Quick answer: 9 native Alaska plants have a recorded bloom range that includes September.
9 species
- Bunchberry Cornus canadensis · 18 states
- Common sunflower Helianthus annuus · 18 states
- Fireweed Chamerion angustifolium · 37 states
- Giant red paintbrush Castilleja miniata · 13 states
- Harebell Campanula rotundifolia · 35 states
- Pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea · 38 states
- Seep monkeyflower Erythranthe guttata · 15 states
- Shrubby cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda · 23 states
- Western yarrow Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis · 18 states
September in an Alaska native garden
September is a quieter month in Alaska: 9 of the state's 40 native plants flower in September, compared with 29 at the June peak. That makes these plants valuable for keeping color, and food for pollinators, going outside the main season.
6 finish in September, including Bunchberry, Fireweed and Giant red paintbrush, so this is the last chance to see them in flower.
9 of them grow in full or partial sun and 2 tolerate shade, so there are options for open beds and woodland edges alike. 4 stay under about 3 feet, including Giant red paintbrush and Pearly everlasting, which suits borders and small yards. For wildlife, 8 support pollinators, 5 provide food or cover for birds and 2 are caterpillar host plants.
5 of the 9 have a seed or plant listing we verified as the wild species. Be careful buying Harebell, Shrubby cinquefoil: common listings for these are often a bred variety or a different species.
Good places to start
Verified wild-species listings that take sun and are widely native, so they are forgiving first plants.
- Pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea · Sun, Part Shade · blooms Jun-Oct
- Fireweed Chamerion angustifolium · Sun · blooms Jun-Sep
- Bunchberry Cornus canadensis · Sun, Part Shade, Shade · blooms May-Sep