Mixedwood Plains

Home to Canada’s deciduous and mixedwood forests, many deciduous and coniferous tree species thrive in this ecozone. Sugar maple, red oak, and basswood characterize the deciduous forest in the south. Farther north, there is a variety of conifers, including the eastern hemlock, red pine, and the magnificent white pine. Rather than a fine line separating the boundaries of the deciduous and coniferous forests, a transition zone where both species thrive exists.

 

One can find the only remnants of Canada’s Carolinian forests in the Mixedwood Plains Ecozone. These forests contain a wide spectrum of colourful trees, such as sassafras, hackberry, and tulip trees, while protecting endangered species such as the prickly pear cactus and the wood puppy. Over half of Canada’s endangered plant species are found in the Mixedwood Plains.

 

Showy wildflowers including trilliums, clover, and wild raspberry are also common in this ecozone. In the wetlands, there is a chance of finding native and exotic plants, such as cattails, sedges, and the Purple Loosestrife.