Trees and Plants

The varied climate and landscape, as well as its glacial and volcanic history, determine the flora of the park.

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Trees and Plants Details

The plant communities of Kenai Fjords National Park reflect its glacial past, its volcanic substrate, and its position at the edge of marine and terrestrial environments. Flora here also is dictated the climate of this area: wet, cool, and with a limited growing season. Along inlets, streams, and at elevations prone to fog, forests are dominated by Sitka spruce. The tallest conifer in North America, Sitka spruce averages 150-250 feet in height. Other trees that commonly make up forested areas are birch and alder, the latter separated into three different species and growing in many of Alaska's diverse habitats. Cottonwood trees are also common, particularly on gravel bars and in tundra. The understory plants commonly found in the park include Devil's Club, Wild Celery (aka Cow Parsnip, which contains a UV-sensitive skin irritant), ferns, fireweed, and mosses of all kinds. Along the coast, entirely different plant communities thrive, such as kelp, bladderwrack, dulse, and nori. The intertidal communities here are limited to a short range from the shore because of the steep sides of the fjords, which drop away sharply to depths of over 1,000 feet.

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