List of Canadian plants by family H facts for kids

Canada is home to an amazing variety of plants, from tiny mosses to tall trees! This article is like a guide to some of the plant families found in Canada, specifically those whose names start with the letter 'H'. Scientists group plants into "families" based on how they are related, kind of like how your family has a last name. This helps us understand and organize the plant world better.

You can explore more Canadian plant families by clicking on these links: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I J K | L | M | N | O | P Q | R | S | T | U V W | X Y Z

Plant Families in Canada (H)

Haemodoraceae: The Bloodwort Family

This plant family is known for its interesting colors, especially red! One plant from this family found in Canada is:

• Lachananthes caroliniana — also called Carolina redroot. It gets its name from its red roots.

Haloragaceae: The Water-Milfoil Family

Many plants in the Haloragaceae family live in water. They are often called "water-milfoils" or "mermaidweeds" because of their delicate, feather-like leaves that grow underwater.

Hamamelidaceae: The Witch-Hazel Family

The Hamamelidaceae family includes shrubs and small trees. A well-known member found in Canada is the witch-hazel.

• Hamamelis virginiana — American witch-hazel. This plant is special because it often blooms in late fall or early winter, when most other plants have lost their leaves.

Hippocastanaceae: The Buckeye Family

This family includes trees and shrubs, often recognized by their large leaves and interesting fruits.

• Aesculus glabra — Ohio buckeye. This tree produces shiny, dark brown seeds that look like a deer's eye, which is how it got its "buckeye" name.

Hippuridaceae: The Mare's-Tail Family

Plants in the Hippuridaceae family are usually found in wet places, like ponds or slow-moving water. They have simple, upright stems with small leaves.

Hydrocharitaceae: The Frogbit Family

This family is made up of aquatic (water-loving) plants. Many of them are completely submerged or float on the water's surface.

Hydrophyllaceae: The Waterleaf Family

The Hydrophyllaceae family includes a variety of plants, from small annuals to larger perennials. Many have hairy leaves and interesting flower shapes.

Phacelia hastata var. compacta
Silver-leaf Phacelia, White-leaf Phacelia (pop)

Hymenophyllaceae: The Filmy Fern Family

This is a family of ferns, but they are quite unique! They are often called "filmy ferns" because their leaves are very thin, sometimes only one cell thick. They need a lot of moisture to survive.

• Hymenophyllum wrightii — Wright's filmy fern

Mosses and Other Non-Flowering Plants

Some of the "H" families listed are not flowering plants, but mosses! Mosses are small, soft plants that usually grow in damp, shady places. They don't have flowers or seeds, but reproduce using spores.

Hedwigiaceae: The Hedwigia Moss Family

• Hedwigia ciliata — Hedwig's fringeleaf moss. This moss often grows on rocks and can look silvery when dry.

Helodiaceae: The Helodium Moss Family

• Helodium blandowii

Hylocomiaceae: The Feather Moss Family

This family includes some common and beautiful mosses that often form large carpets on the forest floor.

Hypnaceae: The Hypnum Moss Family

This is a very large family of mosses, often called "feather mosses" or "sleepy mosses." They are common in many habitats.