Top 5 Plants Every Canadian Garden Should Have – Gauld Nurseries’ Expert Picks
Choosing the right plants for your Canadian garden is essential to ensure a vibrant, thriving landscape year after year. With Canada’s diverse climate—ranging from harsh winters to hot, dry summers—it’s important to select hardy, resilient plants that can withstand temperature fluctuations and varying soil conditions. We've asked the experts at Gauld Nurseries to compile a list of their top 5 plants to include in your Canadian garden.
At Gauld Nurseries, we understand the unique challenges of gardening in Canada and have carefully selected these top 5 plants that not only survive but thrive in our climate. These plants are beautiful, low-maintenance, and well-suited to Canadian gardens. Whether you're looking for stunning blooms, hardy shrubs, or long-lasting perennials, our expert picks will help you create a garden that flourishes season after season.
Top 5 Plants
1. Rose of Sharon
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is a wonderful choice for Canadian gardens as it flowers late in the season, is cold-hardy, and pollinator-friendly. Mid-summer to early fall, it produces a bright splash of colour when most other flowers have stopped blooming.
Its cold hardiness also makes it an excellent choice for gardeners in all of Canada, particularly zones 5 to 8. In addition, its hibiscus-type flowers are showy and attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, so it is an excellent plant for encouraging local pollinators. For all these reasons, it makes our top 5 plants list.
Growing Conditions
Rose of Sharon thrives in full sun, receiving a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight per day to showcase its best blooms. It prefers moderately fertile and well-drained soil but is extremely adaptable to a wide range of soils, including loam and clay soils.
Once established, it is also drought-resistant and only needs periodic watering. Nonetheless, during exceptionally dry weather, providing a deep watering once a week will keep it healthy and active.
Best Uses in the Garden
This useful shrub can be used in a variety of ways to enhance your landscape. It is effective as a hedge or screen for privacy due to its dense growing habit. It is also a dramatic accent when planted in masses as a single specimen in gardens or along walkways.
Rose of Sharon also does well in containers, so it is a great option for patios or small yard areas where ground planting isn't an option.
Care Tips
Watch how to prune your Rose of Sharon.
Pruning is required to maintain your Rose of Sharon in its best and healthiest form. It blooms on new wood, so pruning late winter or early spring encourages good growth and abundant flowering.
Remove dead or weak branches as well, which will improve air circulation and the overall health of the plant. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer to encourage blooming and growth. Mulching a circle around the ground will help it hold moisture and protect the roots from freezing weather.
With its adaptability, lovely flower cluster, and need for little upkeep, Rose of Sharon is well and truly a favorite among Canadian gardeners who are looking for long-term attraction for their own gardens.
2. Hydrangea
With their full, rounded flowers and attractive foliage, hydrangeas are an excellent choice for most landscape uses. - Image by Helga Kattinger from Pixabay
Hydrangeas are a gardener's dream in Canada due to their large, showy blooms and extended flowering season, which is one of the many reasons why they are included in our top 5 plants list. They flower from early summer to fall, providing you with months of colour and dense foliage.
Their versatility and attractiveness make them a garden essential, whether you prefer classic white blooms or the pinks, blues, and purples that can be manipulated through soil acidity.
Growing Conditions
Hydrangeas prefer partial sun with morning sun and afternoon shade, especially in hot climates. Some are full sun-tolerant, such as Panicle Hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata). Some varieties' flowers change colour with soil pH, e.g., Bigleaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla).
Acidic soils (pH below 6) produce blue flowers, while alkaline soils (pH above 7) produce pink flowers. Well-draining, rich soil with consistent moisture is ideal for healthy growth.
Ideal Uses in the Garden
With their full, rounded flowers and attractive foliage, hydrangeas are an excellent choice for most landscape uses. Hydrangeas do beautifully in borders, adding texture and colour along with perennials and other shrubs.
They're a wonderful choice as foundation plantings on houses or fences, adding structure and visual appeal while in growth. Hydrangeas are highly sought after for cutting garden use in fresh and dried arrangements, making them a fantastic selection to include in cutting gardens.
Care Tips
Hydrangeas are a wonderful addition to any garden.
Hydrangeas should be watered regularly, especially when dry, because they prefer the soil to remain constantly moist (but not waterlogged) all the time. Mulch on the bottom holds in moisture and helps regulate soil temperature.
Winter protection needs to be given in cold regions of Canada—burlap or mulch over the base will protect from frost damage. Pruning is variety-dependent; Panicle and Smooth Hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens), for instance, will be pruned in early spring or late spring, and Bigleaf Hydrangeas must be pruned once the flowers are finished so they won't be cutting off next year's flower buds.
All these beautiful blooms, versatility, and longevity make hydrangeas a garden staple in every Canadian garden.
3. Spirea
Spirea is a wonderful choice for Canadian gardeners due to its low maintenance requirements, its long-lasting blooms, and its small, compact growth habit.
This heat- and drought-tolerant shrub bears a generous amount of flowers toward the end of spring and all summer, and some varieties even provide a second flowering in early fall. Spirea is also extremely adaptable to quite a few varying growing conditions, so it is a low-maintenance choice for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.
Growing Conditions
Spirea will grow well in full sun, but it will also tolerate partial shade. For optimal flowering and overall health, at least six hours of direct sunlight per day is recommended. Spirea is also highly tolerant of differing types of soil and can grow well in sandy, loamy, or clay soil, as long as it drains well.
While spirea prefers fertile soil, in this instance that is moderately drained, it's relatively drought-hardy once established and a decent choice for gardens in Canada which experience variable conditions.
Ideal Uses in the Garden
Learn more about spirea and why it makes our top 5 plants list.
Because of its compact growth and extended blooms, spirea is a nice, versatile plant that will do well in a wide variety of garden conditions. It is particularly well-suited as a path and flower bed border edger, providing a neat, formal appearance.
Spirea makes a fine, low-maintenance show of colour in massed plantings, enjoyed throughout the growing season. Spirea also does well in mixed borders, blending well with perennials and other shrubs through its lacy-textured leaves and dense flowers.
Care Tips
Spirea is easy to care for and perfect for busy gardeners. It is drought-resistant and requires only occasional deep watering during prolonged dry periods. To encourage the most flowering, prune spirea in early spring before new growth begins. Light trimming after the first bloom can also trigger a second flush of flowers later in the season. Deadheading spent blooms is optional but can enhance the look of the plant.
With its vibrant flowers, low-maintenance needs, and versatility in the garden, spirea is a top choice among Canadian gardeners who want beauty with little hassle.
4. Lilac
Lilacs are a reliable and beautiful addition to any Canadian garden. - Image by Gabriele Lässer from Pixabay
Lilacs are an old standby in Canadian gardens, appreciated for their strongly fragrant, display-blooming flowers and robust nature. They bloom late spring and scent the air with their fragrance, attracting many pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
In addition to their stunning flower arrangement, lilacs make an excellent natural hedging and screening planting option due to their close growth. Because they can tolerate cold, lilacs are a reliable and beautiful addition to any garden.
Growing Conditions
Lilacs require full sun and at least six hours of direct sunlight per day to produce the most abundant flowers. Lilacs like slightly alkaline to neutral soil and good drainage. While lilacs are tolerant of a broad spectrum of soil, they are not well adapted to very wet or heavy soils. Proper air circulation around the plant will also keep common fungal diseases at bay.
Best Uses in the Garden
Learn about 3 different varieties of lilac for your garden.
Lilacs are ideal hedging and privacy screens due to their tall, upright habit of growth and dense leaves. In a row, they provide an exquisite, fragrant screen that's both functional and pleasing aesthetically.
They are also ideal for cottage gardens, delivering an old-fashioned charm in the form of full flowers and sweet perfume. Lilacs can even be used as a stand-alone focal point, especially when placed close to windows or patios where their aroma can be enjoyed.
Care Tips
To keep healthy lilacs with flowers throughout the year, prune them immediately after blooming. This will promote new growth and prevent the plant from becoming too woody or unmanageable.
It also aids in improved air circulation by eliminating spent flowers and old stems, which keeps powdery mildew and other fungal diseases at bay. Lilacs are generally hardy plants, but inspecting for the presence of usual pests like aphids and scale insects will keep them healthy.
With their pungent fragrance, cold weather hardiness, and capacity to flourish in many types of scenery, lilacs are a necessary shrub for Canadian gardeners who desire to enhance and utilize their backyards.
5. Peonies
Peonies are a Canadian favourite so they naturally made our top 5 plants list. - Image by Nicky ❤️🌿🐞🌿❤️ from Pixabay
Peonies are a Canadian gardener's favourite due to their beautiful, lush blooms and their longevity. Peonies are perennials and can live for decades, often outliving the gardeners who plant them. With large, ruffled flowers that come in many shades of pink, white, red, and even yellow, peonies bring an air of sophistication to any garden.
Another main advantage is that they are deer- and rabbit-resistant and therefore an excellent option for wildlife-prone gardens. They are extremely hardy and dependable and an excellent option for any garden.
Growing Conditions
Peonies adore full sun, appreciating at least six hours of direct sunlight daily to provide their best blossoms. They prefer well-draining, fertile soil with a neutral to slightly acidic soil pH.
Do not plant peonies too deeply, as this can prevent flowering. Good air circulation around the plants discourages powdery mildew and other fungal diseases. Peonies are low-maintenance once established and can tolerate cold Canadian winters with ease.
Best Uses in the Garden
Peonies are perfect for garden borders, where their big, flashy blooms make a huge impact. They are also excellent cut flowers, with a vase life of over a week when properly cared for.
Peonies are also a staple of perennial beds, where they pair beautifully with other early summer bloomers such as irises and roses. Their foliage is also attractive even after the blooms have passed, adding greenery to the garden throughout the season.
Care Tips
Learn more tips for caring for your peonies.
The peony flowers can be quite heavy and cause the stems to flop over. Support or staking the plants using rings will keep the flowers upright and prevent breakage. In the fall, cut peony stems to ground level to prevent disease and to encourage healthy growth next season. Peonies can be divided every 8–10 years to rejuvenate the plant and to give new starts to other areas of the garden.
With their showy flowers, low maintenance requirements, and long lifespan, peonies are an excellent choice for Canadian gardeners looking to add beauty and shape to their gardens.
Bonus: Daylilies
These wonderful perennials simply had to be included in our top 5 plants list. - Image by Philip Walenga from Pixabay
While our list brings you the top five plants for Canadian gardens, we couldn't possibly omit daylilies. With their gorgeous flowers, their unimaginable hardiness, and their simple method of bringing vibrant colour to your garden year after year, these wonderful perennials simply had to be included. If you're looking for a plant that will thrive with minimal attention, daylilies are the perfect option for your garden.
Why They Deserve a Spot in Your Garden
Daylilies are a Canadian gardener's delight because of their hardiness and tolerance. They can withstand extreme temperatures and are therefore an excellent choice for unpredictable Canadian climates.
These low-maintenance perennials come in a dizzying array of shapes and colours, with newer reblooming varieties offering extended periods of bloom. Daylilies require very little care once settled but continue to reward the gardener with gorgeous blooms year after year.
Growing Conditions
Daylily popularity is due in part to the fact that they can thrive in a wide variety of soils. They prefer well-draining soil but will take clay, sand, or loam.
Daylilies are also drought-tolerant once established and are ideal for water-conserving gardens. Daylilies prefer full sun but will take partial shade, though they may not bloom as prolifically in the shade.
Best Uses in the Garden
Daylilies are extremely versatile and adapt well to many places in the garden. They make a great ground cover, filling in bare areas with their dense, arching foliage. The dense growth habit also makes them handy for bank and slope soil erosion. Massed together, daylilies create a dazzling display throughout the summer.
Care Tips
To keep daylilies at their best, divide them every 3–5 years to prevent overcrowding and encourage more vigorous blooming. Simply dig up the clump, separate the roots, and replant. The removal of spent flowers, or deadheading, will also stimulate repeat blooming, especially in reblooming varieties. Low maintenance though they are, a little care will be rewarded in a fabulous display of flowers.
With their incredible hardiness, long blooming time, and ability to thrive in many conditions, daylilies are a bonus plant that no Canadian gardener should be without. Their simple beauty and versatility make them a true garden staple!
Create a Thriving Canadian Garden with These Top 5 Plants
Each of these plants—Hydrangea, Spirea, Lilac, Peonies, Rose of Sharon, and our bonus pick, Daylilies—was selected with the possibility of thriving in Canadian climates in mind. With beautiful flowering, low maintenance, and hardy returning perennials, these plants will add grace and stamina to your garden.
At Gauld Nurseries, our knowledgeable personnel are available to help you choose the perfect plants for your region. Visit us for one-on-one consultation, high-quality plant material, and all the products you need to keep your garden looking its best throughout the season.
Ready to grow your garden? View more plant offerings and get expert recommendations at Gauld Nurseries today!
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