Native Plant Species The City has identifed 12 native plant species that are commonly planted within designated naturalized areas. We encourage residents to plant these native trees and shrubs in their backyards as they have great environmental benefits. The latin names were provided to avoid confusion when purchasing plants as some species have many common names.Types of Trees and Shrubs Silverberry Pin Cherry Canada Buffaloberry Highbush Cranberry Wild Red Raspberry Pussy Willow Aspen Populus tremuloides
Leaves tremble with a slight breeze Wildlife such as beaver, rabbits and deer browse both leaves and bark, while birds will use it for nesting sites Balsam Poplar Populus balsamifera
Fast growing, fast suckering tree that can handle seasonal flooding Produces small green capsules that form loose cotton masses in the spring White Spruce Picea glauca
Browsed by mammals and provide a nesting site for birds; makes a good winter cover Since 2014, over 23,000 white spruce seedlings have been planted in Grey Nuns White Spruce Park
Red-osier Dogwood Cornus stolonifera
Fruit and twigs are used by several species of wildlife, such as robins, cedar waxwings, rabbits, and moose Provides dense cover for a large number of wildlife species Saskatoon Amelanchier alnifolia
Produces clusters of edible blue to dark purple berries when rype Strong ability to grow in colonies; prefers dry sites and good sun exposure Prickly Wild Rose Rosa acicularis
Provides protective habitat; important winter food source for many birds and mammals Designated as Alberta's floral embem since 1930 Silverberry Elaeagnus commutata
Features small fragrant buttery yellow bell-shaped flowers Commonly called 'wolf willow ' due to silver deciduous foliage Pin Cherry Prunus pensylvanica
Produces a small, round bright red cherry on a single pin-like stem Intolerant of shade, very seldom found growing in mature forests Canada Buffaloberry Shepherdia canadensis
Flowers are one of the first to bloom in early spring, providing food for pollinators Produces red berries that have a bitter taste that can sweeten after a frost or when dried Highbush Cranberry Viburnum opulus
This shrub is a member of the Honeysuckle family, though its fruit strongly resemble cranberries Black bears and birds, eat the berries in the fall, and provide winter cover for small mammals and birds Wild Red Raspberry Rubus idaeus
The best time to plant wild raspberries is during the early spring, after the last frost Shrub provides hollow stems for native pollinators to overwinter Pussy Willow Salix discolor
Used as food and cover for a variety of wetland wildlife Flowers are a source of nectar and pollen for bees in the early spring Last edited: June 16, 2023
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