Every garden is unique, from the amount of sunlight received each day to the soil composition and moisture levels. Knowing these factors will help you pick plants that will work for your garden.
We can't provide a one-size-fits-all list of native plants for your garden, but we can start you in the right direction! We've put together lists of common spring, summer, and fall blooms, grasses and sedges, shrubs, and trees. There are also recommendations from two local experts. |
Additional Plant Lists
Hamilton resides within the Carolinian zone and is a biodiversity hotspot. Our unique climate and geography allow both southern and northern species to thrive. At the beginning of your native plant gardening journey it can be overwhelming to know what is and isn't native. In addition to the lists above we have provided links to reliable, trusted sources that will help guide your plant selections.
Credit Valley Conservation Authority (CVC)
Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests (LEAF)
Unless you live within Toronto, York Regions, or some parts of Durham region you won't be able to order plant kits from LEAF, but you can use their plant lists as inspiration for your own garden!
- Native Plant Gardening in the Golden Horseshoe (Paul O'Hara, Blue Oak Native Landscapes)
- Native Plants for Bees, Wasps, Beneficial Insects, and More (Heather Holm)
- Pollinator Plants: Great Lakes Region (Xerces Society)
- Selecting Plants for Pollinators: Lake Erie Lowlands (Pollinator Partnership Canada)
- The Best Native Plants for Toronto Gardens (City of Toronto)
- Native Butterfly Host and Nectar Plants (Carolinian Canada)
- A Flower Patch for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee: Creating Habitat Gardens for Native Pollinators in the GTA (Friends of the Earth Canada)
Credit Valley Conservation Authority (CVC)
- Native Plants for Pollinators
- Prairie and Meadow Plants for Landscaping (Sun/Part Sun)
- Woodland Plants for Landscaping (Part Sun/Shade)
Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests (LEAF)
Unless you live within Toronto, York Regions, or some parts of Durham region you won't be able to order plant kits from LEAF, but you can use their plant lists as inspiration for your own garden!