A PETERBOROUGH GREEN-UP FACT SHEET

LANDSCAPE Native Plants

Native plants are an important part of our natural heritage. They have adapted to our soils and
climate, and they provide homes and shelter to many other types of life. This in turn fosters a healthy,
balanced ecosystem which is more resistant to damage by pests and diseases. Plants that
have evolved in southern Ontario do not disrupt local ecology in the way that some
exotic plants from other continents can. Purple loosestrife is a well-known example
of an exotic plant that can damage natural communities.

Welcoming native plants back into our yards is

also a way of showing our pride in the
Peterborough area – a celebration of its unique
beauty. Did you know that the Peterborough
region historically contained woodland,
wetland as well as prairie plants?
Of course not all native plants will survive in all
areas of Peterborough County. Some are suited
to wet areas, woodlands, clay soils, or sandy
sites. Peterborough is situated near the edge of
the Canadian Shield – an area scoured by
historic glaciation. Land on the Shield is
typically underlain with granite, and soils are
thin and acidic. These areas support different Sources of Native Plants
types of native plants than the deeper, alkaline Ask for native plants at your local garden centre.
soils in the southern parts of Peterborough Make sure that the plants you purchase have
County which are underlain with limestone been nursery-propagated. Never dig plants from
bedrock. Becoming familiar with native plants the wild – damaging a natural area to obtain
and restoring them to local landscapes is a very plants is not acceptable. Many sources of native
satisfying way to build community health! plants are becoming available. A few to try
include:
Peterborough Ecology Park. A good selection
of native plants available throughout the
growing season, many from locally-collected
Local Sites to Visit seed. On-site native tree nursery and display
Jackson Park gardens with interpretive signage. Visitors
(Parkhill and Monaghan Rd., Peterborough). welcome. Call (705) 745-3238 for information.
An excellent example of a white pine forest Peterborough County Stewardship Council.
and natural shoreline along Jackson Creek. Can provide native trees and shrubs for rural
Mark S. Burnham Provincial Park landowners. A good resource for tallgrass prairie
(Hwy #7, east of Peterborough). information. (705) 755-1951.
A fine example of a maple/beech/hemlock Richardson Farms, Pontypool. Wholesale
(705) 745-3238 forest with many native wildflowers. supplier of many native trees and shrubs
Rainbow Cottage Resort (bareroot stock). (705) 277-2312.
(Otonabee River at Rice Lake). Society for Ecological Restoration. Produces a
A large tallgrass prairie restoration project; catalogue of native plant growers in Ontario.
tours available. (705) 939-6995 www.serontario.org (705) 748-1634
 • NATIVE PLANTS •

Some Native Plants of the Peterborough Region

EVERGREEN TREES SHRUBS FORBS (Wildflowers)
Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) Alternate-leaf Dogwood Anemone (Anemone canadensis)
– tolerant of partial shade (Cornus alternifolia) – creeping shoreline groundcover
Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) – shade tolerant woodland shrub Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
– tolerant of shade, sensitive to Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) – drought-tolerant, orange flowers
wind – very hardy, sour edible cherries Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Red Pine (Pinus resinosa) Common Elderberry – early blooming woodland plant
– prefers acidic soil (Sambuccus canadensis) Blue Iris (Iris versicolor)
White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) – fast growing, birds love berries
– common shoreline plant
– tolerates wide range of Common Juniper (Juniperus communis)
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
conditions – very drought tolerant
– brilliant orange blossoms, dry soil
White Pine (Pinus strobus) Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica)
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
– tree of Ontario, fast-growing – low shrub, drought tolerant
– red blooms, damp soil or shade
White Spruce (Picea glauca) Grey Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
– drought-tolerant shrub, berries for Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
– hardy, drought-tolerant tree
birds – needs shade, white blossoms early
spring
DECIDUOUS TREES Highbush Cranberry
(Viburnum trilobum) Goldenrod (Solidago sp.)
Basswood (Tilia americana) – common fall bloomer, many
– fast growing, shade tolerant – tolerant of damp soil, berries for
birds species
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
– great wildlife tree, now
– dry or wet soil, berries for birds – damp soil or shade, blue blossoms
uncommon
Red Osier Dogwood Heath Aster (Aster ericoides)
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
(Cornus stolonifera) – white blossoms, drought-tolerant
– excellent city tree
– red branches, great shoreline Helen’s Flower (Helenium autumnale)
Red Maple (Acer rubrum) shrub
– prefers acidic soil – tall, fall bloomer, wet or dry soil
Serviceberry (Amelanchier sp.) Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
Red Oak (Quercus rubra) – birds love berries, drought-tolerant
– prefers acidic soil – woodland plant
Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum) Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum)
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) – similar to Red Osier, blooms later
– fast growing, tolerates damp soil – wetland plant, pink/purple
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) blooms
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) – fast growing, grows from root
– not tolerant of pollution Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)
suckers, full sun – early spring, wetland plant
Tamarack (Larix laricina) Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris)
– tolerant of damp soil New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae)
– small single flowers, dry or wet
White Ash (Fraxinus americana) – fall bloomer, purple flowers
soil
– excellent city tree Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
White Birch (Betula papyrifera) – pink blooms, wetland plant
GRASSES
– fast growing, hardy tree Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) White Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
– indicator of tallgrass prairie – drought tolerant, June bloomer
VINES ecosystem, full sun White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) – familiar woodland plant
– climbing vine with colourful – beautiful golden seed heads Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
berries Little Bluestem – pale mauve blossoms, drought-
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus (Schizachyrium scoparium) tolerant
quinquefolia) – low grass, reddish in fall Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
– birds love berries, shade tolerant Side-oats Grama – woodland wildflower, June
Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana) (Bouteloua curtipendula) blooms
– fluffy, decorative seed heads – very drought-tolerant, full sun Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)
Wild Grape (Vitis riparia) Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) – woodland groundcover for acid
– clusters of sour, edible berries – tall, decorative airy seed heads soil

Supported by:
www.greenup.on.ca (705) 745-3238 City of Peterborough Peterborough Utilities Services
greenup@greenup.on.ca Fax (705) 745-4413 County of Peterborough Ontario Trillium Foundation