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abiotic
2025-12-05
A non-living aspect of the environment such as light, water, temperature, or climate. The opposite of abiotic is biotic.
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Antenna
2025-12-05
(plural: antennae) A mobile appendage on the head of an animal (e.g., an insect) that is sensitive to touch, and in some cases, taste.
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atmosphere
2025-12-05
A mixture of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide, among other gases, that surround the Earth. The atmosphere has four layers that are determined by temperatures troposphere (closest), stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere (farthest).
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Attributes
2025-12-05
Lists some of the special qualities certain plants have which may make them more attractive as garden selections.
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bacteria
2025-12-05
(singular: bacterium): single-celled, microscopically small organisms in the Monera kingdom. A bacterial cell differs from the cells of higher organisms in that it is simpler (i.e., lacks most of the internal structures) and has no distinct (i.e., membrane-bound) nucleus. There are thousands of species of bacteria, but they occur in only three different shapes: spherical, rodlike, or curved. Some bacteria cause diseases, while others are necessary to good health (e.g., some intestinal bacteria). They can be found in all ecosystems.
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biowall
2025-12-05
A mixture of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide, among other gases, that surround the Earth. The atmosphere has four layers that are determined by temperatures troposphere (closest), stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere (farthest).
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Bloom Time
2025-12-05
Lists the time of year the plant flowers. Due to the variability of bloom time across the country and in different locations this is given by season instead of by month. There may be some yearly shifts in bloom times due to variations in the weather.
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carbon cycle
2025-12-05
This term describes the flow of carbon through the atmosphere, ocean, terrestrial biosphere and lithosphere.
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carbon dioxide
2025-12-05
A colourless, odourless gas that is naturally present in the atmosphere and produced by the breathing of animals and burning of fossil fuels.
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carbon neutral
2025-12-05
An equivalent amount of carbon dioxide is captured (sequestered) through photosynthesis during the production of the biomass resource as is released during its combustion.
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Cautions
2025-12-05
Lists some areas of concern for the selected plant. These are given where known, however, the absence of any listed caution does not indicate that the plant is necessarily trouble free.
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chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
2025-12-05
Organic compounds made up of atoms of carbon, chlorine and fluorine. Gaseous CFCs can deplete the ozone layer when they rise into the stratosphere, get broken down by ultraviolet radiation and then release chlorine atoms that react with ozone molecules.
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climate change
2025-12-05
Natural and human-induced changes in climate that last from decades to centuries.
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Colour
2025-12-05
Lists the colour of the flowering part of each plant. For non-flowering plants the colour given is that of the leaves.
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Common Name
2025-12-05
lists the common name or names for each plant. Please note that common names often vary from region to region. An effort was made to include as many of the common names as possible for each plant.
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dabbling ducks
2025-12-05
ducks that frequent shallow marshes, ponds, and rivers and “tip up” to feed: they feed with their bodies above water and their heads below water. They take off vertically when startled.
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echinoderm
2025-12-05
any marine invertebrate of the phylum Echinodermata, usually having shiny skin.
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food mile
2025-12-05
The distance food or produce travels from the point of its production to the consumer. It is a method used to determine the environmental impact of food production and transportation.
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fossil fuels
2025-12-05
Carbon-based compounds such as coal, oil, refined petroleum products like gasoline and natural gas. These produce carbon dioxide when burned.
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game animal
2025-12-05
legal designation for wild animals, usually mammals or birds, that may be hunted for sport or food and that are subject to legal regulations.
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genus
2025-12-05
a major category in the classification of plants, animals, and other organisms, more specific than the family and more general than the species; a group of species that are more closely related to one another than to other species. See “taxonomy.”
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global warming
2025-12-05
A rise in the temperature of the atmosphere caused by an increase in the greenhouse effect.
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greenhouse effect
2025-12-05
A rise in the temperature of the atmosphere caused by an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
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greenhouse gases
2025-12-05
Vapours, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, and chlorofluorocarbons that blanket the Earth.
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heat island effect
2025-12-05
When heat from a large urban area concentrates in a “dome” shape because of the way pollution and physical structures, such as tall buildings and pavement, have modified the land’s surface.
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Height at Maturity
2025-12-05
Gives the approximate height of the plant at full size. Please note that this can vary according to the suitability of the site. Some native plants can reach greater heights in a garden situation than in the wild due to less competition and more available nutrients.
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hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
2025-12-05
Compounds that were introduced as alternatives to ozone-depleting substances in industrial, commercial and personal needs, containing hydrogen, fluorine and carbon atoms.
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keystone species
2025-12-05
a species whose removal causes marked changes to a community or ecosystem.
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land-based pollution
2025-12-05
pollution, including agricultural runoff, untreated sewage, and industrial waste, that results from human activities on land.
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Light
2025-12-05
Indicates the amount of sunlight the plant should ideally receive. Some plants thrive in a range of light situations while others require more specific conditions. Consult their habitat description for a better idea of the kinds of sites they prefer. 1. Sun indicates the plant prefers a location which receives direct sun for most of the day or approximately 6 hours or more of direct sun. 2. Partial shade can indicate an area with only filtered sunlight most of the day or one which receives direct sun for only 2 to 4 hours of the day. 3. Full shade indicates an area which receives less than 2 hours of direct sun each day.
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methane (CH4)
2025-12-05
Methane is created when the decomposition of waste takes place without enough oxygen, for example in landfills, animal waste and incomplete fossil-fuel combustion.
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microinvertebrate
2025-12-05
an invertebrate that is visible to the naked eye, such as an insect, snail, or worm.
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Moisture
2025-12-05
Indicates the plant's preferred soil moisture. Some plants can tolerate a range of moisture regimes, but others are more particular.
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Native Province
2025-12-05
Lists all Canadian provinces and territories for which the plant is considered a native component of the flora. Please note that the listing of a plant as native to a particular province does not necessarily indicate that the plant is native to all areas of that province. To find out if a particular plant is native to your local area please consult regional native plant guides or contact local naturalist groups, horticultural groups or native plant societies. We encourage the use of plants native to your specific area. In some cases a qualifier has been added to indicate the limitations of a plants range within a province. For example, sAB would indicate the plant is found only in the southern part of Alberta.
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nitrous oxide (N2O)
2025-12-05
A colourless, non-flammable gas with a sweetish odour, used as an anesthetic and commonly known as laughing gas. Major sources of nitrous oxide include soil cultivation practices, especially the use of commercial and organic fertilizers, as well as fossil fuel combustion.
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ocean
2025-12-05
a large expanse of sea. The oceans surrounding Canada are the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic.
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ocean conveyor belt
2025-12-05
A complex heat and salt exchange system in the planet's interconnected surface and deepwater oceans.
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pack ice
2025-12-05
a floating mass of ice that forms in the Earth’s polar oceans; the mass expands to cover a greater area in winter and contracts in summer. The pack ice of the Northern Hemisphere covers an average area of more than 10 million km2.
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Plant Type
2025-12-05
Identifies each plant according to various accepted groupings such as shrub, perennial or grass.
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race
2025-12-05
a subspecies of an animal species or a variety of a plant species; sometimes used more loosely to refer to either a genus, species, breed, or variety.
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salt marsh
2025-12-05
marsh forms affected by the daily or seasonal influence of brackish to saline waters, generally in coastal or dry prairie conditions.
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Scientific Name
2025-12-05
lists the botanical name (genus and species) for each of the plants listed.
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taiga
2025-12-05
sparsely treed belt of subarctic forest in the Northern Hemisphere that blends into the tundra in the north and the boreal forest in the south. In Canada the taiga extends from the coast of Labrador to the Mackenzie Delta.
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thermohaline circulation system
2025-12-05
The flow of ocean water caused by changes in the water's density.
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underfur
2025-12-05
the dense layer of fur, short hairs, or wool under the long outer coat of an animal.
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vascular plants
2025-12-05
seed plants, such as flowering trees, shrubs, herbs, and the conifers, as well as other plants, like the ferns and horsetails that reproduce by spores. All of these have specialized conducting cells organized as vascular tissues in their roots, stems, and leaves. They conduct water and inorganic nutrients as well as food made by green cells throughout the plant. These tissues allow vascular plants to grow to considerable size.
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waste
2025-12-05
a solid, semi-solid, liquid, or contained gaseous material discarded from industrial, mining, agricultural, commercial, or residential operations.
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Wildlife Benefit
2025-12-05
Gives the possible use of the plant by various forms of wildlife. This information is gathered from a wide variety of sources and, therefore, the appeal to various wildlife will vary among the plants listed.
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yard up
2025-12-05
a solid, semi-solid, liquid, or contained gaseous material discarded from industrial, mining, agricultural, commercial, or residential operations.
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Zone
2025-12-05
Gives the hardiness zone listing for each plant where available. This information is gathered from a variety of different sources and is meant only as a rough guide. Each garden is different and many factors can affect the survival of a plant. Therefore, use this field for reference only and refer to your local supplier for information on the plants hardiness in your area. Or better yet, choose plants native to your local area to be sure of their ability to thrive in the local climate.
