Native Plant List – Alaska
Last updated: September 3, 2026
This is a "starter" list of native plants for Alaska. It is intended for residential or commercial landscapers who want to create attractive and varied native landscapes.
Alaska Trees
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Silver Fir | Abies amabilis | F-S | A-W | 100-150 ft (to 200+ ft) | Shade-tolerant old-growth conifer; cool moist Pacific NW forests |
| Paper Birch | Betula papyrifera | F | A | 50–70 ft | White, peeling bark. Nice fall color. |
| Alaska Cedar | Chamaecyparis nootkatensis | P-F | W | 25–100 ft | White bark, weeping branches, evergreen foliage. |
| American Larch | Larix laricina | F | W | 50–70 ft | Deciduous. Inconspicuous. Rapid growth. |
| White Spruce | Picea glauca | P-F | A | 50–100 ft | Evergreen. White-green needles. Food for wildlife. |
| Black Spruce | Picea mariana | F-P | W | 40–80 ft | Evergreen. Blue-green needles. Low branches take root. |
| Sitka Spruce | Picea sitkensis | P-F | W | 40–150 ft | Yellow bloom in May. Evergreen. |
| Beach Pine | Pinus contorta | F | D | 20–30 ft | Evergreen. Dark-green needles, red-brown bark. |
| Balsam Poplar | Populus balsamnifera | F | W | 60–80 ft | Deciduous. Cottony seeds. Fragrant, resinous buds. |
| Quaking Aspen | Populus tremuloides | F | A | 35–50 ft | Deciduous. Nice fall color. Leaves tremble in breeze. |
| Scouler's willow | Salix scouleriana | F-P | A-D | 15-30 ft | Early silvery catkins; unusually drought-tolerant for a willow |
| Pacific Yew | Taxus brevifolia | P-S | A-W | 15-50 ft | Shade understory tree; all parts but red aril flesh are highly toxic |
| Western Hemlock | Tsuga heterophylla | P-S | A | 40–150 ft | Slow growing evergreen. Red-brown scaly bark. |
| Mountain Hemlock | Tsuga mertensiana | P-S | W | 30–100 ft | Delicate, evergreen foliage. Provides habitat for birds. |
Alaska Shrubs
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Alder | Alnus crispa | F | W | 10 ft | Thicket-forming, deciduous, produces cones & samaras. |
| Sitka Alder | Alnus sinuata | F | W | 10 ft | Fast-growing, fixes nitrogen, extensive root system. |
| Serviceberry | Amelanchier alnifolia | P-F | A | 15 ft | White flowers; small, edible purple berries. |
| Resin Birch | Betula glandulosa | F-P | W-A | 1-4 ft | Bog/alpine shrub; glandular twigs; distinct from Bog Birch |
| Leatherleaf | Chamaedaphne calyculata | F-P | W | 1-3 ft | Evergreen bog shrub; acidic, saturated soil; early white flowers |
| Silverberry | Elaeagnus commutata | F | D-A | 12 ft | Silvery, ornamental foliage. |
| Common Mountain Juniper | Juniperus communis | F | W | 36 in | Evergreen. Tolerates poor soil. Berry-like cones. |
| Labrador Tea | Ledum palustre | P-F | W | 3–4 ft | Aromatic leaves, fragrant white flower clusters. |
| Shrubby Cinquefoil | Potentilla fruticosa | F | A | 4 ft | Dark green leaves; yellow, buttercup-like flowers. |
| Prickly Rose | Rosa acicularis | P-S | D-A | 10 ft | Pink flowers, attractive, needs careful pruning. |
| Nutka Rose | Rosa nutkana | P-S | W | 4 ft | Edible, often very fragrant, pink flowers. |
| Thimbleberry | Rubus parviflorus | P-F | W | 6 ft | White-ish flowers, thimble-shaped fruit, good for wildlife. |
| Soapberry | Shepherdia canadensis | P | A | 4–20 ft | Edible, bitter red berries. |
| Sitka Mountain-ash | Sorbus sitchensis | P-F | A | 3–13 ft | Foliage colorful in autumn. Round, reddish berries. |
| Snowberry | Symphoricarpos albus | S | W | 3–5 ft | White berries. Tolerant of a variety of soils. |
| Velvetleaf Blueberry | Vaccinium myrtilloides | F-P | A-D | 6–24 in | Low colonial shrub; edible berries; needs acidic, well-drained soil |
| Alaskan Blueberry | Vaccinium ovalifolium (syn. V. alaskaense) | P | W | 2–8 ft | Deciduous, berry-producing shrub. |
| Lingonberry | Vaccinium vitis-idaea | P | A | 36 in | Evergreen. Edible red fruit. |
Alaska Flowering Perennials
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Monkshood | Aconitum delphiniifolium | P-F | W-A | 10–30 in | Blue, sometimes white. Toxic: touch can cause numbness. |
| Cut-leaf Anemone | Anemone multifida | P | D | 12–18 in | Fine, light-green leaves. Pink to maroon flowers. |
| Narcissis-flower Anemone | Anemone narcissiflora | F | A | 8–14 in | White flowers with yellow centers. |
| Small-flowered Anemone | Anemone parviflora | F-P | A | 2–8 in | Alpine rock-garden anemone; toxic sap, not for lowland beds |
| Rosy Pussytoes | Antennaria rosea | F | A-D | 2-4 in (stems to 12 in) | Mat-forming silver groundcover; rose-pink blooms; host plant |
| Mountain Death Camas | Anticlea elegans | F-P | A-D | 1-2.5 ft | HIGHLY TOXIC bulb/foliage; do not confuse with edible Camassia |
| Western Columbine | Aquilegia formosa | S-P | D-W | 24–36 in | Delicate red flowers with yellow sepals. |
| Arctic Daisy | Arctanthemum arcticum (syn. Chrysanthemum arcticum) | F | W | 14 in | Can take salty soils. |
| Sea Pink | Armeria maritima | F | D | 8–10 in | Dense tufts of grass-like leaves. White to pink flowers. |
| Arnica | Arnica spp. | F | D | 6–18 in | Yellow flowers have medicinal value. |
| Aster | Aster spp. | F | A | 12–30 in | Lavender to purple flowers. |
| Wild Calla | Calla palustris | P-S | W | 6-12 in | Bog/pond-margin arum; needs saturated soil or shallow water |
| White Marsh Marigold | Caltha leptosepala | P-F | W | 12 in | Heart-shaped waxy leaves. White saucer-shaped flowers. |
| Harebell | Campanula rotundifolia | P | A-D | 4–15 in | Blue-violet. Attractive to wildlife. |
| Indian Paintbrush | Castilleja caudata | F | D-W | 8–12 in | Pale yellow paintbrush-shaped flowers. |
| Scarlet Paintbrush | Castilleja miniata | F-P | A-D | 8-32 in | Root hemiparasite; needs grass/sedge host; don't dig from wild |
| Water Hemlock | Cicuta maculata | F-P | W | 3-6 ft | Extremely toxic; wetlands/ditches only, not for gardens |
| Larkspur | Delphinium glaucum | P-F | W | 4–6 ft | Purple. Often found in wetlands. |
| White Fireweed | Epilobium angustifolium | F | A | 3–8 ft | Pink, showy flowers. Thrives in burned areas. |
| Dwarf Fireweed | Epilobium latifolium | F | W | 24 in | Spikes of small magenta or pink flowers. |
| Chocolate Lily | Fritillaria camschatcensis | F-P | A-W | 8-24 in | Dark chocolate-brown nodding flowers; fly-pollinated coastal bulb |
| Sweet-scented Bedstraw | Galium triflorum | P-S | A | 6-24 in trailing groundcover | Fragrant shade groundcover for rich, consistently moist soil |
| Northern Geranium | Geranium erianthum | P-F | A | 14–24 in | Blue to violet. Attracts bees, butterflies, birds. |
| Cow parsnip | Heracleum maximum | F-P | A-W | 4-8 ft | Striking wildflower; sap is phototoxic, causes skin burns in sun |
| Entireleaf Daisy | Hulteniella integrifolia | F | A-D | 2-6 in | Tiny tundra cushion plant; needs gritty, sharply drained soil |
| Wildflag Iris | Iris setosa | P-F | W | 12–24 in | Deep violet blue flowers with long green leaves. |
| Tall Blue Lettuce | Lactuca biennis | F-P | A-W | 3–8 ft | Biennial; milky sap can irritate skin |
| Twinflower | Linnaea borealis | P-S | A-W | 2-4 in | Evergreen groundcover for cool, acidic, shaded sites; slow to spread |
| Arctic Lupine | Lupinus arcticus | F-P | A | 6–20 in | Toxic alpine wildflower for rock gardens; nitrogen-fixing. |
| Nootka Lupine | Lupinus nootkatensis | F | D | 24–36 in | Brilliant blue/purple flowers. Self-seeding. Seeds toxic. |
| Starry False Lily | Maianthemum stellatum | P-S | A-D | 8-18 in | Rhizomatous woodland groundcover; starry flowers; berries inedible |
| American Wild Mint | Mentha arvensis | F-P | W-A | 6in-2ft | Native wetland mint; spreads by rhizome; flowers at leaf joints |
| Bluebells | Mertensia paniculata | P-S | A-W | 12–36 in | Pink/blue/white bell-shaped drooping flowers. |
| Monkeyflower | Mimulus guttatus | F-P | W-A | 24–36 in | Yellow flowers. Grows well along streams. |
| Indian Pipe | Monotropa uniflora | S | A-W | 3-10 in | Non-photosynthetic; parasitizes fungi; never dig or transplant |
| Alpine Forget-me-not | Myosotis asiatica | F-P | A-W | 4-10 in | AK state flower; rock garden alpine, not invasive forget-me-not |
| Field Oxytrope | Oxytropis campestris | F | D | 4–12 in | Usually cream colored. Prefers rocky/gravelly slopes. |
| Yellow Oxytrope | Oxytropis maydelliana | F | D | 6–12 in | Clusters of small, yellow flowers. |
| Elephant's Head | Pedicularis groenlandica | F-P | W | 6–24 in | Wet meadow specialist; needs saturated soil, often near sedges |
| Jacob's Ladder | Polemonium villosum (syn. Polemonium acutiflorum) | P-F | W | 6–24 in; sometimes taller | Mainly blue flowers. Leaves alternate sides like ladder. |
| Shooting Stars | Primula frigida (syn. Dodecatheon frigidum) | F-P | A-W | 6–16 in | Magenta to lavender. leafless stem. |
| Few-flowered Shooting Star | Primula pauciflora | F-P | W-A | 4-16 in | Spring-wet meadows/seeps only; magenta flowers; summer dormant |
| Cloudberry | Rubus chamaemorus | F-P | W | 4-10 in | Acidic bog only; rare outside AK; dioecious, needs both sexes to fruit |
| Sea Asparagus | Sarcocornia pacifica | F | W | 6–20 in | Halophyte for tidal salt marsh restoration only; not for dry gardens |
| Yellow Sedum | Sedum sp. | F-P | D | 2–8 in | Yellow blooms. Good ground cover. Drought tolerant. |
| Beach Fleabane | Senecio pseudoarnica | F | A-W | 12–24 in | Bright yellow. Coastal flower, withstands salt spray. |
| Canada Goldenrod | Solidago canadensis | F-P | A | 2-5 ft | Fast-spreading fall bloomer, superb for pollinators; needs room |
| Northern Goldenrod | Solidago multiradiata | P-F | A-D | 12–24 in | Grows in clusters of yellow flowers, elliptical leaves. |
| coastal/springbank clover | Trifolium wormskioldii | F-P | A-W | 4–12 in | Native groundcover clover; magenta/white blooms; nitrogen-fixer |
| American Stinging Nettle | Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis | P-S | A-W | 3–7 ft | Stings on contact, wear gloves; native butterfly host plant |
| Violet | Viola spp. | S | W | 4–12 in | Delicate purple flowers. Attracts butterflies. |
Alaska Perennial Ferns
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Maidenhair Fern | Adiantum aleuticum | F-S | W-A | 1-3 ft | Fan-shaped fronds on black stems; moist, mineral-rich rock crevices. |
| Lady Fern | Athyrium filix-femina | F-S | W-D | 24–36 in | Light green, lacy leaves. |
| Deer Fern | Blechnum spicant | P-S | A-W | 1-2.5 ft | Evergreen; two frond types; needs shade and steady moisture |
| Scouring Rush | Equisetum hyemale | F-P | W-A | 2-5 ft | Evergreen, jointed stems; spreads by rhizome; toxic to livestock |
| Oak Fern | Gymnocarpium dryopteris | P-S | W-A | 6-14 in | Spreading colony fern for cool, moist deep shade |
| Licorice fern | Polypodium glycyrrhiza | P-S | W-A | 0.5-2 ft | Epiphytic fern on mossy maples; winter-green, summer dormant |
| Sword Fern | Polystichum munitum | P-S | A-W | 2-4 ft | Evergreen shade fern; deer resistant, tolerant of dry summers |
| Rocky Mountain woodsia | Woodsia scopulina | F-P | D | 4–12 in | Native rock-crevice fern; dry, sharply drained sites; slow-growing |
Alaska Grasses & Grass-like
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluejoint Grass | Calamagrostis canadensis | F | W | 3–5 ft | Tussock-forming with light-colored seeds. |
| Tufted Hairgrass | Deschampsia caespitosa | F | W | 24–36 in | Clump-forming. Semi-evergreen. |
| Common Spikerush | Eleocharis palustris | F-P | W | 8–32 in | Rhizomatous wetland sedge; stabilizes pond/stream margins |
| Red Fescue | Festuca rubra | F-P | A | 1–2 ft | Fine-leaved rhizomatous grass; shade tolerant; good erosion control |
| Vanilla Grass | Hierochloe odorata | F | W | 12–24 in | Fragrant, good soil stabilizer. Spreads quickly. |
| Baltic Rush | Juncus balticus | F | W-A | 1–3 ft | Rhizomatous wetland rush; green stems; key fiber plant for basketry |
| American Dunegrass | Leymus mollis | F | D | 2-5.5 ft | Rhizomatous dune-builder; stabilizes foredunes; salt and wind tolerant |
| Alpine Bluegrass | Poa alpina | F-P | D | 24 in | Densely tufted. Thick, fleshy leaves. |
| Panicled Bulrush | Scirpus microcarpus | F-P | W | 3–5 ft | Fast-spreading wetland sedge for ponds, rain gardens, streambanks |
| Sun Exposure | Soil Moisture | Drought Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| F = Full Sun | W = Wet | E = Excellent |
| P = Part Sun | A = Average | G = Good |
| S = Shade | D = Dry | M = Moderate |
| P = Poor |
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