Plant Native MI

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Native Wildflowers

in Michigan

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Local Gardening Made Easy

Imagine that!

• Are you a homeowner that wants to plant responsibly?

• Do you google "native plants mi" while at the garden center?

• Is your FYP filled with flowers and yards?

• Have you thought about adding wildflowers in public spaces?

If you said yes to any of these, this page is for you.

See the Gathered Resources

QUICK REFERENCES to SHOWCASE

Some Favorite Michigan Native Wildflowers

Butterfly Weed, 1-3'

Attracts butterflies. Spreads easily. Large seed pods disperse small seeds with hairs that float on the wind. Doesn't transplant well with deep woody taproot. Not for dogs.

Purple Coneflower, 2-4'

Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and small songbirds. Taproot can extend to 5'.

Black-Eyed Susan, 1-3'

Wildlife benefits. Good in sandy soils. Biennial. Spreads easily in the garden through both self-seeding and rhizome growth. 1-3' taproot.

New England Aster, 3-6'

Good in moist soil near lakes. Short rhizomes. Fibrous roots. Readily reseeds on disturbed soils. Attracks butterflies. Vital source of late-season nectar for pollinators, especially monarchs.

Swamp Milkweed, 3-5'

Host for monarch butterflies. Rhizomes form single plants. Good in wet soil near lakes.

Joe Pye Weed, 4-7'

Good in wet soil near lakes. Shallow fibrous roots. Attracks butterflies.

Smooth Blue Aster, 3-5'

Good in dry open forests. Nectar source for butterflies. Seed source for birds.

Rough Blazing star, 2-5'

Nectar source for butterflies. Seed source for birds. Thick tap root to 16' deep.

Showy Goldenrod, 1-4'

Nectar source. Prairie species: tall and wild. Extensive root system is deep and fibrous with 2-5' long horizontal rhizomes. Spread at a moderate rate from rhizomes.

Sand Coreopsis, 2'

Great on sandy soils and also on well-drained loamy soils. Rhizomatous root system to form groundcover or does well as a garden border and potted plant in sun, Long stems good for cut flowers.

Allium Wild Onion, 1'-2'

Low-growing and versatile. Spreads from bulbs and seeds from their blossoms. Edible. Not for dogs.

Wild Geranium, 1.5-2.5'

Woodland. Shallow roots. Easily divided and spread to other areas in the garden. Spreads slowly via shallow rhizomes and self-seeding.

Spiderwort, 2-4'

Aggressive. Wildlife cover. Roots are thick and fleshy. Spreads through underground stems or stolons to form large colonies. Propagates easily from root division and from stem cuttings. Flower as edible garnish on a salad.

Wild Blue Flag Iris, 2-3'

Good in water. Can tolerate regular inundation. Young shoots should not be inundated. Tuberous roots (rhizomes) send out fibrous masses. Grow on or very close to the soil surface.

Turtlehead, 2-4'

Good in moist ground. Deep fibrous roots. Spreads slowly to create dense clumps. Good for cut flowers.

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Together we can create a vibrational updraft and learn how to create a healthier and happier life... for all of us:

people, plants, and animals.

Photographers are also invited to share native flower photos to replace any current picture in the website gallery.

What Is Native?

USDA defines Native Plants "are the indigenous terrestrial and aquatic species that have evolved and occur naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, and habitat. Species native to North America are generally recognized as those occurring on the continent prior to European settlement."

EPA defines Native plants as "...adapted to the geography, hydrology, and climate of that region. Native plants occur in communities, that is, they have evolved together with other plants. As a result, a community of native plants provides habitat for a variety of native wildlife species such as songbirds and butterflies.

Prior to the arrival of the first European settlers, the Midwestern landscape was made up of a variety of ecosystems, including tallgrass prairies, oak savannas, woodlands, and wetlands. These ecosystems were home to abundant birds, butterflies and other animals."

3 REASONS TO #PLANTNATIVE

Help the environment.

Keep it clean.

Native plants use less water, less fertilizer, and less pesticides.

They prevent water run-off and improve air quality.

Native plants have the ability to pull and store excess carbon.

Eliminate dependency on mowers and other lawn equipment that emits pollution from gas use.

Provide habitat for pollinators.

Play a vital role.

Native plants thrive in their original environment as a natural habitat for wildlife.

Help pollinators, like bees, birds, and butterflies thrive.

A natural environment promotes a symbiotic relationship with small animals, warm and cold-blooded, and microscopic organisms in soil.

Low maintenance and high impact.

Be conscious.

Long-term upkeep of native plants can be significantly less costly than turf grass, and take less time.

Applied Ecological Services cites a study of properties that estimates that over a 20-year period, the cumulative cost of maintaining a prairie or a wetland totals $3k per acre versus $20,000 per acre for non-native turf grasses.

Let's Talk Plants

UpdraftAcademy@gmail.com

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Hi! I'm Danielle, a lake front homeowner in Michigan that created one spot for easy references while I do my best to learn how to plant native on land with well water and a septic system.

I share my findings here, in hopes to help you easily plant native too and have fun along the way.

Gathered Resources

Wonderful information available to help share knowledge on native gardening: