Middle Rockies is an ecoregion located mostly in southwestern Montana, eastern Idaho, and northern Wyoming, characterized by high alpine glaciated mountains, plateaus, and intermontane basins, with a severe, mid-latitude, humid continental climate and vegetation including Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, and aspen forests.
Zone
Interior
Common Name
Middle Rockies
CEC Level III Code
6.2.10
CEC Level II Code
6.2 Western Cordillera
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Middle Rockies |
| Geographic Range | The Middle Rockies ecoregion is primarily located in southwestern Montana, eastern Idaho, and northern Wyoming, also encompassing the Black Hills in western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming. |
| Climate Snapshot | The Middle Rockies ecoregion has a severe, mid-latitude, humid continental climate marked by warm to cool summers, severe winters, and mean annual precipitation of 621 mm, lacking the strong maritime influence of neighboring regions. |
| Terrain Profile | The terrain of the Middle Rockies consists of high alpine glaciated mountains, plateaus, and glacial and lacustrine intermontane basins, with a variety of rock types and ages including volcanics, sedimentary, and metamorphic/igneous rocks. |
| Vegetation Cover | Characteristic vegetation includes forests of Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, aspen, subalpine fir, and Engelmann spruce, with alpine grasslands, meadows, krummholz, and ponderosa pine in the Black Hills, while foothills and valleys are partly wooded or covered with shrubs and grass. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The Middle Rockies ecoregion is home to diverse wildlife including black bear, moose, cougar, mountain goat, mule deer, and various bird species like the golden eagle and trumpeter swan. |
Eco snapshot
Characteristic vegetation includes forests of Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, aspen, subalpine fir, and Engelmann spruce, with alpine grasslands, meadows, krummholz, and ponderosa pine in the Black Hills, while foothills and valleys are partly wooded or covered with shrubs and grass.
The Middle Rockies ecoregion is home to diverse wildlife including black bear, moose, cougar, mountain goat, mule deer, and various bird species like the golden eagle and trumpeter swan.
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 places to warm up and shelter | Leave some leaf litter and stems; plan early-bloom natives; avoid spring pesticide “preventatives.” |
| Spring | A steady ramp-up of blooms; nesting sites | Plant early bloomers; keep some bare, well-drained soil; add a small water source (shallow, with landing stones). |
| Summer | Continuous flowers; water during dry spells; shade/refuge | Aim for “no gaps” bloom; plant in clusters; water new plantings; provide a few rocks/logs for shelter. |
| Late summer/fall | High-energy nectar; late pollen; overwintering prep | Add late bloomers; avoid deadheading everything; leave seedheads and stems for habitat. |
| Winter or Dry Season | Protected overwintering sites | Don’t over-tidy; leave stems standing; keep brush/leaf piles in a corner; plan next season’s additions. |
Keystone plants
Mix early, mid, and late bloomers so pollinators always find food.
Seed mix concept
Early bloomers (often shrubs and early perennials) to support the first active pollinators.
Dependable mid-season flowers that carry the garden through peak activity.
Late-season asters/goldenrods (and other late bloomers) to help pollinators fuel up 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.
