Plants

Subalpine firs can be distinguished from other conifer trees by their dark green color, dense crown and slender spire-like shape. This shape allows the tree to shed heavy snowfall without damage.

Engelmann and blue spruce are both found in the park. While the blue spruce is generally restricted to river and creek bottoms, Englemann spruce ranges from valley lakeshores up to tree line in the mountains.

Whitebark pine grows at elevations above 8,000 feet in the park. Whitebark pine seeds are important for grizzly bear survival, but climate change, a native beetle and an introduced fungus threaten this species.

Lodgepole pine forms fire dependent climax forests. Without fire, subalpine fir and Englemann spruce would replace lodgepole pines. These pines have developed adaptations for fire allowing them to flourish.

Heartleaf arnica is a sunflower, but is much shorter than the common sunflower, only 4-24 inches tall. It often forms the dominant understory plant in forests reminding one of a dwarf field of common sunflowers.

The dark purple berries of the park’s highbush huckleberry are a favorite food of bears, chipmunks, mice, birds and visitors who relish this tasty berry in summer. Harvest a few, but leave most for wildlife.