native plants... from the north... for the north.
Plants for the ecological gardener.
What are native plants?
You might be wondering, what are native plants? Native plants are plants which grew here naturally for thousands of years and were here prior to European contact. Most traditional garden plants are not native to North America, and don't provide good food for our pollinators. Insects evolved with our native plants and depend on them for food and habitat. Many of the plants you may find in a traditional garden centre are not native to North America, especially to northwestern Ontario. Native plants are difficult to find in traditional nurseries sadly.
Native plants are also not wildflowers. Many of the species you might see growing on roadsides are, in fact, introduced species from Europe that have naturalized in Canada. Daisies. Russell lupines. Hawkweed. Many of the grasses. They have all been introduced and naturalized, often to the detriment of our native plants.
Lawns also are not native and in fact were only introduced to North America in the last century. Lawns are comprised of non-native grasses and provide very little benefit to the natural world. Gardens filled with native plants provide far more benefits. A garden with native plants provides food for insects which in turn provide food for our birds.
Native plants are also not wildflowers. Many of the species you might see growing on roadsides are, in fact, introduced species from Europe that have naturalized in Canada. Daisies. Russell lupines. Hawkweed. Many of the grasses. They have all been introduced and naturalized, often to the detriment of our native plants.
Lawns also are not native and in fact were only introduced to North America in the last century. Lawns are comprised of non-native grasses and provide very little benefit to the natural world. Gardens filled with native plants provide far more benefits. A garden with native plants provides food for insects which in turn provide food for our birds.
Why native plants?
- native plants are better and healthier sources of food for pollinators such as bumblebees, butterflies, and moths than non-native plants
- native plants help restore biodiversity of flora and fauna
- native plants are specially suited to northwestern Ontario climate and weather
- native plants can help with stormwater runoff and flooding
- native plants reduce the need for watering
- native plants are positive solutions to environmental challenges and climate change
Native plants and near native plants
We grow both native and near native plants. Native plants are those plants that grow specifically in northwestern Ontario in the boreal forest ecoregion. Near native plants are plants that might grow a bit farther away like more to the west of Thunder Bay or perhaps south, and not specifically in the boreal forest ecoregion. However, our pollinators recognize near native plants and benefit tremendously from them. All of our plants are native to Ontario and are hardy to zone 3. They are all grown outdoors from seed, so by the time they come to you, they have already been experiencing the climate and weather conditions of northwestern Ontario.
