When considering which types of plants to add to your garden landscape this year, the best place to start is native plants — for numerous reasons. Firstly, native plants are well-adapted to the local environment, requiring less water, fertilizer, and pesticides to thrive, which reduces maintenance costs and environmental impact. Secondly, they provide crucial habitat and food sources for local wildlife, including birds, butterflies, and pollinators, fostering biodiversity and ecological balance. Plus, native plants help prevent soil erosion, filter pollutants, and improve air quality, contributing to a healthier ecosystem overall.

And here in Michigan, we have a wide range of beautiful native flowers and plants to choose from, each adapted to its unique climate and soil conditions. Let’s explore some of the resilient native plants that thrive in Michigan’s climate, offering beauty, resilience, and ecological benefits to gardens and natural landscapes alike.

 

Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod

Solidago caesia

As summer transitions to fall, the Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod lights up Michigan’s meadows with its clusters of bright yellow flowers atop blue-hued stems. This hardy perennial thrives in partial shade and a variety of soil types and is a valuable late-season nectar source for pollinators, including butterflies and bees.

 

Black-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

The cheerful Black-Eyed Susan is a staple of Michigan’s wildflower landscapes. With its vibrant yellow petals and dark central cone, this perennial brings a burst of color to gardens, prairies, and roadsides alike. It prefers partial shade, is drought-tolerant and attracts pollinators, making it a favorite among gardeners seeking low-maintenance blooms.

 

Cardinal Flower

Lobelia cardinalis

Few plants can rival the intense scarlet hue of the Cardinal Flower. This striking native perennial thrives in wetlands, stream banks, and woodland edges, adding a pop of color to shaded garden areas. Its tubular flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds, making it a welcome addition to any wildlife-friendly landscape.

 

Butterfly Weed

Asclepias tuberosa

True to its name, Butterfly Weed is a magnet for butterflies, thanks to its vibrant orange blooms and nectar-rich flowers. This native milkweed species is crucial for supporting the declining monarch butterfly population, serving as both a host plant for caterpillars and a nectar source for adults. It does well in full sun!

 

Eastern Red Columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

Delicate and dainty, the Eastern Columbine graces Michigan’s forests and meadows with its nodding red and yellow flowers. This early bloomer attracts hummingbirds and butterflies while self-seeding readily to form charming colonies in woodland gardens.

 

Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

Robust and reliable, Purple Coneflower graces Michigan’s prairies, roadsides, and gardens with its distinctive pinkish-purple petals and spiky orange-brown cones. Loved by pollinators and gardeners alike, this perennial provides both beauty and medicinal benefits. Go ahead and plant your Purple Coneflower in full sun!

 

Foxglove Beard-Tongue

Penstemon digitalis

With its towering spikes of tubular white flowers, Foxglove Beard-Tongue adds vertical interest to Michigan’s gardens and prairies. This adaptable perennial thrives in both sun and partial shade, providing a valuable food source for native bees and hummingbirds.

 

Smooth Aster

Symphyotrichum laeve

As summer fades into autumn, Smooth Aster blankets Michigan’s fields and woodlands with clouds of delicate lavender blooms. This easy-to-grow, sun-loving perennial is a valuable late-season nectar source for bees and butterflies, offering a graceful farewell to the gardening season.

 

Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

Wild Bergamot, also known as Bee Balm, is a favorite of pollinators with its lavender-pink flowers and aromatic foliage. This versatile perennial thrives in a range of soil types and is prized for its medicinal properties, making it a must-have for native plant enthusiasts.

 

Golden Alexander

Zizia aurea

A member of the carrot family, Golden Alexander brightens up Michigan’s woodlands and wetlands with its clusters of tiny yellow flowers. This early bloomer is a favorite of early-season pollinators and serves as a larval host plant for swallowtail butterflies.

 

Woodland Phlox

Phlox divaricata

Soft lavender blooms carpet the forest floor when Woodland Phlox comes into bloom in spring. This shade-loving perennial adds a touch of elegance to Michigan’s woodlands and gardens, attracting early-season pollinators with its fragrant flowers.

Yellow Giant Hyssop

Agastache nepetoides

Towering spikes of golden-yellow flowers mark the presence of Yellow Giant Hyssop in Michigan’s meadows and prairies. This drought-tolerant perennial is a magnet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, offering both beauty and ecological value to the landscape.

 

What Are You Planting This Year?

Let us know which native plants you’re planting this year!