Growing Rare Native Trees for Ottawa’s Future

Ottawa’s native trees are in trouble.

In the Ottawa area, there are approximately 75 different native tree species. Yet in a typical year, fewer than 10 of these species are available for purchase at local nurseries.

That means roughly 60–65 native tree species are effectively missing from the commercial market and survive almost entirely through natural regeneration. In a rapidly changing city, that’s not enough.

Urban intensification and development, habitat loss and encroachment, new pests and diseases, and a long list of other environmental stresses are all putting pressure on our tree canopy. Studies have already documented Ottawa’s dwindling tree cover and the loss of mature trees in neighbourhoods across the city.

The Canadensis Native Tree Nursery project is about coordinating the efforts of concerned citizens who want to do something about this. By collecting seeds of rare and uncommon native trees, growing them to plantable size, and donating them to community projects, we are helping to rebuild a more diverse, resilient and locally adapted urban forest for Ottawa.

About the Canadensis Native Tree Nursery Project

The Canadensis Native Tree Nursery is a community-driven project based at the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa. It brings together volunteers, horticultural societies, naturalists, students and community groups to:

Grow rare and uncommon native trees from locally collected seed
Build a living nursery of young trees that can be planted into community projects
Support reforestation and canopy restoration efforts across Ottawa neighbourhoods

Our focus is on species that are hard to find in commercial nurseries but play an important ecological role in our region.

Project at a Glance

300+ native tree seedlings grown in 2025
15 rare and uncommon native tree species in production
30 volunteers involved in growing, nursery work and outreach
25 larger native trees donated to 4 community reforestation projects
Nursery expanded to approximately 25’ x 50’ at Canadensis

What We’re Doing

Growing rare and ecologically important species

We collect seeds from local trees and grow them into robust seedlings suited to Ottawa’s climate. Typical species include:

American elm
Kentucky Coffee tree
Northern hackberry
Yellow and Cherry birch
Ohio buckeye
Several species of oak and other native trees

These seedlings are nurtured in containers until they are large enough to succeed when planted in community projects.

Expanding nursery capacity

To support more trees, the nursery at Canadensis has been expanded to about 25’ x 50’. Volunteers:

Removed invasive vegetation and prepared the site
Added fresh garden soil and installed landscape fabric
Set up more than 200 two-gallon pots for growing trees
Mulched around the pots to retain moisture and reduce weeding

This gives us space to grow and protect hundreds of young trees each year.

Community Impact

Supporting reforestation projects

The nursery supplies trees to community-led planting projects across Ottawa, especially where volunteers have worked to remove invasive plants such as Buckthorn.

In the most recent season, 25 larger native trees (including White oaks) were donated to four different projects, giving communities a head start in reclaiming sites with resilient native trees.

A growing network of partners

The project is built on collaboration. Partners include:

Local horticultural societies
Naturalist and stewardship groups
Seed library and pollinator organizations
Master Gardeners and gardening educators
College horticulture and arboriculture programs

Together, they contribute seeds, growing space, expertise, students, volunteers and outreach, creating a city-wide network of support for native tree restoration.

Challenges & What We’re Learning

Growing rare native trees is rewarding, but not always easy.

In recent seasons, we lost more seeds and seedlings than expected to rodents and other wildlife, especially nut-bearing species such as oaks, hickories and buckeyes. Even pots covered with basic wire mesh weren’t always enough.

These challenges have led us to refine our methods:

Using smaller-mesh hardware cloth to better protect seeds and young seedlings
Cold-stratifying native nuts (acorns, hickories, buckeyes, walnuts) in sand/peat mixes in refrigerators over winter
Planting sprouted nuts in protected pots in early spring, where volunteers can monitor them closely

Each year, we learn more about which methods work best and share that knowledge with volunteers and partner groups.

Looking Ahead

Over the next few years, the Canadensis Native Tree Nursery aims to:

Produce a steady flow of three- to four-foot native trees and shrubs ready for planting in community projects
Increase the number and diversity of rare native species in production
Expand partnerships with schools, community groups, and environmental organizations
Offer more workshops and educational activities on native trees, seed collection and propagation

Our long-term vision is a healthier, more diverse and climate-resilient tree canopy across Ottawa, built from local seed and community effort.

Get Involved

Want to help grow Ottawa’s native forest?

The Canadensis Native Tree Nursery project depends on volunteers who are willing to share seeds, care for young trees, help in the nursery, and connect us with community projects that need native trees. There’s a role for every level of experience and every schedule.

Ways You Can Help

Seed & Seedling Contributors

Help us get rare local genetics into the nursery.

Share seeds from native trees on your property (for example black walnut, shagbark hickory, catalpa and oaks).
Join organized seed-collecting outings in local forests to target specific native species.
Pot up naturally occurring seedlings (such as volunteer white pines or oaks) instead of removing them and donate them to the project.

Home Growers & Overwintering Helpers

Care for young trees at home with guidance from our team.

Start seeds at home using species-specific instructions we provide.
Protect young seedlings from squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits with simple anti-critter strategies.
Overwinter seeds and seedlings outdoors or in sheltered spots on your property so they are ready for planting the following season.

Canadensis Nursery Crew

Help maintain the young trees at the Canadensis Native Tree Nursery on the Central Experimental Farm.

Water trees regularly during the growing season.
Lightly weed beds and help maintain mulched areas around the nursery.
Label and register seedlings in our tracking system so we know what we’re growing and where it eventually gets planted.

Community & Communications Volunteers

Support the project beyond the garden beds.

Connect with community groups that have reforestation or canopy-strengthening projects and help match them with available trees.
Assist with website content, newsletters and social media to share stories, highlight species and recruit more volunteers.

Tell Us How You’d Like to Help

If you’d like to get involved, please use the form below to let us know how you’d like to participate.

You can choose one or more options such as:

Seed and seedling contributions
Seed growing or overwintering at home
On-site help at the Canadensis nursery
Community outreach and communications

We’ll follow up with more information, upcoming dates and simple guidance to help you get started.