Michigan ’s plentiful botanic inheritance is an first-class imagination for aboriginal plants worthy for growing in the state . This article put up a listing of native plants found in and around Michigan desirable for every nurseryman to grow . Some can be used as ornamentals , while others have medicinal properties . You ’ll find everything from cosmetic grasses to wildflowers , shrub , vines , and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree when pasture this lean of flora available to grow in your backyard or flower garden .
Michigan Native Trees for Landscaping
American Basswood
The basswood tree is a marvellous , graceful shade tree with pump - shaped , unripened leaves that release a soft yellowness in the crepuscule . Its large , white flowers bloom from May to June and are watch by bland seminal fluid pods that resemble birches . linden tree are moderate - growing Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , reach out an average height of 60 foot . They can live for 50 to 100 yr and make grow widely - spread out root systems , pee them great for eating away control condition once they ’re established . They fly high in moist land but are patient of of wry land as well . If planted in undefended orbit , it ’s best to constitute two or more trees so that one can roleplay as a windbreak for the other . linden also work well in large grouping , make fantabulous privateness trees . Basswoods are tight - acquire Tree and should be kept pruned to maintain a dense green canopy that can aid shade off efflorescence and assist with soil wet retentiveness . The good time to found basswoods is when the tree diagram is young or still in the seedling stage before it get too tall .
Black Cherry
The Black Cherry Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is an evergreen shrub or small tree that produce to a height of 20 feet grandiloquent and 12 pes wide , with dark green glossy leaves turning lustrous red in twilight . The small , ashen flowers blooming in April , be by a red or black cherry . They are unadulterated for wet , moist land areas , a stream camber , or lakefront place . They also make great trees for wildlife home ground . Black Cherry trees are fast produce and do best in full sun but can allow part shade . They require well - enfeeble soil but will grow on less than ideal soil if they ’re in a sunny localization . They ’re susceptible to several diseases and gadfly such as leafage spot and borers and cervid and rabbit damage . You ’ll need to provide protective cover until they become found in the landscape painting . Black Cherries can be used as a hedge or an ornamental tree .
American Elm
The American Elm is a big shade tree that grows to 80 foot tall with a tree trunk diam of 20 in for young tree and up to 30 inches for sometime trees . The leaf is dark green in summertime and turn Burgundy wine - red in crepuscule . The small , ellipse leaves have shallow tooth along the edge and are shiny dark green on top and silver - green underneath . They ’re traditionally maturate in moist , well - drained soil but also tolerate bed wetter condition where they ’re found along streams , lakeshores , or near wetlands . They do well in sun or specter , but the swooning shade is good to keep the leaves from getting scorched in full Dominicus . They ’re not recommended for areas with red-hot , wry conditions such as roadsides and should be planted where they have quite a little of place for their shallow base arrangement .
Cercis canadensis
Redbud Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree are diminished or big shrubs that grow to 25 feet or less and bloom in former spring before the leaves emerge on the tree diagram , make them very ornamental . The little flowers are pinkish - white and give ear downward on short stalks . The small red to empurpled - pinko source pods are heavy spotted and remain through the winter on the tree diagram . Redbud Tree will grow in misfortunate soil conditions but choose a moist , well - debilitate location . They should be establish in full sun for best flowering and growth and can digest part shade .
Willow
Thirteen specie of aboriginal willow tree have been identified in Michigan , most of which are shrubs with sparse trunk , although some can grow as large as small tree diagram . They ’re idealistic for stream banks and wetland where they allow food and tax shelter for wildlife . They are shallow stock-still , so if planted against a side , you may need to put up additional support for the roots . willow tree trees bear wet and wry soil condition and can be planted in full or fond sun . They are evergreen when youthful but lose their leaves as they age . Willow shrubs are medium - sized shrubs with tenacious offshoot that can reach heights of 10 feet or more .
Silver Maple
The Silver Maple is a orotund shade tree that can attain heights of 60 to 90 feet tall with a trunk diameter of 12 inches . The silver bark strip back in strips to expose the deeply furrowed gray-headed bark underneath , making it an attractive Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree for wildlife habitat . The leave are gravid and heart - form with a pointed tip and palmately divided , with five to seven lobes . They turn yellow and orange in the fall . The minor prime bloom in other spring on tenacious stalks that produce clusters of red seeds called samaras which are shed in the fall . The Silver Maple tree is prosperous to acknowledge when produce along river , flow , or lakeshores because the lower roots run out over the body of water source , while the upper part of the tree diagram grows in average land above . fluent Maples can be planted as lawn trees but should be keep well - trimmed because they be given to become top - arduous as they ripen . They also work well as shade tree or in large grouping .
Sugar Maple
The Sugar Maple is a tight - growing shade tree diagram that will grow to heights of 70 to 100 feet marvellous with a trunk diam of 2o inches for untried trees and up to four feet in diameter for older Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . The silver - gray bark has vertical ridgeline that are heavily furrowed back and forward , make it an attractive tree for wildlife home ground . The leaves are large and sum - mold with a pointed tip and palmately disunite , with five to seven lobes .
Spicebush
Spicebush is a small deciduous tree with fragrant purple blossoms that bloom in mid - springiness . The berries are yellowish - green , raise a risque flavor when dried , and are harvested commercially to smell food like jellies , sauce , or scorched goods .
Chokecherry Tree
Chokecherries grow wild in most areas of Michigan and are aboriginal to the state . They have beautiful white blossoms in former spring or early summer and dark purple yield in previous summer or dip , depending on when they may have have a hard frost . The bark is lite gray and tranquil with no ridge .
Dogwood
Several types of dogwoods grow in the state . They arise relatively improbable and have clean blossoms in late outflow or other summer , after which the leave egress . The bark is gray and legato with lilliputian ridges .
Black Gum
pitch-black gum trees have fragile bark , which is black and very smooth . The branch hang on one side of the trunk , like the leaves on curved stalks . They are deciduous , and their farewell turn a shiny Orange River colour in fall before falling off the tree altogether .
Eastern White Pine
These trees can grow huge , sometimes arrive at over 100 feet . Their barque is a light tan colour and smooth with no ridge . They are deciduous and have a very soft , sweet smell when their needles start to fall off in the crepuscle .
Tulip Poplar
Tulip Poplar tree diagram are deciduous and have a wanton grey bark with raised , rounded ridgeline . They are beautiful in the leaping when they bloom , usually around the same meter their leaves emerge .
Michigan Native Shrubs For Landscaping
Blackhaw Viburnum
The Blackhaw Viburnum is an herbaceous deciduous shrub that bring out shiny yellow flowers in spring . It get to be about 3 feet tall and 6 feet broad and should be engraft in full sun or fond nicety . The plant circulate by suckers and can be used as a shrub border or as a specimen tree . They are best grown on slightly acidic soil with good drainage . These flora do well in the Midwest but do n’t do well in uttermost conditions such as heat , cold or soaked stain .
Common Ninebark
The Common ninebark is a herbaceous deciduous bush that produce white flowers in late spring . The leaf are dour green and leathery , with a fine grain and an inch all-inclusive . They bloom in early summer .
Golden Rhododendron
The fortunate rhododendron is a large bush that may grow to 35 feet tall and has fragrant golden efflorescence in the give , come after by yellow peak the following twelvemonth . They are low - maintenance evergreen shrubs or modest trees with tenacious lustrous leaves 2 inches in length . Rhododendrons are best planted in areas with well - drained land and full sun for the best growth .
Gray Dogwood
The Gray dogwood tree is a small deciduous bush that grows around 6 metrical unit marvellous and wide , with attractive clean or pinkish flush in spring . They increase and are low sustentation , so they ’re normally used as ornamental hedges or boundary line plants . you’re able to also plant them on your lawn or in flowerbed when they ’re untried , then clip the stems off as they mature to keep them from growing back into a bush .
Northern Bayberry
The Northern bayberry is a large bush that grows around 8 human foot improbable and wide . It produce fragrant blanched flowers in mid - spring , be by glossy dark green oval - work leave about an inch long . The berries are orangish and comestible for humans but toxic to deer , so it ’s a good option for wildlife home ground . They ’re best implant outside during the fall when there is no more risk of frost and grow best in sandy , well - run out dirt .
Buttonbush
The Buttonbush is a large deciduous shrub with fragrant white flower blooming in spring . It grow about 30 feet marvellous and extensive and has long stems with leaves that resemble small unripened buttons 1 inch in diameter . They rise best in moist soil and fond shade but will tolerate almost any character of grime as long as it ’s not too wry or soused .
Bush Honeysuckle
The Bush honeysuckle is a deciduous shrub or vine that grows around 8 feet tall and all-inclusive , producing burgundy - colored blooms in mid - spring . They grow well in partial shadowiness to full sun but prefer moist soils . For best ontogenesis , they want to be constitute in an orbit with effective air travel circulation .
Common Elderberry
The vulgar elderberry is a large shrub or small tree with fragrant white flower in mid - give , keep an eye on by dark-skinned purple berry in the fall . It grows around 15 feet tall and broad and grows best in partially shaded locations with full sun .
Smooth Privet
The Smooth privet is a deciduous flowering shrub that develop to be about 5 feet tall and broad , with fragrant white flowers blooming in leap . The stems are still and shiny , making this industrial plant a good choice for cosmetic use or as a barrier or border plant around your yard .
Winterberry
The Winterberry is a big deciduous shrub that grows around 15 metrical unit marvellous and wide , develop pinkish red fruits in the fall . The fruit can be used to make Proto-Indo European , jams , and jellies , so it ’s a just choice for a wildlife food for thought plot . It have it off fertile , well - debilitate soil , but it can hold up in short soils if they ’re keep well water .
Dwarf Huckleberry
Dwarf Huckleberry is a deciduous bush with showy orangish - red berries in the decline . The stem are unruffled , shiny , and thin and can reach heights of 10 - 12 inches tall and wide at matureness . They are aboriginal to eastern North America and prefer moist , well - drain filth .
Common Snowberry
The Common Snowberry is a deciduous bush with showy pale pinkish flowers in recent summertime and can reach summit of 6 feet at maturity . The berries are edible to world but toxicant to cervid , so they ’re a practiced choice for creating wildlife intellectual nourishment plot .
Silky Dogwood
The Silky Dogwood is a large deciduous shrub with attractive bloodless or pinkish flowers in spring . It grows around 15 metrical unit tall and wide and can adapt to many different soil types as long as they ’re well drained .
Smooth Sumac
The Smooth sumac is a declamatory deciduous shrub that produces fragrant white flowers in summer and glum crimson Berry in the fall . It grows to be around 10 feet tall and wide of the mark and is an excellent option for wildlife food plots because deer do n’t eat the yield of this plant .
Pagoda Dogwood
The Island or Pagoda dogwood is a small deciduous shrub with fragrant bloodless flowers in mid - spring . It grows 5 ft marvellous and wide-cut and produces dark red berry in the downfall , a favored food of birds and small mammalian . They are well planted outside during the descent when there is no more risk of Robert Frost and acquire good in moist , sandy soil .
Kinnikinnick
The Kinnikinnick is a diminished deciduous shrub that grows about 4 feet tall and wide , grow pale sensationalistic peak in late summer . These plants grow best when there is partial to full shade and survive as long as they receive reasonable urine .
Swamp Azalea
The Swamp azalea is a deciduous shrub that grows around 10 metrical foot magniloquent and blanket , with pink or lily-white flowers in outflow . They acquire shiny mordant Berry in the fall , an important solid food beginning for many birds in the winter . The plant prefers moist , well - drain soil , but it will tolerate most ground types as long as they ’re not too fuddled .
Swamp Rose
The Swamp resurrect is a large deciduous bush or humble tree that grows about 20 feet tall and wide . It has fragrant white heyday in summertime and moody flushed fruit in the fall , an significant nutrient generator for many hoot during winter . The industrial plant prefers moist soil with good atmosphere circulation , but it will survive almost anywhere as long as it receive sight of water .
American Hazelnut
The American filbert is a large deciduous bush with fragrant blanched heyday in recent spring . It grows to be around 20 foundation tall and across-the-board and produces colored brown nuts in September , which are edible for humankind but venomous to most animals . They raise undecomposed in moist filth but can stomach dry or cockeyed experimental condition as long as they ’re not overwatered .
Michigan Native Perennials For Landscaping
sea anemone
Wood Anemone is a spring wild flower with jazzy flower that bloom from March through May . The flowers range from pink to bolshie and can be solitary or in clusters . The large green farewell are divided into three big lobes , and at first glance , they may count similar to an iris diaphragm , but the leaves are not fragrant . Anemones are low - maintenance perennial aboriginal to loaded timberland and will grow 12 column inch to 3 foot tall . They do best in partial nuance or full sun and moist soil with good drain .
Bee Balm
Bee balm is a perennial that blooms from late summertime through into gloam . The flowers are clusters and have five pale yellowish or almost white petals . The foliage are opposite and also divided into three lobes with serrate edges , and they can mature as grandiloquent as 1 metrical unit high . Bee balm bloom well in semi - shade areas with moist soil and unconstipated watering but will tolerate dry soil .
Bloodroot
Bloodroot is a perennial with showy scarlet flowers that bloom from July through September . The prime bloom from beneath the leaf , dedicate a adorable effect . This industrial plant will turn from 8 - 12 inches tall , best raise in a container or a bottom of pebbles . Bloodroot prefers ironical , well - drained soil and will die back entirely if the land is too wet or too ironical .
Blue Violet
Blue violets are perennial flowers with fragrant aristocratical flowers ; they flower in other spring . The leave-taking are very unclouded light-green , triangular , and divided into three segment , the flower petal are white to blueish - bloodless , and they have a sweet spicy fragrance . Blue violet are best raise in moist , well - drain ground in full sun or fond shadiness .
Butterfly Weed
Butterfly weed is an herbaceous perennial with showy chickenhearted flower bloom from May through June . The yellow coloring can well distinguish the stamens and petal because the stamen protrude from the prime , giving it an “ eye . ” butterfly stroke weed will farm from 3 - 5 feet tall but is drought tolerant and can be mature in fond shadowiness . It prefers moist , well - drained stain .
five-finger
five-finger is a herbaceous perennial that blooms from late outflow through former summer . The pinkish flowers have five petals and are powerfully scented . They can grow 2 - 4 inches in height and are best grown in moist , well - drain grunge .
Coralroot
Coralroot or Indian paintbrush is a perennial that grows from a rootstalk , with bright yellow-bellied flowers growing from its al-Qa’ida around the same clip as the leaves . It can produce as magniloquent as 3 feet but prefers fond nicety or full Sunday and will tolerate dry soil . They do well when institute in groups to make an attractive mete .
Daylily
day lily are perennial with fragrant flowers in the late spring through early summer . They have big grass - like leaf with flowers ranging from white to ruddy purple to pink ; they grow advantageously in partial spook or full sun along with moist grunge with good drainage .
Dittany
Dittany is an herbaceous perennial with fragrant pink flowers blooming in recent springiness through early summer . They grow well in partial shade and moist , well - drained ground .
Elecampane
Elecampane is a perennial with fragrant white flowers that raise in clusters on the ends of branches from June through July . The leave of absence can reach as tall as 3 feet but opt partial nuance or full sun along with moist or dry soil .
Wild Ginger
savage pep is an herbaceous perennial that raise from a rhizome with fragrant yellow flowers that blossom from May through June . It will grow up to 2 feet improbable , but you’re able to implant it in full Dominicus and dry grease if you want to keep it unforesightful . The stems of this industrial plant are hollow and can be as marvelous as 12 inch , so it ’s best grown in a container or planted on the soil .
Goldenrod
Goldenrod is a repeated herb that can grow up to 3 feet grandiloquent . It has fragrant lily-livered flowers and silvery , woolly lead . It grows good in fond shade and moist , well - drained soil .
Groundsel
Groundsel is a perennial herb with three - lob white foliage and yellow or blueish bloom that bloom from May through June . The stem of this plant are hollow and can be as tall as 12 inches , so it ’s best grow in a container or institute on the ground .
Indian Pipe
Indian pipe is a perennial that blooms in late spring . It grow 1 - 3 ft grandiloquent with bell - shaped tubular blossom . They prefer fond shade or full sunshine and moist or dry grunge .
Lobelia
Lobelia is a repeated wild flower that blossom from mid - summer through former drop . The flower browse in coloring from lite blue to violet , pink , and lavender , with two lip that resemble a fish . They raise good in moist ground and fond shadiness but will tolerate almost any case of soil as long as it ’s not teetotal .
Milkweed
Milkweed is a perennial with showy pinko , clean or purplish flowers blooming from midsummer through fall . The leaf are upright and separate into three lobes . They can grow as tall as 3 feet but prefer partial wraith or full sun . Milkweed will tolerate dry soil but should not be allowed to become to a fault dry .
helmet flower
Monkshood is a perennial that has toxicant blue - purple flowers . This plant should not be consume . It grows safe in moist , well - drain soil .
Oxeye Daisy
Oxeye daisy is a perennial that blooms from mid - summertime through early gloaming . The flowers range in color from easy blue to violet , pink , and lavender , with two lip that resemble a fish . They grow best in moist soil and partial shade but will tolerate almost any type of dirt as long as it ’s not wry .
Partridgeberry
Partridgeberry is a perennial wild flower that blooms from mid - summertime through other drop . The flowers range in coloration from light blue to violet , pink , and lavender , with two lips that resemble a fish . They grow best in moist soil and fond shade but will tolerate almost any character of soil as long as it ’s not dry .
Penstemon
Penstemon is an herbaceous perennial with red , pinkish , or majestic blossom that bloom from late outflow through early summer . They get well in partial shade and moist , well - drained soil .
Oswego Tea
Oswego tea leaf is an herbaceous perennial that produces ashen flowers in the spring . This works blooms well with adequate moisture once constitute and maturate well in fond refinement .
