Plants

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Plants are vitally important to the health of the watershed

They are essential to the health of ecosystems and their functions, biodiversity and economics. They also help with climate regulation, the cycling and distribution of nutrients, and the provision of raw materials and resources.

Plants cleanse the air and provide oxygen, help soil retain water, shield animals and other plants from the sun and other elements, and provide habitat. They also help to regulate the climate, cycle and distribute nutrients and provide raw materials and other resources. And don’t forget the awesome beauty they give us throughout each year!

While the ecoregion of the SEAWA watershed is primarily prairie mixed grassland, there is a wide variety of plants throughout the region. For example, in the Cypress Hills region, four distinct habitats and a climate more moderate than the prairies make this a park exceptionally rich in plant and animal life. More than 700 species of plants thrive there (including 18 species of orchids).

In the SEAWA watershed, plant species include native, and non-native (or invasive) plants. The plants can generally be divided into woody and non-woody plants. Invasive plant species are spreading widely throughout the area.

Invasive plant species included bladder campion (Silene cucubalus), leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), scentless chamomile (Matricaria perforata), Canada thistle, (Cirsium arvense), and perennial sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis).

Read more about some of Alberta’s invasive species (Alberta Invasive Species Council)

Learn about SEAWA's invasive plant management!

Trees in the SEAWA Watershed

Alberta has four forest regions, each with its own variety of trees and unique climate. The regions are the Boreal, Aspen Parkland, Subalpine and Montane. In terms of forest, the SEAWA watershed doesn't fall into any of these regions. Apart from some pine and aspen forest in the Cypress Hills, the vast majority of the region is grassland. Despite this, there is a host of woody species found growing on the prairie, and even small forests found in riparian areas.

Grassland Region

In the Southeast corner of Alberta exist some of the driest conditions in the province. This allows for very unique adaptations and interactions among plant communities. While much of what grows in this region is grass and small, dry shrubs, there is still considerable space for forests of medium to large trees along the South Saskatchewan River and its many tributaries. Tree species found in these areas include:

Unfortunately, some woody species in the region are declining, such as cottonwoods. Read more below:

The Decline of Cottonwood Poplars in the Prairies - Cathy Linowski (247.01 KB)

Common Plants in the SEAWA Watershed

In the South Saskatchewan River Sub-basin (SSRSB), there are at least forty-one species of grasses and grass-like plants, and at least seventy species of forbs.

Read more about the various types and classifications of Alberta Range Plants.

For a colour-coded list of common coulee plants, click here.

Flowers

Scarlet Mallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea)
Plains Prickly Pear (Opuntia polyacantha)

Click here for some extra information about common local wildflowers! 

And here for some butterflies that love them.

Cacti

Shrubs

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
Cattail (Typha latifolia)

Grasses and Grass-likes

Other Common Plants

Prairie Selaginella (Selaginella densa)

And many, many more!

Rare / Uncommon Plants

Sea Milkwort (Lysimachia maritima)

The watershed is also home to several rare, or uncommon plant species. In many cases, the conservation status of rare plants is unable to be determined due to a lack of knowledge and data regarding the range, origins, and optimal growth conditions for these species. Because of this, SEAWA reports any rare plants we find during our work through the Alberta Conservation Information Management System (ACIMS). To date, SEAWA has identified the following rare species in the watershed: