Smallwood Uplands is a transitional area of rolling uplands and lowlands on the Canadian Shield, characterized by cool summers and very cold winters, where tundra and alpine tundra grade into coniferous boreal forests, and permafrost is extensive and discontinuous.
Zone
Interior
Common Name
Smallwood Uplands
CEC Level III Code
3.4.3
CEC Level II Code
3.4 Taiga Shield
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Smallwood Uplands, CEC 3.4.3 |
| Geographic Range | The Smallwood Uplands region stretches from the southern end of the Torngat Mountains in Labrador southwards to the Quebec/Newfoundland border. |
| Climate Snapshot | The Smallwood Uplands experience a climate marked by cool summers (6.5°C to 10°C) and very cold winters (.15°C to -13°C), with mean annual precipitation ranging from 600 to 1,150 mm. |
| Terrain Profile | This ecoregion is characterized by rolling uplands and lowlands of the Canadian Shield, with hummocky and drumlinized moraine, some outcrops, and elevations generally ranging from 500-600 masl. |
| Vegetation Cover | The Smallwood Uplands are a transitional area where tundra and alpine tundra in the north grade into coniferous boreal forests in the south, featuring bare rock, alpine heath, and dwarf black spruce dominant in poorly drained sites. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The Smallwood Uplands ecoregion provides habitats for caribou, moose, black bear, red fox, lynx, various small mammals, waterfowl, and colonies of seabirds and other birds. |
Eco snapshot
The Smallwood Uplands are a transitional area where tundra and alpine tundra in the north grade into coniferous boreal forests in the south, featuring bare rock, alpine heath, and dwarf black spruce dominant in poorly drained sites.
The Smallwood Uplands ecoregion provides habitats for caribou, moose, black bear, red fox, lynx, various small mammals, waterfowl, and colonies of seabirds and other birds.
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 when few flowers are available; safe shelter as temperatures swing | Protect early-blooming native plants; avoid spring pesticide applications; leave some leaf litter and stems until warmer weather is settled |
| Spring | A steady ramp-up of blooms; nesting sites starting to be used | Plant or protect early and mid-season native flowers; keep some bare, well-drained soil patches; provide shallow water (a dish with stones) |
| Summer | Continuous bloom; water during dry spells; shade/shelter from heat and wind | Add mid-season bloomers; cluster the same plant together for easier foraging; keep a pesticide-free buffer around flowers |
| Late summer / fall | Late blooms to help pollinators build reserves; seedheads and stems for shelter | Plant late bloomers; stop deadheading in some areas; leave stems standing and avoid heavy fall cleanup |
| Winter | Undisturbed shelter (stems, leaf litter, ground nests); stable habitat | Leave garden “messy”; avoid disturbing soil; plan next year’s bloom sequence and add native plants/seed where appropriate |
Seed mix concept
Spring starter: early bloomers (often shrubs and early perennials) to kick off the season.
Summer bridge: mid-season flowers that keep nectar and pollen available through the warmest weeks.
Fall finisher: late bloomers (often asters/goldenrods where appropriate) to extend forage 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.
