Species List

All Wildflower Grass Shrub Tree
PhotoCommon nameLatin nameCategoryPlant typeFlower colorBloom timeHeightLightNative (ON) Actions
3-lobed Black-eyed Susan 3-lobed Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba Wildflower perennial Numerous small, golden-yellow flowers (about 1–2 inches wide) with dark, chocolate-brown central disks. Mid summer through fall 24-60" Prefers full sun to partial shade. It is more shade-tolerant than the common Black-eyed Susan (R. hirta). Non-native to Ontario
Anise Hyssop Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum perennial Purple Summer through fall 24-48" Full sun to part shade Non-native to Ontario
Big Bluestem Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii Grass perennial Glossy, purplish to reddish-bronze flower clusters. They split into a distinctive three-pronged shape that strongly resembles a turkey's foot. Late summer through fall 48-96" Full sun. It can tolerate partial shade Yes (local)
Black-eyed Susan Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Wildflower perennial Bright yellow petals with a dark brown/black central cone Early summer through early fall 12-36" Full sun; tolerates light shade Yes (local)
Bottlebrush Grass Bottlebrush Grass Elymus hystrix perennial Bright, pale green flower spikes that age to a beautiful straw-coloured tan or light brown by autumn Early to mid-summer 24 - 48" Partial sun to full shade. Unlike the sun-loving prairie giants, this grass is exceptionally shade-tolerant and thrives under a woodland canopy Yes (local)
Canada Columbine Canada Columbine Aquilegia canadensis perennial Striking bicolour blooms with red spurs and yellow centres. The flowers hang downward like delicate bells. Spring through mid summer 12-24" Full sun to part shade Yes (local)
Canada Wild Rye Canada Wild Rye Elymus canadensis Grass perennial Bristly, heavy greenish-gold flower spikes. As the season turns to autumn, the entire plant and its nodding heads fade to a handsome, bronzy, sandy tan Mid to late summer 24-60" Full sun to partial shade. It tolerates a half-day of shade much better than many other prairie grasses Yes (local)
Common Sneezeweed Common Sneezeweed Helenium autumnale perennial Bright yellow daisy-like flowers Late summer through fall 24-48" Full sun Yes (local)
Cut-leaf Coneflower Cut-leaf Coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata perennial Bright yellow daisy-like flowers with distinctive, drooping petals surrounding a prominent pale green central cone that eventually turns brown as seeds ripen. Mid summer through fall 36-72" Full sun to full shade Yes (local)
Downy Wood Mint Downy Wood Mint Blephilia ciliata perennial Pale lavender to light purple Late spring to mid summer 12–24" Full sun to part shade Yes
False Yellow Sorghum False Yellow Sorghum Sorghastrum nutans perennial Airy, feathery golden-yellow to bronze flower plumes highlighted by bright yellow stamens. The seedheads fade to a warm chestnut brown as winter approaches. Late summer through fall 36-60" Full sun. Yes (local)
Foxglove Beardtongue Foxglove Beardtongue Penstemon digitalis perennial White Spring through mid summer 24 - 36" Full sun to part shade Yes (local)
Great Blue Lobelia Great Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica perennial Blue to purple Summer through fall 24-36" Full sun to part shade Yes
Grey-headed Coneflower Grey-headed Coneflower Ratibida pinnata perennial Yellow Summer through early fall 36-60" Prefers full sun (at least 6 hours of direct light) but can tolerate partial shade. Yes
Hair Wood Mint Hair Wood Mint Blephilia hirsuta perennial White Mid summer to early fall 18–36" Part sun to full shade Yes
Hairy Beardtongue Hairy Beardtongue Penstemon hirsutus perennial Mauve & white Spring through mid summer 18-24" Full sun to full shade Yes (local)
Lance-leaved Coreopisis Lance-leaved Coreopisis Coreopsis lanceolata perennial Bright, sunny, yellow flowers with distinctively notched edges on the petals. Late spring through early fall 12-36" Prefers full sun (at least 6 hours of direct light). It can handle very light shade, but too much shade makes the stems weak and floppy. Yes (local)
Lance-leaved Heal All Lance-leaved Heal All Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata perennial Violet to purple Early summer through early fall 4-12" Full sun to part shade Yes (local)
Little Bluestem Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium perennial Purplish-bronze flower spikes Late summer through fall 12-36" Requires full sun. It is highly shade-intolerant; too much shade or overly rich soil causes its stiff stems to lose their structure and flop over. Yes (local)
New England Aster New England Aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae perennial Deep purple to lavender-pink with bright yellow-orange centres that turn reddish-purple with age Late summer through fall 24-48" Full sun but can tolerate light or partial shade. Yes (local)
Nodding Onion Nodding Onion Allium cernuum perennial White to pale lavender Mid to late summer 24 - 36" Full sun to part shade Yes
Obedient Plant Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana perennial Pink, lavender, or white Late summer through fall 24-48" Full sun to part shade. It may get "floppy" and need staking or Chelsea Chop in too much shade. Yes (local)
Pale Corydalis Pale Corydalis Capnoides sempervirens perennial Pink & yellow Spring through early fall 12-36" Full sun to part shade Yes (local)
Pale Purple Coneflower Pale Purple Coneflower Echinacea pallida Wildflower perennial Pale pink to lavender-purple flowers with long, narrow petals that droop downward from a coppery-orange central cone. Summer through early fall 36-60" Full sun Yes
Pearly Everlasting Pearly Everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea perennial White bracts with yellow centers (the "petals" are actually tough, dry, pearl-white bracts surrounding tiny yellow center discs) Mid summer to mid fall 12–24" Full sun to part shade (It produces the most compact, silver-dense growth when grown in full sun.) Yes (local)
Prairie Coneflower Prairie Coneflower Ratibida columnifera perennial Yellow (can be dark red, or bi-colour (red-brown at the base and yellow at the ends) surrounding a long, dark-brown central disk.) Early summer through fall 12-36" Prefers full sun for sturdy growth and prolific flowering, though it can tolerate light shade. Non-native to Ontario
Prairie Dropseed Prairie Dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis perennial Highly unique, open-branching panicles in shades of pinkish-brown, gold, and green Late summer through mid fall 12-16" (flower stalks stand 24-36") Full sun Yes
Prairie Smoke Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum perennial Red to pink Spring with possible second bloom in summer 12" Full sun to part shade Yes
Rough Blazing Star Rough Blazing Star Liatris aspera perennial Purple to lavender (occasionally pinkish) Late summer to early fall 24–48" Full sun to very light shade Yes
Showy Tick Trefoil Showy Tick Trefoil Desmodium canadense perennial Pink to rosy-purple Mid to late summer 24–60" Full sun to part shade Yes (local)
Sky Blue Aster Sky Blue Aster Symphyotrichum oolentangiense perennial Light purple Late summer through fall 24 - 36" Full sun to part shade Yes (local)
Smooth Blue Aster Smooth Blue Aster Symphyotrichum laeve perennial Lavender-blue to violet with yellow centers Late summer to fall 24–48" Full sun to part shade Yes (local)
Spotted Bee Balm Spotted Bee Balm Monarda punctata perennial Pale yellow flowers with purple spots. Surrounded by showy pink to lavender bracts (often mistaken for petals) Mid summer through early fall 12-36" Full sun Yes
Spotted Joe Pye Weed Spotted Joe Pye Weed Eutrochium maculatum perennial Dusty pink to mauve-purple (in large dome-shaped clusters) Mid to early fall 48–84" Full sun to part shade Yes (local)
Swamp Milkweed Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata perennial Pink to rosy-mauve Mid summer to early fall 36–60" Full sun to part shade Yes (local)
Tall Bellflower Tall Bellflower Campanulastrum americanum perennial Light blue to violet Mid to late summer 24–72" Full to part shade. It can tolerate full sun only in cooler climates if the soil remains constantly damp Yes
Upland White Goldenrod Upland White Goldenrod Oligoneuron album (formerlh called Solidago ptarmicoides) perennial White daisy-like flowers with creamy or pale yellow centres Mid summer through early fall 12-24" Full sun but can tolerate light shade Yes (local)
White Prairie Clover White Prairie Clover Dalea candida perennial White Mid summer through early fall 12-36" Full sun but can tolerate light or partial shade. Yes
Wild Bergamot Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa perennial Mauve to pink Spring through mid summer 24-48" Full sun to part shade Yes (local)
Wild Lupine Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis perennial Blue to violet-blue Late spring through early summer 12-24" Full sun; tolerates light shade Yes
Yellow Giant Hyssop Yellow Giant Hyssop Agastache nepetoides perennial Cream, greenish-white Late summer through fall 36-72" Full sun to part shade Yes