Labrador Tea Ledum spp. |
1-3' | Northern – in most of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: high Shade Tolerance: high Soil Moisture: moist |
| Bush Cinquefoil Potentilla fruticosa |
1-5' | Northern – in portions of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in portions of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in portions of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: high Soil Moisture: dry or moist |
| Lapland Rosebay Rhododendron lapponicum |
1-2' | Northern – in portions of the region Western – in portions of the region Central – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry or wet |
| Sweetgale Myrica gale |
1-4' | Western – in portions of the region Southwestern – in portions of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in portions of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: high Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: wet |
| Name | Alaska Distribution | Other |
|---|---|---|
| Dwarf Dogwood Cornus canadensis |
Western – in portions of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: high Soil Moisture: dry to moist |
| Cloudberry Rubus chamaemorus |
Northern – in most of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: moist to wet |
| Nagoonberry Rubus arcticus |
Western – in most of the region Central – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: moist to wet |
| Bearberry (Kinnikinnik) Arctostaphylos uva-ursi |
Northern – in portions of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in portions of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry |
| Alpine Bearberry Arctostaphylos alpina |
Northern – in most of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry |
| Mountain Cranberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea |
Northern – in most of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: high Soil Moisture: dry to moist |
| Blueberry Vaccinium spp. |
varies by species | Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: high Soil Moisture: moist to wet |
| Crowberry Empetrum nigrum |
Northern – in portions of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: high Shade Tolerance: high Soil Moisture: moist to wet |
| Jacob's Ladder Polemonium acutiflorum |
Northern – in most of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: moist to wet |
| Buttercup Ranunculus spp. |
varies by species | Acid Tolerance: Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: moist to wet |
| Goldenrod Solidago multiradiata |
Northern – in most of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry |
| Aster Aster sibiricus |
Northern – in most of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry |
| Mountain Avens Dryas octopetala |
Northern – in portions of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in portions of the region |
Acid Tolerance: high Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: well-drained or wet |
| Arnica Arnica frigida |
Northern – in portions of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in portions of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry |
| Cinquefoil Potentilla spp. |
Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: Shade Tolerance: varies Soil Moisture: dry to moist |
| Geranium Geranium erianthum |
Southwestern – in portions of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in portions of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: high Soil Moisture: moist |
| Lupine, Arctic Lupinus arcticus |
Northern – in most of the region Western – in most of the region Central – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry to moist |
| Lupine, Nootka Lupinus nootkatensis |
Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry to moist |
| Larkspur Delphinium spp. |
Northern – in portions of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Central – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: wet |
| Columbine Aquilegia spp. |
Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in portions of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: dry to moist |
| Dock (Sorrel) Rumex spp. |
Northern – in most of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: moist to wet |
| American Bistort Polygonum bistorta |
Northern – in most of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in portions of the region Central – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: moist to wet |
| Buckwheat Polygonum viviparum |
Northern – in most of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry |
| Artemisia Artemisia tilesii |
Northern – in most of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in portions of the region Central – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry to moist |
| Name | Height | Alaska Distribution | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluejoint Reedgrass Calamagrostis canadensis |
3-6' | Northern – in portions of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: moist |
| Alyeska Polargrass Arctagrostis latifolia |
3-5' | Northern – in most of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in portions of the region Central – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: moderate Soil Moisture: moist |
| Arctared Red Fescue Festuca rubra |
Northern – in most of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: moist |
|
| Bluegrass Poa spp. |
varies by species | Acid Tolerance: moderate Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: moist |
|
| Sedges Carex spp. |
2-10" | varies by species | Acid Tolerance: high Shade Tolerance: low Soil Moisture: dry to wet |
| Name | Height | Alaska Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| Duckweed Lemna spp. |
floating | Western – in portions of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
| Spikerush Eleocharis spp. |
2-7" | Southwestern – in portions of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
| Pondweed Potamogeton spp. |
submerged or floating | Northern – in portions of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
| Wigeongrass Ruppia spiralis |
submerged | Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
| Water Milfoil Myriophyllum sibericum |
submerged | Western – in portions of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in portions of the region |
| Smartweed Polygonum amphibium |
submerged or floating | Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in portions of the region |
| Buckbean Menyanthes trifoliata |
floating | Northern – in portions of the region Western – in portions of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
| Cattail Typha latifolia |
2-6' | Central – in portions of the region |
| Bulrush Scirpus spp. |
12-40" | Central – in portions of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
| Burreed Sparganium spp. |
1-3' | Northern – in portions of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
| Arrowgrass Triglochin spp. |
30" | Western – in portions of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in portions of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
| Pendant Grass Arctophia fulva |
1-3' | Northern – in most of the region Western – in most of the region Southwestern – in portions of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in portions of the region |
| Pond lily Nuphar polysepalum |
floating | Western – in portions of the region Southwestern – in most of the region Southcoastal – in most of the region Central – in most of the region Southeastern – in most of the region |
