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Member of
Canadian Nursery Landscape Association
Member of
Landscape Ontario
since 1989
Over 25 years in business
Why Plant a Native Plants?
When choosing trees, shrubs and garden plants for your property, it is important to understand the difference between native and non-native species. “Native” plants are those that evolved in Ontario and have adapted to the regional climate, soils and wildlife. “Non-native” species were introduced purposefully or accidentally during European settlement to North America. They are also referred to as "alien" species. Although they can be very beautiful, non-native species tend to be invasive and may alter the ecosystem of an area. They out-compete native plants and can be less adapted, over the long term, for survival in the landscape.
Why grow native plants? Native plants do not need artificial pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Natural controls like insects or disease exist to curb their growth, unlike the non-natives. Native plants are familiar to local wildlife and provide natural habitat for birds and butterflies.
Because they have evolved to the local conditions, native plants are usually easier to grow than non-natives. Native plants conserve water and once established, require water only in the worst droughts.
Native trees tend to leaf out late in the spring, allowing native spring wildflowers enough time to flower before they are shaded over. A non-native tree such as the popular Norway Maple (Acer platenoides) leafs out early and has a very dense canopy which shades out most plants from its understory. This can create soil erosion problems. You may notice that grass grows sparsely under some maple trees in your yard. Look carefully, and you will likely discover they are Norway maples. These trees may look like native maples, but they are highly invasive, scattering hundreds of seeds that sprout every spring into new trees. If allowed to propagate unchecked, Norway maples will devastate a forest.
Our local farmers are very familiar with Glossy Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) and Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), two extremely invasive alien trees in Georgina. They were brought from Europe in the mid-1800s to be used as hedges and shelter belts and were sold in nurseries until the 1930s. Buckthorn is a thorny, fast-growing tree that quickly takes over and displaces native species with its dense shade. Buckthorn degrades wildlife habitat and threatens the future of forests, wetlands and prairies.
Some of the best known native trees that grow well in Georgina are Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), Red Maple (Acer rubrum), Burr Oak (Quercus macrocarpa), Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), Canadian Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis).
Ontario is home to 1,930 native plants. The Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia humifusa) and Cucumber Magnolia (Magnolia acuminata) are two rare, but native plants to Ontario.
Visit your local garden centre and ask for their expert help in selecting native species that will be right for your property.
Denise Sheedy
denise@living-landscapes.ca
Denise Sheedy is a gardening enthusiast in Georgina
Denise Sheedy
Living Landscapes
7130 Old Homestead Road
RR#1 Pefferlaw, Ontario L0E 1N0
Tel: 905-722-9569
Email:denise@living-landscapes.ca