Choosing the Right Plants for Your Yard
Creating a vibrant, thriving landscape in Southcentral Alaska starts with one essential step: choosing the right plants. Whether you’re envisioning bold bursts of color in your front yard, planning a cozy patio retreat, or adding serene greenery around your outdoor living spaces, making smart plant selections lays the foundation for a landscape that flourishes year after year.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through practical tips and regional insights to help you choose plants that thrive in your climate and complement your space.
Why Plant Selection Matters in Alaska
Living in the Mat-Su Valley comes with its own set of landscaping opportunities and challenges. Our long summer days fuel fast growth, but our winters can be harsh and unpredictable. Selecting plants that are well-suited to this environment ensures:
Greater longevity and less replacement
Healthier plants with fewer pests and diseases
Less maintenance throughout the year
A more beautiful and cohesive yard design
When choosing plants for landscaping in Alaska, it’s important to focus on hardiness, growth habits, maintenance needs, and overall aesthetics.
Understand Your Site Conditions
Before planting in your front or backyard, take time to evaluate your property’s unique conditions. This will help you match the right plants to the right places. Pay attention to the following factors discussed below that can influence plant success.
Sun Exposure
In Alaska, day length varies drastically with up to 19+ hours in summer and as little as 5–6 in winter, so orientation matters. Some plants, like peonies and delphinium, do very well in full sun, while others prefer partial shade. Understanding which direction your planting areas face can help you choose the right plants:
South-facing: Most sun; ideal for full-sun plants like peonies and delphinium.
North-facing: Cooler and shaded; best for hostas, astilbe, and shade-tolerant plants.
East-facing: Morning sun, afternoon shade; gentle light for delicate blooms.
West-facing: Hot afternoon sun; good for hardy, drought-tolerant plants
Soil Type and Drainage
Whether your soil is sandy, silty, or loamy, its texture plays a major role in how nutrients and water move through it, and ultimately, how well your plants grow. A soil test can help you understand pH, nutrient levels, and structure, all of which influence plant performance.
Many Alaskan soils benefit from added organic matter or topsoil to improve fertility and encourage better water movement. Avoid planting in areas where water tends to collect after rain or snowmelt, as poor drainage can quickly lead to root stress.
Wind Exposure
Open areas may experience strong winds, especially in Palmer or Wasilla. These gusts are common due to mountain waves and low-pressure systems that impact Southcentral Alaska — especially during winter and spring. Choose wind-tolerant shrubs or consider planting windbreaks using evergreens.
Wildlife Interference
Moose and voles can be tough on your landscape. Opt for plants that moose tend not to browse, such as lilac, barberry, juniper, or potentilla, especially in vulnerable areas. Installing protective fencing or using repellents during peak browsing seasons, especially late winter and early spring, can also help reduce damage while plants are getting established.
Plant Hardiness Zones
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Hardiness Zone Map is a helpful tool for selecting plants that can survive local winter temperatures. Choosing plants suited to your zone gives them the best chance of growing successfully year after year. Most of the Mat-Su Valley falls within Zones 3 to 5, depending on elevation and microclimates. You can look up your exact zone by entering your ZIP code into the USDA’s interactive map.
Once you’ve evaluated your site conditions, the fun really begins. You’re ready to start choosing your plants!
Best Plants for Alaska Landscaping
There’s no shortage of hardy, beautiful plants that thrive in Southcentral Alaska. Below are some plant varieties that have been successful in local landscapes.
Perennials
Perennials are non-woody plants that die back in winter and return each spring from the same root system. They’re not trees or shrubs, but rather flowers and foliage plants that provide color, texture, and consistency year after year — saving time and money while giving your yard a dependable structure.
Lupine: Bold, upright blooms and nitrogen-fixing roots make these a favorite
Delphinium: Stunning blue and purple spikes that love Alaska’s summer sun
Astilbe: Perfect for shaded, moist areas with feathery plumes and lush foliage
Hosta: A shade-tolerant ground cover with broad, attractive leaves
Shrubs
Shrubs are woody plants that are smaller than trees and typically have multiple stems. They provide year-round structure, privacy screening, and seasonal interest through flowers, berries, and foliage changes.
Dwarf Korean Lilac: A compact, fragrant flowering shrub ideal for entryways
Spirea: Easy to grow and available in many varieties with long blooming times
Juniper: Evergreen, drought-tolerant, and perfect for wind protection
Currant and Gooseberry: Functional and ornamental, producing edible fruit
Trees
In residential landscapes, small ornamental trees add vertical height, seasonal color, and focal points that bring depth and balance to your yard design.
Different materials require different levels of maintenance.
Amur Maple: Hardy and colorful, with striking red foliage in the fall
Birch (Paper or Dwarf): Iconic Alaskan trees that pair beautifully with native designs
Mountain Ash: Offers white flowers in spring and bright red berries in fall — great for birds
Smart Planting Tips for Long-Term Success
🪴 Amend Your Soil
Mix in high-quality topsoil or compost to enrich planting beds and promote root growth. If you’ve just built a home, chances are the existing soil is compacted or nutrient-poor.
🪴 Time It Right
Plant in late spring to early summer, once the soil has warmed. Many experienced Alaska gardeners will tell you that Memorial Day is usually a safe time to start planting. This gives your plants plenty of time to establish strong roots before the first fall frost.
🪴 Mulch Matters
A 2–3 inch layer of mulch helps retain moisture, regulate temperature, and suppress weeds. Use natural mulch like bark or wood chips for best results.
🪴 Group by Water Needs
Design your landscape so that high-water-need plants are near each other. This makes irrigation more efficient and prevents overwatering drought-tolerant varieties.
🪴 Start Small, Think Long-Term
Plant spacing matters. Give your shrubs and trees enough room to grow to their full size to avoid crowding or the need for constant pruning.
Front Yard Planting Ideas
Your front yard is the first impression your home makes — make it count with intentional, high-impact plantings. Here are three main layout ideas that work well in the greater Mat-Su Valley:
Framing Entrances with Shrubs and Perennials: Flank your walkway with compact shrubs like dwarf lilacs, and fill in the gaps with colorful perennials for a welcoming entry.
Seasonal Color Beds: Use a mix of spring bulbs, summer perennials, and fall foliage to keep your yard looking lively throughout the growing season.
Evergreen Backdrop: Include low-maintenance conifers for year-round color and structure. These also serve as excellent privacy screens or windbreaks.
Creating a Yard You’ll Love for Years to Come
Choosing plants for landscaping in Alaska doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With thoughtful planning and a bit of local know-how, your yard can become a vibrant, inviting space that fits your lifestyle.
Walker Landscapes brings our local expertise to every yard in the Mat-Su Valley, along with a commitment to high standards, refined design, and lasting quality. We understand that homeowners with exceptional taste want a landscape that feels intentional, functions beautifully, and reflects the character of their home. From plant selection to full custom design, we deliver a personalized experience built on trust, craftsmanship, and care.
We’re here to make the process simple, enjoyable, and tailored just for you.
Let’s Get Planting
Whether you're dreaming of wildflower garden beds, colorful borders, or low-maintenance shrubs, our team is ready to help you transform your yard into a space you’ll love coming home to.
Call us today at (907) 357-2555 to schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward a landscape that’s built to thrive.
About Walker Landscapes
Walker Landscapes is a trusted landscaping service in the Mat-Su Valley and surrounding areas of Alaska. Our comprehensive services, including landscape design, patios, lawn installation, retaining walls, garden beds, and more, are tailored to meet the specific needs of our clients and the unique Alaskan environment. We are committed to quality and customer satisfaction and transforming outdoor spaces into stunning, functional landscapes that homeowners love.
