An Albertan Plant Journal By Traci Berg Disclaimer *My plant journal lists over 70 species that are commonly used in landscaping and gardening in Calgary, Alberta, which is listed by Natural Resources Canada as a 4a zone as of 2010. These plants were documented over several plant walks at the University of Calgary and at Eagle Lake Nurseries in September and October of 2018. My plant journal is by no means exclusive; there are plenty of native and non-native species that are thriving in Southern Alberta, and are not listed here. This journal is simply meant to serve as both a personal study tool and reference guide for selecting plants for landscaping. * All sketches and imagery in this plant journal are © Tessellate: Craft and Cultivations by Traci Berg and may not be used without the artist’s permission. Thank you, enjoy! Table of Contents Adoxaceae Family 1 Viburnum lantana “Wayfaring Tree” 1 Viburnum trilobum “High Bush Cranberry” 1 Anacardiaceae Family 2 Rhus typhina x ‘Bailtiger’ “Tiger Eyes Sumac” 2 Asparagaceae Family 3 Polygonatum odoratum “Solomon’s Seal” 3 Hosta x ‘June’ “June Hosta” 3 Betulaceae Family 4 Betula papyrifera ‘Clump’ “Clumping White/Paper Birch” 4 Betula pendula “Weeping Birch” 4 Berberidaceae Family 5 Berberis thunbergii “Japanese Barberry” 5 Caprifoliaceae Family 5 Symphoricarpos albus “Snowberry” 5 Cornaceae Family 6 Cornus alba “Ivory Halo/Silver Leaf Dogwood” 6 Cornus stolonifera/sericea “Red Osier Dogwood” 6 Cupressaceae Family 7 Juniperus communis “Common Juniper” 7 Juniperus horizontalis “Creeping/Horizontal Juniper” 7 Juniperus sabina “Savin Juniper” 8 Thuja occidentalis “White Cedar” 8 Elaegnaceae Family 9 Shepherdia canadensis “Russet Buffaloberry” 9 Elaeagnus commutata “Wolf Willow/Silverberry” 9 Fabaceae Family 10 Caragana arborscens “Weeping Caragana” 10 Caragana pygmea “Pygmy Caragana” 10 Fagaceae Family 11 Quercus macrocarpa “Bur Oak” 11 Grossulariaceae Family 12 Ribes alpinum “Alpine Currant” 12 Hydrangeaceae Family 12 Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ “Pee Gee Hydrangea” 13 Philadelphus sp. “Mockorange Species” 13 Lamiaceae Family 14 Perovsika atriplicifolia “Russian Sage” 14 Malvaceae Family 15 Tilia cortada “Little Leaf Linden” 15 Oleaceae Family 16 Fraxinus pennsylvanica “Green Ash” 16 Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’ “Dwarf Korean Lilac” 17 Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’ “Japanese Tree/Ivory Silk Lilac” 17 Syringa vulgaris “Common Lilac” 18 Pinaceae Family 19 Larix sibrica “Siberian Larch” 19 Picea glauca “White Spruce” 20 Picea pungens “Colorado Blue/Green Spruce” 20 Pinus arisata “Bristlecone Pine” 21 Pinus cembra “Swiss Stone Pine” 21 Pinus contorta var. latioflia “Lodgepole Pine” 22 Pinus mugo “Mugo Pine” 22 Pinus ponderosa “Ponderosa Pine” 23 Pinus sylvestris “Scots Pine” 24 Pinus unicata “Mountain Pine” 24 Poaceae Family 25 Bouteloua gracilis “Blue Gramma Grass” 25 Festuca ovina glauca ‘Elijah Blue’ “Elijah Blue Fescue” 25 Ranuncilaceae Family 26 Aconitum napellus “Monkshood” 26 Rosaceae Family 27 Amelanchier alnifolia “Saskatoon/Serviceberry” 27 Cotoneaster x ‘Hessei’ “Creeping Cotoneaster” 27 Cottoneaster lucidus “Hedge/European Cottoneaster” 28 Crataegus x mordenedsis “Morden Hawthorn” 28 Malus x ‘Makamik’ “Makamik Flowering Crabapple” 29 Physocarpus opulifolius “Diablo Ninebark” 29 Potentilla fruticosa “Shrubby Cinquefoil/Potentilla” 30 Prunus maackii “Armur Cherry” 30 Prunus padus var. commutata “Mayday” 31 Prunus virginiana ‘Schubert’ “Schubert Chokecherry” 31 Pyrus ussuriensis “Ussurian Pear” 32 Rosa acicularis “Prickly Rose” 33 Rosa x ‘Morden Sunrise’ “Morden Sunrise Rose” 33 Sobaria sorbifolia “False Spirea” 34 Sorbus americana “American Mountain Ash” 34 Spiraea x arguta “Garland Spirea” 35 Salicaceae Family 36 Populus balsamifera “Balsam Poplar” 36 Populus tremula ‘Erecta’ “Swedish Columnar Aspen” 37 Populus tremuloides “Trembling Aspen” 37 Populus x canadensis ‘Prairie Sky’ “Prairie Sky Poplar” 38 Salix brachycarpa ‘Blue Fox’ “Blue Fox Willow” 38 Salix exigua “Coyote Willow” 39 Sapindaceae Family 40 Acer ginnala “Amur Maple” 40 Acer negundo “Manitoba Maple” 40 Aesculus glabra “Ohio Buckeye” 41 Ulmaceae Family 41 Ulmus americana “American Elm” 41 Vitaceae Family 42 Parthenocissus quinqefolia “Virginia Creeper” 42 About the Artist 43 Legend Native species Spring feature Reclamation Full sun Summer feature Shelterbelt/windbreak Shade Fall feature Hedging Partial Shade Winter feature Ground Cover Low water needs Edible fruits Mass Planting High water needs Attracts beneficial species Showy flowers Suckers/Rhizomes Tolerates urban conditions Specimen/accent plant Adoxaceae Family Flowering plants characterized by opposite toothed leaves, small 5 or 4-petaled flowers and drupes (stone fruit). Viburnum lantana “Wayfaring Tree” Non-native species, truly more of a shrub. Rough foliage with simple, opposite, serrated leaves with beautiful red and orange colour in the fall. Grows to 1 – 3m. Clusters of white flowers in spring producing red berries which turn black in fall. Fruits provide excellent forage for birds. Viburnum trilobum “High Bush Cranberry” Hardy, shade-tolerant non-native species. Grows to 3m+ with dense, lush foliage, making a lovely backdrop. Leaves have 3 lobes. White flowers in the spring producing edible red fruits in late summer which are attractive to birds. Not susceptible to suckering. 1 Anacardiaceae Family Flowering trees or shrubs which bear fruit. Flowers grow at the end of branches or stems where leaves join. Small resin canals in bark produce poisonous resin or sap. Rhus typhina x ‘Bailtiger’ “Tiger Eyes Sumac” Multi-stemmed Sumac cultivar with green foliage turns gold and then into orange and red throughout the seasons. Leaves are pinnately compound. Grows to approximately 6ft and can live for 40+ years. Does well in full sun to partial shade and is highly tolerant of urban conditions. Good for mass planting. 2 Asparagaceae Family Once clumped in with the Liliaceae family, these flowering perennials are linked primarily by genetic relationships rather than physical characteristics. Polygonatum odoratum “Solomon’s Seal” Non-native perennial, the roots of which traditionally valued for a wide array of medicinal uses. Hanging bell shaped white flowers in spring to summer followed by sparse red to black fruit. Spreads by rhizomes. Does well in shade, but will tolerate partial sun. Very attractive in woodland gardens. Fruit, leaves and stems are poisonous and should not be consumed. Hosta x ‘June’ “June Hosta” Dense perennial with heart-shaped golden-green leaves variegated with darker margins. Lavender flowers on tall stalks in summer. Good for mass planting or ground cover. 3 Betulaceae Family Includes trees and shrubs with simple, toothed alternate leaves. Veins are notably pinnate, and bark is commonly interrupted by lenticels. Species are monoecious (male and female catkins grow on the same plant). Betula papyrifera ‘Clump’ “Clumping White/Paper Birch” Non-native clumping tree species with peeling “paper” bark. Grows to approximately 10m tall. Leaves are alternate, simple and ovate. Lenticels typically observed on trunks. Sensitive species subject to leaf miner. Has the tendency to darken underlying cement, so it is best to plant away from sidewalks and concrete structures. Betula pendula “Weeping Birch” Non-native tree species with hanging “pendulum” leaves. May suffer from significant dieback due to stress and disease. Suspect braches may be assessed with a touch test; cooler feeling branches may be still living whereas branches that are warmer to the touch are likely dead and should be cut back. 4 Berberidaceae Family Family of herbs and shrubs with alternate, simple or pinnately compound leaves. Berberis thunbergii “Japanese Barberry” Non-native multi-stemmed hedging shrub. Foliage may be yellow, green or purple. Small yellow flowers in spring followed by red berries in fall. Grows to a maximum of 2m. Sharp barbs prevent pedestrian traffic through hedges! Caprifoliaceae Family Also known as the Honeysuckle family. Consist of mostly cool-weather tolerant woody, flowering plants with opposite leaves. Symphoricarpos albus “Snowberry” Native shrub species highly tolerant to our climate. Grows 0.5 – 1.5m in height. Pinkish-white flowers in the spring with white berries in the winter. Excellent for mass planting, even grows well under conifer species. 5 Cornaceae Family Characterized by opposite leaves with strong, parallel veining and showy bracts. Clusters of small white flowers. Cornus alba “Ivory Halo/Silver Leaf Dogwood” Non-native dwarf variety shrub. Prefers shaded areas and stays compact (does not spread out by suckers) Variegated whitish or “silver” leaves, red bark and clusters of white flowers producing small white berries in late spring. Cornus stolonifera/sericea “Red Osier Dogwood” Native species with distinguishing red wood that persists through winter, striking against the snow! Clusters of creamy white flowers in spring produce round whitish berries in late summer to autumn. 6 Cupressaceae Family Evergreen trees and shrubs with slender scaly leaves. Bark of mature species is often flakey and peels away in vertical strips. Male and female cones are separate. Juniperus communis “Common Juniper” Less ‘scaly’ in appearance than other Junipers with waxy coating on needles. Cones are berry-like in appearance, starting out initially green and ripening to purplish-black with waxy-blue coating. Juniperus horizontalis “Creeping/Horizontal Juniper” Juniper with spreading branches making it ideal for groundcover and mass planting. Extremely