This Palearctic ecoregion occupies the Russian Far East, covering the coastal zones of the Kamchatka Peninsula, the northern Kuril Islands, and the Commander Islands. Despite sitting in the boreal forests/taiga biome, it is defined less by dense conifer stands than by open, parkland-like country: sparse "stone birch" forests of Betula ermanii, dwarf thickets of Siberian dwarf pine and Siberian alder, expanses of moss-and-lichen tundra, and famously tall-herb meadows where giant meadowsweet (Filipendula camtschatica), Angelica ursina, and Parasenecio hastatus can top three meters. The climate is cool and oceanic, with mild brief summers, cold snowy winters, and abundant Pacific moisture that falls fairly evenly through the year. The region supports an exceptionally large brown bear population sustained by salmon-rich streams, vast seabird colonies, and breeding fur seals, with the Steller's sea eagle as its flagship bird. For gardeners in cool, damp climates, its native tall-herb flora includes ornamental moisture-lovers such as Filipendula meadowsweet.

At a glance

About the boreal forests/taiga biome

The vast northern forest belt of spruce, fir, pine, and larch, defined by long, severe winters and short growing seasons. Often underlain by permafrost and wetlands, the taiga forms one of the world’s largest terrestrial carbon stores.

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