Northern Rockies Foothill Shrubland

This shrubland ecological system is found in the lower montane and foothill regions around the Columbia Basin, and north and east into the northern Rockies, including Alberta and British Columbia. These shrublands typically occur below treeline, within the matrix of surrounding low-elevation grasslands and sagebrush shrublands. They also occur in the ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir zones, but rarely up into the subalpine zone (on dry sites). The shrublands are usually found on steep slopes of canyons and in areas with some soil development, either loess deposits or volcanic clays; they occur on all aspects. Fire, flooding and erosion all impact these shrublands, but they typically will persist on sites for long periods. These communities develop near talus slopes as garlands, at the heads of dry drainages, and toeslopes in the moist shrub-steppe and steppe zones. Physocarpus malvaceus, Prunus emarginata, Prunus virginiana, Rosa spp., Rhus glabra, Acer glabrum, Amelanchier alnifolia, Symphoricarpos albus, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, and Holodiscus discolor are the most common dominant shrubs, occurring alone or any combination. In the Alberta's Upper and Lower Foothills subregions, common shrubs include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Juniperus communis, Symphoricarpos spp., Amelanchier alnifolia, and Rosa spp. Rubus parviflorus and Ceanothus velutinus are other important shrubs in this system, being more common in montane occurrences than in subalpine situations. Occurrences in central and eastern Wyoming can include Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana and Cercocarpus montanus, but neither of these are dominant, and where they occur, the stands are truly mixes of shrubs, often with Amelanchier alnifolia, Prunus virginiana, and others being the predominant taxa. In moist areas, Crataegus douglasii can be common. Shepherdia canadensis and Spiraea betulifolia can be abundant in some cases but also occur in Northern Rocky Mountain Subalpine Deciduous Shrubland (CES306.961). Festuca idahoensis, Festuca campestris, Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Koeleria macrantha, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and Poa secunda are the most important grasses. Achnatherum thurberianum and Leymus cinereus can be locally important. Poa pratensis and Phleum pratense are common introduced grasses. Geum triflorum, Potentilla gracilis, Lomatium triternatum, Balsamorhiza sagittata, and species of Eriogonum, Phlox, and Erigeron are important forbs.

Physocarpus malvaceus, Prunus emarginata, Prunus virginiana, Rosa spp., Rhus glabra, Acer glabrum, Amelanchier alnifolia, Symphoricarpos albus, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, and Holodiscus discolor are the most common dominant shrubs, occurring alone or any combination. In the Alberta's Upper and Lower Foothills subregions, common shrubs include Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Juniperus communis, Symphoricarpos spp., Amelanchier alnifolia, and Rosa spp. Rubus parviflorus and Ceanothus velutinus are other important shrubs in this system, being more common in montane occurrences than in subalpine situations. Occurrences in central and eastern Wyoming can include Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana and Cercocarpus montanus, but neither of these are dominant, and where they occur, the stands are truly mixes of shrubs, often with Amelanchier alnifolia, Prunus virginiana, and others being the predominant taxa. In moist areas, Crataegus douglasii can be common. Shepherdia canadensis and Spiraea betulifolia can be abundant in some cases but also occur in Northern Rocky Mountain Subalpine Deciduous Shrubland (CES306.961). Festuca idahoensis, Festuca campestris, Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Koeleria macrantha, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and Poa secunda are the most important grasses. Achnatherum thurberianum and Leymus cinereus can be locally important. Poa pratensis and Phleum pratense are common introduced grasses. Geum triflorum, Potentilla gracilis, Lomatium triternatum, Balsamorhiza sagittata, and species of Eriogonum, Phlox, and Erigeron are important forbs.

This shrubland ecological system is found in the lower montane and foothill regions around the Columbia Basin, and north and east into the northern Rockies, including Alberta and British Columbia. These shrublands typically occur below treeline, within the matrix of surrounding low-elevation grasslands and sagebrush shrublands. They also occur in the ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir zones, but rarely up into the subalpine zone (on dry sites). The shrublands are usually found on steep slopes of canyons and in areas with some soil development, either loess deposits or volcanic clays; they occur on all aspects. Fire, flooding and erosion all impact these shrublands, but they typically will persist on sites for long periods. These communities develop near talus slopes as garlands, at the heads of dry drainages, and toeslopes in the moist shrub-steppe and steppe zones.

This system is found in the lower montane and foothill regions around the Columbia Basin, and north and east into the northern Rockies, including east into central Montana around the "Sky Island" ranges. It also occurs farther south into central and eastern Wyoming, where it forms compositionally diverse shrublands.