Happening Now: Native Plants at Loblaws in Southern Ontario

Written by: Cole White

 

Be on the lookout for native plant species at your supermarket garden centre: In Ontario, Loblaws has partnered with Carolinian Canada and the World Wildlife Foundation's In the Zone initiative to bring native plant stock into 35 stores across the province. This is exciting news, because it makes ecologically-sound gardening a little more accessible for our plant people in the Carolinian Zone!

 

Plants at a Zehrs garden centre

In the Zone plants sighted at a local Zehrs garden centre. Photo courtesy of Sofia Becerra.

 

We love initiatives like this, which make it easier to get locally-grown, ethically-sourced plants into the hands of gardeners. By supporting pollinators and other wildlife, and existing as an alternative to potentially invasive ornamentals, these plants can make a real contribution to the health of urban areas.

 

If you live in Southern Ontario, head out to one of these participating stores and demonstrate that there's consumer demand for native plant stock in mainstream retail outlets by buying some plants. Or if you arrive and they're all sold out, this might be a great time to ask when they'll be getting more!

 

Network of Nature isn't affiliated with any of the businesses involved -- we just think that small steps like this could represent a positive shift in how Canadians relate to plants.

 

Here's an interactive map you can explore to find a participating store, and check out the nurseries that are supplying them.

 

 


Are you curious about what plants are available and what you can do with them? Check out Network of Nature's species pages for a few of the plants being offered:

 

 

 

 

Pearly Everlasting

(Anaphalis margaritacea)

 

Great for:
Rooftop (drought tolerant/shallow rooted), Butterfly, and Prairie/Meadow gardens

 

View Plant
 

Pearly Everlasting

Swamp Milkweed

(Asclepias incarnata)

 

Great for:
Pond Edge/Wetland, Pond/Standing Water, and Butterfly gardens

 

View Plant

 

Swamp Milkweed

Prairie Smoke

(Geum triflorum)

 

Great for:
Butterfly and Prairie/Meadow gardens

 

View Plant

 

Prairie Smoke

Monkeyflower

(Mimulus ringens)

 

Great for:
Butterfly gardens

 

View Plant

 

Monkeyflower

Blue Lobelia

(Lobelia siphilitica)

 

Great for:
Pond Edge/Wetland and Woodland gardens

 

View Plant

 

Blue Lobelia

Maidenhair Fern

(Adiantum pedantum)

 

Great for:
Woodland gardens

 

View Plant

 

Maidenhair Fern

Woodland Sunflower

(Helianthus divaricatus)

 

Great for:
Woodland and Rooftop gardens (drought tolerant/shallow rooted)

 

View Plant

 

Woodland Sunflower

Wild Columbine

(Aquilegia canadensis)

 

Great for:
Rooftop (drought tolerant/shallow rooted), Bird, and Woodland gardens

 

View Plant

 

Wild Columbine

Switch Grass

(Panicum virgatum)

 

Great for:
Rooftop (drought tolerant/shallow rooted), Bird, and Prairie/Meadow gardens

 

View Plant

 

Switch Grass

Virginia Bluebell

(Mertensia virginica)

 

Great for:
Woodland and Prairie/Meadow gardens

 

View Plant

 

Virginia Bluebell

 

If you'd like to share what's going on in your own zone to help people engage with ecologically-friendly gardening practices, please Contact Us and let us know!

 

Further Reading:

 

• Where to Find Native Plants - In The Zone

 

• Loblaws In The Zone Species List

 

• Network of Nature Blog: Why Choose Native?

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