Native plants are an important part of our natural heritage. They have adapted to our soils and climate, and they provide homes and shelter to many other types of life. This in turn fosters a healthy, balanced ecosystem which is more resistant to damage by pests and diseases. Plants that have evolved in southern Ontario do not disrupt local ecology in the way that some exotic plants from other continents can. Purple loosestrife is a well-known example of an exotic plant that can damage natural communities. Welcoming native plants back into our yards is also a way of recognizing the natural heritage of Southwestern Ontario. Today we tend to think of our area, Perth County, as primarily agricultural with intermittent woodlots. At one time our area was a rich tapestry of forest and wetlands within the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest.
Our forests consist of coniferous trees such as eastern white pine, red pine, eastern hemlock and white cedar, mixed with deciduous broad-leaved species, such as yellow birch, sugar and red maples, basswood and red oak in abundance, supporting a vast network of shrubs, smaller plants and wildlife. Enrich your garden with species that fit the conditions of our area like a glove - they were here before we were!
Sources of Native Plants
Ask for native plants at your local garden centre. Make sure that the plants you purchase have been nursery-propagated. Never dig plants from the wild – damaging a natural area to obtain plants is not acceptable. Many commercial sources of native plants are becoming available. Native plants are also available at the annual plant sales at the Guelph Arboretum (519-824-4120, ext.52113) and the Royal Botanical Gardens (905-527-1158 Toll free: 1-800-694-4769) .
Some Native Plants of the Stratford Region
There are many more! For complete lists, refer to the Stratford Public Library, the internet, Stratford Community Services Department (Parks) and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority.
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Evergreen Trees
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
– tolerant of shade, sensitive to wind
White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)
– tolerates wide range of conditions
White Pine (Pinus strobus)
– tree of Ontario, fast-growing
White Spruce (Picea glauca)
– hardy, drought-tolerant tree
Tamarack (Larix laricina)
- tolerant of damp soil (drops leaves in the fall, but is a conifer)
Deciduous Trees
Basswood (Tilia americana)
– fast growing, shade tolerant
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
– great wildlife tree, now uncommon
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
– excellent city tree
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
– prefers acidic soil
Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
– prefers acidic soil
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
– fast growing, tolerates damp soil
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
– not tolerant of pollution
White Ash (Fraxinus americana)
– excellent city tree, but susceptible to ash borer.
White Birch (Betula papyrifera)
– fast growing, hardy tree
Vines
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
– birds love berries, shade tolerant
Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana)
– fluffy, decorative seed heads
Wild Grape (Vitis riparia)
- clusters of sour, edible berries
Shrubs
Alternate-leaf Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
– shade tolerant woodland shrub
Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana)
– very hardy, sour edible cherries
Common Elderberry (Sambuccus canadensis)
– fast growing, birds love berries
Common Juniper (Juniperus communis)
– very drought tolerant
Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica)
- low shrub, drought tolerant
Grey Dogwood (Cornus racemosa
)
– drought-tolerant shrub, berries for birds (key nesting bush)
Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum)
– tolerant of damp soil, berries for birds
Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
– dry or wet soil, berries for birds
Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera)
– red branches, great shoreline shrub
Serviceberry (Amelanchier sp.)
– birds love berries, drought-tolerant
Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum)
– similar to Red Osier, blooms later
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)
– fast growing, grows from root suckers, full sun
Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris)
– small single flowers, dry or wet soil
Grasses
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
– indicator of tallgrass prairie ecosystem, full sun
Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
– beautiful golden seed heads
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
– low grass, reddish in fall
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
– tall, decorative airy seed heads
Canadian Wild Rye (Elymus canadensis)
- tall, bushy head of bristly seeds
Forbs (Wildflowers)
Anemone (Anemone canadensis)
– creeping shoreline groundcover
Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
– drought-tolerant, orange flowers
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
– early blooming woodland plant
Blue Iris (Iris versicolor)
- common shoreline plant
Boneset (Eupatorium Perfoliatum)
- wet meadows, shorelines
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
– brilliant orange blossoms, dry soil
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
– red blooms, damp soil or shade
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
– needs shade, white blossoms early spring
Goldenrod (Solidago sp.)
– common fall bloomer, many species
Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
– damp soil or shade, blue blossoms
Heath Aster (Aster ericoides)
– white blossoms, drought-tolerant
Helen’s Flower (Helenium autumnale)
– tall, fall bloomer, wet or dry soil
Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
– woodland plant
Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum)
– wetland plant, pink/purple blooms
Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)
– early spring, wetland plant
New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae)
– fall bloomer, purple flowers
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
– purple flower, drought-resistant, sun
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
– pink blooms, wetland plant
White Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
– drought tolerant, June bloomer
White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
– familiar woodland plant
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
– pale mauve blossoms, drought tolerant
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
- woodland wildflower, June blooms
See Gardening for Wildlife and Wildflowers
Reprinted & adapted with permission of Peterborough Green Up Association, and with thanks to the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, and Stratford Community Services Department (Parks)
Books on native plants may be found at the Stratford Public Library
19 St. Andrew Street (519-271-0220)