Northern Wildflowers

04/24/2025

If you're in zone 4 or warmer, you can probably store parsnips in the ground over winter to have extra sweet roots to harvest as soon as the snow melts! Especially with a trusted hardy variety like the Homeschool Parsnip.

While carrots will rot in the ground if left over a Canadian winter (in most parts of the country), parsnips are often stored in the field to be harvested as soon as the snow melts in early spring before spring planted crops have started producing. I used to do this regularly in southwestern Ontario, but have not yet tried storing them in the ground here in Sudbury. So you may be able to get away with this above zone 4, especially if you can provide some cover or extra deep mulch.

They also taste much sweeter after experiencing cold temperatures and storing sugars in the roots. Which of course any fresh harvest is welcomed and rare a February-April garden, but extra sweet root veg is a nice treat when not much is growing yet.

Some tips to ensure success with this method:
🌱Pile up some mulch over the parsnips in case the snowfall doesn't sufficiently cover them.
🌱Harvest some for fall and winter eating, and leave half or less of your parsnip crop in the ground for late winter and spring harvest
🌱Sow as late as July, parsnips are very frost hardy so the 100 days to maturity can continue long after your first fall frost
🌱Choose a tried and true, heirloom variety, like the Homeschooler Parsnip
🌱Don't leave them in the ground too long once temperatures begin to warm in spring, or else they will "bolt" and begin to flower as they are biennial. Which is great for seed saving, but bad for the flavour and storage quality of the roots.

Roast in a hot oven for best flavour or use as you would use carrots or rutabaga in your favourite recipes.

04/23/2025

Sharing some lovely testimonials we received about our catalogue this winter. Thank you everyone for the amazing response! We received so many direct emails and messages recognizing the work that goes into a resource like this, and we're thrilled it's turning out to be a helpful resource throughout the year, beyond garden planning time.

All print copies have now found their way to our amazing customers, so we’re currently out of print catalogues, but if you missed out and would love a hard copy you can sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear about future print runs.

A PDF version is available here: https://northernwildflowers.ca/pages/2025-digital-catalogues

04/22/2025

Every seed we supply is a small step toward a healthier planet. From backyard pollinator patches to large-scale land restoration projects across Canada, our native wildflower seed mixes help sow the biodiversity our ecosystems depend on.

We're proud to support environmental stewards, farmers, communities, and conservation groups in restoring native habitats — one bloom at a time. This Earth Day (and every day), we're committed to growing with purpose, rooting ourselves in sustainability, and helping Canada’s landscapes thrive with resilient, regionally appropriate plant species.

🌾 Sow biodiversity. Restore the land. Love the Earth. And don't forget that you're a part of it.

04/21/2025

Starting early to include Earth Day, we're offering a GREAT deal on all of our wildflower seed mixes! All mixes in all sizes from 100sqft up to 5000sqft are 20% off now until Mother's Day.

Some of our most popular products for good reason, our wildflower mixes are formulated with an ideal ratio of wildflower to grass species and the appropriate amount of seed for your application site. Our mixes contain spring, summer and fall blooms in a variety of colours to provide a continuous nectar supply to a range of pollinators. https://northernwildflowers.ca/collections/bulk-seed

We think these make the perfect Mother's Day gift that will continue to bloom for years and years!

Native wildflower seeds, seed mixes and bulk seeds for Northern gardens and restoration projects. We are a family owned business supplied by small Canadian farms including our farm in Northern Ontario.

04/20/2025

Whether you're spending this long weekend with family, out in nature, or simply enjoying a quiet moment, we hope this season of renewal brings you a little extra light, warmth, and wild beauty. 🌱

Happy Easter from all of us at Northern Wildflowers!

Spring is waking up all around us—tiny green shoots, returning birdsong, and the promise of blooms to come. It's the perfect time to slow down, get outside, and reconnect with the land.

Wishing you a peaceful Sunday and a vibrant season ahead.

04/18/2025

Flower Feature Friday: Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata)

If you’re just getting started with native gardening, Blanketflower is one of the easiest — and most rewarding — wildflowers you can grow. Tough, low-maintenance, and quick to bloom, it’s a perfect choice for gardeners looking to add long-lasting colour and pollinator appeal with minimal effort.

This hardy perennial is a favourite in gardens, thriving in full sun and well-drained soils where other plants may struggle. Such a popular and reliable choice that there have been lots of cultivars and hybrids bred for ornamental landscaping, but we think the native Gaillardia aristata is the most beautiful and functional of them all. Its long-lasting blooms stretch from early summer into fall, offering continuous beauty with minimal care. Once established, Blanketflower is drought-tolerant and well-suited to low-maintenance or xeriscaped gardens. It's native to the prairie provinces and essentially naturalized in Ontario and Quebec.

But it’s not just about the looks. Blanketflower is a magnet for pollinators, especially native bees and butterflies, providing a reliable nectar source throughout the growing season. In fall, birds are drawn to its seed heads, adding even more life to your garden.

Whether you're filling in a dry border, creating a pollinator patch, or establishing a native meadow, Blanketflower adds both color and ecological value. It's one of those plants that gives back far more than it asks for — making it a standout choice for sustainable gardening.

Let your garden glow with the fiery spirit of Blanketflower — and support the pollinators and ecosystems that depend on native plants to thrive.

04/17/2025

NEW grasses available!

Fowl Mannagrass (Glyceria striata) is a good addition to pond or stream edges, as it works well for wetland restoration and bank stabilization. Fowl Mannagrass is a host plant for several small species of moths. Waterfowl feed on the foliage along bodies of water, and the plant provides good cover for small animals.

It has a wide range of wetland habitat preferences, from shaded woodland ponds to open, sunny marshes. It's a long-lived cool-season native bunchgrass used in ornamental pond plantings due to its attractive, upright flower clusters and clumping habit. This grass is palatable to many domestic mammals like cattle, horse, and sheep. However it is largely ignored by deer.

https://northernwildflowers.ca/collections/native-grasses-and-nurse-crops/products/fowl-mannagrass

04/16/2025

Get them before they're gone, these varieties have low stock and we won't be getting more seed this year:
Delicata Squash https://northernwildflowers.ca/products/squash-delicata?_pos=1&_sid=d9432d853&_ss=r
Rouge D'hiver Lettuce https://northernwildflowers.ca/products/lettuce-rouge-dhiver?_pos=1&_sid=a543f915b&_ss=r

If you're hoping to order any of these varieties, we recommend you get them now before they sell out. Rouge D'hiver is a great fall lettuce variety, lasting well into the cold weather. Delicata is a delicious and sweet variety with small personal size fruits, great for smaller families.

04/15/2025

With spring awakening, we're feeling the excitement of growing season—but also gearing up for the w**ding battles ahead.

As the soil thaws and green things start to stir, we’re reminded that farming is a balance of beauty and challenge. Here on the farm, one of our ongoing struggles is managing w**ds in our heavy clay soil. It holds moisture and stays cold well into May, making early growth (and early w**ding) a bit trickier. Spring isn’t just about blooms and birdsong—it’s also about laying the groundwork (literally) for a healthy, thriving season ahead.

For years we’ve been troubleshooting how to stay ahead—experimenting, learning, and refining what works. A few things that remain essential for us:
Straight rows that make it easier to use tractor-mounted tools for mechanical w**ding.
Early season hand w**ding to give crops the head start they need before w**ds take over.
And a lot of patience, flexibility, and muddy boots.

Before you ask, yes, growing wildflowers still requires w**ding. Especially when invasive and noxious species find their way into your fields.

04/14/2025

A rainbow of tomatoes, all thanks to generations of care 🌿🍅

It’s kind of magical—how one humble fruit, lovingly tended and saved by gardeners and farmers over centuries, has become this incredible palette of sizes, shapes, and colours.

04/13/2025

If you prefer to shop seeds in person rather than online, you're in luck! You can find our seeds in even more garden centers and shops this spring.

We're excited to have our seeds stocked at these 4 new retailer locations in Ontario this year, working together to bring Canadian-grown seeds to more gardeners across the province!

Check them out:
Royal Botanical Gardens
Fiesta Gardens
Rural Roots
Westland Greenhouses

04/12/2025

From sticky hitchhikers to exploding seed pods, native plants use a variety of clever seed dispersal strategies—each with its own challenges for seed savers. Learn how wind, water, animals, ants, and even high-pressure pods help plants spread, and what that means for harvesting native seeds.

How newest blog article, Sticky, Sweet, Explosive: How Native Plants Disperse Their Seeds explores all this in depth. Check it out!
https://northernwildflowers.ca/blogs/our-blog/seed-dispersal-secrets

04/11/2025

Flower Feature Friday: Prairie Coneflower

This week’s spotlight is on Ratibida columnifera, commonly known as Prairie Coneflower. This distinctive wildflower is native to much of central and western North America, and it’s a standout in any prairie, meadow, or naturalized garden. This species exhibits both yellow and red and a mix of both in its blooms.

Named for its tall, central disk and reflexed petals that resemble a hat, Ratibida columnifera is more than just eye-catching—it plays an important role in supporting pollinators. Bees and butterflies are especially drawn to its blooms, which appear from early summer into fall.

Ecological highlights:
Habitat: Prairies, open fields, and roadsides
Light: Prefers full sun
Soil: Well-drained, often sandy or rocky soils
Pollinators: Attracts native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects
Bloom time: Late spring through fall

This plant is also highly drought-tolerant, making it a resilient choice for low-maintenance landscapes and restoration projects. It’s a natural fit for those looking to cultivate native biodiversity and reduce reliance on irrigation or fertilizers.
Whether you’re building a native plant garden or just letting a little more wild into your landscape, Ratibida columnifera is a beautiful and ecologically valuable addition.

04/10/2025

Your dreamy fall pumpkin patch starts here. If you’re working with a short growing season, timing is everything. That’s why we’ve curated our selection of squash seeds specifically for Canadian climates.

These varieties are fast-maturing, reliable, and ideal for shorter summers. Whether you’re planting in raised beds, containers, or a full backyard garden, our varieties are reliable performers.

Set yourself up for a successful harvest this season. Still looking for Canadian-grown heirloom seeds for the veggie garden? Check out our line of vegetables, Cutleaf Seeds! https://northernwildflowers.ca/collections/fruit-and-vegetable-seeds

04/09/2025

🌱 Over the next 2 or 3 months, the wildflowers you planted in fall or winter, or in previous seasons, will be starting to pop up. And you may find yourself needing to do some w**ding around your planting site. We're here to help prevent mistakes with identifying what seedlings you planted, and what to w**d out.

This seedling ID guide covers just a small selection of wildflower species we carry, and it is not a comprehensive identification resource. BUT we have been told it is a super helpful reference to use in springtime to confirm what is popping up in the garden.

Plant ID is a lot easier when a plant is in its fully established, blooming form, but if you teach yourself what differences to look for, you can develop that skill into identifying them at any stage of life.

If you have a copy of our catalogue already, you have this handy resource inside. If not, you can download the growing guide and all its resources here:
https://northernwildflowers.ca/pages/2025-digital-catalogues

If you're just getting started in developing these skills, get acquainted with the Seek app by iNaturalist, it uses image recognition technology trained using expert identification data to give recommendations that can help identify any living organism.

04/08/2025

We have NEW grasses available!

Canada Bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) is a beautiful native grass that can reach heights of up to 5′ and is clump forming. This can make it an attractive ornamental grass for landscaping. Native to every single province and territory in Canada, this grass earns its name!

It is long lived and is a good species for livestock and for soil erosion prevention as well. This is one of the more abundant native grasses on the continent. It blooms in late spring to early summer with attractive pink-green seeds. Foliage and seed heads dry and persist through the fall and winter. This species tolerates acidic soils too.

https://northernwildflowers.ca/products/canada-bluejoint

04/07/2025

Restoration Research Spotlight 🤓🌱

This month we want to share some key insights from "Native Bee Habitat Restoration: Key Ecological Considerations from Recent North American Literature", a review article from Helen E. Payne, Susan J. Mazer, and Katja C. Seltmann.

This review article published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution explores strategies for restoring native bee habitats in North America, emphasizing how habitat restoration can increase bee diversity and abundance. The authors categorize results into three key stages—pre-, during-, and post-restoration—highlighting the importance of species- and site-specific approaches.

Key Recommendations:
Keystone Plants & Non-Floral Resources: Prioritizing native keystone species that support generalist bees is crucial. Additionally, not all essential bee plants are bee-pollinated—species like willows (wind-pollinated) provide valuable pollen resources.
Floral Resource Planning: Providing a diverse array of flowering plants that bloom throughout the season can help meet the nutritional needs of native bees. Including phenologically overlapping species ensures a continuous supply of nectar and pollen.
Site-Specific Restoration: Some habitats may benefit more from removing invasive species and encouraging natural plant recruitment rather than direct replanting efforts.
Long-Term Monitoring: Post-restoration evaluation is necessary to measure success, refine strategies, and ensure the sustained health of bee populations.

Beyond supporting pollinators, restoring native bee habitats enhances broader ecological benefits, including increased plant diversity, improved pollination services, and conservation of rare plant and animal species. The review underscores the urgency of effective restoration efforts to combat habitat loss and safeguard native bee populations. 🐝🌿

Read the full review and its cited studies here: https://cstu.io/23e055

04/06/2025

I know it's only April, but who else is already dreaming of fresh, vine ripened tomatoes?

Garden planning and choosing varieties that fit with your plans for cooking and preserving them can make getting food from the garden to the table a lot easier. Of course it's great to select some varieties just because they bring you joy and are interesting and unique, but the classics definitely serve their purpose.

Do you have recipes in mind when selecting tomato varieties to grow?