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Top North American Native Plants for Southern Ontario Gardens in 2025

Writer's picture: Scott RileyScott Riley

Updated: Nov 17, 2024

Beyond grass and trees, your yard can transform into a vibrant haven with the addition of a garden. In Southern Ontario, the surge in popularity of native plants is due to their adaptability and ecological advantages. Here are some North American native plants to consider adding to your garden this year, infusing your outdoors with a burst of color.


Early Spring Bloomers:


  • Virginia Bluebell: With its nodding, tubular blue flowers, Virginia bluebell is a charming addition to spring gardens. It thrives in partial shade and attracts pollinators.

  • Trillium: This was my father-in-law's favourite flower after roses. He was a horticulturist and an avid gardener. Whether white or red these three-petaled flowers are known for their ephemeral beauty.

trillium native ontario flower

Late Spring to Early Summer Bloomers:

  • Aquilegia: Aquilegia's red and yellow flowers add a splash of color in late spring. It's a favorite of hummingbirds and works well in rock gardens.

  • Wild Geranium: Blooming from late spring to early summer, wild geraniums feature attractive pink to purple flowers. They're suitable for both sunny and partially shaded areas.


Flowers to Attract Pollinators and Butterflies:

  • Purple Coneflower (Echinacea): Purple coneflower is a beloved native perennial known for its striking purple-pink daisy-like flowers. Gardeners appreciate its low maintenance and drought tolerance.

purple coneflower flowers

  • Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia): Black-eyed Susan is a cheerful, bright yellow wildflower commonly seen in Southern Ontario gardens. This native plant is easy to grow and attracts pollinators, making it a popular choice for adding color and biodiversity to gardens.

  • Wild Bergamot (Monarda): Wild bergamot is a native perennial with unique, fragrant lavender-pink flowers. It's a favorite of pollinators and adds a burst of color and aroma to garden beds. The fragrance of wild bergamot is similar to a bergamot orange.

  • New England Aster: New England aster is a late-season bloomer that adds vibrant purples and pinks to fall gardens. This native perennial provides essential nectar for migrating butterflies and supports the local ecosystem. Black-eyed Susan is great to plant alongside asters.

  • Butterfly Weed: Butterfly weed is a must-have for gardeners interested in supporting monarch butterflies. Its bright orange flowers serve as a vital food source for monarch caterpillars. This native plant thrives in dry, sandy soils and is a striking addition to any garden. Named plant of the year by Landscape Ontario in 2017 this flower you can read more here.

Landscape Ontario also has a list of drought-resistant plants, not all native to Ontario but worth mentioning here.


Summer Bloomers and Privacy Plants:

  • Culver's Root: Culver's root produces elegant spikes of white flowers in mid to late summer. Its tall, architectural form makes it an excellent choice for creating privacy as it can grow up to 6 feet tall.

  • Joe-Pye Weed: Joe-Pye weed's pink to purple flower clusters bloom in late summer. It's a robust plant that can be used in rain gardens or for screening and privacy in larger gardens as it can grow up to 7 feet tall.


Late Summer to Fall Blooms:

  • Aromatic Aster: Aromatic aster displays profuse purple-blue flowers in late summer and early fall. It's excellent for attracting bees and other late-season pollinators.

Fall Bloomer and Privacy Plant:

  • Buttonbush: Buttonbush produces spherical white flowers in summer that persist into fall. It's ideal for wet areas and can be used for privacy near water features.

These native plants not only enhance the beauty of Southern Ontario gardens but also contribute to the local ecosystem by providing habitat and food for native wildlife while requiring less water and maintenance compared to non-native species.


If you're looking for a full list of plants check out this great catalog here.


 


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