Chilcotin Ranges and Fraser Plateau is a broad, rolling plateau ecoregion extending over the interior foothills of the Coast Mountains in central British Columbia, where forestry and ranching are the main land uses.
Zone
Interior
Common Name
Chilcotin Ranges and Fraser Plateau
CEC Level III Code
6.2.2
CEC Level II Code
6.2 Western Cordillera
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Chilcotin Ranges and Fraser Plateau, CEC 6.2.2, Chilcotin Ranges & Fraser Plateau, Chilcotin–Fraser Plateau |
| Geographic Range | This ecoregion extends over the interior foothills of the Coast Mountains of central British Columbia, from François Lake in the northwest to Bonaparte Lake in the southeast. |
| Climate Snapshot | The Chilcotin Ranges and Fraser Plateau region experiences a mean annual temperature of approximately 3°C, with a summer mean of 12.5°C and a winter mean of -7°C, and mean annual precipitation ranging from 250 to 600 mm. |
| Terrain Profile | This region is characterized by a broad, rolling plateau ranging generally between 1,150 and 1,800 masl, with surface deposits including moraine, compound eskers, and areas of glacial lake deposits. |
| Vegetation Cover | Vegetation is dominated by white spruce, lodgepole pine, trembling aspen, and Douglas fir forests, with Engelmann spruce and alpine fir at subalpine elevations, and bunchgrass-dominated grasslands in valley bottoms. |
| Wildlife Habitat | Wildlife in the Chilcotin Ranges and Fraser Plateau includes large mammals like California bighorn sheep, moose, mule deer, caribou, wolf, coyote, and black bear, along with various birds such as grouse, waterfowl, and sandhill crane. |
Eco snapshot
Vegetation is dominated by white spruce, lodgepole pine, trembling aspen, and Douglas fir forests, with Engelmann spruce and alpine fir at subalpine elevations, and bunchgrass-dominated grasslands in valley bottoms.
Wildlife in the Chilcotin Ranges and Fraser Plateau includes large mammals like California bighorn sheep, moose, mule deer, caribou, wolf, coyote, and black bear, along with various birds such as grouse, waterfowl, and sandhill crane.
Seasonal timing
Yearly needs
What pollinators need throughout the year, and what to do about it.
| Season | What pollinators need most | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Late winter / early spring | Early nectar/pollen; safe shelter as insects emerge | Plant/maintain early-blooming natives; leave some leaf litter and stems until weather is consistently mild |
| Spring | Steady food and nesting sites | Add a mix of spring flowers; keep some bare, well-drained soil patches for ground nesters |
| Summer | Reliable blooms during heat/dry spells; water access | Plant drought-tolerant bloomers; provide a shallow water dish with stones; avoid mowing all flowers at once |
| Late summer / fall | “Finishing” blooms to fuel overwintering; seed/structure | Plant late bloomers; let some plants go to seed; leave stems standing for shelter |
| Winter | Protected overwintering habitat | Don’t over-tidy; keep stems, seed heads, and some leaf litter; plan next season’s bloom sequence |
Seed mix concept
Early bloomers that help the first emerging bees.
Heat- and sun-tolerant flowers that keep nectar going through the main season.
Late bloomers (often asters/goldenrods-type plants) that fuel pollinators before winter.
What You Can Do
Turn this knowledge into action. Whether you plant a single pot or a whole garden, you are building a vital bridge for local biodiversity.
Join the movement to restore our shared habitats.
Native plants
Alders are fast-growing trees in the genus Alnus that are especially useful in damp spots and along edges where you want quick cover and early-season pollen for insects.
Asters are late-season wildflowers that bring a burst of daisy-like blooms when many gardens are winding down, making them a reliable choice for pollinator-friendly planting.
Birches are graceful trees in the genus Betula, known for their often light-colored bark and early-season pollen and catkins that support springtime insects.
Blueberries and huckleberries (genus Vaccinium) are berry-producing shrubs with spring flowers that can support pollinators and later feed people and wildlife—great for gardens, schoolyards, and even large containers.
Clovers are small, easygoing plants in the genus Trifolium that can add nectar and pollen to gardens, lawns, and pots while helping cover bare soil.
Fireweed is a tough, fast-growing wildflower in the genus Chamerion that brings bright pink blooms and lots of pollinator activity to sunny, open spaces.
Fleabanes (genus Erigeron) are easygoing wildflowers with daisy-like blooms that can brighten gardens, schoolyards, and balcony pots while offering steady nectar and pollen for many small pollinators.
Goldenrods are tough, sunny wildflowers in the genus Solidago that light up late-season gardens with golden blooms and provide reliable nectar and pollen when many other flowers are fading.
Kinnikinnick is a tough, low-growing evergreen groundcover in the genus Arctostaphylos (often called bearberry) that forms a tidy mat and offers small spring flowers followed by red berries.
Manzanitas are tough, beautiful western shrubs with urn-shaped flowers that can feed early-season pollinators and evergreen leaves that keep gardens looking good year-round.
Poplars, aspens, and cottonwoods (genus Populus) are fast-growing trees best known for their fluttering leaves and soft “cottony” seeds. They can support early-season pollinators with spring catkins, but they’re also big, thirsty, and often short-lived in small yards—so they’re best chosen with space and roots in mind.
Rushes are tough, grass-like wetland plants (genus Juncus) that thrive in damp soil and help create calm, sheltered habitat at the edges of ponds, rain gardens, and low spots.
Sedges (genus Carex) are grass-like plants that form tidy clumps and thrive in many garden conditions, especially where soil stays a bit damp. They add texture, cover bare ground, and can support small wildlife by providing shelter and nesting material.
Willowherbs (genus Epilobium) are easygoing wildflowers that pop up in sunny, open spots and offer simple, nectar-rich blooms that many small pollinators can use.
Willows are fast-growing trees and shrubs in the genus Salix that offer some of the earliest pollen and nectar of the year, making them a strong choice for pollinator-friendly yards, parks, and school grounds.
Yarrow is a tough, easygoing wildflower that brings long-lasting blooms and steady pollinator visits to gardens, schoolyards, and even containers.
Pollinators
Adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms; their presence is a sign of diverse, functioning habitats.
Bumble bees are important pollinators of many wildflowers and garden plants, helping ecosystems and food crops reproduce.
Many visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while also playing important roles in local food webs.
Adults visit flowers for nectar and pollen, and many species’ larvae help keep plant-eating pests in check.
Adults can help move pollen as they nectar at flowers, and their caterpillars are an important part of local food webs.
They can move pollen between flowers while feeding on nectar, especially for blooms that open or scent up in the evening.
Many small moths move pollen while feeding on nectar, supporting wild plants and garden blooms—especially in the evening and at night.
Many adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while feeding.
They visit a wide range of flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
