It’s the new year, and if you are like us Haliburton County Master Gardeners, these -20℃ nights lately have us dreaming of spring. And even though the ground is frozen and covered in a few feet of snow, there is plenty you can do to prepare for your 2025 garden and landscaping goals. Is it time to really naturalize your shoreline? Looking to attract pollinators? Whatever your goals, planting more native plants is almost always the answer.
Reminder! In Canada, there are 10 identified Plant Hardiness Zones that take into account a wide range of factors including snowfall, elevation, wind and others. The higher the zone number, the warmer the climate. Haliburton County is a Zone 4 region.
Why Plant Native Plants?
Native plants are plant species that naturally occur in a specific region or ecosystem without human introduction. They have spent thousands of years evolving to not only be resilient to the climate of their region but also support the local environment including reducing erosion (hello shorelines), stabilizing soil and providing shelter and sustenance for local wildlife.
Six Native Plants to Get You Started in 2025
The following plants are native species that are also considered ‘keystone plants’. Keystone plants attract more wildlife and are particularly beneficial to native insects. We recommend the following plants and other keystone species make the backbone of your plantings.
Note: To see a larger selection of Native Plants that we recommend, including more ornamental plants and a larger range that would work for the sun and moisture levels of your property, be sure to grab your copy of the Guidebook to Ecological Landscaping in the Highlands available for purchase at businesses across the county.
- Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
- Basswood (Tilia americana)
- Serviceberry (Amelanchier)
- Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum)
- Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
- Meadowsweet (Spiraea alba var latifolia)
Red Osier Dogwood along Minden Riverwalk (photo credit: Shelley Fellows)
Serviceberry in bloom (photo credit: Shelley Fellows)
Meadowsweet, also along the Minden Riverwalk (photo credit: Shelley Fellows)
Highbush Cranberry (photo credit: Carolyn Langdon)
As with any planting, you want to take into consideration the various environmental elements that your property has. Where is it shady versus more consistently full sun? How moist is your soil and what is the natural drainage like? What wildlife and pollinators do you want to host?
These are all questions to consider, among others, when researching which native plants to bring to your landscape. The Haliburton County Master Gardeners can support you with a donation-based consultation or – if you’re up for your own research and reading – we recommend grabbing your own copy of our Guidebook for Ecological Landscaping in the Highlands as a starting point.
Stay warm, and happy researching!
