Plants of the Prairie
Stretching beneath wide, open skies, the prairie is alive with colour, scent, and movement. But beyond its sweeping grasslands lies a rich diversity of plants—some with deep roots that survive drought for months, others that fuel entire ecosystems with their presence.
At Redberry Lake Biosphere Region, this mix of prairie grasslands, aspen parkland, and boreal forest creates a habitat teeming with unique flora. From the vibrant Buffalo Berry to the towering Plains Cottonwood, these plants tell a story of adaptation and survival.
🌿 Want to identify and track prairie plants? Bring along the iNaturalist app to log your discoveries and contribute to global biodiversity research!
Scroll down to explore some of the most fascinating prairie plants and their unique adaptations.
Silver Buffaloberry
Silver Buffaloberry is a resilient shrub known for its silvery-green leaves and clusters of bright red berries that stand out against the prairie landscape. The berries are a vital food source for birds and other wildlife, while the dense foliage provides shelter. Its nitrogen-fixing properties improve soil quality, making it a valuable species for ecological restoration.
Range: Found across the Canadian prairies, including central and southern Saskatchewan
Environment: Thrives in open grasslands, riparian zones, and areas with sandy or rocky soils
Flowering Period: April through June
Conservation Status: Common and widespread
Canada Goldenrod
This tall perennial is known for its striking yellow flower clusters that brighten late summer landscapes. A critical species for pollinators like bees and butterflies, Canada Goldenrod is a keystone plant in prairie ecosystems, providing food and habitat. Its deep roots help stabilise soil, making it a valuable species in disturbed habitats. Despite its association with allergies, Canada Goldenrod’s pollen is not windborne and does not cause hay fever—a myth often attributed to its frequent proximity to ragweed.
Range: Found throughout most of North America, from Canada to Mexico.
Environment: Prefers open fields, meadows, and roadsides, often flourishing in disturbed areas.
Flowering Period: July through September
Conservation Status: Not at risk in Saskatchewan or other parts of its native range.
Panicled Aster
Panicled Aster is a tall, graceful wildflower known for its clusters of small, pale purple or white blooms with yellow centres. Unlike the compact, bushy White Heath Aster, Panicled Aster has a more open and upright growth habit, with flowers arranged in loose, branching clusters along its stems. This structure makes it stand out in wetter habitats, where it provides vital late-season nectar for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Its adaptability to various environments contributes to its widespread presence across North America.
Range: Native to North America, found from Alaska to Mexico and across most of Canada.
Environment: Thrives in moist meadows, along stream banks, and in open woods.
Flowering Period: August through October.
Conservation Status: Common and not considered at risk.
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White Heath Aster
White Heath Aster is a versatile wildflower celebrated for its dense sprays of tiny, white, star-shaped blooms, which create a striking display in late summer and autumn. Unlike the Panicled Aster, which thrives in wetter habitats, White Heath Aster is adapted to drier, more challenging environments, making it a keystone species in prairie and grassland ecosystems. It is an essential nectar source for bees, butterflies, and other late-season pollinators, supporting biodiversity when few other plants are in bloom.
Range: Native to North America, spanning much of Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico.
Environment: Prefers dry prairies, open grasslands, and rocky slopes.
Flowering Period: Blooms from August to October.
Conservation Status: Secure in Canada
Fringed Sagebrush
Fringed Sagebrush is a drought-tolerant, perennial shrub with soft, silvery-green foliage and a distinct aromatic scent. It plays an important ecological role in prairie regions, stabilising soil, providing forage for grazing animals, and serving as habitat for insects. Its adaptability to extreme climates makes it a vital species in maintaining biodiversity in arid and semi-arid landscapes.
Range: Found across North America, from western Canada through the Great Plains and into the southwestern United States.
Environment: Thrives in grasslands, rocky slopes, and well-drained, arid soils.
Flowering Period: Blooms from July to September.
Conservation Status: Widespread and abundant; not considered at risk in Canada.
Red Osier Dogwood
Red Osier Dogwood is a striking deciduous shrub known for its bright red stems that provide a splash of colour in winter landscapes. Its white flowers bloom in dense clusters, followed by white or bluish berries that serve as an essential food source for birds and other wildlife. The plant’s extensive root system helps control soil erosion, making it a valuable species for riparian restoration.
Range: Widely distributed across North America, from Alaska to Newfoundland and south to Mexico
Environment: Commonly found in wetlands, along riverbanks, and in moist forested areas.
Flowering Period: Blooms from May to July, with berries appearing in late summer and autumn.
Conservation Status: Abundant and not at risk in Canada. Its widespread use in ecological restoration underscores its importance in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Pussytoes
Pussytoes are a group of low-growing perennials named for their soft, furry flower clusters resembling a cat’s paw. These hardy plants are well-adapted to dry, nutrient-poor soils and play an important role in preventing erosion in grasslands. Their silvery foliage and charming flowers make them a favourite for pollinators and a subtle yet resilient feature in prairie ecosystems.
Range: Found throughout North America, from the Arctic tundra to temperate regions, including much of Canada and the United States.
Environment: Prefers open grasslands, rocky slopes, and well-drained, dry soils in full sunlight.
Flowering Period: Blooms from May to July.
Conservation Status: Widespread and abundant; not considered at risk in Canada. Its ability to thrive in harsh environments highlights its ecological importance.
Tansy
Tansy is a perennial herbaceous plant recognised for its clusters of small, yellow, button-like flowers and feathery, aromatic leaves. Introduced from Europe, it has naturalised across much of North America. Historically valued for medicinal and ornamental purposes, it is now primarily noted for its adaptability and ability to thrive in disturbed areas. Despite its utility, Tansy is considered invasive in many regions due to its aggressive growth habits.
Range: Widely distributed across North America, particularly in temperate regions from coast to coast.
Environment: Thrives in roadsides, fields, and other disturbed or open habitats with well-drained soils.
Flowering Period: Blooms from July to September.
Conservation Status: Considered invasive in Canada, particularly in agricultural areas, where it can outcompete native species and reduce biodiversity.
Curly Dock
Curly Dock is a perennial plant easily identified by its wavy-edged leaves and tall spikes of reddish-brown seeds. Introduced from Europe, this hardy species is known for its ability to thrive in a wide range of environments, including poor and compacted soils. Its seeds are a food source for birds, and the plant’s deep roots help stabilise soil, though it can disrupt native ecosystems in some regions.
Range: Widely distributed across North America, found in every Canadian province and much of the United States.
Environment: Common in disturbed areas such as roadsides, agricultural fields, and wetlands, favouring moist, nutrient-rich soils.
Flowering Period: Blooms from June to September.
Conservation Status: Classified as an invasive species in Canada. Its rapid spread and resilience in disturbed habitats pose challenges for native plant communities.
Plains Cottonwood
Plains Cottonwood is a majestic deciduous tree known for its broad, triangular leaves that flutter in the wind, creating a soothing rustling sound. It is one of North America’s largest hardwood trees and plays a vital ecological role, stabilising riverbanks and providing habitat for birds, mammals, and insects. Plains Cottonwood is also revered by Indigenous communities for its cultural and medicinal significance.
Range: Native to the central and western regions of North America, including the Canadian Prairies, extending southward to Texas and New Mexico.
Environment: Thrives along rivers, streams, and floodplains, favouring moist, sandy, or silty soils in full sunlight.
Conservation Status: Secure in Canada but declining in some regions due to habitat loss and changes in river flow patterns, which affect its regeneration.
This particular Plains Cottonwood is very special to Saskatchewan as it is the biggest tree in the province. Estimated to be around 160 years old, this Plains Cottonwood stands as a remarkable natural giant, with an immense canopy and a trunk circumference that has made it a living landmark in the province. Located down by the Saskatchewan River, seeing this beautiful giant in real life is a must-see. Different from the giant Douglas Firs and Red Cedars you see in other provinces, the Cottonwood is known for its deeply furrowed bark and its massive, spreading branches that create a majestic canopy, offering shelter to wildlife and shade to those who visit this prairie giant.
Aspen Trees
The Aspen Tree, often called Trembling Aspen or Quaking Aspen, is famous for its delicate, heart-shaped leaves that shimmer in the slightest breeze. It is the most widely distributed tree in North America and a keystone species, supporting biodiversity by providing food, shelter, and nesting sites for countless wildlife species. Aspen groves are clonal, spreading through underground roots, which allows them to form some of the world's largest living organisms.
Range: Extends across North America, from Alaska to Newfoundland and as far south as Mexico's mountains.
Environment: Prefers well-drained soils in open areas, thriving in mixed forests, grasslands, and mountainous regions.
Conservation Status: Secure in Canada and a critical component of forest ecosystems, though sensitive to climate change and overbrowsing by wildlife in some regions.
This particular patch of Aspen Trees is known as ‘The Crooked Bush’. A mysterious grove of aspen trees that grow in a twisted, spiraled fashion, defying the typical straight growth pattern and creating a surreal, otherworldly landscape.
📖 Love learning about native plants? Discover the Wildflowers of Waterton! Read here →
How to use iNaturalist
Download the iNaturalist app to your smartphone
Create an account. Be sure to allow them to see your location and use the camera app both of these are needed to identify species
Click the green + symbol to record a new observation
Click the ‘take photo’ button and take a photo of the species in the app. Alternatively you can upload an image from the gallery but I find it easier to just take the photo live in the app. Take multiple photos if necessary showing the leaves, the stem, bark, or any other distinguishing features.
Click the ‘What did you see?’ button and view the suggestions from iNaturalist. If you don’t have cell service you can do this later on as long as the app has recorded your location. iNaturalist will give you suggestions based on what’s “visually similar” and “expected nearby”. You can click each selection to review the images. Click ‘compare’ if you want to see your image and the iNaturalist image side by side
Click the little tick symbol on the species you think it is. This will take you back to the main screen
On the main screen you can add any notes if you like. Once done, click the green tick symbol at the bottom and your observation will be saved!
To contribute to citizen science your species will need to be confirmed by others in the community. Once this is done you will see a little symbol that indicates your species is “research grade” and therefore contributing to the database!
Keep going and have fun with it!
How many species can you identify on your next hike?
Follow Biosphere Bathing on all the above social links to get updates on Wildflowers within the Biosphere Regions we visit and be sure to follow us on iNaturalist to see what species we document next!