Garden Planning
Community gardens play a very important role in fostering biodiversity in an urban setting. Many creatures must share the same space; a space which provides an array of habitats, such as gardens, encourages a wide range of species.
Native pollinators (like Bumble Bees!), beneficial insects, birds and butterflies will all benefit from the inclusion of some native species into your garden plans. Why not try planting a patch near an area prone to slugs, or near fruit trees which require pollination?
Some helpful (and beautiful!) native species which provide habitat and food include:
- Giant Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Favoured by bumble bees, this elegant plant is in the mint family and the leaves and flowers make a great tea. - Blue Flax (Linum lewisii)
Small, pretty blue flowers adorn this short-lived perennial, popular in rock gardens and xeriscapes. - Yellow Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)
The flowers can be eaten (e.g. salads). The seeds are also edible, a good source of essential fatty acids, and have medicinal properties. - Wild Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
This edible plant has been used for more than 5000 years. It can be used to repel garden pests. - Alpine Sweet Vetch (Hedysarum alpinum)
Leguminosae family (fixes nitrogen in the soil); its edible roots taste like licorice. - Beautiful Sunflower (Helianthus laetiflorus)
Can be used for cut flowers. Cheerful and tall, and the seeds are loved by birds in the fall. - Prairie Crocus (Anemone patens)
This showy flower is one of the first up in the spring, and is loved by bees for its abundant pollen (the bees’ protein source). - Showy Aster (Aster conspicuus)
This clumping flower attracts butterflies and birds eat the seeds. - Graceful Cinquefoil (Potentilla gracilis)
Yellow blooms and slender leaves decorate this perennial. - Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida columnifera)
A drought-tolerant flower named after the Mexican sombrero. The flowers can be used to make tea; has medicinal uses. - Dotted Blazingstar (Liatris punctata)
Provides nectar for many kinds of butterflies and has many medicinal properties. - Canada Violet (Viola canadensis)
A fragrant June bloomer, edible petals (as all violets; but avoid the seeds)—sometimes used to thicken soup as with okra! - Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Loved by bees (often called beebalm), the young leaves and flowers are edible, and the leaves make great tea. Known to have many medicinal uses. - Stiff Goldenrod (Solidago rigida)
Many pollinating insects are attracted to this plant’s tufts of small, yellow flowers. - Heartleaved Alexanders (Zizia aptera)
Also known as Meadow Parsnip, but not edible. Attractive yellow flower clusters. - Alpine Hedysarum (Hedysarum alpinum)
Not invasive, but bound to grow well, this beauty is drought-resistant and likes well-drained soil. - Sweet Cicily (Osmorhiza longistylis)
Often with ‘hairy’ leaves, all parts of this plant are edible. It prefers shady parts of the garden.