Native range
Native plants of Michigan
161 wild species and 18 plant groups in the BloomsEye library grow wild somewhere in Michigan, read from Kew's World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS. The 138 garden forms of them are listed apart below, each naming its wild parent.
Showing 1 to 60 of 179 plants
How this list is made
Derived from each plant's native-range record, checked against Kew's World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS with every decision on a ledger; Michigan is read off the record's own range, and the order is how many of the state's counties record each plant, as stored in the BloomsEye library, which was written with AI assistance. Of these 179 plants, 167 have been checked against outside sources (4 fully verified); the rest have not been checked yet, and each plant's own page says which. The cards are AI-generated illustrations.
Range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 4.0, adapted) and USDA PLANTS. How the native range is credited.
Common Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Full sunZones 3–92.5 ftModerate
Redosier Dogwood
Cornus sericea
Full sunZones 3–78 ftModerate
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
Full sunZones 3–98.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
Full sunZones 2–625 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Eastern Red Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Part shadeZones 3–82 ftModerate
Quaking Aspen
Populus tremuloides
Full sunZones 1–645 ftModerate
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Full sunZones 3–93.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Full sunZones 3–93.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
False Solomon's Seal
Maianthemum racemosum
Part shadeZones 3–82.5 ftModerate
Spotted Joe Pye Weed
Eutrochium maculatum
Full sunZones 4–85.5 ftModerate
American Wintergreen
Gaultheria procumbens
Part shadeZones 3–88 inModerate
Listed as toxic to cats
FoliageRed Maple
Acer rubrum
Full sunZones 3–949 ftModerate
Wild Bee Balm
Monarda fistulosa
Full sunZones 3–93 ftModerate
American Linden
Tilia americana
Full sunZones 3–870 ftModerate
Northern Bush Honeysuckle
Diervilla lonicera
Part shadeZones 3–73 ftModerate
Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
Full sunZones 3–863 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs
Red Elderberry
Sambucus racemosa
Full sunZones 3–710 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
FoliageSugar Maple
Acer saccharum
Full sunZones 3–859 ftModerate
White Turtlehead
Chelone glabra
Part shadeZones 3–83 ftHigh
American Hophornbeam
Ostrya virginiana
Part shadeZones 3–932 ftModerate
Mapleleaf Viburnum
Viburnum acerifolium
Part shadeZones 3–84.5 ftModerate
Winterberry
Ilex verticillata
Full sunZones 3–96.5 ftHigh
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Common Pussy Willow
Salix discolor
Full sunZones 2–716 ftModerate
Bunchberry
Cornus canadensis
Part shadeZones 2–68 inModerate
Common Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana
Full sunZones 3–817 ftModerate
FoliageArborvitae
Thuja occidentalis
Full sunZones 3–820 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
Part shadeZones 2–732 ftModerate
Blue Wood Aster
Symphyotrichum cordifolium
Part shadeZones 3–83 ftModerate
Nannyberry Viburnum
Viburnum lentago
Full sunZones 3–716 ftModerate
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Part sunZones 3–93.5 ftHigh
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Pagoda Dogwood
Cornus alternifolia
Part shadeZones 3–720 ftModerate
Smooth Blue Aster
Symphyotrichum laeve
Full sunZones 4–83 ftModerate
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Full sunZones 3–76.5 ftModerate
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Part shadeZones 3–88 inLow
FoliageEastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
Full sunZones 3–859 ftModerate
Golden Ragwort
Packera aurea
Part shadeZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Rosy Sedge
Carex rosea
Part shadeZones 4–812 inModerate
FoliageEastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
Part shadeZones 3–749 ftModerate
Soft Rush
Juncus effusus
Full sunZones 4–93 ftHigh
Staghorn Sumac
Rhus typhina
Full sunZones 4–820 ftLow
American Hornbeam
Carpinus caroliniana
Part shadeZones 3–925 ftModerate
Downy Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea
Part sunZones 4–920 ftModerate
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Part shadeZones 4–92.5 ftHigh
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Allegheny Serviceberry
Amelanchier laevis
Part shadeZones 4–825 ftModerate
Silky Dogwood
Cornus amomum
Part shadeZones 4–88.5 ftModerate
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Full sunZones 3–940 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
FoliageWild Ginger
Asarum
Full shadeZones 4–86 inModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
American Cranberrybush Viburnum
Viburnum opulus var. americanum
Full sunZones 2–710 ftModerate
Potentilla
Potentilla fruticosa
Full sunZones 2–73 ftLow
Southern Blue Flag
Iris virginica
Full sunZones 5–92.5 ftHigh
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Kinnikinnick
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Full sunZones 3–78 inModerate
Bottlebrush Grass
Elymus hystrix
Part shadeZones 5–93 ftModerate
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Full sunZones 3–92 ftLow
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Part shadeZones 3–812 inModerate
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Full sunZones 4–83.5 ftModerate
Seersucker Sedge
Carex plantaginea
Part shadeZones 4–812 inModerate
White Oak
Quercus alba
Full sunZones 3–965 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs
Silver Maple
Acer saccharinum
Full sunZones 3–939 ftModerate
Zigzag Goldenrod
Solidago flexicaulis
Part shadeZones 3–82.5 ftModerate
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Full sunZones 3–93.5 ftLow
Recorded across Michigan
How many of the state's 83 counties record each wild species growing wild, from USDA PLANTS: a plant recorded in many counties is widespread in Michigan; one recorded in few may be local, or simply under-recorded. A county's absence is not evidence a plant is absent. 146 of the wild species carry a county record here.
- Common Black-Eyed Susan
- Redosier Dogwood
- American Elderberry
- Chokecherry
- Eastern Red Columbine
- Quaking Aspen
- Swamp Milkweed
- Common Milkweed
- False Solomon's Seal
- Spotted Joe Pye Weed
- American Wintergreen
- Red Maple
- Wild Bee Balm
- American Linden
- Northern Bush Honeysuckle
- Northern Red Oak
- Red Elderberry
- Sugar Maple
- White Turtlehead
- American Hophornbeam
- Mapleleaf Viburnum
- Winterberry
- Common Pussy Willow
- Bunchberry
- Common Witch Hazel
- Arborvitae
- Paper Birch
- Blue Wood Aster
- Nannyberry Viburnum
- Cardinal Flower
- Pagoda Dogwood
- Smooth Blue Aster
- Ninebark
- Pennsylvania Sedge
- Eastern White Pine
- Golden Ragwort
- Rosy Sedge
- Eastern Hemlock
- Soft Rush
- Staghorn Sumac
- American Hornbeam
- Downy Serviceberry
- Great Blue Lobelia
- Allegheny Serviceberry
- Silky Dogwood
- Virginia Creeper
- Wild Ginger
- American Cranberrybush Viburnum
- Potentilla
- Southern Blue Flag
- Kinnikinnick
- Bottlebrush Grass
- Butterfly Weed
- Woodland Phlox
- New Jersey Tea
- Seersucker Sedge
- White Oak
- Silver Maple
- Zigzag Goldenrod
- Little Bluestem
- Bur Oak
- New England Aster
- Wild Geranium
- Mayapple
- Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod
- Common Snowberry
- Kalm's St. John's Wort
- Spicebush
- False Sunflower
- Foxglove Beardtongue
- Switchgrass
- Carolina Rose
- Common Sneezeweed
- Culver's Root
- Prairie Junegrass
- Golden Alexanders
- Gray's Sedge
- Indiangrass
- Smooth Sumac
- American Hazelnut
- Eastern Red Cedar
- Black Gum
- Northern Blue Flag Iris
- Swamp White Oak
- Creeping Phlox
- Flowering Dogwood
- Purple Lovegrass
- Bristleleaf Sedge
- Brome-Like Sedge
- Common Hackberry
- Garden Phlox
- Dense Blazing Star
- Shrubby St. John's Wort
- Whorled Milkweed
- Smooth Solomon's Seal
- Stiff Goldenrod
- White-Tinged Sedge
- Chinkapin Oak
- Common Pawpaw
- Sweet Joe Pye Weed
- Gray-Headed Coneflower
- Narrowleaf Mountain Mint
- Tufted Hairgrass
- Tulip Tree
- Honeylocust
- Long-Beaked Sedge
- Palm Sedge
- Fragrant Sumac
- Pin Oak
- Celandine Poppy
- Perennial Black-Eyed Susan
- American Alumroot
- Eastern Redbud
- Golden Currant
- Brown-Eyed Susan
- Kentucky Coffeetree
- Hardy Hibiscus
- Nodding Onion
- Purple Coneflower
- Leadplant
- Pale Purple Coneflower
- Blackhaw
- Queen of the Prairie
- Roundleaf Ragwort
- Woodland Stonecrop
- Chives
- Prairie Smoke
- Rattlesnake Master
- Sideoats Grama
- Virginia Bluebells
- Creeping Jacob's Ladder
- Prairie Dropseed Grass
- Purple Prairie Clover
- Blue Mistflower
- Coral Honeysuckle
- Prairie Blazing Star
- Annual Phlox
- Clustered Mountain Mint
- Dotted Blazing Star
- Hollow Joe Pye Weed
- Lavender Annual Phlox
- Northern Sea Oats
- Peach Annual Phlox
- Purple Annual Phlox
- Red Annual Phlox
- White Annual Phlox
Garden forms of Michigan natives
138 garden forms, each a named selection of a species that grows wild in Michigan and each naming its wild parent. A garden form is not the wild plant, so it is listed here and never counted above.
- Abbotswood
- Alba Gayfeather
- Alma Pötschke
- Alpine Carpet Juniper
- Amazing Grace
- Amber Jubilee
- Amethyst Falls Wisteria
- Appalachian Red
- Aquavita Juniper
- Arctic Fire Red Twig Dogwood
- Arctic Fire Yellow Dogwood
- Athena Gold False Sunflower
- Autumn Colors
- Baby Joe Dwarf Joe Pye Weed
- Bailey Compact American Cranberrybush
- Balmy Purple
- Bar Harbor Juniper
- Berry Heavy
- Berry Poppins
- Black Hills Spruce
- Blackhawks Big Bluestem
- Blackjack Gold Black-Eyed Susan
- Blaze
- Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass
- Blue Chip Juniper
- Blue Moon Woodland Phlox
- Blue Paradise
- Blue Rug Juniper
- Bright Eyes
- Bubblegum Pink Garden Phlox
- Bunny Blue Sedge
- Candy Stripe
- Cheer Drops Arborvitae
- Cherokee Brave
- Cherokee Chief
- Cherokee Princess
- Cherry Berries Wintergreen
- Cherry Brandy
- Claire Grace
- Cloud Nine
- Cobalt-n-Gold Hypericum
- Coconut Lime
- Columnar White Pine
- Compact Andorra Juniper
- Coppertina
- Coral Flame
- Dakota Burgundy Beardtongue
- Danica
- David
- DeGroot's Spire
- Denver Daisy
- Deschampsia Goldtau Grass
- Diabolo
- Drummond's Pink
- Dwarf Alberta Spruce
- Dwarf White Pine
- Early Sunrise
- Emerald Blue
- Emerald Green
- Emerald Pink
- Eye Candy Moss Phlox
- Eye Shadow Moss Phlox
- Fire Chief
- Fireworks Goldenrod
- Flame Thrower
- Forest Pansy
- Gentsch White
- Golden Globe
- Goldfinger
- Goldilocks
- Goldsturm
- Grand Marshall
- Green Jewel
- Gro-Low Fragrant Sumac
- Happy Face Yellow
- Hearts of Gold
- Heavy Metal
- Holmstrup
- Indian Summer
- Jeana
- Jeddeloh Hemlock
- Laura
- Lavender Twist
- Lemony Lace Elderberry
- Little Devil
- Luminary Ultraviolet
- Luna Pink Swirl
- Luna White
- Magnus
- Major Wheeler
- Mango Tango
- McKay's White
- New England Aster 'Barr's Pink'
- New England Aster 'Harrington's Pink'
- Nicky
- Northwind
- Nugget
- Orange Perfection
- Orange Whisper
- Pardon My Purple
- Pink Beauty
- Pink Double Delight
- Pink Whisper
- PowWow Wild Berry
- Prairie Sun
- Purple Beauty
- Purple Dome
- Purple Phlox
- Purple Rooster
- Red Ace
- Red Sprite
- Red Wings
- Rheingold
- River Mist
- Robert Poore
- Royal White Redbud
- Ruby Falls
- Scarlet Flame
- Shenandoah
- Snow Flurry
- Starfire
- Sugar Buzz Cherry Pops
- Summer Wine
- Sunny Boulevard St. John's Wort
- Tangerine
- Techny
- The Rising Sun
- Tiger Eyes Sumac
- Tiny Wine
- Toto Gold
- Twilight Zone
- Weeping Hemlock
- Weeping White Pine
- White Delight
- White Flame
- White Swan
- Winter Gold
- Winter Red
Plant groups native to Michigan
18 plant groups sold under one name whose wild species grow in Michigan; the count beside each is how many of its wild species the record finds in the state.
Keep exploring
Native to your own county
This page is the whole state. In the free garden planner, enter your ZIP and Garden Check lists these same plants for your location, marks the ones recorded growing wild in your county, and places any of them in your plan; its Browse tab answers for any of the 65 states, provinces and territories with no account.
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