Juniperus communis

Common juniper

Botanical Information

• Evergreen shrub, grows up to 1.5 m
• Prefers dry rocky soil, and sterile pastures and fields

Points of Interest

• Widely used by Aboriginal peoples in remedies, particularly for colds and coughs; fragrant branches used in ceremonies
• Berries widely used in herbal diuretics
• Fruit used to flavour gin

Juniperus horizontalis

Creeping juniper

Botanical Information

• Evergreen shrub, grows up to 1.5 m
• Prefers rocky, sandy or boggy sites

Points of Interest

• Used by Aboriginal peoples in various remedies, particularly to treat colds
• Wood can be used to make paper and fencing

Juniperus horizontalis plumose

Andorra juniper

Botanical Information

• Evergreen shrub, grows up to 1.5 m
• Prefers sandy or rocky lakeshores, woods
  and pastures
• Leaves turn purple over winter
• A variation of creeping juniper

Points of Interest

• Fresh leaves traditionally boiled and used for medicinal purposes

Lilium candidum

White garden lily

Botanical Information

• Garden perennial, grows up to 1.5 m
• Prefers semi-shaded areas with rich soil
• White flowers bloom in the summer
• Also known as Madonna lily
• Not native to Canada

Points of Interest

• The floral emblem of Quebec from 1963 to 1999, when it was replaced by the blue flag
• Resembles the fleur-de-lis on the Quebec flag
• May be the earliest lily ever cultivated; grown circa 1500 B.C. in Turkey and southeastern Europe
• Fragrance used in perfumes and cosmetics
• Regarded as a symbol of purity

Lilium philadelphicum andinum

Western red lily

Botanical Information

• Perennial herb, grows up to 1 m
• Prefers dry open woods, thickets, clearings and grassy meadows
• Scarlet flowers bloom in the summer

Points of Interest

• The floral emblem of Saskatchewan since 1941
• Bulb consumed by Aboriginal peoples as food and in medicinal teas
• Flowers an antidote for spider bites