Recommended Native Wildflowers & Grasses for Naturalization Projects & Gardens in the Upper Thames River Watershed

The following herbaceous plant species are native to southwestern Ontario and are suitable for planting in the Upper Thames River watershed (Middlesex, Oxford and Perth Counties). These plants are adapted to the local climate and insect life and are hardier than non-native or horticultural species. All species listed may be available at nurseries that sell native plants (see “Southwestern Ontario Nurseries that Sell Native Plants & Seeds” at www.thamesriver.on.ca).

(R) – Rare in Ontario (S1 to S3 ranking), mainly due to habitat loss (A) – Aggressive and able to spread rapidly

Full Sun, Moist to Dry Soil Pycnanthemum virginianum Virginia Mountain-mint (Meadows, Prairies) Ratibida pinnata Grey-headed Coneflower (R) Rudbeckia hirta Black-eyed Susan Solidago nemoralis Gray Goldenrod Flowering Herbaceous Plants Solidago patula Rough-leaved Goldenrod Asclepias syriaca Common Milkweed Solidago rugosa Rough-stemmed Goldenrod Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly Milkweed Symphyotrichum laevis Smooth Aster Coreopsis lanceolata Lance-leaved Coreopsis Symphyotrichum novae-angliae New England Aster Desmodium canadense Showy Tick-trefoil Symphyotrichum oolentangiensis Sky Blue Aster Euphorbia corollata Flowering Spurge Verbena stricta Hoary Vervain Fragaria virginiana Wild Strawberry Vernonia gigantica (altissima) Tall Ironweed (R)(A) Helenium autumnale Sneezeweed Veronicastrum virginicum Culver’s Root (R)(A) Helianthus divaricatus Woodland Sunflower (A) Helianthus giganteus Tall Sunflower (A) Grasses Heliopsis helianthoides False Sunflower, Sweet Ox-Eye (A) Andropogon gerardii Big Bluestem Lespedeza capitata Round-headed Bush-clover Calamagrostis canadensis Canada Bluejoint Lobelia siphilitica Great Lobelia Elymus canadensis Canada Wild Rye Monarda fistulosa Wild Bergamot Elymus virginiana Virginia Wild Rye Oenothera biennis Common Evening-primrose Panicum virgatum Switch Grass Penstemon digitalis Foxglove Beard-tongue Schizachryrium scoparium Little Bluestem Penstemon hirsutus Hairy Beardtongue Sorghastrum nutans Indian Grass

Full Sun, Wet Soil Sedges and Rushes (Wetlands) Carex bebbii Bebb’s Sedge Carex stipata Awl-fruited Sedge Carex comosa Bottlebrush Sedge Herbaceous Plants Carex vulpinoidea Fox Sedge Anemone canadensis Canada Anemone Eleocharis obtuse Blunt Spike-rush Asclepias incarnate Swamp Milkweed Juncus balticus Baltic Rush Caltha palustris Marsh Marigold Juncus torreyi Torrey’s Rush Chelone glabra Turtlehead Scirpus pungens Common Three-square Bulrush Eupatorium maculatum Joe-Pye-Weed Eupatorium perfoliatum Boneset Impatiens capensis Spotted Jewelweed Grasses Calamagrostis canadensis Canada Bluejoint Iris versicolor Blue-flag Iris Elymus riparius Riverbank Rye Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower Glyceria striata Fowl Manna Grass Lobelia siphilitica Great Lobelia Leersia oryzoides Rice Cut Grass Lysimachia ciliata Fringed Loosestrife Poa palustris Fowl Meadow Grass Mimulus ringens Square-stemmed Monkey-flower Spartina pectinata Prairie Cord Grass Monarda didyma Red Bee Balm Panicum virgatum Switch Grass Rudbeckia laciniata Green-headed Coneflower Sisyrinchium montanum Common Blue-eyed Grass Thalictrum pubescens Tall Meadow-rue Aquatics (Pond Plants) Verbena hastata Blue Vervain Alisma plantago-aquatica Water Plantain Vernonia gigantium (altissima) Tall Ironweed (R)(A) Calia palustris Water Arum, Wild Calla Elodea canadensis Waterweed Nuphor lutea variegata Yellow Pond Lily Nymphaea odorata Sweet-scented White Water Lily Polygonum amphibium Water Smartweed Rumex orbiculatus Great Water Dock Sagittaria latifolia Arrowhead, Duck Potato, Wapato Sparganium eurycarpum Large-fruited Burreed Typha latifolia Common Cattail (A)

1 Full to Partial Shade, Moist Soil Maianthemum racemosum False Solomon’s Seal (Forest interior) Podophyllum peltatum Mayapple Polygonatum pubescens Solomon’s Seal Sanguinaria canadensis Bloodroot Flowering Herbaceous Plants Solidago caesia Blue-stemmed Goldenrod Actaea rubra Red Baneberry Solidago flexicalis Zig-zag Goldenrod Actaea pachypoda White Baneberry Thalictrum dioicum Early Meadow Rue Anemone quinquefolia Wood Anemone Tiarella cordifolia Foam Flower Aquilegia canadensis Wild Columbine Viola spp. Violets Arisaema tripyllum Jack-in-the-Pulpit Asarum canadense Wild Ginger Ferns Geranium maculatum Wild Geranium Athyrium filix-femina Lady Fern Hepatica acutiloba Hepatica Matteuccia struthiopteris Ostrich Fern Lilium michiganese Michigan Lily Onoclea sensibilis Sensitive Fern

Notes Helpful References ∙ Lists compiled by UTRCA staff, updated 2018. ∙ Grow Wild: Native Plant Gardens in Canada. Lorraine Johnson. ∙ Many additional native species that occur locally are not listed here Random House. because they are hard to source from nurseries. ∙ Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Lawrence Newcomb. Little, Brown and ∙ Horticultural varieties of native plants from commercial nurseries are Company. often acceptable as single plantings in urban gardens, but not for ∙ North American Native Plant Society, www.nanps.org naturalization or reforestation projects. ∙ Planting the Seed: A Guide to Establishing Prairie and Meadow ∙ Unknown plants and cultivated varieties should not be used in Communities in Southern Ontario. Environment Canada, 2000. Kim naturalization projects. Delaney, Paul Morris, Gail Rhynard, Lindsay Rodger and P. Allen Woodliffe. Copies can be obtained from Tallgrass Ontario, www. Additional Information at www.thamesriver.on.ca tallgrassontario.org ∙ Recommended Native Trees, Shrubs and Vines for Naturalization Projects in the Upper Thames River Watershed ∙ Tallgrass Prairie Plant Species Native to Middlesex, Oxford & Perth ∙ Gardening with Native Plants ∙ Aggressive Non-Native Plants ∙ Southwestern Ontario Nurseries that Sell Native Plants & Seeds ∙ Butterfly Larvae Host Food Plants

The following southwestern Ontario nurseries sell some or specialize in locally native plants. List compiled by UTRCA staff, updated April 2019. Name & Address Phone Email & Website Plant Types Carried Retail/Wholesale The Blooming Bog [email protected] Some aquatics, 519-666-0132 Retail 22049 Hyde Park Road N, Ilderton www.bloomingbog.com herbaceous Heeman’s Some native trees, 519-461-1416 www.heeman.ca Retail 20422 Nissouri Road, Thorndale shrubs Moore Water Gardens [email protected] 519-782-4052 Some native aquatics Retail 4683 Sunset Road, Port Stanley www.moorewatergardens.com Ontario NativeScape - a division of [email protected] Rural Lambton Stewardship Network 519-809-5759 Herbaceous, seeds Wholesale www.ontarionativescape.com 6890 Baseline Road, Wallaceburg Ontario Seed Company Ltd. 519-886-2990 [email protected] Herbaceous seeds Retail 16 King Street South, Waterloo 519-886-0557 www.oscseeds.com Orange Dog Native Plants Herbaceous, wetland, 416-704-3971 www.orangedognativeplants.com Online Retail Forestville (online only) trees, shrubs Sassafras Farms [email protected] Herbaceous, trees, 905-658-8907 Retail + Wholesale 120 Canby Street, Port Robinson www.sassafrasfarms.ca shrubs, seeds St. Williams Nursery & Ecology Centre 519-586-9116 [email protected] Herbaceous,seeds, Wholesale 885 Highway 24 West, St. Williams 1-866-640-8733 www.stwilliamsnursery.com trees, shrubs Verbinnen’s Nursery Ltd. [email protected] Trees, shrubs, 905-659-7072 Wholesale 1504 Brock Road, Dundas (Hamilton) www.verbinnens.com herbaceous Windover Nurseries [email protected] Several native trees, 519-882-0120 Retail + Wholesale 3662 Petrolia Line, Petrolia www.windovernurseries.com shrubs, plants

Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (519) 451-2800 • [email protected] • www.thamesriver.on.ca 2