Native Plant Nursery
As awareness grows about the ecological harm caused by many non-native plants in the horticulture industry, demand for native plants has never been higher. We’ve launched a small native plant nursery to help meet the growing demand and support biodiversity in our region.
The pink flowers of Asclepias incarnata, or swamp milkweed, are irresistible to this giant swallowtail butterfly.
The shift to native plant gardening
Invasive plants are still being used by designers, are still being produced by nurseries and are still being installed by landscapers - but homeowners are learning more about their ecosystems and how everything depends on the bottom level of the food chain: PLANTS.
They’re waking up to the fact that most of the plants in their landscapes are non-native and aren’t providing adequate support for the wildlife that depends on them - the butterflies, bees, moths, fireflies, crickets, salamanders, toads, frogs, birds … etc etc etc!
They’re realizing that their beloved ground covers (like periwinkle) and shrubs (like burning bush) are spreading to natural areas and are destroying the forest’s ability to regenerate itself.
No one wants to have that kind of responsibility weighing on their shoulders.
Communities are getting together and forming invasive plant armies; coordinating efforts to rid their shared spaces of dog-strangling vine, European buckthorn and garlic mustard - all plants that were brought to North America from other parts of the world and have been causing problems ever since.
A collection of spring plants.
They’re choosing to replace these destructive or ecologically-useless plants with productive, supportive native plants - and suppliers are having trouble keeping up with the demand!
We’ve been growing a small selection of native plants for our design and installation clients and have decided to increase our inventory to help increase our region’s biodiversity. We’ve spent the past year collecting seed, winter sowing, rescuing, potting up and caring for a number of different species and we now have a small selection of plants ready for sale.
Where do we source our plants?
Following the Society for Ecological Restoration’s Native Plant Grower’s guidelines, we harvest seeds from our own land and nearby land (with permission), gratefully accept seeds from the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library, and have the opportunity to rescue plants from building sites.
Some winter sown sprouts of Aquilegia canadensis (columbine).
Seeded plants:
We are now able to offer first year native plant seedlings in a variety of pot sizes. Some of these young plants will bloom this year, but most will require two or three years to fully fill out, bloom and set their own seed. Planting young seedlings is not only a cost-effective way to start a native garden, but it also helps plants establish more easily in their new environment.
This clump of Rubus odoratus (thimbleberry) was rescued from a building site.
Rescued plants:
Part of our supply comes from plant rescues - we get a heads up from local builders who give us access to new construction sites before excavation begins, giving us a chance to rescue native plants that otherwise would have been destroyed. These plants are potted up and cared for until they are ready to be replanted in their new homes. Because they’re more mature than first year seedlings, they’re offered in larger pots and are ideal for creating instant-impact gardens that will bloom and provide structure the first year they are planted.
Where is our plant nursery?
Located in a maple forest near Wakefield Quebec, we specialize in woodland and shade loving plants including bloodroot, columbine, heart-leaved aster, wild ginger, ferns and Jack in the pulpit.
However, we have recently acquired access to a second, sunnier site nearby and are now growing plants that require more sunny conditions, like butterfly milkweed, golden Alexanders, liatris and prairie smoke.
Inventory will be regularly updated, so stay tuned for additional plant species!
What are we doing to reduce plastic and water usage?
Reusing materials is a key part of our strategy for reducing the impact we have on the Earth.
Here are a few ways we reduce our reliance on external inputs:
✔️ Create our own compost and soil mix to add to the bales we source from our local garden centre.
✔️ Collect and reuse pots from farms, garden centres and anyone looking to pass them on.
✔️ Harvest rainwater and reuse it when watering plants on our custom built water tables.
✔️ Reuse plant tags and make new ones out of strips of plastic from used containers.
✔️ Reuse paper shopping bags and boxes for delivery.
✔️ Reuse plastic clamshell containers for winter sowing.
We may end up with mismatched pots and odd sizes but it’s all part of our effort to reuse materials and reduce the plastic waste that is already circulating around our community.
How can you buy our plants?
All available plants are listed on our website, with inventory being updated weekly.
You can either choose Delivery* for a $5 flat rate in the Wakefield, Chelsea, Gatineau and Ottawa areas (enter your address in the checkout to see if you’re eligible), or Store Pickup* for a free, self-serve pickup at Wakefield’s Juniper Farm.
*for the 2025 season
Don’t live in our delivery area? Send us a message and we’ll see if we can work something out. If not, there are native plant nurseries popping up everywhere! Check out one of these lists to find one near you:
Native Plant Connection: Native Plant Nurseries in Ontario
Network of Nature: Native Plant Nurseries in Canada
Canadian Wildlife Federation: Native Plant Suppliers List
Homegrown National Park: Native Plant Resource Directory
Native plants play an essential role in the health of our ecosystems. Habitat loss, conventional landscaping practices and distance from traditional knowledge have contributed to the decline in biodiversity. Adding plants to your land is one way to help restore and reconnect what has been missing.
Let us know what plants you’re looking for or if you have any questions about how to increase biodiversity on your land or in your community.
Resources:
Canadensys - Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN)
Canadian Wildlife Federation: Native Plant Suppliers List
CBC - Turning your yard into a meadow can save water and time. Here's how to do it
Homegrown National Park: Native Plant Resource Directory
National Wildlife Federation - Ecological landscape design
Native Plant Connection: Native Plant Nurseries in Ontario
Network of Nature: Native Plant Nurseries in Canada
Pollinator Partnership Canada - Ecoregional planting guides
The Globe and Mail - Is it time to decolonize your lawn?
USDA - Plants Database