Best Plants to Grow
in Toronto

Want a low-maintenance, pollinator-friendly landscape? Spring is the best season to plant in Toronto. Native Ontario plants thrive in Toronto’s climate, support local wildlife, and require less upkeep. Here are some of the best native plants to consider.

Native Perennial
Flowering Plants

Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)

  • Lush, vibrant, and long blooms from spring to fall

  • Thrives in partial shade or sun, very easy to maintain

  • Supports & attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
    🐝 🦋 🐦

  • Size: 3-5 feet tall, 3-5 feet wide

Bright white hydrangea in a Toronto landscape during bloom.

Black-Eyed Susan
(Rudbeckia hirta)

  • Bright yellow flower blooms from summer to fall 🌻

  • Drought-resistant and easy to grow

  • Supports & attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds 🐝 🦋 🐦

  • Size: 1-3 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide (spreads each year)

Bright yellow black eyed susan in a Toronto landscape.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

  • Stunning purple petals with a bold center 🌺

  • Long bloom season and drought-resistant

  • Supports & attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds 🐝 🦋 🐦

  • Size: 2-4 feet tall, 1.5-2 feet wide (spreads each year)

Cluster of purple coneflowers with green leaves

Native Hedges
and Shrubs

Dwarf Eastern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)

  • Soft, feathery evergreen with a compact form 🌲

  • Year-round greenery with excellent cold tolerance ❄️

  • Perfect for hedges, borders, and small landscapes

  • Size: 3-5 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide (slow-growing)

Row of tall green evergreen trees along a stone wall beside a brown house.

Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)

  • Low-spreading evergreen with soft, silvery-blue foliage

  • Turns purplish-bronze in winter for year-round colours

  • Drought-tolerant and perfect for rock gardens, slopes, and ground cover ☀️💧

  • Size: 6-18 inches tall, 3-6 feet wide (spreading)

Bushes and pink flowers in a garden setting.

Sumac 'Gro-Low' (Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low')

  • Tough low-growing shrub with lush green summer foliage

  • Turns vibrant red-orange in fall with small red berries

  • Drought-tolerant and perfect for borders, slopes, and ground cover ☀️💧

  • Size: 2-3 feet tall, 6-8 feet wide (fast-spreading)

Bright red sumac in a Toronto garden

Native Ornamental Grasses

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

  • Graceful, upright grass with blue-green summer blades

  • Turns stunning copper-red in fall with fluffy seed heads

  • Excellent for erosion control, meadows, and pollinator gardens 🦋 🐝

  • Size: 2-4 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide (clump-forming, non-invasive)

Bluestem ornamental grass flowing gracefully in a Toronto garden bed.

Ground Cover

Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)

  • Aromatic low-growing herb with tiny purple flowers

  • Drought-tolerant and perfect for ground cover or pathway ☀️

  • Attracts bees and butterflies
    🐝 🦋

  • Size: 2-4 inches tall, 12-18 inches wide (spreads quickly)

Creeping thyme in a Toronto garden with small purple flowers perfect ground cover

Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)

  • Hardy low-growing herb with soft green foliage 🌿

  • Produces tiny white star-shaped flowers in spring 🌼

  • Thrives in shade and spreads as a lush ground cover

  • Size: 6-12 inches tall, 12-18 inches wide (fast-spreading)

Sweet woodruff in a Toronto garden during bloom with white small flowers

Not Sure Which Plants to Choose?

Get expert advice and find the perfect plants that suit your outdoor space.