Plant Nursery

Plant propagation is a big part of Ecology Park activities! Each year, we grow over 200 varieties of plants - trees, shrubs, vines, flowers, grasses, ferns, herbs and vegetables.

Native Plants

A large focus of our nursery is the production of plants native to southern Ontario. These are the plants that are fundamental to our natural heritage, and the foundation for the fabric of interwoven life forms that comprise local ecosystems.

Plant production begins with seed collection, and each year, Ecology Park staff and volunteers visit nearby natural areas to collect seeds for propagation. We follow ethical seed collection guidelines established by the Society for Ecological Restoration.

Back at the nursery, seeds are given appropriate treatments to stimulate germination, and are carefully tended by staff and local volunteers until they are large enough to move to permanent homes.

Plants are sold to the public, used in regional restoration projects, and planted in demonstration gardens in the Ecology Park, as "green ambassadors" for healthy, sustainable landscapes.

A complete listing of Ecology Park native plants for sale can be found in the park's catalogue.

Exotic Plants

Some non-native (exotic) plants are also grown in our nursery if they have environmental benefits such as drought-tolerance, provide food for wildlife, or food for people. We do not grow or sell any plants considered ecologically "invasive" for our region.

We have a particular interest in heirloom varieties of tomato - open-pollinated varieties that have been grown for at least 100 years.
These unique and beautiful varieties help to maintain a diverse gene pool - an important factor in future food production. Genetic diversity helps to ensure survival of a species in the event of a disease that wipes out common varieties.

We currently grow over 20 varieties of heirloom tomato, and plants are available for sale to the public at our popular spring plant sale on the long weekend of May each year.

A complete listing of Ecology Park exotic plants for sale can be found in the park's catalogue.