Wildflowers

Wildflowers add so much beauty to our yards and gardens while providing food to our local wildlife, primarily butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.

Before planting wildflowers, get to know your site and select species best suited to the amount of sunlight, moisture and soil type. Take note of the height of the wildflowers and design accordingly, with the lowest species to the front and the tallest to the middle or back. Remember to include larval host plants, the food plants for caterpillars. Learn more about attracting pollinators and our pollinator garden packs.

When designing your wildflower space consider planting species in minimum groupings of three. Groups of flowers create a better show of blooms, aid in cross-pollination for seed production, and create nectar “targets” and are more frequently visited by pollinators.

Based on current stock, seedings and orders, we anticipate having the following wildflower species available in the 2025 season.

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

Contact maya@naturalthemes.com to confirm availability.

wdt_ID	Botanical Name	Common Name	Height	Bloom Time	Colour	Light	Moisture Pref.	Soil Pref.	Wildlife Associations	Remarks	Details
1	Achillea millefolium	Yarrow	60 cm	early to mid summer	white	Full Sun	Dry	sandy, loamy, clay, rocky. well-drained	nectar source for pollinators	Achillea millefolium, or common yarrow, is widespread throughout Ontario, found in meadows, roadsides, open fields, and disturbed areas. It thrives in a variety of conditions, including dry, sandy, and gravelly soils, making it well-suited to both natural and urban landscapes. Its adaptability to poor soils and drought tolerance make it an excellent choice for native plant gardens, meadow restorations, and erosion control projects.	More details
2	Acorus americanus	Sweet Flag, Flag Root, Sweet Sedge	75 cm	early summer	yellow-green	Full Sun	Wet	Rich	insect pollinated; muskrats eat rhizomes	A native aquatic plant found in wetlands and along streams. With its sword-like leaves and aromatic rhizomes, it thrives in wet soil or shallow water. It provides valuable habitat for wildlife and can be used in rain or water gardens for soil stabilization and water filtration. Historically, its rhizomes were used for their aromatic and medicinal properties.	More details
3	Actaea pachypoda	White Baneberry, Doll's Eyes, White Cohosh	50 cm	late spring	white	Shade	mesic, well-drained	Rich, Loamy, Well-drained	birds, mammals	White baneberry (Actaea pachypoda) is a native perennial that thrives in moist, well-drained, and organic-rich soils. Preferring partial to full shade, it is commonly found in woodlands and forests. Known for its striking white berries and delicate foliage, it adds beauty to shady garden areas, but it should be planted with care, as its berries are toxic if ingested.	More details
4	Actaea rubra	Red Baneberry	40 cm	late spring	white	Shade	Mesic	Rich	birds, mammals	A native perennial that prefers moist, well-drained, organic-rich soils in shady to partially shaded areas. Found in woodlands and forests, it features striking red berries and feathery foliage. Like its white counterpart, red baneberry is toxic if ingested, but it makes an attractive addition to shaded gardens with its bold color and delicate appearance.	More details
5	Agastache foeniculum	Blue Giant Hyssop, Anise Hyssop	90 cm	summer	violet-blue	Full Sun/ Part Shade	Dry	sandy, loamy, gravelly, well-drained	Hummingbird/butterfly	Giant Blue Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is a perennial valued for its lavender-blue flowers, licorice-scented leaves, and pollinator appeal. It is native to Northern Great Plains (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and parts of the U.S.). While it thrives in Ontario's climate and is commonly cultivated here, its true native status in Ontario is debated. Some argue that its presence in Ontario is due to cultivation and naturalization rather than being truly native to the province. Regardless, it performs well in native plant gardens, it supports pollinators and adapts to a range of conditions from dry to medium soils in full sun to part shade. The anise flavoured leaves and roots have been used to flavour foods and teas, it has also been used to treat fevers, colds, and coughs.	More details
6	Agastache nepetoides	Giant Yellow Hyssop	90 cm	summer	yellowish-green	Full Sun/Part Shade	Dry	sandy, loamy, gravelly, well-drained	nectar source	Yellow hyssop (Agastache nepetoides) is a native perennial that thrives in well-drained, dry to medium soils, often found in woodland edges, prairies, and meadows. With its aromatic, mint-like foliage and bright yellow flowers, it attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies. This hardy plant prefers full sun to partial shade and is drought-tolerant once established. Yellow hyssop adds both beauty and ecological value to native plant gardens, offering vibrant color and attracting beneficial insects.	More details
7	Agaratina altissima (Eupatorium rugosum)	White Snakeroot	75 cm	late summer	white	Shade / Part Shade	Mesic	rich	nectar and seed feeders	Thrives in moist, well-drained, organic soils with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. It grows in woodlands and shaded areas, producing clusters of small white flowers that attract pollinators. This plant prefers rich, moist soils and is ideal for shaded garden settings. Mass plant for best effect.	More details
8	Allium canadense	Wild Garlic	30 cm	late spring/eary summer	pinkish	Full Sun/Part Shade	Mesic	sandy, loamy, rocky. well-drained	nectar feeders, bulbs & leaves are eaten by wild turkeys	All parts of the plant can be used like onions, raw or cooked	More details
9	Allium cernuum	Nodding Wild Onion	45 cm	mid summer	deep pink	Full Sun/Part Shade	Dry	sandy, loamy, rocky, well-drained	The flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies. It is also deer and rabbit resistant.	This plant thrives in open areas such as prairies, meadows, and rocky slopes. Nodding Wild Onion is native across Canada and it grows from Ontario to British Columbia. Historically, Nodding Wild Onion was used as a food source by indigenous peoples . The bulbs, leaves, and flowers are edible, although they have a strong onion flavor	More details
11	Allium tricoccum	Wild Leek	20 cm	late spring/early summer	White	Shade / Part Shade	Mesic	Rich, Loamy, Well-drained	unknown	Wild leek grows in rich, shaded woodlands and is typically found alongside other woodland plants that prefer similar moist, humus-rich, slightly acidic soils, such as trilliums, mayapple, bloodroot, wild ginger, and Solomon’s seal. These plants thrive together in the cool, shaded environments of deciduous forests, where the soil is rich in organic matter. Flowers appear after the leaves die back.	More details
	Botanical Name	Common Name	Height	Bloom Time	Colour	Light	Moisture Pref.	Soil Pref.