List of Canadian plants by genus B facts for kids

Canada is a huge country, and it's home to an incredible variety of plants! This page is like a special guide to some of the plants you can find here, organized by their scientific names. Think of it as a big plant dictionary for Canada.

When we talk about plants, it's important to know if they are native or exotic.

• Native plants (marked with an N) are those that have grown naturally in Canada for a very long time, often for thousands of years. They are perfectly suited to the Canadian climate and soil.
• Exotic plants (marked with an X) are plants that were brought to Canada from other parts of the world. Sometimes people bring them on purpose, like for gardens or farms. Other times, they arrive by accident, perhaps mixed in with seeds or soil.

Some plants are so rare that they need special protection. If you see a plant marked as Threatened or Endangered, it means there aren't many of them left, and we need to be extra careful to protect their habitats so they can survive.

You can explore plants by their first letter: 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 'B'

Ba

• Ballota
  • X Ballota nigra (Black Horehound) - This plant is not native to Canada.
• Baptisia (Wild Indigo)
  • X Baptisia australis (Blue Wild Indigo) - An exotic plant with beautiful blue flowers.
  • N Baptisia tinctoria (Yellow Wild Indigo) - A native Canadian plant known for its yellow flowers.
• Barbarea (Wintercress)
  • N Barbarea orthoceras (Erect-fruit Wintercress) - A native plant.
  • X Barbarea vulgaris (Yellow Rocket, Common Wintercress) - This is an exotic plant often seen in fields.
• Bartonia (Screwstem)
  • N Bartonia paniculata subsp. paniculata (Twining Screwstem) - This native plant is Threatened, meaning it needs our help to survive.
  • N Bartonia virginica (Yellow Screwstem) - Another native screwstem.
• Bartsia
  • N Bartsia alpina (Velvetbells, Alpine Bartsia) - A native plant found in alpine areas.
• Bassia
  • X Bassia hyssopifolia - An exotic plant.

Be

• Beckmannia
  • N Beckmannia syzigachne (American Slough Grass) - A native grass found in wet areas.
• Bellis
  • X Bellis perennis (English Daisy) - This small, cheerful flower is an exotic plant in Canada.
• Berberis (Barberry)
  • X Berberis aquifolium (Oregon Grape) - An exotic plant, despite its name.
  • X Berberis repens - Another exotic barberry.
  • X Berberis thunbergii (Japanese Barberry) - A popular garden plant that is exotic to Canada.
  • X Berberis vulgaris (European Barberry) - This exotic plant can sometimes be a problem for native ecosystems.
  • X Berberis × ottawensis (Ottawa Barberry) - This is a hybrid plant, a mix of two exotic barberries.
• Berteroa
  • X Berteroa incana (Hoary Alyssum) - An exotic plant.
• Berula
  • N Berula erecta - A native plant.
• Betula (Birch)
  • N Betula alleghaniensis (Yellow Birch) - A common native tree with yellowish bark.
  • N Betula cordifolia (Heartleaf Birch) - A native birch found in mountain areas.
  • N Betula glandulosa (American Dwarf Birch) - A smaller, native birch often found in scrubby areas.
  • N Betula lenta (Sweet Birch, Cherry Birch) - A native birch known for its sweet-smelling bark.
  • N Betula minor (Dwarf White Birch) - A smaller native birch.
  • N Betula neoalaskana (Alaska Birch) - A native birch found in the northern parts of Canada.
  • N Betula occidentalis (Water Birch) - A native birch that likes to grow near water.
  • N Betula papyrifera (Paper Birch, White Birch) - This famous native tree has bark that peels off like paper.
  • X Betula pendula (European White Birch) - An exotic birch often planted in gardens.
  • N Betula populifolia (Grey Birch) - A native birch often found in old fields.
  • X Betula pubescens (Downy Birch) - Another exotic European birch.
  • N Betula pumila (Dwarf Birch, Bog Birch) - A small native birch that grows in bogs and swamps.
  • N Betula × neoborealis - A native hybrid birch.
  • N Betula × purpusii - A native hybrid birch.
  • N Betula × sandbergii (Sandberg's Birch) - A native hybrid birch.
  • N Betula × sargentii (Sargent's Birch) - A native hybrid birch.

Bi

• Bidens (Beggarticks)
  • X Bidens aristosa (Tickseed Beggarticks) - An exotic plant.
  • X Bidens bipinnata - An exotic plant.
  • N Bidens cernua (Nodding Beggarticks) - A native plant with flowers that often nod downwards.
  • N Bidens connata (Purplestem Beggarticks) - A native plant with purplish stems.
  • N Bidens discoidea (Swamp Beggarticks) - A native plant found in swampy areas.
  • N Bidens frondosa (Devil's Beggarticks) - A native plant known for its seeds that stick to clothes.
  • N Bidens hyperborea (Estuary Beggarticks) - A native plant found near coastal estuaries.
  • N Bidens laevis (Smooth Bur-marigold) - A native plant.
  • X Bidens pilosa (Hairy Beggarticks) - An exotic plant.
  • X Bidens polylepis (Awnless Beggarticks) - An exotic plant.
  • N Bidens tripartita (Threepart Beggarticks) - A native plant.
  • N Bidens vulgata (Tall Beggarticks) - A native plant, also known for its sticky seeds.

Bl

• Blephilia (Woodmint)
  • N Blephilia ciliata (Downy Woodmint) - A native plant.
  • N Blephilia hirsuta (Hairy Woodmint) - A native plant.
• Blysmus
  • N Blysmus rufus (Red Bulrush) - A native plant often found in wet, marshy areas.

Bo

• Boehmeria
  • N Boehmeria cylindrica (False Nettle) - A native plant that looks a bit like a nettle but doesn't sting.
• Bolboschoenus (Bulrush)
  • N Bolboschoenus fluviatilis (River Bulrush) - A native plant found along rivers.
  • N Bolboschoenus maritimus (Saltmarsh Bulrush) - A native plant that grows in salty marsh areas.
• Borago
  • X Borago officinalis (Common Borage) - This plant, known for its bright blue flowers, is exotic to Canada.
• Botrychium (Moonwort, Grapefern)
  • N Botrychium acuminatum (Pointed Moonwort) - A native fern.
  • N Botrychium ascendens (Upswept Moonwort) - A native fern.
  • N Botrychium campestre (Prairie Moonwort) - A native fern found in prairie regions.
  • N Botrychium dissectum (Lacyleaf Grapefern) - A native fern with finely cut leaves.
  • N Botrychium hesperium (Western Moonwort) - A native fern found in western Canada.
  • N Botrychium lanceolatum (Lanceleaf Grapefern) - A native fern.
  • N Botrychium lunaria (Common Moonwort) - A native fern named for its moon-shaped leaflets.
  • N Botrychium matricariifolium (Daisyleaf Moonwort) - A native fern.
  • N Botrychium minganense (Mingan's Moonwort) - A native fern.
  • N Botrychium multifidum (Leathery Grapefern) - A native fern.
  • N Botrychium oneidense (Lake Oneida Grapefern) - A native fern.
  • N Botrychium pallidum (Pale Moonwort) - A native fern.
  • N Botrychium pseudopinnatum (False Northwestern Moonwort) - A native fern.
  • N Botrychium rugulosum (St. Lawrence Grapefern) - A native fern found near the St. Lawrence River.
  • N Botrychium simplex (Little Grapefern) - A small native fern.
  • N Botrychium spathulatum (Spatulate Moonwort) - A native fern.
  • N Botrychium virginianum (Rattlesnake Fern) - A native fern with a unique appearance.
• Bouteloua
  • N Bouteloua curtipendula (Sideoats Grama) - A native grass found in prairies.

Br

• Brachyelytrum (Shorthusk)
  • N Brachyelytrum erectum var. erectum (Bearded Shorthusk) - A native grass.
  • N Brachyelytrum erectum var. glabratum (Northern Shorthusk) - A native grass.
• Brasenia
  • N Brasenia schreberi (Watershield) - A native aquatic plant with floating leaves.
• Brassica (Mustard, Cabbage Family)
  • X Brassica juncea (Chinese Mustard, Indian Mustard) - An exotic plant used in cooking.
  • X Brassica napus (Rutabaga, Canola) - An exotic plant grown for food and oil.
  • X Brassica nigra (Black Mustard) - An exotic plant.
  • X Brassica oleracea (Cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Kale, Brussels Sprouts, Kohlrabi) - All these common vegetables are exotic to Canada and come from the same wild plant!
• Braya
  • N Braya humilis (Low Northern Rockcress) - A native plant.
• Briza (Quaking Grass)
  • X Briza maxima (Big Quaking Grass) - An exotic grass with distinctive dangling seed heads.
  • X Briza media (Perennial Quaking Grass) - Another exotic quaking grass.
• Bromus (Brome Grass)
  • X Bromus aleutensis (Aleut Brome) - An exotic grass.
  • X Bromus arvensis (Field Brome) - An exotic grass.
  • X Bromus briziformis (Rattlesnake Brome) - An exotic grass.
  • X Bromus carinatus (California Brome) - An exotic grass.
  • N Bromus ciliatus (Fringed Brome) - A native grass.
  • X Bromus commutatus (Meadow Brome) - An exotic grass.
  • X Bromus danthoniae (Oat Brome) - An exotic grass.
  • X Bromus erectus (Erect Brome) - An exotic grass.
  • X Bromus hordeaceus (Soft Brome) - An exotic grass.
  • X Bromus inermis subsp. inermis (Smooth Brome) - A common exotic grass.
  • N Bromus kalmii (Kalm's Brome) - A native grass.
  • N Bromus latiglumis (Broad-glumed Brome) - A native grass.
  • N Bromus nottowayanus (Nottoway Brome Grass) - A native grass.
  • N Bromus pubescens (Hairy Woodland Brome) - A native grass.
  • N Bromus pumpellianus subsp. pumpellianus (Pumpell's Brome) - A native grass.
  • X Bromus racemosus (Spiked Brome) - An exotic grass.
  • X Bromus secalinus (Rye Brome) - An exotic grass.
  • X Bromus squarrosus (Corn Brome) - An exotic grass.
  • X Bromus sterilis (Poverty Brome) - An exotic grass.
  • X Bromus tectorum (Cheat Grass) - A common exotic grass.
  • X Bromus × pseudothominii (Soft Brome) - An exotic hybrid grass.

Bu

• Buchnera
  • N Buchnera americana (Bluehearts) - This beautiful native plant is Endangered, meaning it's very rare and needs strong protection.
• Buddleja
  • X Buddleja davidii (Butterfly Bush) - This popular garden plant is exotic to Canada, though butterflies love it!
• Buglossoides
  • X Buglossoides arvensis (Corn Gromwell) - An exotic plant.
• Bulbostylis
  • N Bulbostylis capillaris - A native plant.
• Bupleurum
  • X Bupleurum rotundifolium (Roundleaf Thorowax) - An exotic plant.
• Butomus
  • X Butomus umbellatus (Flowering Rush) - An exotic aquatic plant.