• Native plants are those that are indigenous to an area and occur there naturally. Native plants of Southern Ontario have also evolved in the region and are well adapted to the local growing conditions. Southern Ontario is a large geographic area, hence when choosing plants, it is a good idea consider those that are produced from seed closest to the planting site. This helps to ensure best adaptability of the plant to the environment.
  
  

Alternate Leaf Dogwood

• Alternate leaf dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) is a fast-growing, native Southern Ontario tree that grows in a wide variety of soils. The tree thrives in sun or shade and produces white flowers during spring. Alternate leaf dogwood is also referred to as pogoda dogwood and reaches a mature height of 20 to 35 feet. The bark and twigs of the tree are between green and reddish purple. The clusters of flowers turn into reddish-purple berries in the fall and attract wildlife. The foliage also turns a dark maroon during fall.
  
  

Red Oak

• Red oak (Quercus rubra) is a medium-sized, native tree of Southern Ontario. The tree is among the fastest-growing oaks and adapts well to most soils. Red oak is deciduous and grows up to 75 to 100 feet. The bark of the tree is striped with smooth plates with deep furrows. The foliage is bristle tipped and changes to russet, orange or crimson in fall. Red oak is an important source of lumber and is used for furniture, flooring, fence posts and pulpwood. The tree is used as a shade and street tree given its form and foliage. Red oak is easy to transplant and is well tolerant of cold temperatures.
  
  

Tulip Tree

• The tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipiferu) is a large-sized, native Southern Ontario tree. Tulip tree is fast growing and is related to the magnolia. It is among the tallest and most beautiful of the Eastern hardwoods. The trunk is long and straight, and the narrow crown spreads with age. The tulip tree is also referred to as tulip poplar. The tree gets its name from the large, yellow-orange tulip or lily-like flowers during spring. The foliage is smooth and waxy and turns to a bright golden color in the fall. The tree has cone-shaped seed-heads which stay on the tree even the leaves have fallen.