ALCLA Native Plants

06/23/2026

June 22 to 28 is Pollinator Week and to celebrate we're sharing our pledge to support
the Xerces Society’s Bring Back the Pollinators campaign!

We are proud to be able to help all of you source authentic, source-identified native plants suitable for our region. Local native plants are the best plants to provide food and habitat for native pollinators.

Sign the Pollinator Protection Pledge and take simple steps to help pollinators thrive:
bringbackthepollinators.org








Illustrations by Maya Hutagalung .art and Madison Sankovitz for the Xerces Society’s Bring Back the Pollinators campaign.
For full license details, see: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

06/11/2026

🦋 Who's eating the nettles?

Milbert's Tortoiseshell caterpillars are at the nursery right now!

These fascinating caterpillars are feeding on Slender Nettle, their host plant, and will soon form a chrysalis before emerging as beautiful butterflies.

They're only here for a short time, so now is the perfect opportunity to see them in person. Bring the family and see if you can spot them on the undersides of the leaves!

Visits can now be booked directly online: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ1p99rrFRtpkQRFPm-dl_0lwZANgRkCV9QRRbRPar6Z0RN6-zq99LazHNvfPpXLuv91pGjfxPSR

06/05/2026

A keystone species plays an unusually important role in supporting the wider ecosystem. In native plant gardens, keystone plants are the species that feed the greatest number of insects, especially caterpillars and native bees.

That matters because insects move plant energy into the food web. Caterpillars feed birds, native bees rely on pollen and nectar, and seed heads support wildlife through the colder months.

According to the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Plains keystone plant list, these prairie plant groups support an incredible number of species:

Goldenrod, Solidago spp.
Supports 71 caterpillar species and 56 pollen specialist bee species.

Gumweed, Grindelia squarrosa
Supports 7 caterpillar species and 68 pollen specialist bee species.

Willow, Salix spp.
Supports 214 caterpillar species and 20 pollen specialist bee species. This includes species like sandbar willow, Salix exigua.

Rubber Rabbitbrush, Ericameria nauseosa
Supports 41 pollen specialist bee species.

Native Thistles, Cirsium spp.
Support 30 pollen specialist bee species.

These plants do more than bloom. They feed bees, butterflies, moths, birds, and the larger prairie food web.

If you want your garden to feel more alive, plant species that support life at every stage: flowers, leaves, seeds, stems, and shelter.

All of these high-value prairie species are available in our online shop.

05/29/2026

Super cute and flowering now!
Field Chickweed, Cerastium arvense
Great drought tolerant, full sun loving plant.

Available for the first time this year.
In stock now! Visit our website for details.

05/29/2026

Tonight’s highlight (blooming now): Tall Lungwort (Mertensia paniculata) is a vital host for the Police Car Moth (caterpillar and adult shown in the photo). It’s been a hectic season, but we’re thrilled to announce that for the first time, we’ll have Tall Lungwort plugs available in about a month! This is an excellent plant for shade gardens and it's drought tolerant once established.

We have so many exciting species coming—visit our website for updates!

(Yikes autocorrect turned Mertensia into Mortensen... 😅)

05/28/2026

Please join Latifa of ALCLA Native Plants and Ken of Wright Nursery for a short talk on Native Plants at the Tree Party at Calgary Central Library.

This free event includes inspiring talks, hands-on workshops, urban greening booths, and ideas for making Calgary greener.

Tree Party
Saturday, May 30
10 am to 3 pm
Calgary Central Library, 800 3 Street SE
Native Plants talk: 12:30 to 1:00 pm

04/26/2026

Thanks to for a lovely visit and gift of twig remnants left over from the live stake production of Balsam Poplar trees. We took them home and spent over six hours pulling the buds off by hand. We then long-exracted the resin into organic sunflower oil using heat over a month-long period.

The buds of Balsam Poplar are very useful because the aromatic resin produced to protect the buds is anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antiseptic. Extracting the resin into oil is one way to preserve and gain access to these properties for practical application. Honey Bees also take advantage of Poplar resin to make proplis. Most research into the benefits of Poplar resin come from studies about Propolis.

We will be making a fresh batch of Poplar Balm, also known as Balm of Gilead, and adding it back to the website soon.

Balsam Poplar Oil Extraction

1️⃣ Sustainable Harvesting

Gather from fallen branches or pruning material and grow your own plants whenever possible

If harvesting from live trees, take sparingly and across many trees

Avoid removing terminal buds

2️⃣ Step 1: Infused Oil

➡️ Slow Infusion

Fill a jar ½ full with buds

Cover fully with oil (olive, sunflower, or jojoba)

Steep 4–6+ weeks, shaking occasionally

➡️ Gentle Heat Infusion (faster)

Combine buds and oil in a jar

Warm in a double boiler 1–4 hours on low heat

Strain once oil is deeply aromatic

3️⃣Step 2: Balm

➡️Beeswax Balm

1 cup infused oil
2 tbsp beeswax

Melt beeswax, add oil, stir, and pour into containers to cool.

➡️Vegan Variation

1 cup infused oil
1 tbsp candelilla wax
Optional: 1–2 tbsp shea butter

Melt, combine, and pour as above.

Topically, Poplar Balm is commonly used for:

Dry or cracked skin
Minor cuts and abrasions
Muscle and joint discomfort
Chapped lips and hands
Seasonal skin irritation / mosquito bites

04/22/2026

Join us in person this Saturday for the Calgary Gardener's Market at ATCO Commons.

The Gardeners' Market is Saturday! Do you have your ticket?
We're bring gardeners, garden centres, gardening organizations, and service providers for a day dedicate to gardening in the Calgary area. Get your gardening questions answered.
Visit calhort.org for details.

😍The Society's Gardeners' Market is presented by greengate Garden Centres

04/20/2026

Yellowstone Draba was not phased by a foot of snow that quickly melted. We're happy to see solitary bees enjoying the early spring flowers.