List of Canadian plants by genus facts for kids

Canada is a huge country with many different kinds of plants! This page is like a big list of Canadian plants, organized by their scientific names (genus).

You'll see some plants are marked with an N. This means they are native to Canada, meaning they grew here naturally for a long, long time. Others are marked with an X. These are exotic plants, which means they were brought to Canada from other parts of the world, sometimes on purpose, sometimes by accident. If a plant has a ?, it means we're not sure if it's native or exotic.

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

Plants Starting with Ab

• Abies (Fir trees)
  • N Abies balsamea – The balsam fir is a classic Canadian tree, often used as a Christmas tree!
  • N Abies grandis – The grand fir is a tall, beautiful tree found in western Canada.
• Abutilon
  • X Abutilon theophrasti – The velvetleaf is an exotic plant with soft, velvety leaves.

Plants Starting with Ac

• Acalypha
  • N Acalypha virginica – The Virginia copperleaf is a native plant with interesting leaves.
• Acer (Maple trees)
  • N Acer negundo – The Manitoba maple is a common native maple tree.
  • N Acer rubrum – The red maple is famous for its bright red leaves in the fall.
  • N Acer saccharum – The sugar maple is where we get delicious maple syrup! It's a very important native tree.
• Achillea (Yarrow plants)
  • N Achillea millefolium subsp. borealis – The northern yarrow is a native plant with small, clustered flowers.
  • X Achillea millefolium subsp. millefolium – The common yarrow is an exotic plant often seen in fields.
• Aconitum (Monk's-hood)
  • X Aconitum napellus – The garden monk's-hood is an exotic plant with helmet-shaped flowers. Be careful, it can be poisonous!
• Acorus (Sweetflag)
  • N Acorus americanus – The sweetflag is a native plant that grows in wet areas.

Plants Starting with Ad

• Adenocaulon
  • N Adenocaulon bicolor – The trail-plant is a native plant with unique leaves.
• Adiantum (Maidenhair ferns)
  • N Adiantum pedatum – The northern maidenhair fern is a beautiful native fern with delicate leaves.
• Adonis
  • X Adonis annua – The pheasant's-eye is an exotic plant with bright red flowers.
• Adoxa
  • N Adoxa moschatellina – The moschatel is a small, native plant also known as muskroot.

Plants Starting with Ae

• Aegopodium
  • X Aegopodium podagraria – The goutweed is an exotic plant that can spread very quickly in gardens.
• Aesculus (Buckeye and Horsechestnut)
  • N Aesculus glabra – The Ohio buckeye is a native tree with interesting nuts.
  • X Aesculus hippocastanum – The common horsechestnut is an exotic tree often planted in parks.

Plants Starting with Ag

• Agalinis
  • N Agalinis gattingeri – Gattinger's agalinis is a native plant that is Endangered, meaning it's very rare and needs special protection!
  • N Agalinis skinneriana – Skinner's agalinis is another native plant that is also Endangered.
• Agastache (Hyssop)
  • N Agastache foeniculum – The anise hyssop is a native plant with a licorice-like scent.
• Agrimonia (Agrimony)
  • N Agrimonia gryposepala – The tall hairy agrimony is a native plant found in woodlands.
• Agrostis (Bentgrass)
  • X Agrostis capillaris – The colonial bentgrass is an exotic grass often used for lawns.
  • N Agrostis stolonifera – The creeping bentgrass is a native grass that spreads along the ground.

Plants Starting with Ai

• Ailanthus
  • X Ailanthus altissima – The tree-of-Heaven is an exotic tree that grows very fast and can take over areas.

Plants Starting with Aj

• Ajuga (Bugleweed)
  • X Ajuga reptans – The carpet bugleweed is an exotic plant that spreads like a carpet.

Plants Starting with Al

• Alcea (Hollyhock)
  • X Alcea rosea – The hollyhock is an exotic plant with tall stalks of colorful flowers.
• Aletris
  • N Aletris farinosa – The colicroot is a native plant that is Threatened, meaning it's becoming rare and needs help to survive.
• Allium (Onions and Leeks)
  • N Allium canadense – The Canada wild onion is a native plant that smells like onion!
  • N Allium tricoccum – The wild leek, also called ramps, is a popular native plant for foraging.
• Alnus (Alder trees)
  • N Alnus incana – The grey alder is a common native shrub or small tree.
• Alopecurus (Foxtail grasses)
  • N Alopecurus aequalis – The shortawn foxtail is a native grass found in wet places.
• Alyssum
  • X Alyssum alyssoides – The pale alyssum is an exotic plant with small yellow flowers.

Plants Starting with Am

• Amaranthus (Amaranths and Pigweeds)
  • X Amaranthus retroflexus – The redroot amaranth is a common exotic weed.
  • N Amaranthus tuberculatus – The roughfruit amaranth is a native plant that grows tall.
• Ambrosia (Ragweeds)
  • N Ambrosia artemisiifolia – The common ragweed is a native plant known for causing allergies.
• Amelanchier (Serviceberries or Juneberries)
  • N Amelanchier alnifolia – The Saskatoonberry is a native plant famous for its sweet berries, often used in pies!
  • N Amelanchier canadensis – The Canada serviceberry is a native shrub with pretty white flowers in spring.
• Amerorchis
  • N Amerorchis rotundifolia – The small roundleaf orchis is a delicate native orchid.
• Ammannia
  • N Ammannia robusta – The scarlet ammannia is a native plant that is Endangered.
• Ammophila
  • N Ammophila breviligulata – The American beachgrass is a native grass that helps hold sand dunes together.
• Amorpha
  • N Amorpha canescens – The leadplant is a native shrub with pretty purple flowers.
• Amphicarpaea
  • N Amphicarpaea bracteata – The American hog-peanut is a native vine that produces edible seeds.

Plants Starting with An

• Anagallis
  • X Anagallis arvensis – The scarlet pimpernel is an exotic plant with tiny, bright orange flowers.
• Anaphalis
  • N Anaphalis margaritacea – The pearly everlasting is a native plant with white, papery flowers that last a long time.
• Anchusa
  • X Anchusa officinalis – The common bugloss is an exotic plant with blue flowers.
• Andromeda
  • N Andromeda glaucophylla – The bog rosemary is a native shrub that grows in bogs.
• Andropogon (Bluestem grasses)
  • N Andropogon gerardii – The big bluestem is a tall native grass, important for prairies.
• Androsace
  • N Androsace septentrionalis – The pygmy-flower rock-jasmine is a small native plant.
• Anemone (Anemones)
  • N Anemone canadensis – The Canada anemone is a common native wildflower.
  • N Anemone patens – The pasqueflower is a beautiful native flower, also known as prairie crocus.
• Anethum
  • X Anethum graveolens – Dill is an exotic herb often used in cooking.
• Angelica
  • N Angelica atropurpurea – The purplestem angelica is a tall native plant with large flower clusters.
• Antennaria (Pussytoes)
  • N Antennaria howellii subsp. canadensis – The Canada pussytoes is a native plant with soft, fuzzy flower heads.
• Anthemis (Chamomile)
  • X Anthemis cotula – The mayweed is an exotic plant with daisy-like flowers.
• Anthriscus
  • X Anthriscus sylvestris – The wild chervil is an exotic plant that looks a bit like Queen Anne's Lace.
• Antirrhinum
  • X Antirrhinum majus – The common snapdragon is an exotic garden flower.

Plants Starting with Ap

• Apera
  • X Apera interrupta – The dense silky bentgrass is an exotic grass.
• Apios
  • N Apios americana – The American groundnut is a native vine with edible tubers, like small potatoes.
• Aplectrum
  • N Aplectrum hyemale – The puttyroot is a native orchid.
• Apocynum (Dogbane)
  • N Apocynum androsaemifolium – The spreading dogbane is a native plant with milky sap.

Plants Starting with Aq

• Aquilegia (Columbine)
  • N Aquilegia canadensis – The Canadian columbine is a beautiful native wildflower with red and yellow flowers.
  • X Aquilegia vulgaris – The European columbine is an exotic garden flower.

Plants Starting with Ar

• Arabidopsis
  • X Arabidopsis thaliana – The mouse-ear cress is an exotic plant often used in science experiments.
• Arabis (Rockcress)
  • N Arabis alpina subsp. alpina – The alpine rockcress is a native plant that grows in rocky, mountain areas.
• Aralia (Spikenard)
  • N Aralia nudicaulis – The wild sarsaparilla is a native plant found in forests.
• Arceuthobium (Dwarf Mistletoe)
  • N Arceuthobium americanum – The pine mistletoe is a native plant that grows on pine trees.
• Arctium (Burdock)
  • X Arctium minus subsp. minus – The common burdock is an exotic plant known for its burrs that stick to clothes and fur.
• Arctostaphylos (Bearberry)
  • N Arctostaphylos uva-ursi – The bearberry is a native plant with red berries, often eaten by bears!
• Arenaria (Sandwort)
  • N Arenaria humifusa – The creeping sandwort is a small native plant.
• Arethusa
  • N Arethusa bulbosa – The dragon's mouth is a beautiful native orchid that grows in swamps.
• Argemone
  • X Argemone mexicana – The Mexican prickly-poppy is an exotic plant with spiny leaves.
• Arisaema
  • N Arisaema dracontium – The green dragon is a native plant that is of Special Concern, meaning it needs careful watching to protect it.
  • N Arisaema triphyllum – The Jack-in-the-pulpit is a unique native plant with a flower that looks like a person in a pulpit.
• Aristida (Threeawn grasses)
  • N Aristida basiramea – The forktip threeawn is a native grass that is Endangered.
• Aristolochia
  • X Aristolochia macrophylla – The pipevine is an exotic vine with pipe-shaped flowers.
• Armeria
  • N Armeria maritima – The sea thrift is a native plant that grows along coastlines.
• Armoracia
  • X Armoracia rusticana – Horseradish is an exotic plant whose spicy root is used as a condiment.
• Arnica
  • N Arnica angustifolia – The narrowleaf arnica is a native plant found in arctic and mountain regions.
• Arnoglossum
  • N Arnoglossum platagineum – The tuberous Indian-plantain is a native plant of Special Concern.
• Aronia
  • N Aronia melanocarpa – The black chokeberry is a native shrub with dark berries.
• Arrhenatherum
  • X Arrhenatherum elatius – The tall oatgrass is an exotic grass.
• Artemisia (Wormwood and Sagebrush)
  • X Artemisia absinthium – The common wormwood is an exotic plant with a strong smell.
  • N Artemisia dracunculus – The wild tarragon is a native plant used as an herb.
  • N Artemisia frigida – The fringed sagebrush is a native plant common in dry, open areas.
  • X Artemisia vulgaris – The common mugwort is an exotic plant that can spread easily.
• Aruncus
  • X Aruncus dioicus – The common goat's-beard is an exotic plant with feathery white flowers.

Plants Starting with As

• Asarum
  • N Asarum canadense – The Canada wild ginger is a native plant with heart-shaped leaves and a unique flower.
• Asclepias (Milkweed)
  • N Asclepias incarnata – The swamp milkweed is a native plant that grows in wet areas and is important for monarch butterflies.
  • N Asclepias syriaca – The common milkweed is a very important native plant because monarch butterfly caterpillars eat its leaves.
  • N Asclepias tuberosa – The butterfly weed is a native milkweed with bright orange flowers, also loved by butterflies.
• Asimina
  • N Asimina triloba – The common pawpaw is a native tree that produces large, sweet fruits.
• Asparagus
  • X Asparagus officinalis – Garden asparagus is an exotic plant grown for its edible shoots.
• Asplenium (Spleenwort ferns)
  • N Asplenium platyneuron – The ebony spleenwort is a native fern with dark stems.
  • N Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum – The American Hart's-tongue fern is a native fern of Special Concern.
• Aster
  • N Aster alpinus – The alpine aster is a beautiful native flower found in mountain regions.
• Astragalus (Milkvetch)
  • N Astragalus alpinus – The alpine milkvetch is a native plant that grows in cooler climates.
  • N Astragalus canadensis – The Canada milkvetch is a native plant found across Canada.

Plants Starting with At

• Athyrium (Lady Ferns)
  • N Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum – The northern lady fern is a common native fern.
• Atriplex (Orache)
  • N Atriplex patula – The spear orache is a native plant found in coastal areas.

Plants Starting with Au

• Aureolaria
  • N Aureolaria flava – The yellow false-foxglove is a native plant with yellow, foxglove-like flowers.
• Aurinia
  • X Aurinia saxatilis – The basket-of-gold is an exotic plant with bright yellow flowers, often grown in rock gardens.

Plants Starting with Av

• Avena (Oats)
  • X Avena fatua – Wild oats are an exotic grass often found in fields.
  • X Avena sativa – Oats are an exotic plant grown for food.

Plants Starting with Ax

• Axyris
  • X Axyris amaranthoides – The Russian pigweed is an exotic plant.

Plants Starting with Az

• Azolla
  • N Azolla caroliniana – The mosquito fern is a tiny native fern that floats on water.