Where to buy
Native Ontario Plants
A non-exhaustive list of both online and brick-and-mortar nurseries that offer plants native to this part of Ontario
❇︎ ECOZONES ❇︎
Okay, but where are we, exactly?
When a nursery labels a plant as as a native, it’s important to ask: “native to WHERE?” I have certainly made the past mistake of ordering plants from a different ecozone, because I trusted a common name, or didn’t check their range first.
So how do you check? The most important tip is to use the plant’s scientific name for your search, (usually in italics or brackets on a listing,) rather than the common name. Depending region, a single species can have several different common names, and a common name can refer to several different species.
Using the scientific name, you can search for the native range of a plant. I frequently use this tool at The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Centre, which is a searchable database of North American native plants.
Another tactic is simply to search: “Is [scientific name] native to the Mixed Wood Plains?” That is our ecozone. That is the top level classification for our particular ecosystem.
Want to get more specific to Stratford? We are in ecoregion 6E, and ecodistrict 6E-1. I’ll be writing more about these in the blog.
The following are plant nurseries and suppliers with whom I have personal experience, and whom I actively support!
Native Plant Source
Landscaper and native plant grower in Breslau, offering a large selection of plants, shrubs, and trees, often with excellent size options. The greenhouse is closed to the public, but you can pre-order by email and pick them up at the gate.
Heeman’s
A traditional plant nursery in London, Ontario, that offers a nice-sized native plant section. Note that London, even though it’s nearby, is in The Carolinian Zone, which is ecoregion 7E. While that is different from here, it’s still inside the greater Mixed Wood Plains.
Origin Native Plants
A native plant nursery with a large selection of herbaceous plants and shrubs, including some that are harder-to-find commercially, and always with fully traceable seed sources. They are located near Guelph, but will ship to you.
Ontario Native Plants
Retail face of a larger native plant nursery, located in Flamborough. They offer a nice variety of young plants, and will ship, or schedule a pickup. Most plants are on the smaller size, but are therefore also affordable if you have the patience.
Northern Wildflowers
This is a seed company, specializing in native seeds, and who ships at all times of year. They also offer seed mixes designed for specific light and terrain, and are lovely people.
Native Plants in Claremont
Nursery in Pickering that is open to the public, but also offers small and large boxes of live plants, seed mixes, and wildflower kits by courier.
The following are plant nurseries with whom I have NO personal experience, but who have been recommended by friends, or who have repeatedly come up in search:
Not So Hollow Farms
Native plant nursery in Mulmur, which is on the way to Barrie or Collingwood. That may be a long drive from here, but you can pre-order online, and if you happen to be cottaging anyway …
Northland Nursery
A traditional plant nursery in Millgrove/Waterdown, which includes a native plant section. They have multiple sales a year, and are well-priced. My Hamilton friends are fans.
Vandermeer Nursery
Also a traditional nursery with a native plant section, located in Ajax.