Native Plants
Native plants are plants that are natural to a specific area, unlike non-native plants that have generally been introduced to the area for agricultural or horticultural reasons. Native plants have thrived in the area for centuries and have developed alongside native soils, climate, animals, fungi, and bacteria. Native plant species are best able to support native animals and insects because they have evolved together. Some insects rely on specific native plants, such as the monarch butterfly, which relies on milkweed during the caterpillar stage. Non-native plants do not provide animals and insects with the same level of nourishment.
Check out our guides to the Top Ten Native Plants for each region:
Top Ten Native Plants for Atlantic Canada
Top Ten Native Plants for the Prairies
Top Ten Native Plants for Western Canada
Top Ten Native Plants for Northern Canada
Top Ten Native Plants for Ontario & Quebec
Check out the links below for more information on how you can support native plants:
Canada-wide
Atlantic Canada
Native Shrubs of Prince Edward Island
Native Plants of Newfoundland and Labrador
Ontario & Quebec
Grow Me Instead: Landscape Ontario
Landscaping with Native Plants: Landscape Ontario
A Guide to Local Native Plants: Essex Region Conservation Authority
Native Plant List for Breeding Birds: Credit Valley Conservation
Native Plant List for Migrating Birds: Credit Valley Conservation
Native Prairie and Meadow Plants for Landscaping: Credit Valley Conservation
Native Woodland Plants for Landscaping: Credit Valley Conservation
Native Plants for your Garden: Credit Valley Conservation
Shoreline Restoration Using Native Plants: Haliburton County Master Gardeners
Wildflowers - Native Species: Ontario Wildflowers
Québec Native Plants: Espace pour la vie Montréal
Prairies
Grow Me Instead - MB: The Invasive Species Council of Manitoba
Grow Me Instead - SK: Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan
Native Alberta Plants: Grower Direct
Native Plants for Bees & Butterflies: Edmonton Native Plant Society
Western Canada
Native Plant Species - BC: BC Nature
Native Plant Adoption: Kootenay Native Plant Society
Pick-A-Plant: Grow Green Metro Vancouver
Gardening with Native Plants: Fraser Valley Conservancy
Grow Me Instead - BC: BC Invasives
Northern Canada
Grow Me Instead - Yukon: Yukon Invasive Species Council
