List of Canadian plants by family P–Q facts for kids

Welcome to the amazing world of Canadian plants! Canada is a huge country with many different types of environments, from cold Arctic lands to warm, wet forests. This means it's home to a super diverse collection of plants, each with its own special features. Scientists group plants into "families" based on how they are related, kind of like how your family has a last name. This page will introduce you to some cool plant families found in Canada, specifically those whose names start with the letters P and Q. Get ready to discover some fascinating flowers, trees, and grasses!

Main page: List of Canadian plants by family

Families: 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

Paeoniaceae: The Peony Family

The Paeoniaceae family is small but mighty, known for its beautiful and often large flowers. In Canada, you might find a wild peony that's quite different from the garden varieties.

• Paeonia brownii — western peony: This peony is native to western North America and has unique, brownish-red flowers.

Papaveraceae: The Poppy Family

The Papaveraceae family includes the well-known poppies, famous for their delicate petals and often vibrant colors. Many plants in this family have milky sap.

• Papaver nudicaule — Icelandic poppy: Despite its name, this poppy is found in many cold regions, including parts of Canada. It comes in many bright colors.
• Sanguinaria canadensis — bloodroot: This plant gets its name from the red sap in its roots. It's one of the first wildflowers to bloom in spring.

Pinaceae: The Pine Family

The Pinaceae family is a very important group of trees, including pines, spruces, firs, and hemlocks. These trees are often called conifers because they produce cones and usually have needle-like leaves. They are a big part of Canada's forests.

• Abies balsamea — balsam fir: This fir tree is well-known for its fragrant needles, often used for Christmas trees.
• Larix laricina — tamarack: Unlike most conifers, the tamarack is a deciduous conifer, meaning its needles turn yellow and fall off in the autumn.
• Picea glauca — white spruce: A common and important tree across Canada, used for lumber and paper.
• Pinus banksiana — jack pine: This tough pine often grows in sandy or rocky areas and is known for its cones that open with heat from forest fires.
• Pseudotsuga menziesii — Douglas-fir: A very tall and important timber tree, especially in western Canada.
• Tsuga canadensis — eastern hemlock: This graceful tree has short, flat needles and provides important habitat for wildlife.

Plantaginaceae: The Plantain Family

The Plantaginaceae family is quite diverse, including many herbs and some aquatic plants. You might recognize some of its members as common "weeds" in your garden, but they are all part of Canada's plant life.

• Littorella uniflora — American shoregrass: This small plant grows in shallow water along shorelines.
• Plantago maritima — seaside plantain: As its name suggests, this plantain thrives in salty coastal environments.

Plumbaginaceae: The Leadwort Family

This family includes plants that often grow in salty or dry places. They are known for their pretty flowers, often in clusters.

• Armeria maritima — western thrift: Also known as sea thrift, this plant forms dense clumps with pink or purple flowers, often found on rocky coasts.

Poaceae: The Grass Family

The Poaceae family, also known as Gramineae, is one of the largest and most important plant families on Earth. It includes all grasses, cereals like wheat and corn, and bamboos. Grasses are vital for ecosystems and human food.

• Ammophila breviligulata — American beachgrass: This grass is super important for stabilizing sand dunes along coastlines.
• Andropogon gerardi — big bluestem: A tall, native prairie grass that provides food and shelter for many animals.
• Buchloe dactyloides — buffalo grass: A short, tough grass that can handle dry conditions, historically important for grazing buffalo.
• Deschampsia caespitosa — tufted hairgrass: This grass grows in dense clumps and is common in many different habitats.
• Elymus canadensis — nodding wild rye: A native grass with nodding seed heads, often found in open woodlands and prairies.
• Poa pratensis — Kentucky bluegrass: A very common grass, often used for lawns and pastures, though it's not originally from Kentucky!
• Zizania aquatica — eastern wild rice: An important aquatic grass whose grains are a traditional food source for Indigenous peoples.

Podostemaceae: The Riverweed Family

This is a unique family of plants that live in fast-flowing rivers and waterfalls. They often look more like mosses or algae than typical flowering plants.

• Podostemum ceratophyllum — threadfoot: This plant attaches itself to rocks in rivers and has very thin, thread-like leaves.

Polemoniaceae: The Phlox Family

The Polemoniaceae family is known for its beautiful flowers, many of which are popular in gardens. They often have five petals and come in a range of colors.

• Collomia linearis — narrow-leaved collomia: A small wildflower with clusters of pink or white flowers.
• Ipomopsis aggregata — scarlet skyrocket: This plant has bright red, tubular flowers that are very attractive to hummingbirds.
• Phlox divaricata — wild blue phlox: A lovely spring wildflower with fragrant blue or lavender flowers, often found in woodlands.
• Polemonium pulcherrimum — showy Jacob's-ladder: This plant has delicate, bell-shaped flowers arranged like a ladder up the stem.

Polygalaceae: The Milkwort Family

The Polygalaceae family includes plants with unusual flower shapes, often resembling tiny, colorful birds. Some species have medicinal uses.

• Polygala paucifolia — gaywing milkwort: This charming woodland plant has bright pink-purple flowers that look like tiny birds in flight.
• Polygala senega — Seneca snakeroot: Historically used by Indigenous peoples for medicinal purposes.

Polygonaceae: The Knotweed Family

This family is very diverse and includes many common plants like docks, knotweeds, and buckwheats. They often have swollen "knots" at their stem joints.

• Oxyria digyna — mountain-sorrel: A plant found in cold, rocky areas, often used as a leafy green.
• Polygonum amphibium — water smartweed: This plant can grow both in water and on land, adapting its form to its environment.
• Polygonum viviparum — viviparous knotweed: This plant produces small bulbils (tiny plantlets) on its flower stalks instead of seeds, which can grow into new plants.
• Rumex acetosa — garden sorrel: A leafy plant with a tart, lemony flavor, sometimes used in cooking.

Polypodiaceae: The Polypody Fern Family

The Polypodiaceae family includes many types of ferns, known for their leafy fronds and their ability to reproduce using spores instead of seeds.

• Polypodium glycyrrhiza — licorice fern: This fern has a sweet, licorice-flavored root and often grows on trees or rocks.
• Polypodium virginianum — rock polypody: A common fern that grows on rocks and cliffs, staying green through winter.

Polytrichaceae: The Haircap Moss Family

This family consists of mosses, which are small, non-flowering plants that grow in damp, shady places. They are known for their distinctive capsules that look like tiny hats.

• Polytrichum commune — common haircap moss: One of the largest mosses, it forms dense mats and has tall, stiff stems.
• Polytrichum juniperinum — juniper moss: This moss often has a reddish tint and grows in drier, more open areas.

Pontederiaceae: The Pickerelweed Family

This family includes aquatic plants that often have showy flowers. They are found in freshwater habitats.

• Pontederia cordata — pickerelweed: A beautiful aquatic plant with heart-shaped leaves and spikes of blue or purple flowers, often seen in ponds and slow-moving water.

Portulacaceae: The Purslane Family

The Portulacaceae family includes succulent plants, meaning they have thick, fleshy leaves that store water. Many are found in dry or rocky areas.

• Claytonia caroliniana — Carolina spring-beauty: A delicate spring wildflower with white or pink flowers, often blooming early in the season.
• Claytonia perfoliata — miner's-lettuce: This plant is edible and was a valuable food source for miners during the California Gold Rush.
• Lewisia rediviva — Oregon bitterroot: The state flower of Montana, known for its beautiful pink flowers and edible root.

Potamogetonaceae: The Pondweed Family

This family consists entirely of aquatic plants, commonly known as pondweeds. They are important food sources for waterfowl and other aquatic animals.

• Potamogeton natans — floating pondweed: This pondweed has both submerged leaves and large, oval leaves that float on the water's surface.
• Potamogeton pectinatus — Sago pondweed: This plant has very thin, grass-like leaves and is a favorite food for ducks.

Pottiaceae: The Pottia Moss Family

Another large family of mosses, Pottiaceae mosses are known for their ability to grow in a wide variety of habitats, including dry and disturbed areas.

• Tortella tortuosa — twisted moss: This moss gets its name from its twisted leaves when dry.
• Tortula ruralis — tortula moss: A very common moss that can be found on rocks, soil, and even rooftops, known for its ability to dry out and rehydrate.

Primulaceae: The Primrose Family

The Primulaceae family includes many popular garden flowers, as well as wild species. They often have simple leaves and five-petaled flowers.

• Androsace septentrionalis — pygmyflower rock-jasmine: A tiny plant that grows in rocky, open areas, producing small white flowers.
• Dodecatheon pulchellum — few-flower shootingstar: These flowers have petals that are swept back, making them look like shooting stars.
• Lysimachia ciliata — fringed loosestrife: This plant has yellow flowers and distinctive fringed leaf stalks.
• Primula mistassinica — bird's-eye primrose: A beautiful primrose with pink or purple flowers and a yellow "eye" in the center.

Pteridaceae: The Maidenhair Fern Family

This family includes many elegant ferns, often with delicate fronds. They are found in a variety of habitats, from moist woodlands to rocky cliffs.

• Adiantum pedatum — northern maidenhair fern: This fern is easily recognized by its circular fronds with black stems.
• Pellaea atropurpurea — purplestem rockbrake: A fern that grows on rocky cliffs, known for its dark purple stems.

Pyrolaceae: The Wintergreen Family

The Pyrolaceae family is a small group of woodland plants, often found under evergreen trees. They are known for their waxy leaves and delicate flowers.

• Chimaphila umbellata — common wintergreen: This plant has leathery, evergreen leaves and clusters of pinkish flowers.
• Moneses uniflora — one-flower wintergreen: A charming plant with a single, nodding white flower.
• Pyrola americana — American wintergreen: This plant has round, basal leaves and a stalk of greenish-white flowers.