Haliburton Native Plants
Forbs (Herbaceous Perennials)
American Sweet Flag
Perennial wetland plant growing in dense stands, reaching 60-90 cm tall. Features sword-like leaves and a flower spike resembling foliage. Prefers consistently wet or saturated soils and full sun to partial shade. Often found along pond edges, streams, and in marshes. Has historical medicinal and culinary uses. Valuable for wetland restoration, rain gardens, and water feature margins. Provides cover for small wildlife and helps stabilize shorelines. Spreads via rhizomes, forming colonies in suitable conditions.
Anise Hyssop
Herbaceous perennial reaching 60-120 cm tall. Features anise-scented foliage and spikes of lavender-blue flowers blooming for extended period. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun. Drought-tolerant once established. Highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Leaves can be used for tea. Self-seeds readily in favorable conditions.
Azure Aster
Herbaceous perennial growing 60-90 cm tall. Features narrow leaves and azure blue flowers blooming September-October. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade. Drought-tolerant once established. Attracts late-season pollinators. Excellent for prairies, meadows, and sunny borders. Provides important late-season nectar source. Also known as Sky Blue Aster. Native to central and eastern North America.
Black-eyed Susan
Short-lived perennial or biennial growing 30-100 cm tall. Features hairy, lance-shaped leaves and showy yellow daisy-like flowers with dark centers, blooming from June to September. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun. Drought-tolerant once established. Attracts butterflies and supports native bees. Excellent for meadows, prairies, and sunny borders. Self-seeds readily. Native to most of North America.
Blue Vervain
Herbaceous perennial growing 90-150 cm tall. Features lance-shaped, opposite leaves and slender spikes of small, blue-violet flowers blooming July-September. Prefers moist soils and full sun. Attracts butterflies and supports native bees. Suitable for rain gardens, wet meadows, and pond edges. Self-seeds readily in ideal conditions. Native to most of North America.
Bog Goldenrod
Herbaceous perennial reaching 90-150 cm tall. Features narrow leaves and wand-like spikes of yellow flowers. Prefers consistently moist to wet, acidic soils and full sun. Important late-season nectar source. Excellent for rain gardens, wet meadows, and bog gardens.
Butterfly Milkweed
Herbaceous perennial reaching 30-90 cm tall with alternate, lance-shaped leaves. Produces vibrant orange flower clusters in summer, followed by slender seed pods. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun. Extremely drought-tolerant once established. Important nectar source and larval host for monarch butterflies. Attracts various pollinators. Deep taproot makes it difficult to transplant. Suitable for prairie gardens, butterfly gardens, and dry, sunny borders. Native to eastern and southern United States.
Canada Anemone
Rhizomatous perennial reaching 30-60 cm tall. Features palmately-lobed basal leaves and solitary white flowers with yellow centers, blooming late spring to early summer. Prefers moist, rich soils and partial shade to full sun. Spreads aggressively by rhizomes, forming dense groundcover. Suitable for woodland gardens, naturalized areas, and along streams or ponds. Provides early season nectar for pollinators. Can be invasive in ideal conditions, best used in contained areas or where spreading is desired.
Canada Mayflower
Rhizomatous perennial reaching 8-20 cm tall. Features heart-shaped leaves and small spikes of white flowers followed by red berries. Prefers acidic, moist woodland soils and shade. Spreads aggressively by rhizomes to form extensive groundcover. Adaptable to various woodland conditions. Suitable for naturalizing in acidic shade gardens and woodland groundcover. Native to northern North America.
Shrubs
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Grey Dogwood
Deciduous shrub reaching 2.5-4.5 m tall. Features opposite, elliptical leaves and flat-topped clusters of white flowers in early summer, followed by white berries on red pedicels. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and full sun to partial shade. Provides food for birds and wildlife. Forms thickets in favorable conditions. Suitable for naturalized areas, hedgerows, and wildlife gardens. Native to eastern North America.
Heart-leaved Willow
Deciduous shrub or small tree growing 3-6 m tall. Features lance-shaped leaves and catkins appearing in early spring. Prefers moist to wet soils and full sun to partial shade. Tolerates seasonal flooding. Fast-growing and useful for streambank stabilization and erosion control. Provides cover and food for wildlife. Suitable for wetland restorations and naturalized areas in moist sites. Native to North America.
Highbush Cranberry
Deciduous shrub growing 2-4 m tall. Features maple-like, three-lobed leaves and flat-topped clusters of white flowers in late spring, followed by bright red berries persisting into winter. Prefers moist, well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade. Provides food for birds and wildlife. Fall foliage is often red to purple. Suitable for naturalized areas, shrub borders, and wildlife gardens. Native to northern and eastern North America.
Hobblebush
Deciduous shrub growing 2-4 m tall. Features large, heart-shaped leaves and flat-topped clusters of white flowers with larger sterile flowers around the edge, blooming in spring. Produces red fruits turning black when ripe. Prefers moist, well-drained soils and partial to full shade. Provides food for birds and small mammals. Suitable for woodland gardens and naturalized areas. Native to northeastern North America.
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Kalm’s St. John’s-wort
Compact evergreen shrub reaching 60-90 cm tall with narrow blue-green leaves and bright yellow flowers blooming July-September. Prefers well-drained, sandy or rocky soils and full sun. Drought-tolerant once established. Excellent for rocky slopes, dunes, and dry gardens. Native to Great Lakes shorelines. Provides winter interest and supports pollinators.
Lowbush Blueberry
Low deciduous shrub reaching 15-60 cm tall. Features small, oval leaves and bell-shaped white to pink flowers followed by edible blue berries. Requires acidic, well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade. Spreads by underground rhizomes to form colonies. Spectacular fall color. Provides food for wildlife and humans. Suitable for acidic soil gardens, naturalized areas, and edible landscaping. Native to northeastern North America.
Meadow Willow
Deciduous shrub reaching 2-4 m tall. Features narrow, lance-shaped leaves and slender catkins appearing in early spring. Prefers moist to wet soils and full sun to partial shade. Tolerates seasonal flooding. Provides food for pollinators and cover for wildlife. Useful for soil stabilization in wet areas. Suitable for wetland margins, rain gardens, and naturalized areas in moist sites. 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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