Haliburton Native Plants

Forbs (Herbaceous Perennials)

Harlequin Blueflag

Herbaceous perennial growing 60-90 cm tall. Features sword-like leaves and showy blue-violet flowers with yellow and white markings, blooming in late spring to early summer. Prefers consistently moist to wet soils and full sun to partial shade. Rhizomes can help stabilize soil in wet areas. Attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators. Suitable for rain gardens, pond edges, and bog gardens. Native to eastern North America.

Heart-leaved aster

Herbaceous perennial reaching 60-120 cm tall. Features heart-shaped lower leaves and numerous small, pale blue to lavender daisy-like flowers blooming September-October. Prefers well-drained soils and partial shade to full sun. Spreads by rhizomes and self-seeding. Attracts late-season pollinators. Suitable for woodland edges, naturalized areas, and fall-blooming gardens. Native to eastern North America.

Heath aster

Herbaceous perennial growing 30-90 cm tall. Features narrow, heath-like leaves and numerous small white flowers with yellow centers blooming September-October. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun. Drought-tolerant once established. Highly attractive to bees and butterflies. Excellent for rock gardens, prairies, and sunny borders. Provides late-season color and winter interest. Native to most of North America.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Distinctive perennial reaching 30-90 cm tall. Features compound three-part leaves and unique hooded flower (spathe) in spring, followed by bright red berries on female plants. Grows from deep corm in rich, moist woodland soils and shade. Forms small colonies slowly through offsets. Architecturally striking specimen for woodland gardens. Native to eastern North America.

Lanceleaf Coreopsis

Herbaceous perennial growing 30-60 cm tall. Features narrow, lance-shaped leaves and bright yellow, daisy-like flowers blooming late spring through summer. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun. Drought-tolerant once established. Attracts butterflies and supports native bees. Long-blooming and low-maintenance. Suitable for meadows, prairie gardens, and sunny borders. Self-seeds readily in favorable conditions. Native to eastern and central North America.

Large-flowered Trillium

Iconic woodland perennial reaching 20-45 cm tall. Features three large leaves in perfect whorl and spectacular large white flower aging to pink in late spring. Grows from deep rhizome in rich, moist woodland soils and shade. Forms small colonies very slowly through offsets. Long-lived and slow to establish. Premier woodland garden specimen. Native to eastern North America.

Large-leaved aster

Herbaceous perennial reaching 60-120 cm tall. Features large, heart-shaped basal leaves and clusters of pale blue to white daisy-like flowers blooming in late summer to fall. Prefers moist, well-drained soils and partial shade to full sun. Spreads by rhizomes to form large colonies. Attracts butterflies and other pollinators. Suitable for woodland gardens, naturalized areas, and as groundcover in partially shaded sites.

Narrow-leaved verbain

Herbaceous perennial reaching 30-60 cm tall. Features narrow, lance-shaped leaves and slender spikes of small, lavender to blue-purple flowers blooming June-September. Prefers well-drained, rocky or sandy soils and full sun. Drought-tolerant once established. Attracts butterflies and bees. Suitable for rock gardens, prairies, and hot, dry sites. Native to eastern and central North America.

Narrowleaf Mountain Mint

Herbaceous perennial growing 60-90 cm tall. Features narrow, aromatic leaves and dense clusters of small white flowers with purple spots, blooming in mid to late summer. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade. Drought-tolerant once established. Highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects. Deer-resistant. Suitable for meadows, prairie gardens, and herb gardens. Native to eastern North America.

New England Aster

Herbaceous perennial reaching 90-150 cm tall. Features lance-shaped, clasping leaves and large clusters of violet-purple (sometimes pink or white) daisy-like flowers blooming August-October. Prefers moist, well-drained soils and full sun. Attracts numerous pollinators, especially monarchs. Suitable for meadows, rain gardens, and back of borders. May need staking in rich soils. Native to eastern and central North America.

Shrubs

Alternate leaved Dogwood

Deciduous shrub or small tree reaching 5-8 m tall. Features distinctive horizontal branching and alternate leaves, unlike most dogwoods. Produces flat-topped clusters of white flowers in late spring, followed by blue-black berries. Prefers moist, well-drained soils and partial shade. Provides food for birds and wildlife. Adds unique architectural interest to woodland gardens and naturalized landscapes. Native to eastern North America.

American Elderberry

Deciduous shrub growing 1.5-3 m tall. Features compound leaves and large, flat-topped clusters of small white flowers in early summer, followed by edible purple-black berries. Prefers moist, well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade. Attracts pollinators and provides food for birds. Berries used for food and medicine. Suitable for naturalized areas, wildlife gardens, and edible landscapes. Native to eastern and central North America.

American Hazelnut

Deciduous shrub growing 2.5-4.5 m tall. Features rounded, doubly-serrate leaves and produces edible hazelnuts. Male flowers appear as catkins in early spring before leaves emerge. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade. Provides food for wildlife and humans. Forms thickets in favorable conditions. Suitable for naturalized areas, wildlife gardens, and edible landscaping. Native to eastern North America.

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Beaked Hazel

Deciduous shrub reaching 2-5 m tall. Features oval, doubly-serrate leaves and produces edible hazelnuts enclosed in distinctive beaked husks. Male flowers appear as catkins in early spring. Prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soils and partial shade. Provides food for wildlife and humans. Suitable for woodland edges, naturalized areas, and understory plantings. Native to northern and western North America.

Bearberry

Evergreen groundcover growing 15-30 cm tall and spreading up to 1.8 m wide. Features small, leathery leaves and clusters of small, pink to white urn-shaped flowers in spring, followed by red berries. Prefers well-drained, acidic soils and full sun to partial shade. Extremely cold-hardy and drought-tolerant once established. Provides year-round interest and food for wildlife. Useful for erosion control on slopes and as a native alternative to non-native groundcovers.

Bebb’s Willow

Deciduous shrub or small tree growing 2-8 m tall. Features elliptical leaves with wavy margins and catkins appearing in early spring. Adaptable to various soil conditions and full sun to partial shade. Tolerates both dry and wet soils. Provides early season food for pollinators and cover for wildlife. Suitable for naturalized areas, wetland margins, and erosion control. Native to most of North America.

Black Chokeberry

Deciduous shrub growing 1-3 m tall. Produces clusters of white flowers in late spring, followed by edible purple-black berries. Features glossy, dark green leaves turning brilliant red in fall. Prefers moist, well-drained acidic soils but adaptable to various conditions. Tolerates full sun to partial shade. Berries are high in antioxidants and attractive to birds. Suitable for hedges, mass plantings, and rain gardens. Native to eastern North America.

Bog Birch

Deciduous shrub growing 1-3 m tall. Features small, rounded leaves and inconspicuous catkins. Bark is smooth and dark brown. Prefers wet, acidic soils and full sun to partial shade. Often found in bogs, fens, and wet meadows. Tolerates seasonal flooding and cold temperatures. Provides food and cover for wildlife. Useful for wetland restoration projects and naturalized areas in moist sites. Native to northern North America.

Buffaloberry

Deciduous shrub reaching 1-3 m tall. Features oval leaves with silvery undersides and small, yellowish flowers in early spring before leaves emerge. Produces edible but bitter red berries. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade. Nitrogen-fixing roots improve soil. Drought-tolerant once established. Provides food for wildlife. Suitable for poor soils, woodland edges, and wildlife gardens. Native to northern North America.

Trees

American Plum

Deciduous shrub or small tree growing 3-8 m tall. Features finely toothed, ovate leaves and clusters of fragrant white flowers in early spring before leaves emerge. Produces edible, tart plums. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade. Provides food for wildlife and early nectar for pollinators. Suitable for naturalized areas, wildlife gardens, and edible landscapes. Native to eastern and central North America.

American Sycamore

Deciduous tree growing 30-40 m tall with a spreading crown. Features large, maple-like leaves and distinctive mottled bark that peels in patches. Produces round, spiky seed balls. Prefers deep, moist soils and full sun. Tolerates wet soils and urban conditions. Provides nesting sites for birds and food for wildlife. Suitable for large landscapes, parks, and urban settings. Native to eastern North America.

Balsam Poplar

Deciduous tree growing 20-30 m tall with a narrow crown. Features triangular to ovate leaves with serrated edges and fragrant, resinous buds. Prefers moist soils and full sun. Tolerates poor soils and cold temperatures. Fast-growing but short-lived. Provides food and habitat for wildlife. Suitable for windbreaks, erosion control, and reclamation of disturbed sites. Native to northern North America.

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Black Cherry

Deciduous tree growing 15-30 m tall with a narrow to rounded crown. Features finely toothed, lance-shaped leaves and long clusters of small white flowers in late spring. Produces small, dark purple fruits. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade. Important food source for birds and wildlife. Valuable timber tree. Suitable for naturalized areas and large landscapes. Native to eastern North America.

Bur Oak

Deciduous tree growing 20-30 m tall with a broad, rounded crown. Features variable, deeply lobed leaves and large acorns with fringed cups. Adaptable to various soil conditions and full sun. Drought-tolerant once established. Important food source for wildlife. Fire-resistant bark. Suitable for large landscapes, parks, and savanna restorations. Native to central and eastern North America.

Butternut

Deciduous tree reaching 15-25 m tall. Features compound leaves and produces edible nuts enclosed in sticky, elongated husks. Prefers rich, moist, well-drained soils and full sun. Provides food for wildlife. Historically valued for its wood and medicinally. Currently threatened by butternut canker disease. Suitable for large landscapes and reforestation projects where disease is not prevalent. Native to eastern North America.

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Eastern Red Cedar

Evergreen tree growing 9-20 m tall with a pyramidal to columnar form. Features scale-like leaves and produces small, blue, berry-like cones. Adaptable to various soil conditions and full sun. Extremely drought-tolerant. Provides year-round cover and food for wildlife. Wood is aromatic and rot-resistant. Suitable for windbreaks, erosion control, and as a native evergreen in challenging sites. Native to eastern and central North America.

Eastern White Pine

Evergreen conifer reaching 20-30 m tall with a pyramidal to rounded crown. Features soft, bluish-green needles in clusters of five and long cones. Prefers well-drained, acidic soils and full sun to partial shade. Important for wildlife habitat and historically valued for timber. Suitable for windbreaks, large landscapes, and as a fast-growing evergreen screen. Native to eastern North America.

Grass

Big Bluestem

Tall, warm-season perennial bunchgrass and state grass of Illinois. Grows 4-8 feet tall forming blue-green clumps through short rhizomes. Deep root system extends 8-15 feet, making it extremely drought tolerant. Distinctive blue-green foliage turns bronze-orange in fall. Produces reddish-purple flowering heads in late summer. Slow to establish but very long-lived once mature. Essential component of tallgrass prairie ecosystems.

Bluejoint grass

Cool-season perennial grass forming loose to dense tufts, reaching 60-150 cm tall. Features flat, lax leaves and open, purplish panicles that turn golden in fall. Prefers moist to wet soils and full sun to partial shade. Spreads by rhizomes, forming colonies in favorable conditions. Important for wetland habitats, providing cover and nesting material for wildlife. Effective for erosion control along shorelines. Suitable for rain gardens, meadows, and naturalized areas.

Bottlebrush Grass

Cool-season perennial grass reaching 0.6-1.2 m tall. Features green foliage and distinctive bottlebrush-like seed heads that persist into winter. Blooms in mid to late summer. Prefers well-drained soils and partial shade to full sun. Tolerates dry conditions once established. Provides food and cover for wildlife. Adds unique texture to garden designs. Suitable for woodland edges, partially shaded meadows, and naturalized areas.

Sedges

Bebb’s sedge

Clump-forming sedge growing 30-90 cm tall. Features narrow, upright leaves and spiky brown flower heads. Prefers consistently moist to wet soils and full sun to partial shade. Often found in wetlands, meadows, and along shorelines. Provides food and cover for wildlife, particularly waterfowl. Useful for erosion control in wet areas and as a component in rain gardens. Tolerates seasonal flooding. Native to much of North America.

Bur-reed Sedge

Clump-forming sedge growing 60-90 cm tall. Features broad leaves and elongated, interrupted flower spikes. Prefers moist, rich soils and partial to full shade. Often found in deciduous woodlands and along streambanks. Forms large, attractive clumps, adding structure to shaded gardens. Provides food and cover for wildlife. Suitable for woodland gardens, naturalized areas, and as a backdrop in shade gardens. Native to eastern North America.

Cyperus-like Sedge

Clump-forming sedge reaching 60-120 cm tall. Features broad leaves and distinctive arching, bristly seed heads. Prefers consistently wet soils and full sun to partial shade. Often found in marshes, swamps, and along pond edges. Provides important habitat and food for wetland wildlife. Useful for shoreline stabilization and water filtration. Suitable for pond margins, rain gardens, and wetland restoration projects. Native to North America and Eurasia.

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