• Canada, the second largest country is the world, stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean and north to the cold extremes of the Arctic tundra. The total landmass of Canada is 9,984,670 sq. km. Canada is comprises 10 provinces and three territories.
  
  

Native Plants

• Virginia iris, also known as blue flag, southern blue flag and blue iris, grows from the Pacific Coast to the Arctic tundra. Iris flourish in hardiness zones 2 through 5. Gardeners in the Northwest Territories plant iris in rock gardens, along walkways and in flower boxes. Hardy in the coldest of temperatures, the miniature iris's long lasting flowers brighten the drabbest spots in the landscape. Japaneses, Pacific Coast, Siberians, Spurias and Louisianas are a few of the iris species found in gardens across Canada.
  
  The Alberta Rose (Rosa acicularis), the provincial flower of Alberta, grows in wild abundance across the Prairie Provinces. Many Canadian gardeners have adapted the wild rose, also known as prickly rose, to both urban and country landscapes. The dense foliage provides habitat for wildlife, attracts songbirds and the flowers add bright color and a sweet scent to the garden. The rose hips, the fruit of the plant that appears after the flowers fade, is used in tea, jellies and jams.
  
  

Deciduous Trees

• Deciduous trees provide spring flowers, summer shade and fall foliage. Fruit trees of every kind grow in British Columbia, Canada. Large commercial orchards and specimen fruit trees grow in the Creston Valley, just north of the U.S./Canada border. Apple, cherry, plum and pear trees offer flowers in spring, greenery and shade during summer and fruit in autumn. Dwarf fruit trees, planted along fence lines and driveways are featured landscape statements.
  
  White Birch (Betula papyrifera), the provincial tree of Saskatchewan, grows in the Prairie Provinces as well as in Ontario and Quebec. Birch forests grace most of the Maritime Provinces. Birch is widely used as a landscape tree, lining urban streets, in parks, playgrounds and home gardens. Alaska birch (Betula neoalaskana), cherry birch (Betula lenta), grey birch (Betula populifolia), water birch (Betula occidentalis) and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) flourish in the western provinces and along the eastern seaboard. Yellow birch is the provincial tree of Quebec. Cold-hardy birch trees are used as shade plantings, in windbreaks and to provide wildlife habitat.
  
  The Redbud tree (Cercis canadensis) is widely planted in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. This medium-sized flowering tree is prized for its spring blooms and summer shade.
  
  

Evergreen Trees and Shrubs

• Cold hardy evergreen trees and shrubs that thrive in Canada include: eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) and black spruce (Picea mariana)--found in Labrador and Newfoundland, red spruce (Picea rubens)--distributed throughout Nova Scotia; white spruce (Picea glauca)--the provincial tree of Manitoba--found from British Columbia to the eastern seaboard provinces of Manitoba, Labrador, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and tamarack, also known as larch (Larix laricina), which grows in abundance in the Northwest Territories. Providing rich, green coloration during the dark days of winter, evergreen trees and shrubs create a striking background for deciduous trees that offer summer shade and dramatic fall foliage. Plant evergreen trees in areas where they will have room to grow. Do not plant under utility lines or in locations where the roots will interfere with driveways, sidewalks or underground utilities.
  
  

Roses

• Canada is famous for roses. Despite the challenges of climatic extremes, roses flourish in Canada. Many varieties such as the Explorer and Modern/Parkland species survive under as much as 6 feet of snow cover in the northern prairie provinces, Quebec, Ontario and throughout the Maritime provinces. Roses that do well in rigorous northern climate conditions (hardy to zone 2) include: Rosa Scabrosa, Rosa Dart's Dash, Rosa Acicularis (Arctic Rose), Rosa Prairie Joy, Rosa William Baffin and Rosa Woodsii Kimberley