Native Shrubs for Eastern & Southern Ontario

Native shrubs provide structure, habitat, nesting sites, and berries for birds and other wildlife and are essential to healthy forests and ecosystems.
Natural forests are made up of layers — from forest floor wildflowers, to the shrub layer, all the way up to the tallest canopy trees. Each layer is equally important.

Shrubs are ideal for:

wildlife habitat
shoreline and slope stabilization
privacy screens
property edges
enhancing past and current tree planting projects
sites where deer browsing is a challenge — many shrubs sucker and resprout after browsing

Based on current stock, seedings and orders, we anticipate having the following shrub species available in the 2026 season.

We strive to offer the greatest diversity possible and may have additional species for the upcoming growing season.

Stock may be available as plugs, 1-gallon, 2-gallon and/or larger pots.
📧 Contact maya@naturalthemes.com to confirm availability.

Shrubs

wdt_ID	Species (Botanical)	Common Name(s)	Family	Height	Blooming Time	Colour	Amount of Sunlight	Moisture Tolerance	Drought Tolerance	Wildlife Associations	Soil Tolerance	Remarks	Observed Range (iNaturalist)	Companion Plants
2	Alnus incana spp. rugosa	Speckled Alder/Gray Alder	Betulaceae	5 m	early to mid spring	catkins	full sun	moist, wet, tolerate seasonal flooding	No	Provides food and cover for birds and mammals. Seeds are eaten by waterfowl, and dense thickets offer nesting sites.	sandy, loamy, silty, clay, rich, moist	Speckled Alder is native to eastern and central Canada including Ontario and across the Great Lakes region. It grows in wetlands, streambanks, swamps, bogs, and marshes. It spreads by rhizomes and can form dense thickets stabilizing soil and preventing erosion.
3	Amelanchier alnifolia	Saskatoon Serviceberry	Rosaceae	3 m	spring	white	full sun, part-shade	moist moderate/mesic, dry, well-drained	Yes	It is insect pollinated, flowers support nectar feeders and the birds eat the fruit.	sandy, loamy, rocky, preference for slightly acidic soils	A widespread distribution across Canada from Ontario to BC. More commonly associated with central to western Canada (prairies and Boreal Forests) species but its distribution does come Into Ontario, including our Great Lakes region. It sends up suckers an
4	Amelanchier canadensis	Shadblow Serviceberry	Rosaceae	4.5 m	spring	white	full sun, part shade	well-drained	Yes, once established.	The flowers provide early nectar for pollinators such as bees, while the berries serve as a food source for birds and mammals.	sandy, loamy, prefers slightly acidic but can tolerate a range of pH	Known for its early spring flowers. It is found naturally in Eastern Canada including Ontario (and the southern Great Lakes region), Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. It grows in wooded areas ,along streambanks, edges of meadows and open mixed woodlands.
5	Amorpha canescens	Leadplant	Leguminosae	up to 1 m	early to mid summer	purple	Full Sun/Part Shade	Dry, well-drained	YES	The plant provides important habitat for pollinators like bees and butterflies. The seeds are also a food source for some wildlife species. It is also a larval host plant to butterflies and moths.	sandy, loamy, gravelly, rocky	A showy shrub-like plant in the pea family. It naturally occurs in central North America, primarily central U.S. into the southwestern region of Ontario. Grows in open woodlands, prairies, and meadow-like habitats.
6	Amorpha fruticosa	False Indigo Bush	Leguminosae	3 m	summer	purple	Full Sun/Part Shade	moderate/mesic, dry, well-drained	Yes	Supports nectar feeders and is a larval host plant to several butterflies and moths.	sandy or loamy soils, clay loam	A showy legume that is able to grow on difficult soils. Its native habitats include stream and pond edges, open woods, and roadsides across central to Eastern North America with isolated populations extending into southwestern Ontario. It is monoecious, m
7	Arctostaphylos uva-ursi	Bearberry	Ericaceae	10 cm	late spring/early summer	white	full sun, part-shade	dry, well-drained	yes	The berries are consumed by bears (hence the name), birds, and other animals. Provides shelter for small ground-nesting birds and insects. A larval host plant for Elfin bufferflies.	poor, sandy, rocky, acidic, well-drained	Found particularly in the Canadian Shield region and occurs sporadically in southern Ontario, typically in specialized habitats such as sandy, open areas or rocky barrens. It is present in Great Lakes-St. Lawrence forests and extends into boreal regions.
8	Aronia melanocarpa	Black Chokeberry	Rosaceae	1.5 m	late spring	white	part shade	moist, wet, moderate/mesic, dry	moderately, once established	The nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Fruits are a food source for birds. Provides shelter for small mammals and ground-nesting birds.	sandy, loamy, clay, rocky	Grows in wetlands, bogs, forest edges, and open fields. Grows in eastern North America, including southern and central Ontario. Glossy, dark green leaves that turn vibrant red, orange, or purple in fall. It sends up suckers and will form thickets.
9	Ceanothus americanus	New Jersey Tea	Rhamnaceae	< 1m	summer	white	full sun, part-shade	dry, moderate/mesic, well-drained	yes	Fragrant flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. Provides habitat and shelter for small wildlife. New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) is a larval host plant for the endangered Mottled Duskywing butterfly (Erynnis martialis). The caterpillars of this skipper‑family butterfly feed on the leaves of New Jersey Tea (and its relative Prairie Redroot), making the shrub important for the butterfly’s life cycle in Ontario and parts of its range. The Mottled Duskywing is listed as endangered under the provincial Endangered Species Act, and its continued presence depends on suitable habitat that includes healthy stands of New Jersey Tea for larval feeding and egg‑laying.	sandy, loamy, gravelly, poor, dry	Found in dry, sandy soils, prairies, and open woodlands, and common in the Great Lakes region. A low-growing shrub with attractive flower heads and a round, bushy shape. Small, clustered, creamy white to pale pink flowers
10	Cephalanthus occidentalis	Buttonbush	Rubiaceae	2 m	summer	white	full sun, part-shade	Wet, moist, can tolerate flooding	no	The flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Birds and small mammals consume the seeds, while the dense foliage offers shelter and nesting sites. Waterfowl like ducks and shorebirds may also use the plant’s structure in wetland areas.	sandy, loamy, clay, as long as they retain moisture. Can tolerate alkaline but prefers acidic to neutral conditions.	Naturally found in our Ontario wetland habitats, including areas like marshes, swamps, and along stream banks. It is known for its unique, spherical flower clusters and its adaptability to wet conditions, making it a great choice for wetland restoration and shoreline restoration.
11	Cornus alternifolia	Pagoda Dogwood/Alternate-leaved Dogwood	Cornaceae	5 m	late spring	creamy-white	part shade,shade	moist, well-drained - can tolerate some dry conditions but flourishes in consistently moist like in a woodland	yes	A nectar source for pollinators. The berries are eaten by birds and small mammals. Foliage is browsed by deer and rabbits. It is a larval host plant for Spring Azure.	loamy, clay, silty, rich/organic	Pagoda Dogwood is found in the southern and eastern parts of Ontario. It grows in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence and mixedwood plains regions of the province. Commonly found in moist, well-drained woodlands, particularly in shaded areas and forest edges.
	Species (Botanical)	Common Name(s)	Family	Height	Blooming Time	Colour	Amount of Sunlight	Moisture Tolerance	Drought Tolerance	Wildlife Associations	Soil Tolerance	Remarks	Observed Range (iNaturalist)	Companion Plants

: Winterberry

: Nannyberry

: Witch Hazel

: Saskatoon Serviceberry

: Chokeberry

: Eastern Redbud

: American Mountain-ash

: Kalm’s St John’s Wort

: Ninebark

: Buttonbush

: Red Elderberry

: Red Osier Dogwood

: Wild Rose

: Pagoda Dogwood

: Smooth Arrowwood

: Sweet Gale

: Purple Flowering Raspberry

: Black Elderberry

: Fragrant Sumac (fall foliage)

: Canada Plum

: Indigo Bush

: Bladdernut

: Chokecherry

: Glaucous Honeysuckle

: Meadowsweet

: Chokeberry

: Fragrant Sumac

: Red Elderberry

: Buffaloberry

: Common Juniper

: Creeping Juniper

: Downy Arrowwood

: Gloucous Honeysuckle

: Eastern Redbud

: Sweet Gale

: Maple-leaved Viburnum

: Downy Arrowwood

SHRUBS, Planned for 2025 – Being overwintered and/or seeded

Mountain Maple – Acer spicatum

Speckled Alder – Alnus rugosa

Saskatoon – Amelanchier alnifolia

Shadblow Serviceberry – Amelanchier canadensis

Leadplant – Amorpha canescens

False Indigo Bush – Amorpha fruticosa

Devil’s Walking Stick – Aralia spinosa

Bearberry – Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Chokeberry – Aronia melanocarpa

New Jersey Tea – Ceanothus americanus

Buttonbush – Cephalanthus occidentalis

Spotted Pipsissewa/Striped Wintergreen – Chimaphila maculata

Pagoda Dogwood – Cornus alternifolia

Silky Dogwood – Cornus amomum; Cornus obliqua

Bunchberry – Cornus canadensis

Flowering Dogwood – Cornus florida

Gray Dogwood – Cornus racemosa; Cornus foemina

Round-leaved Dogwood – Cornus rugosa

Red Osier Dogwood – Cornus stolonifera; Cornus sericea

American Hazelnut – Corylus americana

Beaked Hazelnut – Corylus cornuta

Bush Honeysuckle – Diervilla lonicera

Leatherwood – Dirca palustris

Running Strawberry-bush – Euonymus obovatus

Wintergreen – Gaultheria procumbens

Witch Hazel – Hamamelis virginiana

Kalm’s St. John’s Wort – Hypericum kalmianum

Shrubby St. John’s Wort – Hypericum prolificum

Winterberry – Ilex verticillata

Common Juniper/Ground Juniper – Juniperus communis

Creeping Juniper – Juniperus horizontalis

Spicebush – Lindera benzoin

Fly Honeysuckle – Lonicera canadensis

Partridge Berry – Mitchella repens

Sweet Gale – Myrica gale

Bayberry – Myrica pensylvanica

Ninebark – Physocarpus opulifolius

Shrubby Cinquefoil – Potentilla (Dasifora) fruticosa

Sand Cherry – Prunus pumila

Chokecherry – Prunus virginiana

Fragrant Sumac – Rhus aromatica

Staghorn Sumac – Rhus typhina

Wild Black Currant – Ribes americanum

Prickly Gooseberry – Ribes cynosbati

Smooth Wild Rose – Rosa blanda

Pasture Rose – Rosa carolina

Swamp Rose – Rosa palustris

Common Blackberry – Rubus allegheniensis

Wild Red Raspberry – Rubus idaeus

Black Raspberry – Rubus occidentalis

Purple Flowering Raspberry – Rubus odoratus

Pussy Willow – Salix discolor

Sandbar Willow – Salix exigua

Black Elderberry – Sambucus canadensis

Red Elderberry – Sambucus racemosa

Canada Soapberry/Canada Buffaloberry – Shepherdia canadensis

Narrow-leaved Meadowsweet – Spiraea alba

Broad-leaved Meadowsweet – Spiraea latifolia

Steeplebush – Spiraea tomentosa

Bladdernut – Staphylea trifolia

Common Snowberry – Symphoricarpos albus

Cranberry – Vaccinium macrocarpon

Arrowwood – Viburnum dentatum

Nannyberry – Viburnum lentago

Maple-leaved Viburnum – Viburnum acerifolium

Witherod/Wild Raisin – Viburnum cassinoides

Downy Arrowwood – Viburnum rafinesquianum

American Highbush Cranberry – Viburnum trilobum

Prickly Ash – Xanthoxylum americanum