Native Plants for Edmonton Gardens: Learn from 25 Years of Conservation Work

Learning from the People Who Rescue Native Plants

This evening brings together gardeners, naturalists, and anyone curious about what grows naturally in Alberta to learn from the Edmonton Native Plant Society.

ENPS started in 1998-1999 as a small group of volunteers working to save a prairie remnant at Little Mountain. When development claimed that site, they rescued local species and began the long-term work of preserving genetic diversity through seed banking and propagation.

Today, they’re the region’s primary resource for native plant knowledge, backed by decades of real-world experience with what actually works in Edmonton gardens.

Kathleen Mpulubusi, President of ENPS, leads tonight’s presentation.

You’ll hear practical guidance on species selection, cultivation techniques, and how native plants support pollinators and wildlife.

There’s a Q&A session after the talk, plus seed sales and the chance to connect with other people working to grow more ecologically.

What You’ll Learn

• Which native plant species thrive in Edmonton gardens based on your specific soil type, light conditions, and moisture levels
• How to select plants for different purposes – pollinator support, erosion control, drought tolerance, seasonal interest, or habitat creation
• Cultivation techniques from propagation to establishment, including site preparation, planting timing, and long-term maintenance requirements
• Height, spread, and bloom timing for designing layered plantings that provide continuous bloom and habitat structure
• Ecological relationships between native plants, native pollinators, and local bird species
• Where to source native plants and seeds and how ENPS’s seed bank preserves genetic diversity across the region

The presentation draws on ENPS’s experience establishing demonstration gardens at John Janzen Nature Centre, the Muttart Conservatory, and the Land Stewardship Centre, plus their work protecting prairie remnants across the Edmonton region.

After the talk, there’s time for questions about your specific site conditions, plant combinations, or gardening challenges. You’ll also meet other gardeners working with native species and discover what’s happening locally.

About the Edmonton Native Plant Society and Kathleen Mpulubusi

The Edmonton Native Plant Society began as volunteers trying to save a prairie remnant. That grassroots effort evolved into a not-for-profit organization combining conservation, seed banking, public education, and hands-on restoration work.

Over two decades, ENPS has helped establish demonstration gardens showing how native wildflowers and grasses thrive in ordinary beds. Volunteers have protected important prairie remnants including Fort Saskatchewan Prairie, Nisku Prairie, and the Gibbons Badlands Prairie, receiving an Emerald Award in 2008 for conservation work.

Kathleen Mpulubusi serves as President of ENPS. As a long-time volunteer and trip leader, she’s helped connect Edmontonians to local ecosystems and supported native plant gardening initiatives across the city. Drawing on her experience as a labour and community activist, she brings inclusive, community-driven environmental action to her leadership role.

ENPS’s perspective is valuable because they’ve seen what works through real rescues, long-term monitoring, and decades of hands-on propagation across different site conditions. Their knowledge comes from doing the work, not just reading about it.

Native Plants and Ecological Resilience

Native plants create habitat that sustains biodiversity. When neighborhoods plant native species, they create corridors supporting wildlife movement through urban areas.

Individual gardens add up to broader ecological impact. A single front yard planted with native species provides nectar, seeds, and shelter. A street of native plantings becomes a functioning ecosystem.

You don’t need to convert your entire property.

Start with one bed. Replace a section of lawn. Add native groundcovers under existing trees or along fence lines.

For Edmonton gardeners and land stewards designing landscapes that support ecological resilience, ENPS’s practical guidance is grounded in decades of hands-on work. They understand what thrives here and why it matters.

This evening offers access to that knowledge, plus the chance to meet other people working toward the same goals. If you’ve been wondering which native plants fit your conditions or how to start transitioning away from ornamentals, this is where to begin.