Veronica serpyllifolia is spreading!

The native veronica that I photographed last May has spread nicely in the last two months or so. So far I'm liking it as a groundcover.

Aralia nudicaulis: foliage

Aralia nudicaulis, known in English as "wild sarsparilla", "American sarsaparilla", "bamboo brier", "shot bush", "spreading spikenard", or "wild licorice" and in French as salsepareille sauvage or fausse salsepareille, is a perennial native to much of North America. Spreading by underground stems, it forms an attractive groundcover in dry woods. I took this photo in Purdon Conservation Area.

Sedum spurium: foliage

Sedum spurium, known in English as "rock cress" or "two-row stonecrop" and in French as orpin bâtard, is a perennial succulent groundcover native to eastern Europe.

The landlords' kids and I rescued these plants from a neighbourhood garden that was being replaced by sod. This sedum is very forgiving; just break off a piece, stick in in the dirt, and it will grow!

Waldsteinia fragaroides: foliage and flowers

I've posted a couple of pictures of my new barren strawberry plant already, but here is a nicer clump I discovered growing in a garden down the street.

Maianthemum canadense: foliage

Maianthemum canadense, known in English as "wild lily-of-the-valley", "Canada mayflower", and in French as maïanthème du Canada, is a low-growing (10 cm) perennial wildflower native to much of Canada and the north and eastern United States. It bears spikes of tiny white flowers in late spring, followed later on by red berries.

Looking at my rather boring photo, you wouldn't guess how thrilled I was to find this little plant at the North American Native Plant Society's native plant sale this past weekend. I have very fond memories of these little flowers carpeting the forest floor around our house in eastern Ontario when I was a kid. We just called them "lily-of-the-valley" and when I first saw what most people call "lily-of-the-valley" (i.e. Convallaria majalis) I thought it was too coarse. (I've learned to appreciate the different type of beauty of Convallaria since then; if only it wasn't invasive!) I've been looking for wild lily-of-the-valley for a while now, and it's not easy to come by, so I felt very lucky to find such a healthy plant for sale.

Waldsteinia fragaroides: flowers

Waldsteinia fragaroides, known in English as "barren strawberry" and in French as waldsteinie faux-fraisier, is a low-growing perennial native to eastern North America. Its three-part leaves and five-petalled yellow flowers are reminiscent of strawberry leaves and flowers (Fragaria spp.), but the flowers are yellow and it does not bear edible fruit.

When I was growing up in eastern Ontario, barren strawberries carpeted the forest floor; i.e. they can make a good groundcover for shade in the right conditions. I bought this plant at the North American Native Plant Society plant sale last weekend.