In bloom in Scarborough this July
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⚠Common MilkweedAsclepias syriaca
A Monarch can only raise its young on milkweed. No milkweed, no Monarchs. It's that simple, and that fixable.
Brings back: Monarch Butterfly, Rusty-patched Bumble Bee, Gypsy Cuckoo Bumble Bee, Little Brown Bat
⚠Wild BergamotMonarda fistulosa
Once common across eastern North America, now almost gone. It feeds on wild bergamot and asters, flowers any yard can grow.
Brings back: Rusty-patched Bumble Bee, Gypsy Cuckoo Bumble Bee, Barn Swallow, Bank Swallow
⚠Black-Eyed SusanRudbeckia hirta
A grassland bird losing its grasslands. Native bunchgrasses bring back the insects and cover it needs.
Brings back: Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-Pewee
⚠BonesetEupatorium perfoliatum
Once common across eastern North America, now almost gone. It feeds on wild bergamot and asters, flowers any yard can grow.
Brings back: Rusty-patched Bumble Bee, Little Brown Bat, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk
⚠Common Evening-PrimroseOenothera biennis
Disease wiped out most of them. A single bat eats thousands of insects a night, the ones night-blooming natives raise.
Brings back: Little Brown Bat, Chimney Swift, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will
⚠Purple Joe-Pye-WeedEutrochium purpureum
Disease wiped out most of them. A single bat eats thousands of insects a night, the ones night-blooming natives raise.
Brings back: Little Brown Bat, Barn Swallow, Bank Swallow, Eastern Wood-Pewee
⚠Common ElderberrySambucus canadensis
Its flute-like song is fading from our woods. Native shrubs raise the caterpillars it needs to feed its chicks.
Brings back: Wood Thrush, Canada Warbler
⚠Dense Blazing-StarLiatris spicata
Once common across eastern North America, now almost gone. It feeds on wild bergamot and asters, flowers any yard can grow.
Brings back: Rusty-patched Bumble Bee, American Bumble Bee
⚠Scarlet BeebalmMonarda didyma
A once-common bumble bee in decline. Beebalm and columbine are among its favourites.
Brings back: Chimney Swift, Yellow-banded Bumble Bee
⚠Butterfly MilkweedAsclepias tuberosa
A Monarch can only raise its young on milkweed. No milkweed, no Monarchs. It's that simple, and that fixable.
Brings back: Monarch Butterfly
⚠Cup PlantSilphium perfoliatum
It needs goldenrod and asters to fatten up before winter. The late-summer blooms most gardens are missing.
Brings back: American Bumble Bee
⚠New Jersey TeaCeanothus americanus
This endangered butterfly can only raise its young on New Jersey Tea. Plant the shrub, save the butterfly.
Brings back: Mottled Duskywing
⚠Prairie MilkweedAsclepias sullivantii
A Monarch can only raise its young on milkweed. No milkweed, no Monarchs. It's that simple, and that fixable.
Brings back: Monarch Butterfly
⚠Purple Giant-HyssopAgastache scrophulariifolia
A once-common bumble bee in decline. Beebalm and columbine are among its favourites.
Brings back: Yellow-banded Bumble Bee
⚠Swamp MilkweedAsclepias incarnata
A Monarch can only raise its young on milkweed. No milkweed, no Monarchs. It's that simple, and that fixable.
Brings back: Monarch Butterfly
Allegheny BlackberryRubus allegheniensis
A larval host plant. The caterpillars it raises are the primary food source for baby songbirds.
Alpine FescueFestuca brachyphylla
American Bur-ReedSparganium americanum
American SpikenardAralia racemosa
A larval host plant. The caterpillars it raises are the primary food source for baby songbirds.
Annual FleabaneErigeron annuus
A larval host plant. The caterpillars it raises are the primary food source for baby songbirds.
Arctic WillowSalix arctica
A larval host plant. The caterpillars it raises are the primary food source for baby songbirds.
Balsam GroundselPackera paupercula
A larval host plant. The caterpillars it raises are the primary food source for baby songbirds.
Baltic RushJuncus balticus
Barren StrawberryGeum fragarioides
A larval host plant. The caterpillars it raises are the primary food source for baby songbirds.
BasswoodTilia americana
A larval host plant. The caterpillars it raises are the primary food source for baby songbirds.
Beach Marram GrassAmmophila breviligulata
A larval host plant. The caterpillars it raises are the primary food source for baby songbirds.
Beach PeaLathyrus japonicus
A larval host plant. The caterpillars it raises are the primary food source for baby songbirds.
Bebb's SedgeCarex bebbii


Showing 30 of 218 Ontario-native plants in bloom this July. See them all →
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Scarborough through the year