Home / Environment / Calgary Goes Native: Free Plants for Greener Gardens
Calgary Goes Native: Free Plants for Greener Gardens
17 Sep
Summary
- Free native grassland plants are being given away to registered Calgarians.
- The program salvages plants from areas slated for development.
- Native plants support biodiversity and are drought-resilient.
The Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society is distributing free native grassland plants to Calgary residents as part of an expanded pilot program. This initiative salvages plants from areas designated for development, partnering with the Alberta Native Plant Rescue Foundation. Thanks to additional funding from the City of Calgary, whole plants, rather than just seeds, are now offered after being cleaned and inspected.
Native grasslands are critically endangered in Alberta, with less than one percent remaining in places like Fish Creek Park. Encouraging these plants in gardens helps restore biodiversity, providing habitat and food for pollinators and other wildlife. This initiative also promotes drought-resilient gardening, reducing water usage in the city.
Residents can register online to receive plants, with the final giveaway scheduled for October 1. The salvaged plants, including shrubs, flowers, and grasses, are hardy and require minimal maintenance, allowing for beautiful, sustainable gardens. Participants are also encouraged to collect seeds from their established native plants for future restoration efforts.
