Here are the fairly common (fc) to common (c) flora of Haliburton County in Central Ontario, Canada. These are the starting point for our Wild Plants Series. Around 200 have been scheduled to cover initially – the most edible and medicinal of the bunch!

Each plant below will be linked to here once covered, with the end goal being covering every single flora that is commonly found locally. The most used for foraging, medicinally and for crafts will take priority. Some of our rarer plants will be carefully covered too, like Ginseng.

Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) c

Pineapple-weed (Matricaria matricariodes) c

Tall white lettuce (Prenanthes altissima) fc

Black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia hirta) c

Black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia serotina) fc

Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadenis) c

Grass-leaved goldenrod (Solidago graminifolia) c

Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) fc

Rough-stemmed goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) c

Bog goldenrod (Solidago uliginosa) c

Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum) c

Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) c

Orange hawkweed (Heiracium aurantiacum) c

Rough hawkweed (Heiracium scabrum) c

Wild lettuce (Lactuca biennis) fc

Nodding beggar’s ticks (Bidens cernua) c

Beggar’s ticks (Bidens frondosa) fc

Ox-eye daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum) c

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) fc

Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) c

Ball thistle (Cirsium vulgare) c

Horseweed (Conyza canadensis) fc

Daisy fleabane (Erigeron annuus) fc

Common fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) fc

Field pussytoes (Antennaria neglecta) fc

Common burdock (Arctium minus) fc

Heart-leaved aster (Aster cordifolius) c

Large-leaved aster (Aster macrophyllus) c

Bog aster (Aster nemoralis) fc

Purple-stemmed aster (Aster puniceus) fc

Tall white aster (Aster simplex) c

Flat-topped aster (Aster umbellatus) c

Water marigold (Bidens beckii) fc

Hobble-bush (Vibernum alnifollum) c

Wild raisin (Vibernum cassinoides) c

High-bush cranberry (Vibernum trilobum) fc

Water lobelia (Lobelia dortmanna) c

Indian-tobacco (Lobelia inflata) c

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) c

Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) c

Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) c

Bedstraw (Galium tinctorium) fc

Fragrant bedstraw (Galium triflorum) c

Partridge-berry (Mitchella repens) c

Bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) c

Twinflower (Lonicera borealis) c

Fly honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis) fc

Red-berried elder (Sanbucus pubens) c

Thyme-leaved speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia) c

Horned bladderwort (Utricularia cornuta) c

Humped bladderwort (Utricularia gibba) fc

Flat-leafed bladderwort (Utricularia intermedia) fc

Purple bladderwort (Utricularia purpurea) c

Common bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris) c

English plantain (Plantago major) c

Butter-and-eggs, Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris) c

Monkey-flower (Mimulus ringens) fc

Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus) c

Marsh speedwell (Veronica scutellata) c

Hemp-nettle (Galeopsis tetrahit) c var. bifida fc

Cut-leaved water-horehound (Lycopus americanus) c

Bugleweed (Lycopus uniflorus) c

Wild mint (Mentha arvensis) c

Heal-all, self heal (Prunella vulgaris) c

Wild basil (Satureja vulgaris) fc

Common skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata) c

Mad-dog skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) c

Spreading dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium) c

Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) c

Viper’s bugloss (Echium vulgare) c

Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) c

Bog-laurel (Kalmia polifolia) c

Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum) fc

Low sweet blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) fc

Large cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) fc

Velvet-leaf blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides) c

Swamp-candles (Lysimachia terrestris) c

Tufted loosestrife (Lysimachia thyrsiflora) fc

Starflower (Trientalis borealis) c

White ash and black ash are listed as fairly common but have since been threateded by the ash borer.

Pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) c

Bunchberry (Cornus canadenis) c

Red osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) c

Indian-pipe (Monotropa uniflora) fc

Shinleaf (Pyrola elliptica) c

One-sided pyrola (Pyrola secunda) fc

Bog-rosemary (Andromeda glaucophylla) fc

Leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata) c

Trailing-arbutus (Epigaea repens) fc

Creeping snowberry (Gaultheria hispidula) fc

Bristly sarsaparilla (Aralia hispida) fc

Wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) c

Spikenard (Aralia racemosa) c

Water-hemlock (Cicuta bulbifera) fc

Water-pennywort (Hydrocotyle americana) fc

Sweet cicely (Osmorhiza claytoni) fc

Small enchanter’s nightshade (Circora alpina) fc

Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) c

Willow-herb (Epilobium ciliatum) c

Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) c

Water-milfoil (Miriophyllum alterniflorum) fc

Large-leaved white violet (Viola incognita) fc

Lance-leaved violet (Viola lanceolata) c

Northern white violet (Viola pallens) c

Downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens) fc

Kidney-leaved violet (Viola renifolia) fc

Great-spurred violet (Viola selkirkii) fc

Northern blue violet (Viola septentrionalis) c

Basswood (Tilia americana) c

Northern St. John’s-wort (Hypericum boreale) c var f.callitrichoides fc

Canadian St. John’s-wort (Hypericum canadense) c

Pale St. John’s-wort (Hypericum ellipticum) c

Common St. John’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum) c

Marsh St. John’s-wort (Hypericum fraseri) c

Canada violet (Viola canadensis) c

American dog violet (Viola conspersa) fc

Blue marsh violet (Viola cucullata) c

Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) c

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) fc

Mountain holly (Nemopanthus mucronata) c

Box-elder, Manitoba maple (Acer negundo) fc

Striped maple (Acer pensilvanicum) fc

Red maple (Acer rubrum) c

Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) c

Mountain maple (Acer spicatum) fc

Touch-me-not, Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) c

Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus vitacea) c

White sweet clover (Melilotus alba) c

Hop clover (Trifolium aureum) c

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) c

White clover (Trifolium repens) c

Cow vetch (Vicia cracca) c

Wood-sorrel (Osalis montana) fc

Yellow wood-sorrel (Osalis stricta) fc

Purple-flowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus) c

Dwarf raspberry (Rubus pubescens) c

Wild red raspberry (Rubus strigosus) c

Mountain-ash listed as fairly common but see Ash comments above.

Broad-leaved meadowsweet (Spiraea latifolia) c

Steeple-bush (Spiraea tomentosa) c

Silvery cinquefoil (Potentilla argentea) c

Rough cinquefoil (Potentilla novegica) c

Marsh cinquefoil (Potentilla palustris) fc

Rough-fruited cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) c

Pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica) c

Choke cherry (Prunus virginiana) c

Common blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) c

Smooth serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis) c

Serviceberry (Amelanchier sanguinea) c

Chokeberry (Aronia prunifolia) c

Hawthorn (Crataegus macrosperma) fc

Dewdrops (Dalibarda repens) fc

Wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) c

Yellow avens (Geam aleppicum) fc

Pitcher-plant (Sarracenia purpurea) fc

Spatulate-leaved sundew (Drosera intermedia) c

Round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) c

Golden water-carpet (Chrysosplenium americanum) fc

Mitrewort (Mitella diphylla) c

Naked mitrewort (Mitella nuda) c

Prickly gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati) c

Skunk currant (Ribes glandulosum) c

Bristly black currant (Ribes lacustre) fc

Swamp red currant (Ribes triste) fc

Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) c

Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) c

Bitter cress (Cardamine pensylvanica) c

Wormseed mustard (Erysimum cheiranthoides) fc

Field cress (Lepidium campestre) c

Peppergrass (Lepidium densiflorum) fc

Marsh cress (Rorippa palustris var. hispida) fc

Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus pensylvanicus) c

Hooked buttercup (Ranunculus recurvatus) fc

Creeping spearwort (Ranunculus reptans var. reptans) fc

Tall meadow-rue (Thalictrum pubescens) c

Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) fc

Pale corydalis (Corydalis sempervirens) c

Squirrel-corn (Dicentra canadenis) fc

Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) c

Winter cress (Barbarea vulgaris) c

Yellow water-lily (Nuphar variegata) c

White water-lily (Nymphaea odorata) c

White baneberry, Doll’s eyes (Actaea pachypoda) c

Thimbleweed (Anemona virginiana) fc

Apple

White Ash

Black cherry

Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) c

Virgin’s bower (Clematis virginiana) fc

Goldthread (Coptis trifolia) c

Kidneyleaf buttercup (Ranunculus abortivus) c

Tall buttercup (Ranunculus acris) c

Bouncing-bet (Saponaria officinalis) c

White campion (Silene pratensis) fc

Bladder campion (Silene vulgaris) c

Lesser stitchwort (Stellaria graminea) c

Coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum) fc

Coontail (Ceratophyllum echinatum) c

Water-shield (Brasenia schreberi) c

Lady’s-thumb (Polygonam persicaria) c

Dotted smartweed (Polygonam punctatum) c

Tear-thumb (Polygonam saggitatum) c

Sheep-sorrel (Rumex acetosella) c

Bitter dock (Rumex obtusifolius) fc

Lamb’s quarters (Chenopodium album) fc

Spring-beauty (Claytonia caroliniana) c

Mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium fontanum) c

Ironwood (Ostrya virginiana) c

American beech is listed as common, however, beech bark disease is spreading.

Red oak is listed as common, however https://www.facebook.com/SaveTheRedOaks/.

Wood nettle (Laportea canadensis) c

Stinging nettle is listed as uncommon, however, it’s plentiful in my garden sometimes so I will surely cover this one anyways.

Water smartweed (Polygonum amphibium) c

Prostrate knotweed (Polygonum aviculare) fc

Bindweed (Polygonum cilinode) c

Black bindweed (Polygonum convolvulus) fc

Common smartweed (Polygonum hydropiper) fc

Balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera) c

Large-toothed aspen (Populus grandidentata) c

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) c

Beaked willow (Salix bebbiana) c

Pussy willow (Salix discolor) c

Crack willow (Salix fragilis) c

Upland willow (Salix humilis) c

Shining willow (Salix lucida) c

Slender willow (Salix petiolaris) c

Balsam willow (Salix Pyrifolia) fc

Sweet gale (Myrica gale) c

Speckled alder (Alnus rugosa) c

Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) c

White birch, Paper birch (Betula papyrifera) c

Beaked hazel (Corylus cornuta) c

Club-spur orchid (Platanthera clavellata) c

Tall northern green orchid (Platanthera hyperborea) fc

Case’s ladies’ tresses (Spiranthes casei) fc

Nodding ladies’ tresses (Spiranthes cernua) c

Wild iris, Blue flag (Iris versicolor) fc

Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium montanum) fc

Pink moccasin flower, Pink lady’s-slipper (Cypripedium acaule) c

Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine) c

Rattlesnake-plantain (Goodyera tesselata) c

Corn lily (Clintonia borealis) c

Trout lily (Erythronium americanum) c

Wild lily-of-the-valley (Maianthemum canadense) c

Indian cucumber-root (Medeola virginiana) fc

Hairy Solomon’s-seal (Polygonatum pubescens) c

False Solomon’s-seal (Smilacina racemosa) c

Three-leaved Solomon’s-seal (Smilacina trifolia) c

Rose twisted-stalk (Streptopus roseus) c

Red trillium (Trillium erectum) c

White trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) c

Painted trillium (Trillium undulatum) fc

Large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) c

Pipewort (Eriocaulon septangulare) c

Pickerel-weed (Pontederia cordata) c

Rush (Juncus) var. listed common include brevicaudatus, filiformis, nodosus, pelocarpus.Toad rush (Juncus bufonias) c

Canada rush (Juncus canadensis) c

Soft rush (Juncus effusus) c

Path rush (Juncus tenuis) c

Wood rush (Luzula multiflora) c

Wild leek (Allium tricoccum) c

Tawny bog-cotton (Eriophorum virginicum) c

Beak rush (Rhynchospora alba) c

Bulrush (Scirpus atrovirens) c

Wool-grass (Scirpus cyperinus) c

Soft-stem bulrush (Scirpus validus, var. creber) c

Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) c

Wild calla, Water-arum (Calla palustris) c

Duckweed (Lemna minor) c

Sedges (Carex) listed as common or fc include trisperma, atriculate, ormostachya, peckii, pseudo-cyperus, retrorsa, scabrata, scoparia, stipata, stricta, echinata, flava, gracillima, gynandra, houghtoniana, hystericina, interior, intamescens, lasiocarpa, leptonervia, lurida, and the list goes on.

Twig-rush (Cladium mariscoides) fc

Three-way sedge (Dulichium arundinaceum) c

Needle rush (Eleocharis acicularis) c

Spike-rush (Eleocharis obtusa) c

Spike-rush (Eleocharis palustris) fc

Panic grass (Panicum linearifolium) c

Timothy (Phleum pratense) c

Canada blue grass (Poa compressa) c

Fowl meadow grass (Poa palastris) c

Kentucky blue grass (Poa pratensis) c

Poa grass (Poa saltuensis) fc

Alkali grass (Puccinellia fernaldii) fc

False medic grass (Schizachne purpurascens) c

Green foxtail (Setaria viridis) c

Fowl manna grass (Glyceria striata) c

Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia mexicana) c

Rice grass (Oryzopsis asperifolia) fc

Witch grass (Panicum capillare) fc

Panic grass (Panicum implicatum) c

Blue joint reed grass (Calamagrostis canadenis) c

Nodding wood grass (Cinna latifolia) c

Orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) c

Poverty grass (Danthonia spicata) c

Western barnyard grass (Echinochloa crusgalli) fc

Floating manna grass (Glyceria borealis) c

Rattlesnake grass (Glyceria canadenis) c

Water-plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica) fc

Northern arrowhead (Sagittara cuneata) fc

Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifoilia) c

Waterweed (Elodea canadenis) c

Tapegrass (Vallisneria americana) c

Quack grass (Agropyron repens) c

Redtop grass (Agrostis gigantea) c

Tickle grass (Agrostis scabra) fc

Leafy wood grass (Brachyelytrum erectum) c

Fringed brome grass (Bromus ciliatus) c

Smooth brome grass (Bromis inermis) c

Leafy pondweed (Potamogeton epihydrus) c

Variable pondweed (Potamogeton gramineus) c

Floating pondweed (Potamogeton natans) c

Narrow-leaved pondweed (Potamogeton pusillus) c

Pondweed (Potamogeton richardsonii) fc

Pondweed (Potamogeton robbinsii) c

Snailseed pondweed (Potamogeton spirillus) c

Flat-stemmed pondweed (Potamogeton zosteriformis) c

Naiad (Najas flexilis) c

Red pine (Pinus resinosa) c

White Pine (Pinus strobus) c

Eastern Hemlock is listed as common, but is now under threat from Hemlock disease and HWA.

Common juniper (Juniperus communis) fc

Eastern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) c

Narrow-leaved cat-tail (Typha angustifolia) fc

Common cat-tail (Thypha latifolia) c

Bur-reed (Sparganium) listed as c and fc include americanum, chlorocarpum, f. acaule.

Floating bur-reed (Sparganium fluctuans) c

Large-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton amplifolius) c

Oak fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris) c

Ostrich fern – aka fiddleheads (Matteuccia struthiopteris) c

Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) c

Northern beech fern (Phegopteris connectilis) c

Common polypody (Polypodium virginianum) c

Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) c

Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) c

New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) c

Rusty woodsia (Woodsia ilvensis) fc

American yew (Taxus canadenis) fc

Balsam-fir (Abies balsamea) c

Tamarack (Larix laricina) c

White spruce (Picea glauca) c

Black spruce (Picea mariana) c

Interrupted fern (Osmunda claytoniana) c

Royal fern (Osmuna regalis) c

Maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) c

Upland lady fern (Athyrium filix–femina) c

Silvery spleenwort (Athyrium thelypterioides) fc

Bulblet bladder fern (Cystopteris bulbifera) c

Northern fragile fern (Cystopteris tenuis) c

Hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) c

Spinulose wood fern (Dryopteris carthusiana) c

Crested shield fern (Dryopteris cristata) c

Evergreen wood fern (Dryopteris intermedia) c

Marginal shield fern (Dryopteris marginalis) c

Quillwort (Isoetes echinospora) c

Common horsetail (Equisetum arvense) c

Water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile) c

Rough scouring-rush (Equisetum hyemale) fc

Woodland horsetail (Equisetum sylvaticum) c

Matricary grape fern (Botrychium matricariifolium) c

Leathery grape fern (Botrychium multifidum and var. intermedium) c

Rattlesnake fern (Botrychium virginianum) c

Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) c

Bristly clubmoss (Lycopodium annotinum) c

Staghorn clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum) c

Tree clubmoss (Lycopodium dendriodeum) c

Ground-cedar, running pine clubmoss (Lycopodium digitatum) c

Shining clubmoss (Lycopodium lucidulum) c

Ground-pine (Lycopodium obscurum) c

My source for whether a local plant common or fairly common is Haliburton Flora: An Annotated List of the Vascular Plants of the County of Haliburton, Ontario (LIFE SCIENCES MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATION)

It can be rented from the local library, and sometimes copies can be found on Amazon.

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