The Alps conifer and mixed forests ecoregion follows the Alps mountain range across central Europe, spanning France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Slovenia. Its montane forests are a mix of conifers and broadleaves, with Norway spruce, silver fir, European larch, and mountain pine alongside European beech, and prostrate pine in the outer ranges. The region sits at the transition between the Mediterranean climates of southern Europe and the more humid, temperate Euro-Siberian zone, so its western reaches feel mild Atlantic air while the central area is continental. It is one of the richest places in Europe for plants, holding roughly 4,500 native vascular plant species including about 400 endemics, and the recovered Alpine ibex serves as its flagship species; around 27 percent of the ecoregion lies within protected areas such as Gran Paradiso and Vanoise national parks. For gardeners, several classic alpine ornamental genera are native here, including Campanula, Primula, Saxifraga, and Draba.

At a glance

About the temperate conifer forests biome

Temperate forests dominated by evergreen conifers, from coastal rainforests to montane pine and fir stands. Adapted to cool, moist or seasonally dry climates, they include some of the tallest and longest-lived trees on the planet.

Catalog plants suited to this ecoregion

Computed from each plant's stated USDA zone range against this ecoregion's CHELSA-derived current zone range, with the CHELSA mid-century warming delta applied for the projection. Plants whose stated range falls outside both the current and projected zone end up dropped; the rest land in one of the three buckets below.

Collections for this ecoregion

Curated multi-plant collections whose members all fit this ecoregion's zone range — no won't-grow members smuggled in. Overall fit class shown per collection is the weakest link across its members.

Related ecoregions