Choose one of the categories above for a list of plant-related websites. Selected websites are all non-commercial, without advertisements, and free-access sites. The links provided have all been checked as of March 1, 2018; however, websites are occasionally moved or deleted without notice by the authors or sponsoring agency. If you do encounter a link that no longer works or a website that has changed location, please report the problematic link to the NOPD so that we can update the link.

Canada (In General)

Arctic Flora of Canada and Alaska

For those who want to know more about the Arctic Flora of North America, everything you'd hope to find is right here. The project, led by Lynn Gillespie and Jeff Saarela, is ongoing, so this website will grow with time.

Astereae Lab

This extremely useful website by John C. Semple, Waterloo University, includes links to the asters, goldenrods, and goldenasters of North America. In these webpages, Dr. Semple clearly details the new generic divisions of the former Aster and Solidago genera, which are presented in the 3 Asteraceae volumes (19-21) of the Flora of North America. Ontario botanists will want to purchase his two indispensable references, Cultivated and native asters of Ontario and The Goldenrods of Ontario from the University of Waterloo Biology Series.

Canada's Arboreal Emblems (Provincial Trees)

This webpage is part of the larger TreeCanada website, providing brief descriptions of each Provincial Tree. Unfortunately, other webpages with lists of trees are not linked to descriptions or images.

Canada's Plant Hardiness Site

A map of Canada's Plant Hardiness Zones, developed at Great Lakes Forestry Centre (McKenney et al. 2001), is accessible on this site. Information on cultivated and native North American species is also presented and gardeners with a good knowledge of their plants are encouraged to enter data on which species survive in their area. Data on specific plants in your area can be submitted through this webpage.

Canadian Museum of Nature

The homepage of Canada's Museum of Nature in Ottawa, which offers various ways to explore different aspects of our natural environment.

Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System

A fairly comprehensive website on poisonous plants of Canada, compiled by Derek B. Munro. Some plants known to be poisonous, such as Actaea rubra (baneberry), are missing, possibly since reports of poisoning do not occur in the recent literature. However, other sites listed below do include information on Actaea rubra. Contains links to more databases on poisonous or toxic plants.

Flora of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago

A co-operative website with family treatments written by many different botanists. The combined treatment includes species from all plant groups families in the Arctic, such as Pteridophytes, Caryophyllaceae, Cyperaceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, Ranunculaceae, and Salicaceae. Each species page includes synonymy, morphological descriptions, ecological information, nomenclatural notes, Arctic distribution maps, and links to images. Invaluable for understanding the morphological variations of species with arctic and more southern populations.

Invasive Plants of Canada

The Canadian Botanical Conservation Network (CBCN) has compiled this website on invasive species in Canada. Educational information and newsletters are among the links included in this website. Lists of invasive herbs, trees, and shrubs, with brief descriptions, can be accessed from this webpage.

Invasive Species in Canada

A website from the Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that provides information on regulations regarding alien species, as well as webpages on plant pests and other invasive species in Canada.

NHIC (Natural Heritage Information Centre)

The Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC) is the branch of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources that tracks rare and endangered species (both plant and animal) within Ontario. The NHIC newsletters contain excellent accounts of botanical exploration conducted by the NHIC staff throughout the less-explored reaches of our Province.

Species at Risk Public Registry

A website (in English or French) from Environment Canada that discusses questions and problems associated with Canada's endangered species. Information on individual species (plant and animal) as well as legislation governing species at risk can be accessed through this website.

TreeLib.ca

An excellent collection of high-quality digital images of over 260 tree species for non-commercial use by educators, students and the general public. This new website was created by B.C.'s Blake Willson, R.P.F., and his son, Nathan. New images will be added in the coming year, so check back often. A very useful resource for all forestry and dendrology student.

Alberta

Alberta Plantwatch

This website tracks the phenology (blooming and leaf-out times) for 21 select plants species that have a much wider range than just Alberta. Descriptions and images are included for each species. Be sure to scroll down to see the phenology information.

Invasive Plant Fact Sheets - Alberta Invasive Plants Council

A collection of excellent webpages (in PDF format) that provide information on identification, prevention, and control of many of Canada's invasive species.

Wildflowers etc. of Alberta

A beautiful collection of Alberta wildflower image by Terry Thormin.

British Columbia

Botany Photo of the Day

Subscribe to this free website from the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research to receive a new botanical image to your computer screen each day or so. A great way to start the day! This site also provides access to numerous excellent images of previous Botany Photos of the Day.

E-Flora BC - An Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia

This website from the University of British Columbia, edited by Brian Klinkenberg, contains a lot of information on the ecosystems and vegetation of B.C. Explore the many options from the categories listed along the left-hand side of the homepage, or search by scientific or common name. The species information and illustration of each species are from the 8-volume series, The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia (Douglas, G.W., G.B. Straley, D.V. Meidinger, and J. Pojar, eds. 1998, vol. 1-2; Douglas, G.W., D.V. Meidinger, and J. Pojar, eds. 1999-2002, vol. 3-8, B.C. Ministry of Environment, Land and Parks and B.C. Ministry of Forests, Victoria, BC). An excellent image bank can be accessed through the link at the top of the website: Enter the Photo Gallery.

Invasive Species Council of British Columbia

A British Columbian website that presents webpages on many invasive species found in B.C. and other provinces of Canada.

Picture Gallery of Bryophytes: UBC Biology 321 Course

The course website from Biology 321 (Structure and Evolution of the Bryophyta) at the University of British Columbia; includes field and microscopic images of various bryophyte species.

Prohibited and Alert Species

This website from the BC Inter-Ministry Invasive Species Working Group contains a pull-down list of noxious weed species in BC.

University of British Columbia Herbarium

The UBC herbarium is the largest herbarium west of Ottawa, with over 220,00 vascular plant specimens. Select the Collections link at the top of the homepage to access information on each collection, including images of vascular plant type specimens housed at the UBC herbarium.

Manitoba

Bryophyte Flora of Manitoba

A checklist of the mosses, liverworts, and hornworts found in Manitoba, with links to other bryophyte sites.

Invasive Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Manitoba

A website on Invasive species in Manitoba, but also relevant to Ontario. Check out the links to the list of invasive terrestrial and aquatic plant species.

Lichen Flora of Manitoba

A checklist of lichens in Manitoba. Each genus listing is followed by an abbreviation to denote crustose (C), foliose (Fo), and fruticose (Fr) lichens.

Vascular Flora of Manitoba

A checklist of the 1751 vascular plant species found in Manitoba, compiled by Charles Burchill, with links to ecosystem information.

Wildflowers in Provincial Parks - Manitoba

A website from Manitoba Parks with links to some of the best Provincial Parks to view various native plant species in bloom.

New Brunswick

Connell Memorial Herbarium, Fredericton, NB

The Connell Memorial Herbarium holds a monthly Plant Identification Group to help botanists and other interested members of the public to learn more about plant identification.

New Brunswick Tree and Shrub Species of Concern

This 77-page field guide from the Atlantic Forestry Centre (Canadian Forest Service) provides excellent information sheets to 25 species of trees and shrubs native to Nova Scotia and Ontario, as well as an illustrated glossary. This resource is now archived, but the link above is to a PDF file of this document, which can be downloaded for personal use.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Annotated Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Newfoundland and Labrador

An annotated checklist of Newfoundland and Labrador's vascular flora, compiled by Susan J. Meades, Luc Brouillet, and Stuart G. Hay (2015). New updates for 2017 will soon be posted, followed by yearly updates, documenting new reports and nomenclatural changes.

Digital Flora of Newfoundland & Labrador

Newfoundland's flora includes many arctic-alpine species found also in the northernmost parts of Ontario. Since most websites on Ontario wildflowers focus on the mixedwood or deciduous forest flora, this site is particularly useful for botanists and First Nations people in the northern parts of Ontario. This website was developed by John Maunder, Curator Emeritus of Natural History, Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Limestone Barrens … Ours to Protect

A very good introduction to the geology, environment, and flora of Newfoundland's unique limestone barrens, developed by Dulcie House, Program Manager, Limestone Barrens Habitat Stewardship Program.

MUN Botanical Garden

A definite highlight for tourists visiting St. John's is a trip to Memorial University of Newfoundland's Botanical Garden, which occupies 110 acres on Mt. Scio Road. The botanical garden boasts 5 nature trails, several formal gardens, a greenhouse, a gift shop, and a café.

Wildflowers of Newfoundland

A beautiful collection of wildflower images by Karen Chappell and Joe Dawson. Other photo galleries in this great website are sure to make displaced Newfoundlanders homesick. Just click on the 'Home' link at the top of their webpage to access other galleries.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia's Coastal Plain Flora

A website on the conservation and recovery of coastal plain species in Nova Scotia, compiled by the Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora (ACPF) Recovery Team. Access the plant images from the Photo Gallery.

Nova Scotia Wild Flora Society

This attractive website presents images of Nova Scotia's flora, as well as image collections of members' field trips. Articles and information on the society's programme are also included.

Ontario

Andy's Northern Ontario Wildflowers

This personal website, and a labour of love, by northern Ontario retired geologist Andy Fyon, is one of the best resources on northeastern Ontario. This extensive website includes information of the wildflower species of various habitats, as well as information on ferns, mosses & lichens, and fungi.

Astereae Lab

This extremely useful website by John C. Semple, Waterloo University, includes links to the asters, goldenrods, and goldenasters of North America. In these webpages, Dr. Semple clearly details the new generic divisions of the former Aster and Solidago genera, which are presented in the 3 Asteraceae volumes (19-21) of the Flora of North America. Ontario botanists will want to purchase his two indispensable references, Cultivated and native asters of Ontario and The Goldenrods of Ontario from the University of Waterloo Biology Series.

borealforest.org

A comprehensive forestry website, now hosted by Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, with general descriptions of plant and animal species in the Boreal Forest of the World section and local species in Ontario's Northwest Forest section. Also includes much information on the forest industry.

Flora and Fauna of the Upper Ottawa Valley

A gallery of beautiful digital images from Bob and Diana McElroy from the Petawawa, Mattawa, and Algonquin Park areas.

Fowler Herbarium Databases

This online database of about 140,000 specimens from the Fowler Herbarium at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, includes separate databases for the Kingston Region (~17,000 specimens from eastern Ontario), the Arctic Region of North America (~7,000 specimens from NWT, Alaska, Yukon, Baffin Island, and Greenland), and the rest of North America (~14,000 specimens). This website also includes a Guide to Plant Collection and Identification.

Native Orchids of Ontario

A comprehensive website, compiled by the Orchid Society of the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) in Hamilton, ON. Images from the Donald Gunn's Image Collection at RBG, are presented at the bottom of each webpage, after the descriptions.

NHIC (Natural Heritage Information Centre)

The Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC) is the branch of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources that tracks rare and endangered species (both plant and animal) within Ontario. The NHIC newsletters contain excellent accounts of botanical exploration conducted by the NHIC staff throughout the less-explored reaches of our Province.

Ontario Weed Gallery

A website from Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, which presents identifying information and image of each weed species. See also the gallery Noxious Weeds in Ontario

Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program

A well-organized site by OMNR and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, which presents information on invasive aquatic and terrestrial plants, fish, forest pests, invertebrates, and pathogens in Ontario. Information is provided to help identify each species and what the reader can do to help prevent the spread of these species.

Orchids of Ojibway

This webpage, from the Ojibway Nature Centre in Windsor, ON, posts some very attractive images of native orchids by photographers Paul Pratt, Tom Preney, and Russ Jones.

Plants of Lanark County, Ontario

A checklist by David J. White of the wildflowers of Lanark County, located in eastern Ontario. The checklist is downloadable in PDF format from the website. Useful habitat information for each species is also included.

Species at Risk in Ontario

A website from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) with brief descriptions of each of Ontario’s rare species. Select pages 5 or 6 to view the plant species list.

Weeds in Ontario

Another website from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs that provides a variety of informative Factsheets, Info-sheets, and Publications on various weed species and related topics.

Wildflowers of Ontario

This relatively new website, compiled by John Wright of Mississauga, ON, provides a page with links to photos of species commonly confused with giant hogweed and poison hemlock, as well as pages of common wildflowers by colour

Prince Edward Island

Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project

This excellent website provides a description of the Acadian Forest Type, plus maps, descriptions, and images of the trees, ferns, shrubs, wildflowers, animals, and various nature trails in Macphail Woods.

Québec

Bryophytes du Québec et du Labrador

This website, in French, presents the 2nd edition of the Catalogue des Bryophytes du Québec et du Labrador, by Jean Faubert, Université Laval, Québec.

Fleurs Sauvages sur l'Île d'Orléans

An attractive, non-technical website by Yves Gourdeau, in French and English, on the wildflowers of the Île d'Orléans, located near Québec City. The flower images are organized by flower colour and season.

Flora Québec

The website, in French, provides detailed information on the Flora Québec project as well as an excellent Glossary de botanique.

Saskatchewan

Colin's Virtual Herbarium

A very useful collection of clear digital images of 441 native plant species by Colin Ladyka, of Regina, SK. Numerous excellent closeups are included, and some images are labelled with key traits, which is certainly an aid to people learning to identify our native plant species.

Saskatchewan Native Plants - Wildflowers

One of the best additions to the expanding list of websites on Canadian wildflowers. This wonderful website, from Maureen and Glen Lee of Regina, SK, includes webpages on prairie, forest, and wetland species, nearly all of which also occur in northern Ontario. Select from collections of specific groups, such as:

• Saskatchewan Native Orchids
• Saskatchewan Native Carnivorous Plants

Virtual Herbarium - An Introduction to the Identification of Vascular Plants in Saskatchewan

In addition to the excellent interactive descriptions and images in the Virtual Herbarium, this website from the University of Saskatchewan contains an interactive key to the plant families represented in the Saskatchewan flora.

Yukon

The Genus

In this PDF, world willow expert, George W. Argus, updated his 1973 publication, The genus Salix in Alaska and the Yukon, detailing nomenclatural changes and corrections to 2001. Dot distribution maps cover both the Yukon and Alaska.