Here are suggestions for plants to be grown on the banks of One Mile Creek. Called a riparian buffer, the plants improve water quality by slowing the flow of water over the land, allowing it to infiltrate into the soil.
Buffers also provide habitat, increasing biodiversity. The vegetation removes sediment and pollution, such as fertilizers, pesticides, bacteria and even road salt.
These lists of appropriate species for butterfly gardening in Niagara are organized according to the site’s soil condition (dry, moist, normal) and amount of sunlight (sunny, part-shade, shade). The plants are recommended to be grown along the banks of .
Plants for dry, sunny conditions
- Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)
- Wild Bergamont (Monarda fistulosa)
- Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberose)
- Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)
- Sky Blue Aster (Aster oolentangiensis)
- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
- Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)
- Heath Aster (Aster ericoides)
- Smooth Aster (Aster laevis)
- Longleaf Bluets (Hedyotis longifolia)
Plants for moist to wet, sunny conditions
- Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
- White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)
- Porcupine Sedge (Carex hystericina)
- Spotted Joe-Pye-Weed (Eupatorium maculatum)
- Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
- Ohio Goldenrod (Solidago ohioensis)
- Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)
- Tall Ironweed (Vernonia altissima)
Plants for moist to wet, part-shade conditions
- Green-headed Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata)
- Rough-leaved Goldenrod (Solidago patula)
- Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
- Tall Meadow Rue (Thalictrum pubescens)
- Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) Note: This species is also great for attracting hummingbirds.
- Great Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
- Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)
- Michigan Lily (Lilium michiganense)
- Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
Plants for moist to wet, shade conditions
- Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
Plants for normal or moist, sunny conditions
- Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
- New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae)
- Sweet Ox-eye (Heliopsis helianthoides)
- Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
Plants for normal or moist, part-shade conditions
- Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Plants for normal or moist, shade Conditions
- Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata)
- White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda)
- White Snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum)
- Large-leaved Aster (Aster macrophyllus)
- Heart-leaved Aster (Aster cordifolius)
Plants for almost all conditions
- Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
- Star-flowered Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum stellatum)
- Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus)
Aquatic Plants
- Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor)
- White Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata)
Native Plant Guide for Niagara
More information on specific plants is available from the Native Plant Guide for Niagara published by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. You can view or download a copy of the guide below: