What are Native Plants?

You might be wondering, what are native plants? Native plants are plants which grew here naturally for thousands of years and were here prior to European contact. Most traditional garden plants are not native to North America, and don’t provide good food for our pollinators. Insects evolved with our native plants and depend on them for food and habitat. Many of the plants you may find in a traditional garden centre are not native to North America, especially to Northwestern Ontario. Native Plants are difficult to find in traditional nurseries, sadly.

Lawns also are not native and in fact were only introduced to North America in the last century. Lawns are comprised of non-native grasses and provide very little benefit to the natural world. Gardens filled with native plants provide far more benefits. A garden with native plants provides food for insects which in turn provide food for our birds.

Why Native Plants?

• Native plants are better and healthier sources of food for pollinators such as bumblebees, butterflies, and moths than non-native plants
• Native plants help restore biodiversity of flora and fauna
• Native plants are specially suited to Northwestern Ontario climate and weather
• Native plants can help with stormwater runoff and flooding
• Native plants reduce the need for watering
• Native plants are positive solutions to environmental challenges and climate change

Examples of NWO Native Plants