The Scandinavian and Russian taiga is the largest ecoregion in Europe, stretching across Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the northern part of European Russia within the boreal forest biome. Its forests are dominated by Norway spruce and Scots pine, mixed with downy and silver birch, while European aspen, gray alder, and goat willow are notable deciduous trees in riparian zones; Siberian spruce and Siberian larch appear in the eastern Russian parts, and the forest floor carries mosses, lichens, and dwarf shrubs. The climate is cool and humid, with a stronger maritime influence in Scandinavia and more pronounced continentality eastward in Russia, where growing seasons shorten and soils are generally nutrient-poor. The region is rich in lakes, wetlands, and peatlands that serve as critical breeding grounds for migratory birds, and although its biodiversity is relatively low owing to glaciation history, it remains the least exploited forest biome in Europe and hosts mammals such as brown bear, Eurasian lynx, wolverine, and the flagship Finnish forest reindeer.

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