Native Plants

 


created by Megan F. Henson

What does native mean?

Native plants are those which have evolved in a particular region of a state or country, and through natural selection, tend to be best suited to that region's soils, climate, and predators.

Why grow native plants?

  • Increase beauty and enjoyment of landscape
  • Tends to require little human intervention for growing and maintenance - minimal or no fertilizers or pesticides
  • Adapted to local and extreme site conditions over over hundreds and even thousands of years
  • Attract native wildlife, especially birds


    • Tips for obtaining native plants

  • Do not ever take a plant from the wild. Many native plants already struggle to survive with development, pollution, and invasion by exotic species. Private and commercial plant collectors are threatening the existence of many native plants. This is the case of Venus’s flytrap (Dionaea musipula), due to illegal digging. The only exception is "rescuing" plants from sites where they would otherwise be destroyed, such as areas under construction and subdivisions.
  • Only buy native plants from nurseries who guarantee that their plants are "nursery propagated." If they don’t know - don’t buy anything. Ambiguous terms like "nursery grown" or "field grown" may mean the plant was taken from the wild and grown at the nursery for a day or week; you’re looking for the words nursery propagation.
  • Buy species that are native to your LOCAL area. Many plant species can differ genetically even throughout one state.
  • Learn the full names of the plants you choose. Plants are known by a common name and a scientific name. Common names are easy to remember but are easily confused with other species with similar, identical, or multiple names. Since it is important that you get exactly what you are looking for, the scientific name will be less confusing. It is composed of two words, usually written in italics. The first word is the genus and is capitalized and the second word is the species within that genus. Consult the following list for common native plants and their scientific names.


    • Native Plants for Southeast Michigan

      Shrubs

     Perrennials

    Grasses

    Vines

    Alder, Speckled

    Almus rugosa

    Black-eyed Susan

    Rudbeckia hirta

    Big Blustem

    Andropogan gerardii

    Greenbriar, Prickly

    Smilax tamnoides

    BlackberryRubus

    allegheniensis

    Cardinal flower

    Lobelia cardinalis

    Indian grass

    Sorghastrum nutans

    Moonseed

    Menispernum candanese

    Hazelnut, American

    Corylus americana

    Geranium, Wild

    Geranium maculatum

    Junegrass

    Koeleria macrantha

     Virginia Creeper

    Parthenocissus quinquefolia

     New Jersey tea

    Ceanothus americanus

    Lily, Michigan

    Lilium michiganese

     Pennsylvania sedge

    Carex pensylvanica

    Virgin’s bower

    Clematis virginiana

    Carolina rose

    Rosa carolina

    Rough sunflower

    Helianthus strumosus

    Purple lovegrass

    Eragrostis spectablis

    Yam, Wild

    Dioscorea villosa

    Witchhazel

    Hamamelis virginiana

    Trillium

    Trillium grandiflorum

    Tussock sedge

    Carex stricta

    		  

     

    Where can I see native plant gardens?


    Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad
    Bray Road (along railroad tracks) Flint, MI (800)648-7275

    Ligon Outdoor Center
    Farrand Rd, off Vienna one mile east of Genesee Road
    Clio, MI (810)687-4270

    Seven Ponds Nature Center
    Crawford and N. Genesee Rd.
    Dryden, MI (810)796-3419

    Furstenberg Park, DNR
    Fuller Road
    Ann Arbor, MI

    Leslie Science Center, DNR
    Traver Road
    Ann Arbor, MI

    Parke-Davis
    Plymouth Road (rear of property)
    Ann Arbor, MI

    Thurston Elementary School
    Prairie Street
    Ann Arbor, MI

    University of Michigan Central Campus
    Dana Building (east side)
    Ann Arbor, MI

    Rose Lake Wildlife Area
    Stoll Rd of I-69
    East Lansing, MI

    University of Michigan
    Fair Lane (Henry Ford Estate)
    Dearborn, MI

    For more information on how to start a native plant garden please see our brochure on "Prairie Wildflower Gardens"


    National Native Plant Organizations

  • National Wildflower Research Center 2600 FM 973 North, Austin, TX 78725
  • Soil Conservation Society of America 7515 Northeast Ankeny Rd, Ankeny, IA 50021
  • The Nature Conservancy 1800 N. Kent St, Ste. 800, Arlington, VA 22209

    • Michigan Groups/Nurseries

  • Wildones, Matthaei Botanical Gardens 1800 Dixboro Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 (313)663-4047, Bob Grese
  • Nesta Prairie Perennials, Kalamazoo, MI (800)233-5025
  • Master Gardener Program, MSU Extension, Flint, MI (810)732-1470


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