Native to Ontario

Buffaloberry

Small yellow insignificant flowers Yellowish-red berries follow in the summer Silver-green leaves Small, loosely branched, rounded shrub Bloom Time: Spring

Softstem Bulrush

AKA: Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Scirpus are not grasses, they are perennial sedges Dark green spongy stems, up to 2 cm thick, are rounded-edged and triangular in cross-section Leaves are not produced Brownish inflorescences hang from terminal tips on stems up to 250 cm tall Bracts beyond seed heads, 15 cm long, seem to be a continuation of the stems Bloom Time: May to August

River Bulrush

AKA Bolboschoenus fluviatilis Scirpus are not grasses, they are perennial sedges Forms short tufts of grass-like blades Commonly found in wetland habitats Spreads by rhizomes to stabilize shorelines

Dark Green Bulrush

Scirpus are not grasses, they are perennial sedges Forms an open upright clump of dark green leaves branching from the main stems Dark green culms, reaching 125 cm, develop clusters of inflorescences Spikelets form small rounded clusters on the terminal tips Foliage turns yellow to brown in the fall Bloom Time: June to August

Hard Stem Bulrush

AKA: Schoenoplectus acutus var. occidentalis Scirpus are not grasses, they are perennial sedges Upright cylindrical gray-green stems have 3 to 4 slender sheathed leaves at the base Panicled seed heads emerge terminally from one side of the stem Seeds are beige-brown and form groups of small spikelets Bloom Time: June to August

Little Bluestem

AKA Andropogon scoparius Slightly arching clump of blue-green leaves Leaves are flame-coloured in the fall and remain showy throughout the winter Seedheads emerge blue-purple, age to white, and persist through the fall Bloom Time: Late summer Flower Height: 125 cm Foliage Height: 100cm Grass Type: Warm Season

Sassafras

Shrubby when young, maturing to a dense, pyramidal crown Can spread by root suckers to form colonies Clusters of greenish-yellow flowers; dioecious, having separate male and female trees Flowers give way to small purple berries on scarlet stems Ovate, mitten-shaped OR three-lobed leaves are bright green Fall foliage is a showy yellow, purple and red Bloom Time: Spring

Bloodroot

Rhizomatous native woodland perennial Solitary cup-shaped white flowers with yellow stamens One of the first flowers to appear in spring Flowers often emerge through the still-folded leaves Green variably-lobed heart- to kidney-shaped leaves Bloom Time: Early spring

American Elderberry

Pleasantly fragrant white flowers in a flat-topped cluster Purple-black berries in clusters, August to September, will attract birds Compound pinnate medium-green leaves turn yellow in the fall Mostly vertical with weak stems; will colonize by way of root suckers Bloom Time: July

Slender willow

AKA Salix gracilis Small brownish-yellow catkins Long dark green leaves turn yellow in the fall Slender purplish stems Resembles a small tree or large shrub Bloom Time: May

Black Willow

Small greenish-yellow catkins in early spring Long narrow glossy green leaves turn yellow in the fall Deeply fissured dark brown bark Slender branches form an irregular crown Bloom Time: Spring

Heartleaf Willow

Yellow catkins are slender and smooth Green leaves are pale and hairy underneath, with finely serrated edges New shoots are white and silky Bloom Time: May

Sage-Leaved Willow

Gray felt-like leaves Large catkins emerge red or pink, before turning yellow New shoots are white and woolly at first, then to a glossy red-brown Erect, upright shape Bloom Time: Early spring

Peach-leaved Willow

Yellowish-green leaves have a pale whitish underside Rough bark is brownish-gray Orange-yellow twigs Flowers are yellow catkins Reddish-yellow cone-like fruit is attractive to birds Bloom Time: Spring

Cutleaf Coneflower

Tall upright rhizomatous perennial Daisy-like flowers on tall leafy stems Drooping yellow petals form around a brownish-purple cone Three to five deeply lobed mid-green leaves Bloom Time: Midsummer to autumn

Gloriosa Daisy

AKA Rudbeckia gloriosa Biennial or short-lived perennial Pale daisy-like flowers with golden petals surround a central dark cone Rough hairy mid-green lance-shaped leaves, 10 cm long Stem leaves are usually narrower and shorter than the species Bloom Time: Early July to September Flower Height: 100 cm Foliage Height: 70 cm Flower Size: 8 cm

Flowering Raspberry

Fragrant single magenta flowers Small red thimble-shaped fruit Textured five-lobed green leaves turn yellow in the fall Exfoliating canes are upright A good colonizer Bloom Time: Late spring to summer

Alleghany Blackberry

Single white flowers Sweet black thimble-shaped fruit Textured green leaves are usually made up of three leaflets Foliage turns to yellow to red or purple in the fall Thorny canes are upright then arch over to reroot A good colonizer Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Swamp Rose

Fragrant single pink flowers Red fruit persists into the winter Medium green leaves turn dull red in the fall Canes are scattered with bristles, sparse on mature plants Bloom Time: Summer

Pasture Rose

Single pink flowers Red flattened-sphere fruit persists into the winter Rich green leaves turn dull red in the fall Canes are scattered with bristles, sparse on mature plants Bloom Time: Summer

Meadow Rose

Single light pink fragrant flowers Smooth bright red rose hips in July persist into the winter Dull blue-green leaves Old canes are scattered with bristles, new canes thornless with attractive red bark Bloom Time: Spring

Golden Currant

Fragrant yellow flowers attract hummingbirds Small edible yellow fruit ripen to black Pale green leaves emerge early in the spring and turn orange-red in the fall Dense, upright, arching habit Bloom Time: April

Wild Black Currant

Bell-shaped flowers, pale yellow to greenish white Small round fruit, ripening from green to red and finally black Slightly hairy branches and leaves but are identified without thorns Edible fruit, used primarily in Jellies

Staghorn Sumac

Greenish-yellow male and female flowers Clusters of reddish hairy fruit ripen late summer and may persist into the winter Medium-green to dark green compound pinnate leaves are sometimes glossy Fall colour is orange to red, sometimes purple Suckering profusely, it produces colonies of velvety branches Bloom Time: June

Smooth Sumac

Greenish-yellow male and female flowers Clusters of reddish hairy fruit ripen late summer and may persist into the winter Medium-green to dark green compound pinnate leaves are sometimes glossy Fall colour is orange to red, sometimes purple Suckering profusely, it produces a mound of mostly vertical branches Bloom Time: June

Fragrant Sumac

Yellowish male and female flowers appear before the leaves Clusters of reddish hairy fruit ripen late summer and may persist into the winter Medium green to blue-green aromatic soft leaves are sometimes glossy Fall colour is orange to red, sometimes purple Rounded, spreading, irregular habit, re-rooting on contact with the soil Bloom Time: April

Red Oak

Rounded, broad-spreading, often irregular crown Dark green leaves have sharply pointed lobes Insignificant flowers (catkins) are followed by acorns Foliage turns a red-brown in the fall

Pin Oak

Pyramidal, broad, spreading, oval crown Leaves are dark green with deep, sharply pointed lobes Insignificant flowers (catkins) are followed by rounded acorns Foliage turns a deep red in the fall

Chinkapin Oak

Open, broad, rounded crown Narrow, oblong, glossy green leaves with coarse marginal teeth Insignificant flowers (catkins) are followed by oval acorns Fall colours are a pale yellow to brown

Burr Oak

Pyramidal when young, maturing to a broad, spreading, rounded crown Twigs are sometimes ridged with corky "wings" Dark green leaves are leathery with deep round lobes and a distinctive 'waist' Insignificant flowers (catkins) are followed by oval acorns Fall colours are pale yellow to brown

Swamp White Oak

Pyramidal when young, maturing to a broad, rounded crown Leaves are glossy, dark green on top and silvery-white underneath Insignificant flowers (catkins) are followed by oval acorns Fall colours are yellow to shades of reddish-purple

White Oak

Pyramidal when young, maturing to a wide-spreading, rounded crown Leaves have deep rounded lobes, emerging pinkish in the spring, maturing to dark green Insignificant flowers(catkins) are followed by oval acorns Fall colours are brown to shades of dark red

Virginia Mountain Mint

Well-branched, upright habit Terminal clusters of white two-lipped flowers Narrow toothless mid-green leaves 6 cm long Numerous white flowers attract bees, butterflies and small insects seeking the nectar Foliage emits a spearmint fragrance when crushed Most effective when planted in mass Bloom Time: Late July to September

Bracken Fern

Sturdy bright green triangular fronds Found in large patches in wet or dry conditions Single fronds emerge from spreading rhizomes Tolerant of dry soils and full sun Deep rhizomes allow it to survive harsh conditions like fire or floods Poisonous to livestock Deciduous

Common Chokecherry

Small fragrant white or pink flowers emerge simultaneously with the leaves Red to blue to black fruit ripens in July, eaten by birds Semi-glossy green leaves occasionally turn pinkish in the fall Upright, vase-shaped habit Bloom Time: April to May

Black Cherry

Narrow, columnar to rounded crown Pendulous clusters of fragrant white flowers Flowers are followed by red pea-sized cherries, ripening to purple-black Dark green elliptical to ovate leaves turn yellow and rose in the fall Bloom Time: April to May

Pin Cherry, Fire Cherry

Upright habit, forming colonies Burnished-bronze exfoliating bark Clusters of fragrant florets unfold with the leaves Small long-lasting light red sour fruit attracts birds Glossy narrow leaves turn burgundy to brown in the fall A pioneer plant that springs up in a forest after a fell-cutting or a fire Bloom Time: May

American Plum

Upright-broad spreading crown Clusters of white flowers Flowers are followed by small edible round red plums Green summer foliage turns yellow and then to red in the fall Bloom Time: Early spring

Trembling Aspen

Narrow rounded crown, with ascending branches becoming wider with maturity Bark colour is a beautiful silvery-white Nearly round glossy dark green summer leaves Fall leaves are a bright yellow Leaves 'tremble' in the slightest breeze, due to flat leaf stems

Big-toothed Aspen

Open irregular crown with coarse spreading branches Leaves are ovate with a serrated edge, green on top and whitish underneath Drooping catkins are tan coloured at maturity Flowers are followed by pear-shaped seeds with long silky hairs attached to the narrow end Fall foliage is a bright yellow

Eastern Cottonwood

Upright-oval habit Glossy triangular green leaves turn yellow in the fall Dioecious: trees are either male or female, flowering before the leaves appear Male flowers are red and inconspicuous, female flowers are yellow, ripening in the spring Female trees are messy, with 'cotton' drifting Fast-growing Bloom Time: Spring

Balsam Poplar

Narrow pyramidal crown with ascending branches Resinous buds are sticky and strongly aromatic Leaves are ovate: dark green on top, silver underneath Fall foliage is a bright yellow Long pendulous pale yellow-green catkins appear mid-spring

Pickerelweed

Aquatic perennial with glossy green heart-shaped basal leaves Unbranched smooth flower stalks Violet-blue hyacinth-like flowers appear in closely packed terminal spikes Each stalk bears one leaf similar to the basal leaves Produces large colonies Each flower lasts for about one day Bloom Time: Early summer Flower Height: 125 cm Foliage Height: 50 cm

Mayapple

Palmately-lobed mid-green leaves up to 25 cm wide Generally only one leaf per stem, sometimes two Flowers have six to nine white petals with yellow stamens Fragrant flowers are hidden below the foliage Flowers give way to yellowish-green berries May apple spreads by rhizomes to form dense vegetative colonies Bloom Time: May Flower Size: 3.5 cm

Black Spruce

Slow-growing medium-sized evergreen with a narrow spire-like shape Spirally-arranged needles are blue-green and blunt on the ends Descending branches have upturned ends Lower limbs will sweep the ground Makes a good specimen for the front lawn

Obedient Plant

Upright, clumping habit Dense spikes of pink to pale lilac, occasionally white, snapdragon-like flowers Each flower is surrounded by a small leaf-like bract Narrow lance-shaped serrated green leaves Fast-growing and spreads to cover a large area Bloom Time: Midsummer to early fall Flower Height: 125 cm Foliage Height: 110 cm

Common Ninebark

Flat-topped cluster of white flowers Flowers give way to reddish fruit in the fall Green, three-lobed, textured leaves turn yellow in the fall Bark peels in strips, especially on older stems Upright, arching habit Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Virginia Creeper

Small clusters of insignificant greenish-white flowers in early summer Coarse-toothed deep green leaves with 5 leaflets Foliage emerges purplish in the spring, maturing to green Inedible grape-like berries form on deep red stems Vibrant red fall colour Vigorous grower Bloom Time: June