Welcome to May, 2026

After a cold April, May arrived with the same weather pattern. Comparing with other years, Hepatica americana and Hepatica acutiloba flowered poorly, in some cases with a few late buds opening after the first wave of flowers. There are still a few flowers on some Hepatica nobilis, Hepatica americana and Hepatica transsilvanica in the deeper shade!

Native species wise, Iris lacustris and Primula mistassinica enjoyed the record amounts of snow of last winter and both flowered spectacularly and for a long time. Besides various Trillium species, Asarum canadense (wild ginger), Uvularia grandiflora, Mitella diphylla, Viola labradorica,Viola rostrata, Stylophorum diphyllum, Anemone quinquefolia (to name just a few) are in bloom at this time. I just noticed the first open flower on Prosartes lanuginosa today and Hydrastis canadensis will follow shortly by the look of it.
Information about most of these native species, and not only, is available by clicking on their name in the Seed List (images, description, propagation from seeds).

The Large flowered Trillium, Trillium grandiflorum, remains the ‘star of May’ in Ontario. Many images, including its spring companions were added over the years on this website. The companion plants are the same, they only flower at slightly different times depending on the region & weather.
For those wishing to review and maybe get inspired for adding various native species to their gardens, please follow the links below:
Out in the woods: Trillium grandiflorum and companions (2023)
Trillium grandiflorum 2022
Out in the woods: Trillium grandiflorum and companions (2021)

Garden wise, the cooler weather has been a blessing for planting and transplanting/dividing larger perennials. On the other hand, the seedlings are growing very slow; advantages and disadvantages.

Welcome to May, much to admire, do, and so little time….just a small selection of native and non-native species.

* The bulbous Corydalis flowering was OK, but due to the April weather the seeds set is not looking great, with some exceptions; the same applies for most Hepatica species (and other very early flowering species). By the end of  the month we’ll have a clearer picture and decide if worth offering a limited selection of such seeds this year.

As usual, there will be an announcement for the first fresh seeds of the season.