YELLOWSTONE ARBORETUM
Billings, Montana @ ZooMontana
Spring Edition
THE NORTH AMERICAN ROCKIES
In the Central and Northern Rocky Mountains, trees and shrubs make their home in a patchwork of forests and meadows between 5500 ft. and 11500 ft. (1650 m.-3450 m.). Different ecosystems in the park support particular species depending on elevation, precipitation, and aspect (the steepness and direction of the slope). In the harsh mountain environment only evergreen trees, a few hardy deciduous trees and strong adaptive shrubs can thrive.
A Living Museum
Poplars
Cottonwoods
Black Hills Spruce
Engelmann Spruce
Aspen Colonies
Serviceberries
Chokeberries
Boxelder
Willows
Narrow Leaf Cottonwoods
In the Arboretum
Plants of the Mountains
Green conifer forests blanket the mountainsides, providing shade in summer and contrasting with the bright white snow of winter. The Rockies have several of these cone producing trees including pine, spruce, and fir.
Famous for the brilliant color of their autumn leaves, these trees can be found growing along streams and mixed in with the evergreen conifers. Deciduous trees often contribute to some of the most biologically diverse habitats in the mountains.
Coming in all shapes and sizes, shrubs make their home throughout the mountains. Some produce beautiful flowers and fruit, making them important food for wildlife. Others help stabilize soil. A few even catch your eye with their vibrant foliage.