YardSmart

Native
Wildflowers
Many native wildflowers are low maintenance and well suited to
Calgary’s climate. Create a colourful oasis for pollinators by adding
these plants to your home garden.

In partnership with

Helianthus annuus, courtesy Al Braden, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Why plant native Full sun
wildflowers? Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea)1
These dense spikes of
Incorporating native wildflowers into your garden bright purple flowers are
has many benefits. Native wildflowers are well a striking accent in any garden.
adapted to Calgary’s climate and soil conditions and Blooming from June-August,
Purple prairie clover is an
often require little maintenance, water and fertilizer especially important source
once established. Plants suited to Calgary’s climate of food for native bumble
also provide homes, food, and nesting material for bees. This plant can reach
a height of three feet.
pollinators and other wildlife.

Biodiversity contributes to a sustainable Gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa)1

and healthy landscape and mitigates This member of the sunflower
family produces many yellow
the impacts of climate change. daisy-like blooms in late
summer. A favourite of bees
and butterflies, gumweed
plants can grow to a height of
three feet and thrive in sunny,

Choosing native dry conditions.

wildflowers
Calgary landscapes host an extensive variety of
native wildflowers from which to choose, many of Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)2
which are not listed here. Consider light exposure, Producing large, round clusters
moisture levels, soil type and space requirements of pink flowers in late summer
and early fall, showy milkweed
when choosing native plant types. blooms are fragrant and
A combination of plants with different heights, known to attract pollinators.
Plants tend to grow in
flower shapes, sizes, colours and bloom times clumps to a maximum height
guarantee beauty as well as food and habitat for of four feet.
pollinators throughout the season.
Common native wildflowers can be found in garden
centres and there are local native plant suppliers
that specialize in these species. When planning your
garden, call ahead of time to see what native plants Northern Sweetvetch (Hedysarum boreale)
are available. A member of the legume
family, northern sweetvetch
For the first year or two, follow the watering produces magnificent stalks
instructions that accompany each plant. In following of purple flowers throughout
years, all plants will be drought tolerant and may only the growing season. Growing
up to two feet in height, this
need water after 2-3 weeks of hot dry weather with plant is drought tolerant and
little to no rainfall. favoured by bees.

For more tips on how to create a garden that thrives

in Calgary, visit calgary.ca/yardsmart
Yarrow (Achillea borealis) Shining Arnica (Arnica fulgens)4
With feathery foliage and tight A member of the sunflower
clusters of white flowers, this family, shining arnica produces
easy-to-grow plant is a must- yellow flowers that bloom
have for any backyard garden. on mostly leafless stems.
Growing up to three feet in Flowering in late spring,
height, yarrow tolerates dry shining arnica can grow one
conditions and is attractive to two feet in height. It is an
to pollinators. Yarrow blooms important plant for many
throughout the summer. types of native bumble bee.

Blue Flax (Linum lewisii) Smooth Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve)

A hardy plant of the prairies, Producing many flowers with
blue flax is easily recognized bright yellow centre discs
by its small blue flowers and surrounded by striking purple
tall willowy stems. Reaching petals, smooth aster can
up to a foot in height, blue reach a height of up to four
flax blooms throughout the feet. A drought tolerant plant
summer and adds a graceful which blooms in the fall,
splash of blue colour to asters are known to attract
any garden. This plant is an bees and butterflies.
important source of pollen
and nectar for local pollinators.

Prairie Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum)3 Tufted White Prairie Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides)
Named for its nodding clusters With dense clusters of
of star-shaped pink flowers, overlapping white flowers
this clump-forming plant crowded along the stem, this
grows on mostly leafless stalks. low-growing aster species
Flowering mid-season, prairie blooms in the late summer
nodding onion grows from and early fall. An important
a bulb and plants can reach source of nectar and pollen for
up to two feet in height. local insects, this type of aster
also serves as a host plant for
native butterflies.

Canada Goldenrod (Solidago lepida 2 / Solidago altissima) Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida columnifera)
This showy late-season bloomer This plant is named for its
is an especially important source sombrero-shaped flower-
of pollen for native bees. Growing head, which is characterized
from three to six feet in height by a long cone of tiny flowers
with large, pyramid-shaped atop a base of yellow petals.
clusters of yellow flowers, Canada A late summer bloomer, this
goldenrod is a favourite of both upright plant forms clumps, is
gardeners and pollinators. attractive to pollinators, and is
very drought tolerant. Prairie
coneflower plants can reach
a height of two feet.
Golden Bean (Thermopsis rhombifolia) Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata)
A member of the legume The showy red and yellow
family, these spikes of golden flowers of these upright plants
flowers are a common sight on are an important source of
the prairies. Both a host plant pollen and nectar for several
and a source of nectar for early types of bees and butterflies.
season butterflies, these stout A drought tolerant plant,
plants are a lovely addition to blanket flower blooms from
a front border and add a splash late summer through the fall
of colour to spring gardens. and plants can reach a height
of four feet.

Cut-Leaved Anemone (Anemone multifida)5 Philadelphia Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus)

Producing pinkish flowers on With clusters of yellow-
single stalks, this elegant plant centred flowers surrounded
grows to a maximum of one by fine purple petals, these
foot in height. Blooming in plants are a delight to
late spring, this plant attracts gardeners. Blooming from
several types of small native mid-spring through to
bees and the large silky seed mid-summer, plants can reach
heads are an interesting a maximum height of three
addition to garden borders. feet. Philadelphia Fleabane
attracts many types of bees
and other pollinating insects.

Prairie Crocus (Pulsatilla nuttalliana) Rocky Mountain Bee Plant (Peritoma serrulata)
Referred to as a crocus, these With dainty purplish-white
plants are a member of the flowers perched on long
buttercup family. One of the first leafy stalks, this plant is a
plants to bloom in the spring, favourite of insect pollinators.
these furry purple flowers are Growing to a maximum
low growing and attractive to height of four feet, this plant
small bees and insects. The can be used to enhance the
round silken seed heads of pollination of garden plants
prairie crocus add a unique such as vegetables. Blooming
element to garden plantings well throughout the summer,
after the plant has bloomed. Rocky Mountain bee plant
will self-seed annually.

Hairy Golden Aster (Heterotheca villosa)1 Annual Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)6

Growing in thick clumps, The large, showy yellow
golden aster thrives in sunny flower heads of annual
conditions and produces sunflower are a showstopper
yellow daisy-like flowers in in any garden. Growing up to
late summer. Plants can reach eight feet in height, the pollen
up to three feet in height and and nectar of this plant are
are attractive to several local used by many insects in the
pollinator species. late summer and early fall.
The seeds also provide a food
source for overwintering birds.
This annual plant self-seeds
and is easy to grow.
Part shade
Giant Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)4 Smooth Fleabane (Erigeron glabellus)
A member of the mint family, These delicate plants add a
giant hyssop plants contain burst of colour to summer
upright stems topped with gardens. Growing to just over
spikes of tiny, tubular purple one foot in height, each plant
flowers. Growing in bushy stalk contains multiple daisy-
clumps, this plant blooms like, purple flower heads.
throughout the summer and Smooth fleabane makes
can reach heights of four feet. an excellent cut flower and
A known favourite of insect attracts bees, butterflies and
pollinators, giant hyssop other pollinating insects.
attracts birds, butterflies
and bees.

Heart Leaved Arnica (Arnica cordifolia)5 Slender Beardtongue (Penstemon procerus)2

The yellow daisy-like blooms With slim stems of tubular
set atop tall stems and blue flowers and glossy
heart-shaped leaves of this foliage, this plant is a great
plant make it a great choice for choice for borders. Flower
backyard gardens. Reaching stalks bloom to a height of
a height of two feet in late one foot in the late spring.
spring, this plant is visited by Slender beardtongue attracts
many types of bumble bee. many pollinators and is
Growing from a rootstalk, the an excellent addition to
leaves of this plant form backyard gardens.
a beautiful carpet of foliage.

Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum) Harebell (Campanula alaskana)

Topped with showy crowns With delicate bell-shaped
of violet flowers, Joe Pye blue flowers and feathery
weed is a striking wildflower. leaves, harebell makes a nice
Blooming in late summer and border plant. Growing up
early fall, plants can grow to to one foot in height, this
a height of seven feet. Prized hardy plant blooms from
by bumble bees, butterflies mid-summer to early fall. An
and other insect pollinators, the important source of nectar
hollow stems of this plant are and pollen for pollinators. One
often used as nesting chambers native Alberta bee specializes
by solitary bees. exclusively on this plant.

Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) Sticky Purple Geranium (Geranium viscosissimum)

This is Alberta’s wild beebalm. Flowering from late spring
With tall, dramatic stalks to late summer, sticky purple
topped with fragrant, shaggy, geranium provides blooms
lilac-coloured flowers, this for pollinators throughout
upright plant can grow to a the season. This plant has
height of five feet. Blooming in tall, branching stems topped
mid-summer, wild bergamot is by clusters of small purple
an important source of nectar flowers. After blooming, the
and pollen for bees, butterflies deeply lobed leaves turn
and hummingbirds. a brilliant shade of red,
adding a splash of colour to
late fall gardens.
Shade
Canada Anemone (Anemonastrum canadense)
With a low growing pattern
and foliage that stays green
throughout the season, Canada
anemone makes an excellent
groundcover or border plant. Calgary is an official Bee City and designated as
Featuring large, pollen-laden a Bird Friendly City. The City of Calgary is
white blooms in the spring, this
committed to providing habitat and resources
plant is especially attractive
to early spring pollinators. for wildlife by incorporating native plants into our
As Canada anemone has a parks and greenspaces.
spreading growth pattern, it
can be used to fill large spaces. Calgary is a mecca for native bees and 199 different
types of bees have been documented in our city.
Showy Aster (Eurybia conspicua)8 Calgary may contain more kinds of bumble bees
than any other city in North America, three of which
Flowering in late summer and
early fall, showy aster blooms are endangered species.*
live up to their name. With
Climate change, disease, pesticide use and
yellow centre discs surrounded
by purple petals, this plant adds habitat loss have all contributed to the decline of
a spray of colour to fall gardens pollinator populations. By helping flowering plants
and is very attractive to native
reproduce, pollinators contribute to healthy and
bumble bees. Growing up to
three feet in height, showy aster resilient ecosystems.
spreads through rhizomes and
Consider creating a refuge for urban birds, bees and
is easy to divide.
butterflies by adding native wildflowers to your
garden this season. Help create year-round habitat
Early Blue Violet (Viola adunca)2 for pollinators by leaving plant debris in your garden
over the winter, delaying spring clean up and
One of the earliest wildflowers
to bloom, these compact blue adding nesting sites in the form of wood stumps,
flowers are a sure sign of spring. loose patches of bare soil, and hollow plant stems.
With heart-shaped leaves and a
low growth pattern, this plant To learn more about native plants and pollinators
makes an excellent choice for
borders. Attracting early season
in Calgary, visit calgary.ca/pollinators
pollinators, early blue violet also or ucalgary.ca/sustainability/our-sustainable-
provides food for the caterpillars campus/bee-campus/bee-citizen-scientist
of Fritillary butterflies.
Photo credits: 1 Courtesy R.W. Smith, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
2
Courtesy Terry Glase, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. 3 Courtesy Alan
Cressler, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. 4 Courtesy James L. Reveal, Lady
Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. 5 Courtesy Andy and Sally Wasowski, Lady Bird
Johnson Wildflower Center. 6 Courtesy Al Braden, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower
Tall Lungwort (Mertensia paniculate)7 Center. 7 Courtesy John Hixson, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
8
Copyright 2014 Richard Spellenberg, University of California, Berkeley.
These nodding clusters of
References: * University of Calgary Urban Alliance 2021 Report; COSEWIC Committee
blue, bell-shaped flowers on the status of endangered wildlife in Canada (cosewic.ca/index.php/en-ca).
emerge in late spring and early Plant taxonomy is based on Vascular Flora of Alberta: An Illustrated Guide
summer. Set atop long delicate (Kershaw & Allen 2020)
stems, this plant is pollinated
by native bumble bees. Tall
lungwort grows to a maximum
height of four feet and is a hardy
perennial that works well in
shaded locations.

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