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
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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A new breed of gardener is emerging. These are the ‘garden rebels’ — individuals who are breaking away from the traditional, manicured lawns and perfectly pruned flower beds to embrace a more natural, sustainable approach to gardening.
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
From Pollinators to Whole Ecosystems: Expanding Our Gardening Focus
In recent years, the surge in popularity of pollinator gardens has been a heartening development for environmental enthusiasts and gardeners alike. These gardens, teeming with bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, have become symbols of ecological awareness and conservation. Yet, as we delve deeper into the realms of sustainable gardening, a broader perspective emerges, one that considers not only pollinators but the entire ecosystem.
Goldenrod: The Myths and the Facts
Goldenrods face two cases of mistaken identity. Let’s clear up the mess and celebrate a valuable species.
Hackberry
Deciduous tree growing 12-25 m tall with a rounded crown. Features ovate, asymmetrical leaves and small, edible fruits that turn dark purple when ripe. Bark develops distinctive warty ridges with age. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and full sun to partial shade. Drought and urban pollution tolerant. Provides important food source for birds and wildlife. Suitable for urban landscapes, streetscapes, and naturalized areas.
Haliburton Shoreline Naturalization: Better for the Lake, Better for You
An in-depth look at shoreline naturalization for Haliburton County cottages: why it’s important and how to do it.
Haliburton’s Homegrown National Park: The Power of Native Plant Gardens
A quiet revolution is underway, inspired by the visionary ideas of ecologist Douglas Tallamy. It’s a movement transforming private gardens into vibrant ecosystems that collectively form a new kind of national park — one dedicated to biodiversity. This concept, where every backyard becomes a haven for native species, is reshaping our approach to conservation and redefining our relationship with nature.
It’s OK to mow in May − the best way to help pollinators is by adding native plants
If you are interested in supporting pollinators, it is important to consider the ecological context of your yard – and #NoMowMay may not be an effective strategy.
Kawartha Lakes native plants: New guide gives detailed lists
The Flora of Kawartha Lakes, which lists plants native to the region, is also relevant to Haliburton County’s flora.
Leave the dead plant stems!
With this scarily warm weather we’ve been having, it’s tempting to get out there and do a bit of tidying up in the garden. Please wait!
Native Gardens: Your Personal Contribution to Fighting Biodiversity Loss
In the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, feelings of helplessness are common. Yet, there is a powerful tool within our reach to combat these global challenges: native plant gardening. This practice not only offers environmental benefits but also empowers individuals to make a tangible difference.
Northern Red Oak
Deciduous tree growing 20-30 m tall with a rounded crown. Features leaves with pointed lobes and bristle tips, turning russet-red in fall. Produces medium-sized acorns every 2-5 years. Adaptable to various soil conditions and full sun to partial shade. Fast-growing for an oak. Important for wildlife and valuable timber tree. Suitable for large landscapes, parks, and urban settings. Native to eastern North America.
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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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