Gardening with Native Plants

are the plants that grew wild in your area prior to European settlement
can be locally or regionally native. For example, Striped Maple is native to eastern Ontario but not southwestern Ontario.

to maintain the natural diversity of plant life in our region
to support the insects, birds and animals that depend on native plants
to learn about and appreciate the beauty of our region’s flora, our natural heritage
to reduce our use of water, fertilizers and pesticides as native plants are usually better adapted to our climate and soil than horticultural plants

Buy in Ontario from nurseries that specialize in native plants.
Split plants or collect seed from a friend’s native garden.
Never dig up plants from the wild! Many plants are becoming rare because of collection and habitat destruction.
Don’t buy “meadow-in-a-can” products. The seeds usually come from distant places and may include non-native plants.
Look at the Latin/scientific name to ensure you are buying a native plant. Don’t trust common names.

Check out our list of Recommended Native Wildflower & Grasses.
Choose plants native to your region and soil type.
Look to natural plant communities for guidance in determining which plants go together.
Learn to identify local native plants with a good field guide or join a naturalist club.
Ask the native plant nursery staff for guidance and suggestions.

Grow Wild: Native Plant Gardens in Canada. Lorraine Johnson. Random House
Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Lawrence Newcomb. Little, Brown and Company
Trees in Canada. John Laird Farrar. Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited and the Canadian Forest Service
Shrubs of Ontario. Soper and Heimburger. Royal Ontario Museum.

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