A native plant is one that occurs naturally in a particular region. Most native plants have been in the same area for centuries or longer. In the Oldman River watershed, this means that the native plants are adapted to the environmental conditions including the dry weather that we normally observe. Because of this adaptation to the local environment, they require little to no watering and less chemical inputs like pesticides and fertilizers. This gives the native plants an edge to thrive when others might wilt, and allows us to have a beautiful yard while putting little effort and cost into maintaining it.
The Oldman Watershed Council hired a local plant expert to come up with the top 10 best plants for Southern Alberta in 5 categories (perennial flowers, trees, shrubs, grasses and groundcovers). The criteria used for plant selection was 1. High tolerance to drought, 2. Available to purchase at local shops, 3. Native to local area, 4. Low maintenance, 5. Visually appealling. Every plant may not meet this criteria perfectly but overall is a good choice for your yard. See the short booklet with photos or more detailed information (no photos) below.
50 Best Plants for Prairie Urban Gardens in Southern Alberta (3MB pdf)
For more details about each plant in the 50 Best Plants for Prairie Urban Gardens in Southern Alberta booklet see this expanded version:
Perennial Flowers
Trees
Shrubs
Grasses
Groundcovers
Where to buy the plants listed in the above top 10 lists - companion guide
Please click here for a list of plants that are native to southern Alberta. Some plants may be more difficult to find than others.
Please click here for a plant list of drought tolerant varieties that are yellow or purple. Some of the species in this list are not native to Southern Alberta, however, they do have lower water requirements and thus are excellent for use in xeriscaping designs.
The Alberta Native Plant Council has produced a Native Plant Source List. Please visit their website to view the list and for other valuable resources.