Alaska Climate Snapshot
Understanding your local climate is key to creating a thriving, low-maintenance garden
Hardiness Zones
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a
Annual Rainfall
10-150 inches annually
Frost Window
June-August
Water Notes
Highly variable; permafrost in many areas
Popular Landscaping Styles
Discover design styles perfectly suited to Alaska's unique climate and landscape
Tundra and permafrost plants
Key Features:
- ā¢Cold-hardy perennials
- ā¢Rock gardens
- ā¢Alpine plants
- ā¢Short season
Dry interior landscapes
Key Features:
- ā¢Drought-tolerant plants
- ā¢Gravel mulch
- ā¢Wind protection
- ā¢Minimal water
Temperate rainforest plants
Key Features:
- ā¢Moisture-loving plants
- ā¢Conifers
- ā¢Ferns
- ā¢Acid-loving plants
Maritime and salt-tolerant plants
Key Features:
- ā¢Wind-resistant plants
- ā¢Salt spray tolerance
- ā¢Sandy soil
- ā¢Maritime species
Recommended Plant Palettes
Native and adapted plants that thrive in Alaska's climate
Forget-Me-Not
Myosotis alpestris
State flower; blue spring blooms
Sitka Spruce
Picea sitchensis
State tree; coastal evergreen
Dwarf Fireweed
Chamerion latifolium
Pink summer flowers
Arctic Lupine
Lupinus arcticus
Purple flowering perennial
Peony
Paeonia spp.
Spring flowering shrub
Daylily
Hemerocallis spp.
Reliable summer bloomers
Hostas
Hosta spp.
Shade-loving perennials
Siberian Iris
Iris sibirica
Cold-hardy iris
Western Hemlock
Tsuga heterophylla
Native evergreen
Sword Fern
Polystichum munitum
Native fern species
Huckleberry
Vaccinium spp.
Native berry shrubs
Skunk Cabbage
Lysichiton americanus
Early spring wetland plant
Seasonal Garden Checklist
Your year-round guide to maintaining a beautiful Alaska garden
Start seeds indoors
Plant cold-hardy crops
Plant warm-season vegetables
Harvest and preserve
Winter preparation
Protect perennial plants
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about landscaping in Alaska
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