There are a lot of plants that won’t grow in the cold climate of Alaska, but there are also plenty of great plants that will. Growing perennials in Alaska requires cold-hardy plants that look great and add to your landscaping.
Here are 10 perennials that are a nice addition to any Alaskan garden.
European Trollius
Also called golden globeflower and yellow Trollius, this plant has rounded blooms that can be planted in full sun or partial shade. It blooms early in the year, and it can bloom twice if you deadhead the flowers. It likes to be in soil that is rich with nutrients and biological material. The soil also needs to drain well and stay moist most of the time. This flower needs a lot of water, so check the soil regularly to make sure it isn’t dry. If you have hot temperatures in the summer, it needs afternoon shade. The plant will self sow so that it can grow again during the next spring.
Wild Geraniums
This plant is prized both for its light purple flowers as well as its lovely foliage that grows as star-shaped leaves. It needs little water, and it may not need much watering if it rains regularly in your area. It needs a lot of organic material in its soil, so the compost can be used if your soil isn’t very rich. They like to get a lot of water. It likes to be moist much of the time, but it can survive with dry soil in between waterings. It should be planted in full sun. If it gets enough water, it will keep its beautiful leaves, but it will drop them if it isn’t watered often enough.
Viola
The viola is a short plant, averaging at a height of between 6″ and 10″. It’s great for the front row of a flower bed or as a border. They need full sun to thrive, and they need their soil to be rich as well as moist all of the time. Adding peat moss to the soil can help it stay rich and moist. They will bloom in the spring or fall, and sometimes they will bloom during both. The flowers come in a number of colors, including violet, blue, white, yellow, ivory, and multicolored varieties.
Primrose
The primrose is a hardy plant that can be grown in both sun and shade. The flowers are large and bright and last a long time. They come in yellow, cream, white, pink, red, blue and purple. They like to be damp all of the time, so water them at least once a week in the spring and summer. Adding a layer of mulch to the soil around the primrose will help keep it moist longer. You can also give it granular fertilizer during the growing season. Deadheading the blooms helps the plant to look its best.
Forget-Me-Not
The state flower of Alaska, this plant is one of the few that can have true, bright blue flowers. However, there are other varieties that come in purple, pink and white, with all of them having yellow centers. It blooms in the early spring and will keep blooming until the hottest part of the summer. This plant likes shade, and it should have rich soil that is usually moist. The plant will grow to anywhere from 12″ to 18″.
Monkshood Ivorine
This compact plant grows flower spikes that hold ivory flowers. The plant grows to about 24″ tall. It will grow in both full sun and partial shade. The flowers bloom in the early-to-mid summer. It’s an eye-catching plant that is great for borders. It prefers a lot of water with its soil staying moist all the time. It should not be planted near trees, as tree roots will seek out too much of its moisture. These can be divided in the spring every few years to control their growth or to plant the new sections in another place.
Siberian Aster
This plant grows to 6″ to 15″ tall and spreads 12″ wide. The flowers resemble a daisy’s shape but are bluish purple. They need regular water, but they don’t have to remain moist. If you get average rainfall in your area, that may be enough for your plant. They like to be in full sun, and they are highly attractive to butterflies and bees. It is a late bloomer, with flowers appearing in mid-summer and continuing through the early fall.
Alaska Poppy
The Alaska poppy is easy to grow in the state. It is a hardy, tough plant that blooms with bright yellow flowers. The plant grows flower stems that each has one flower on them. The mature plant will have between one and five of these stems. It’s a good self-seeder, and its seeds may also cause it to spread to empty areas of your landscaping. It likes full sun but will tolerate partial shade. It likes soil with excellent drainage, so using rocks and sand in the soil can help it to drain better.
Arctic Starflower
These amazing flowers are white and shaped like stars. The plant grows best in the shade, but it can also be placed in the sun if it is watered often. It blooms in June and July and needs plenty of water. It prefers wet areas, or you can water it often enough to keep the soil moist. The flowers are about 1/2″ in diameter, with each 2″ to 4″ stem bearing one flower.
Tall Bluebells
The plants bloom with both lavender and blue flowers on a single plant that sometimes has a slight tinge of pink. It attracts both butterflies and bumblebees. The plant will reach a height of between 18″ and 24″. It’s a hardy plant that isn’t that picky about its conditions. It can thrive in both dry conditions and moist and be planted in both full sun and part shade. The raw flowers of this plant are edible.
