Calling all Ottawa Winter Sowers! We can help support community greening and conservation projects in the Ottawa region by cultivating a few extra pots of Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library Seeds, especially the species highlighted below.
How does it work? Drop by one of our Native Seed Giveaways to pick up the seeds to winter sow, or order them online starting on December 26 and we’ll mail you seeds for free. Sow them this winter (consult our winter sowing instructions here). When they are 2-3″ tall, all your extra winter sown seedlings are welcome at our 2026 plant giveaways (check this page in the spring for dates and locations).
In particular, you are welcome to grow the following sets of species for community projects:
Community Winter Sowing for the Dunes!
Consider sowing these dry species to help regenerate Pinhey Sand Dunes:Â
- Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Milkweed)
- Desmodium canadense (Showy tick trefoil)
- Drymocallis arguta (Tall/Prairie Cinquefoil)
- Packera paupercula (Balsam Ragwort)
- Solidago hispida (Hairy Goldenrod)
- Solidago juncea (Early Goldenrod)
- Solidago nemoralis (Old‑Field Goldenrod)
- Spiraea alba var. alba (Meadowsweet)
- Spiraea tomentosa (Steeplebush)
- Symphyotrichum ciliolatum (Ciliate/Lindley’s Aster)
- Verbena hastata (Blue vervain)
Victory Sowing for Shade!
Consider sowing these shady species for community greening projects:
- Anemone virginiana (Tall thimbleweed)
- Blephilia hirsutus (Hairy wood mint)
- Clinopodium vulgare (Wild basil)
- Eurybia macrophylla (Large-leaved aster)
- Geranium maculatum (Wild geranium)
- Mitella diphylla (Bishop’s cap)
- Penstemon hirsutus (Hairy beardtongue)
- Rudbeckia laciniata (Cut-leaved coneflower)
- Scrophularia lanceolata (Lance-leaved figwort)
- Tiarella stolonifera (Foamflower)
- Thalictrum pubescens (Tall meadow-rue)
- Solidago flexicaulis (Zigzag goldenrod)
- Symphyotrichum lateriflorum (Calico aster)
- Symphyotrichum cordifolium (Heart-leaved aster)
Community Winter Sowing for the Shorelines
Consider sowing these wet-loving species to help regenerate after removing invasives along city streams:
- Aronia melanocarpa (Black chokeberry)
- Asclepias incarnata (Swamp milkweed)
- Carex crinita (Fringed Sedge)
- Cornus racemosa (Grey dogwood)
- Eutrochium maculatum (Spotted Joe Pye)
- Monarda fistulosa (Wild bergamot)
- Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass)
- Ratibida pinnata (Greyhead Prairie coneflower)
- Rhus typhina (Staghorn sumac)
- Rubus odoratus (Flowering raspberry)
- Sambucus racemosa (Red elderberry)
- Solidago altissima (Late goldenrod)
- Solidago canadensis (Canada goldenrod)
- Viburnum lentago (Nannyberry)
Plant Natives Everywhere!
Support next year’s sunny community projects with:
- Allium cernuum (Nodding onion)
- Anaphalis margaritacea (Pearly Everlasting)
- Asclepias incarnata (Swamp milkweed)
- Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly milkweed)
- Blephlilia ciliata (Downy wood mint)
- Coreopsis lanceolata (Lance-leaved coreopsis)
- Doellingeria umbellata (Flat-top white aster)
- Geum triflorum (Prairie smoke)
- Helenium autumnale (Sneezeweed)
- Lobelia siphilitica (Great Blue lobelia)
- Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot)
- Ratibida pinnata (Grey-headed coneflower)
- Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan)
- Symphyotrichum laeve (Smooth Aster)
- Verbena stricta (Hoary vervain)
- Zizia aurea (Golden Alexanders)