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First Peoples Outdoor Institute · Alberta Plants

Alberta plants.
Look a little closer.

Eight plants to notice in Alberta, with field clues, documented uses and a careful look at the evidence.

Choose a plant

Start with a closer look.

Photographs show individual specimens and may have been taken outside Alberta. Each links to a plant profile. Use several features and a regional field key, not these images alone. In the fireweed photograph, the pink-flowered, narrow-leaved stem is the subject; broad background leaves belong to other plants.

A field habit

Give the details time.

  1. Observe the whole plant.

    Look at growth form, leaves, stems and the surrounding place. Record what you see before deciding on a name.

  2. Compare several features.

    Use a regional field key and experienced guidance. One flower, leaf or image is not enough for a confident identification.

  3. Keep the context.

    A documented use belongs to a particular plant part, preparation and knowledge source. Read those details before drawing conclusions.

Reading the evidence

The studies below are selected examples, not a complete review. A laboratory result does not show that a remedy works in people, and a trial of one manufactured extract does not validate every preparation of the plant.

For questions about medicinal use, speak with a qualified health professional.

01 · Alberta plant notes

Fireweed

Chamaenerion angustifoliumAlso published as Epilobium angustifolium and Chamerion angustifolium.

Native; recorded in Alberta.

Practice note

A striking plant of open ground and recovering burns. Early evidence for one prostate-symptom extract is not evidence for a wild-plant tea.

Look closely

  • Tall stems bear alternate narrow leaves.
  • Pink-purple, four-petalled flowers give way to long capsules releasing silky seeds.

Where to look: Forest openings, meadows, disturbed ground and recovering burns.

Compare other willowherbs and river beauty using the whole flowering plant; colour alone cannot settle identity.

Documented uses & evidence

Documented use

Fireweed contributes to vegetation recovery after disturbance. European herbal references separately describe traditional urinary-symptom use.

Plant parts discussed: Above-ground parts are the traditional medicinal material. The human trial used a chemically characterized extract in capsules.

Clinical evidence

Limited product-specific randomized trial

One six-month, placebo-controlled trial in 128 men with benign prostate enlargement reported improved urinary symptoms and residual urine.

A single-centre, manufacturer-linked study needs independent confirmation. Its capsule findings do not establish the effects of raw plants, drinks or flower essences.

Safety, context & sources

Before considering use

  • New urinary symptoms need assessment; inability to pass urine is urgent.
  • The trial does not establish safety for children, pregnancy, long-term use or all medicine combinations. Do not gather from contaminated or recovering sites.

References

  • Canadensys. (n.d.). Chamaenerion angustifolium subsp. angustifolium. Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN). Retrieved October 31, 2026. Open source.
  • Pavek, D. S. (1992). Chamerion angustifolium, fireweed. Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. https://doi.org/10.2737/feis-species-review-chaang Open source.
  • Esposito, C., Santarcangelo, C., Masselli, R., Buonomo, G., Nicotra, G., Insolia, V., D’Avino, M., Caruso, G., Buonomo, A. R., Sacchi, R., Sommella, E., Campiglia, P., Tenore, G. C., & Daglia, M. (2021). Epilobium angustifolium L. extract with high content in oenothein B on benign prostatic hyperplasia: A monocentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 138, Article 111414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111414 Open source.
  • European Medicines Agency. (n.d.). Epilobii herba. Open source.
  • Alberta Parks. (n.d.). Plant checklist: William A. Switzer Provincial Park. Open source.
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02 · Alberta plant notes

Prickly rose

Rosa acicularis

Native; common in Alberta.

Practice note

A familiar native rose worth learning for wildlife habitat, not a proven diabetes medicine.

Look closely

  • Usually solitary pink flowers; toothed compound leaves; stems densely covered in fine, straight prickles.

Where to look: Alberta woodland undergrowth, open woods, banks and thickets.

Woods’ rose can look similar; several features, not a photograph, are needed.

Documented uses & evidence

Documented use

Hips and foliage feed wildlife; thickets provide shelter and nesting cover.

Plant parts discussed: The cited 2021 laboratory study tested leaf extract, not a rose-hip medicine.

Clinical evidence

Laboratory research only

It inhibited starch-digesting enzymes in simulated digestion, not patients.

No human benefit is established for this species in the reviewed sources; these results do not prove hips treat diabetes.

Safety, context & sources

Before considering use

  • Mind the prickles. These experiments do not establish safe medicinal use in pregnancy, children or alongside medicines.

References

  • Scientific name: Rosa acicularis Lindl. [Species profile]. (n.d.). University of Alberta. Open source.
  • Allen, L. (2005, Winter). Puzzling pairs. Iris, 48, 6. Alberta Native Plant Council. Open source.
  • Olennikov, D. N., Chemposov, V. V., & Chirikova, N. K. (2021). Metabolites of prickly rose: Chemodiversity and digestive-enzyme-inhibiting potential of Rosa acicularis and the main ellagitannin rugosin D. Plants, 10(11), Article 2525. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112525 Open source.
  • Government of Alberta. (n.d.). Emblems of Alberta. Open source.
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03 · Alberta plant notes

Saskatoon

Amelanchier alnifolia

Native in Alberta.

Practice note

A native fruit and garden shrub that also feeds wildlife, not a proven diabetes or cholesterol treatment.

Look closely

  • White flower clusters; oval leaves toothed mainly near their tips; purple fruit.

Where to look: Parkland woodland edges, prairie coulees and foothill slopes.

Other berry shrubs need separate identification; photographs cannot confirm edibility.

Documented uses & evidence

Documented use

Fruit is an established food; flowers support insects and thickets shelter birds.

Plant parts discussed: Human research studied freeze-dried whole fruit, not leaves, bark or roots.

Clinical evidence

Preliminary uncontrolled human study

A 2026 ten-week study followed 20 healthy adults; several blood-sugar, cholesterol and blood-pressure measures improved.

Without a comparison group, those changes cannot confidently be credited to the fruit.

Safety, context & sources

Before considering use

  • Do not eat unidentified fruit or substitute it for prescribed care; fruit research does not establish safety of other parts.

References

  • Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. (2012, May). Saskatoons in Alberta (Agdex 238/20-1). Open source.
  • Nature Alberta. (n.d.). Saskatoon. PlantWatch. Open source.
  • Lee, E., Hui, A., Lee, H., Sun, J., & Shen, G. X. (2026). Effects of daily Saskatoon berry supplementation on cardiometabolic health, gut microbiota, and short-chain fatty acids in healthy adults. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27(8), Article 3644. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27083644 Open source.
  • Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. (2016). Alberta range plants and their classification (Agdex 134/06). Open source.
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04 · Alberta plant notes

Common dandelion

Taraxacum officinaleAn introduced species aggregate; these clues do not distinguish every microspecies or native dandelion.

Introduced; widespread in Alberta.

Practice note

A familiar food plant and bee resource, not an established kidney cleanser or “detox” treatment.

Look closely

  • Leaves form a ground-level rosette.
  • A hollow, leafless stalk carries one yellow flower head.

Where to look: Lawns, fields, pasture and other disturbed ground.

Other yellow-flowered daisies and native dandelions need separate identification. Yellow petals alone are not enough.

Documented uses & evidence

Documented use

Leaves have food uses; flowers supply nectar and pollen. Traditional urinary use concerns leaves, not interchangeable root preparations.

Plant parts discussed: The human study tested a fresh-leaf alcohol-and-water extract, not root, flowers or an arbitrary homemade preparation.

Clinical evidence

Preliminary uncontrolled human study

In 17 volunteers, a one-day leaf-extract pilot found changes in some urination measures.

No placebo group and very short follow-up: this does not establish treatment of a health condition. NCCIH finds no compelling evidence for a therapeutic use.

Safety, context & sources

Before considering use

  • Medicinal use can involve allergy and drug interactions; gallbladder/bile-duct disease and some kidney or heart conditions are important cautions.
  • Do not self-treat swelling or urinary symptoms, or assume a lawn is free of pesticides and contamination.

References

  • Government of Alberta. (n.d.). Dandelion. Agriculture and Irrigation: Pest selector. Open source.
  • Clare, B. A., Conroy, R. S., & Spelman, K. (2009). The diuretic effect in human subjects of an extract of Taraxacum officinale folium over a single day. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 15(8), 929–934. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2008.0152 Open source.
  • National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (n.d.). Dandelion. Open source.
  • European Medicines Agency. (2009). Community herbal monograph on Taraxacum officinale Weber ex Wigg., folium (EMA/HMPC/579636/2008). Open source.
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05 · Alberta plant notes

Broadleaf plantain

Plantago majorNot banana-like plantain fruit; not interchangeable with psyllium husk or ribwort plantain.

Introduced; recorded in Alberta.

Practice note

A useful plant for learning leaf veins and compacted-ground ecology. A fresh leaf is not a sterile wound dressing.

Look closely

  • Broad, strongly ribbed leaves form a low rosette.
  • Long, narrow spikes of tiny greenish flowers rise on leafless stalks.

Where to look: Lawns, paths, fields and disturbed or compacted ground.

Several Plantago species look similar. Check mature flowers and fruits with a regional key rather than identifying a young rosette alone.

Documented uses & evidence

Documented use

Leaves have a history of topical use. This history does not demonstrate that a wild leaf heals wounds.

Plant parts discussed: A manufactured leaf-extract gel, not raw leaves, was studied alongside professional wound care.

Clinical evidence

Preliminary controlled human study

A two-week study with 94 completers reported greater wound-size reduction with leaf gel plus routine care.

Treatment was assigned by odd/even medical-record numbers, with no blinding and different dressings. The result is not proof that fresh leaves work or that plantain can replace wound care.

Safety, context & sources

Before considering use

  • Do not put chewed, unidentified or nonsterile leaves into a wound.
  • Diabetic ulcers, pressure injuries, spreading redness or fever need professional assessment. Allergy and longer-term safety remain concerns.

References

  • Canadensys. (n.d.). Plantago major Linnaeus. Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN). Retrieved October 31, 2026. Open source.
  • Klinkenberg, B. (Ed.). (n.d.). Plantago major L. E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia. University of British Columbia. Open source.
  • Ghanadian, M., Soltani, R., Homayouni, A., Khorvash, F., Mohammadi Jouabadi, S., & Abdollahzadeh, M. (2024). The effect of Plantago major hydroalcoholic extract on the healing of diabetic foot and pressure ulcers: A randomized open-label controlled clinical trial. The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, 23(3), 475–481. https://doi.org/10.1177/15347346211070723 Open source.
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06 · Alberta plant notes

Trembling aspen

Populus tremuloides

Native in Alberta.

Practice note

A woodland builder that feeds and shelters wildlife, not a substitute for aspirin or antibiotics.

Look closely

  • Pale greenish-white bark; nearly round leaves on flattened stalks that flutter in a breeze.

Where to look: Common in Alberta’s parkland and boreal forests, including woodland edges.

Balsam poplar has longer leaves and sticky, fragrant buds. Bark colour or a photograph alone is insufficient.

Documented uses & evidence

Documented use

Young growth feeds browsing animals; older trees provide habitat. Wood has commercial material uses.

Plant parts discussed: The cited research tested bark extracts; it does not establish a medicinal preparation for people.

Clinical evidence

Laboratory research only

Extracts inhibited microorganisms in laboratory culture, not patients.

No species-specific human benefit is established in the reviewed sources.

Safety, context & sources

Before considering use

  • Leave living bark intact. Laboratory activity does not make raw bark a safe wound treatment.

References

  • Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. (2016). Alberta range plants and their classification (Agdex 134/06). Open source.
  • Scientific name: Populus tremuloides Michx. [Species profile]. (n.d.). University of Alberta. Open source.
  • Nature Alberta. (n.d.). Aspen poplar. PlantWatch. Open source.
  • St-Pierre, A., Blondeau, D., Lajeunesse, A., Bley, J., Bourdeau, N., & Desgagné-Penix, I. (2018). Phytochemical screening of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) extracts by UPLC-QTOF-MS and evaluation of their antimicrobial activity. Molecules, 23(7), Article 1739. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23071739 Open source.
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07 · Alberta plant notes

White spruce

Picea glaucaAlberta sources use Picea glauca; Kew currently treats it as Picea laxa.

Native; common in south-central and northern Alberta.

Practice note

A practical shelterbelt and wildlife-cover tree, not a proven home treatment for infected skin.

Look closely

  • Single, four-sided needles surround the twigs.
  • Hanging cones have smooth, rounded scale margins.

Where to look: Mixed forests and planted shelterbelts; grows across varied soils, doing best with adequate moisture and drainage.

Black spruce, Engelmann spruce and hybrids need closer comparison. An evergreen photograph cannot rule out poisonous yew.

Documented uses & evidence

Documented use

White spruce provides wind protection, wildlife cover and seed food. Published ethnobotanical research records pitch use; this page does not teach those preparations.

Plant parts discussed: Pitch, rather than needles, essential oil or a home-made dressing, was tested in laboratory microbial assays.

Clinical evidence

Laboratory evidence only in the cited study

White-spruce pitch inhibited selected microbes in laboratory growth media.

No patients with wounds were treated. This does not establish safe ingestion, wound healing or clinical infection treatment, and results for other spruce species cannot be substituted.

Safety, context & sources

Before considering use

  • Do not put raw pitch on infected wounds or consume an evergreen based on resemblance. Yew can cause serious poisoning.
  • Leave living bark and roots intact; do not wound trees to obtain resin.

References

  • Government of Alberta. (2018, December 17). Shelterbelt varieties for Alberta – White spruce. Open source.
  • Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. (n.d.). Picea glauca (Moench) Voss. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved October 31, 2026. Open source.
  • Ritch-Krc, E. M., Turner, N. J., & Towers, G. H. (1996). Carrier herbal medicine: An evaluation of the antimicrobial and anticancer activity in some frequently used remedies. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 52(3), 151–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(96)01407-9 Open source.
  • MedlinePlus. (n.d.). Yew poisoning. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Open source.
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08 · Alberta plant notes

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera

Native in Alberta.

Practice note

A forest tree with valuable wildlife and material roles, not a home-made wound medicine.

Look closely

  • Peeling pale bark, oval toothed leaves and hanging flower clusters.

Where to look: Common in central and northern Alberta’s forests; also mountain sites and scattered parkland.

Alaskan birch can resemble paper birch; bark colour and photographs alone cannot confirm species.

Documented uses & evidence

Documented use

Buds and seeds feed birds; twigs feed browsing mammals. Wood is used for veneer and plywood.

Plant parts discussed: Modern antimicrobial research tested bark extracts, not a home preparation.

Clinical evidence

Laboratory research only for this species

Laboratory growth inhibition is not evidence of infection treatment in people.

No human benefit is established for this species in the reviewed sources. Licensed European birch gel uses other birch species.

Safety, context & sources

Before considering use

  • Do not strip living bark or apply wild plant material to wounds.

References

  • Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. (2016). Alberta range plants and their classification (Agdex 134/06). Open source.
  • Allen, L. (2005, Winter). Puzzling pairs. Iris, 48, 6. Alberta Native Plant Council. Open source.
  • Scientific name: Betula papyrifera Marsh. [Species profile]. (n.d.). University of Alberta. Open source.
  • Blondeau, D., St-Pierre, A., Bourdeau, N., Bley, J., Lajeunesse, A., & Desgagné-Penix, I. (2020). Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of white birch (Betula papyrifera Marshall) bark extracts. MicrobiologyOpen, 9(1), Article e00944. https://doi.org/10.1002/mbo3.944 Open source.
  • European Medicines Agency. (2026, October 6). Filsuvez: EPAR, Product information. Open source.
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Knowledge & care

Keep the plant
in its place.

Photograph plants in place, keep living bark and roots intact, and check the rules for each site. Public access does not mean permission to collect; Calgary’s park guidance asks visitors to leave plants, berries and other natural materials.

Calgary parks user guide

Published research is not permission to reproduce community-held Indigenous teachings. Local knowledge should be learned from the people authorized to share it.

References do not imply endorsement by a cited author or organization.

Explore plant-literacy learning

Visit the reading resources

Image sources

Photographs & credits

The linked source records identify these specimens. No photograph is a complete plant-identification guide.

View all eight photo credits

Plant notes and references reviewed 31 October 2026. Source access can change.