Native Plants Niagara

10/02/2026

What are you looking forward to picking up this weekend?

Hoary vervain (Verbena stricta) will flower beautifully in the dry area of your garden for over a month (usually July/August). These self-seed readily for future blue-purple blooms.

Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitais) is a near-native (considered introduced on VASCAN), but a pollinator magnet in June and July. We have it growing in full sun and well-drained soil.

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) grown from seed from the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library will over winter as a basal rosette. In it's 2nd season, tall red spikes will attract hummingbirds and other pollinators July - September. These are short-lived perennials, so save your seeds for winter sowing or let the flowers self-seed in your garden. These plants prefer wet feet - perfect along your pond, in your rain garden, or other damp locations.

Plants are $5 per pot or mix & match 7 pots for $30
Pop up at Black Sheep Coffee Roasters, Fenwick location
Saturday, October 3rd 8am - noon

09/29/2026

Hope to see this Saturday! ☕️ & 🌱

09/29/2026

09/29/2026

September blooms. It's aster & goldenrod season. These keystone species are a must in your garden! So many varieties to choose from.

These late summer blooms at Native Plants Niagara are New England Aster, Blue stemmed goldenrod, and American pokeweed.

09/29/2026

When you're at the right place at the right time 😍 My son pointed out this Papilio cresphontes (Giant swallowtail) laying eggs on the Ptelea trifoliata (Common hoptree) Aug 12. By the 21st, the caterpillars had hatched. We had counted twelve, but by Sept 4th, there were only 4 caterpillars remaining (last pic).

The Giant swallowtail is Ontario's (& Canada's) largest native butterfly. After purchasing two more trees this summer, we now have five Common hoptree, one of their host plants.

09/29/2026

Always on insect watch! Here are three species we spotted in August.

09/29/2026

Summer recap: What was blooming at Native Plants Niagara? July 18, 2026

07/04/2026

What's blooming at Native Plants Niagara?

More than a dozen Michigan Lily (Lilium michiganense). Would live to share these in the future, but for now, we're enjoying them in nature.

Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium). This plant is toxic and an aggressive spreader - best left along the forest edge (for now).

Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis). This native annual does it all - a natural relief to poison ivy; supports butterflies, bees, & the ruby-throated hummingbird; and (in our opinion) has the most entertaining seed pods. Is jewelweed in your garden yet? This was along the forest edge, but it grows well in our shade gardens as well.

07/02/2026

Get ready with Native Plants Niagara. Here's how we gathered seedlings for Saturday's event.

07/01/2026

Here are the details regarding the native plant exchange & giveaway this weekend.

*Only straight species (no cultivars). If you're unsure, please do not donate at this time