Canada Anemone
(Anemone canadensis)

Description: The large parabolic-shaped flowers are heat-traps and help insects warm up on cool early spring days. Prefers moist, shady sites where it spreads by underground stems (rhizomes) and can form large clumps. Single, white flower per stem. Large leaf is compound shape and surrounds the stem. Fruit is an achene.

Habitat: Prefer moist, open sites, but will grow in partial shade.

Height: 30 cm

Flowering: June - July

Virginia Water-leaf
(Hydrophyllum virginianum)

Description: Often associated with sugar maple forests, where it can form dense ground cover. Light mottling of the leaves is characteristic and resembles water-spotting. Showy white or light violet flowers droop down and look "hairy" with the stamens hanging out of the petal tube.

Habitat: Deciduous woodland understorey.

Height: 50 cm

Flowering: June

Ox-eye Daisy
(Chrysanthemum leucanthemum)

Description: Introduced from Europe, this large daisy thrives in tough places. The white "petals" vary in number and are actually individual ray flowers. Plants give off a pungent, unpleasant smell if stems are crushed. A close look at the "flower" reveals that it is composed of many small flowers, and two types of flowers at that: the white "petals" are ray flowers and the yellow centre is packed with disk flowers. Large, bold white and yellow flower often stands out above the early-summer meadow plants. Spring flowering, but continue flowering well into late summer. Fields, disturbed wasteland. Introduced from Europe.

Habitat: Open sunny habitats, especially dry meadows, abandoned fields, roadsides.

Height: 1 m

Flowering: June - September

Bladder campion
(Silene vulgaris)

Description: Distinctive swollen base of the flower (the "calyx") will "pop" under pressure, as is well known by inquisitive kids. Introduced from Europe. White flowers in loose clusters on top of branched plant.

Habitat: Open, sunny habitats, especially abandoned fields, roadsides.

Height: 1 m

Flowering: June - August

White Heath Aster
(Aster ericoides)

Description: White flowers in dense sprays that look like goldenrod.

Habitat:

Height: 60 cm

Flowering: August - September

Heart-leaved Aster
(Aster cordifolius)

Description: Prefers open shade such as the edge of woodland.

Habitat:

Height: 1 m

Flowering: August - September

Common Yarrow
(Achillea millefolium)

Description: Flat-topped flower heads composed of many small flowers. Leaves are delicate and finely dissected. Pungent. Common species here are native to Europe. There are native North American species of yarrow, but rare here.

Habitat: Open, sunny areas. Poor soils.

Height: 50 cm

Flowering: June - August