As an Arboretum, growing and maintaining specimen trees is our primary objective. We also wish to help visitors to the Arboretum to make knowledgeable decisions about trees they may choose to plant on their own property.
In 2013, we began a program to properly identify and label the trees in the Arboretum that we classify as 'specimens'. Visitors can look at the tree, identify it, and begin the determination of its place in their plans. All commemorative trees (that are specimen trees) are labelled.
You can download a summary of the details of species we have planted and are maintaining. You can also visit Connon Nurseries and Uxbridge Nurseries where we source some of our specimen trees. Their online data is usually extensive and may help in selecting an appropriate tree specimen.
Download Specimen Tree ListValuable information on threats to trees can be found on the City of Toronto website.
Having a very old and very beautiful Bur Oak that has been growing here for almost 200 years is a great joy. It gave us the opportunity to participate in Aurora's Sesquicentennial (150 years) celebrations in a way that is meaningful for the Arboretum.
On July 1, 2013, during Aurora's traditional celebration of Canada's birthday, a sign was unveiled declaring this Bur Oak as "Aurora's Sesquicentennial Tree". The participants were: Mayor Geoff Dawe, Arboretum Chair Irene Clement, and Bob Willson, representing the Willson family that included Lambert Willson, after whom Lambert Willson Park was named.
Below is a list of wildflowers that have been catalogued in the Arboretum. Visit the Photo Gallery page to see photos of the many wildflowers in the Arboretum.
Anemone, wood | Anemone quinquefolia |
Buttercup, common | Ranunculus acris |
Chamomile, scentless | Matricaria maritina |
Chickweed, common | Stellaria media |
Clover, red | Trifolium pratense |
Clover, leart hop | Trifolium dubium |
Dandelion, common | Taraxacum officinale |
Dock, curled | Rumex crispus |
Fleabane, common | Erigeron philadelphicus |
Forget-me-not | Myosotis scorpioides |
Grass, blue-eyed | Sisyrinchium montanum |
Marigold, marsh | Caltha posultris |
Mustard, garlic | Alliara officinalis |
Mustard, tower | Arabis glabria |
Mustard, white | Brassica herta |
Rocket, dame's | Hesperis matronalis |
Shepherd's purse | Capsella bursa pastoris |
Snowy Campion | Sikene nevea |
Strawberry, common | Fragaria virginia |
Trefoil, bird's foot | Lotus corniculatus |
Vetch, purple common | Vicia americana |
Yarrow | Achillia millefolium |
Agrimony | Agrimonia gryposepala |
Angelica | Angelica atropurpurea |
Arrowhead, broad-leaved | Sagittaria latifolia |
Avens, yellow | Geum alleppicum |
Bindweed, hedge | Conolvolas sepium |
Black-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia serotina |
Blueweed | Echiem volgare |
Burdock, common | Arctium minus |
Butter & Eggs | Linarda vulgaris |
Catnip | Nepeta cataria |
Cattail, common | Typha latifolia |
Cinquefoil, rough-fruited | Potentilla recta |
Cucumber, wild | Echinocystis lobata |
Elecampane | Inula helenium |
Fleabane, rough | Erigeron strigosus |
Foxglove, beard'otongue | Penstenon digitalis |
Hemlock, spotted water | Cicuta macolata |
Joe Pye Weed | Eupatorium maculatum |
Knaoweed, black | Centaurea nigra |
Lettuce, prickly | Lactuca scariola |
Lily, day | Hemerocallis fulva |
Loosstrife, fringed | Lysimachia ciliata |
Loosstrife, purple | Lythrum salicaria |
Mallow, musk | Malva moschata |
Parsnip, wild | Pastinaca sativa |
Primrose, yellow evening | Oenothera biennis |
St. John's Wort | Hypericum perforatum |
Tansy, common | Tanacetum vulgare |
Thistle, bull | Cirsium vulgare |
Thistle, spinyu leaved sow | Sonchus asper |
Vervain, blue | Verbena hastata |
Willow, herb hairy | Epilobium hirsutum |
Alfalfa, Lucerne | Meticago sativa |
Avens, yellow | Geum allappicum strictum |
Barley, foxtail | Hordeum jubatum |
Bedstraw, smooth | Gallium mollugo |
Bindweed, field | Convovulus arvensis |
Blackberry | Rubus |
Brome, smooth | Bromus inermis |
Burdock, common | Arctium minus |
Chess | Bromus secalinus |
Chicory | Cichorium intybus |
Cinquefoil, common | Potentilla canadensis |
Clover, aliske | Trifolium hybridum |
Clover, white | Trifolium repens |
Clover, white sweet | Melilotus albe |
Clover, yellow sweet | Melilotus officinale |
Coreopsis | Coriopsis lansealata |
Creeping Charlie | Glecoma hederacia |
Daisy, ox eye | Chrysanthemum leucanthemom |
Foxtail, green | Setaria viridus |
Goat's Beard | Dragopogon pratensis |
Grape, wild | Vitus labrusca |
Hawkweed, Kill Devil | Hieracium florentinon |
Heal-All | Prunella vulgaris |
Hound's Tongue | Cynoglossum officionale |
Iris, yellow | Iris pseudocorus |
Joe Pye Weed | Eupatorium purpureum |
Lobelia, long-leaved | Lebelia elongata |
Milkweed, common | Asclepias syriaca |
Motherwort | Leonuris caediaca |
Mullien, common | Verbascum thapsus |
Mustard, wild | Sinapis arvensis |
Nettle, slender | Urtica gracilis |
Nightshade | Solarum dulcamara |
Parsnip, cow | Heracleum lanatum |
Queen Anne's Lace | Daucus carota |
Raspberry, wild | Rubus adaus |
Rue, tall meadow | Thalictrum polygamum |
Soft Rush | Juncus lanatum |
Spurge, leafy | Euphorbia esula |
Thistle, Canada | Cirsium arvense |
Thistle, sow | Sonchus arvensis |
Aster, bushy | Aster dumosis |
Aster, large-leafed | Aster macrophyllus |
Bouncing Betty | Saponaria officinolis |
Goldenrod, lance-leaved | Solidago graminfolia |
Goldenrod, late | Solidago gigantiea |
Knapweed, brown | Centaurae jacea |
Touch-me-not, spotted | Impatiens capensis |
Turtle Head | Chelone giabra |