Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
2–4 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Aug — an easy fit for Michigan, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Michigan · Zones 4–6
Native Plants for Michigan
Michigan gardens sit in the Midwest — a landscape of tallgrass prairie, oak savanna, and Great Lakes woodland. The plants below evolved with that climate (humid continental, lake-moderated) and are hardy through zones 4–6, so once established they shrug off the local weather without fuss, fertilizer, or much water.
the Midwest
Ecoregion: Great Lakes forest & dune
Collections for Michigan
Find the right natives for your yard.
Each collection is filtered to what actually grows in Michigan. Pick the goal that fits your conditions.
Pollinators
56 native species
For bees
53 native species
Butterflies
51 native species
Hummingbirds
14 native species
For birds
30 native species
Deer-resistant
44 native species
Full sun
54 native species
For shade
14 native species
Drought-tolerant
34 native species
Clay soil
46 native species
Rain garden
25 native species
Groundcovers
13 native species
Flowering shrubs
11 native species
Grasses
7 native species
Low-maintenance
31 native species
Fall color
13 native species
Fragrant
11 native species
Notable natives
Plants to know in Michigan.
A cross-section of the 66 species native to your region — the workhorses worth starting with.
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Native to Michigan and hardy in zones 3–9; it blooms Jun through Aug and reaches 1.5–2.5 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
A Michigan native at 3–4 ft tall that flowers in Jul and Aug, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
A Michigan native at 6–10 ft tall that flowers in May and Jun, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
A Michigan native at 2–4 ft tall that blooms Jul through Sep, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
A Michigan native at 2–4 ft tall that flowers in Sep and Oct, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
2–4 ft tall and it flowers in Jul and Aug — an easy fit for Michigan, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
15–25 ft tall and it flowers in Apr and May — an easy fit for Michigan, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
1–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Apr through Jun — an easy fit for Michigan, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
1.5–3 ft tall and it blooms May through Aug — an easy fit for Michigan, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Native to Michigan and hardy in zones 3–8; it flowers in Apr and May and reaches 10–15 in.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
A Michigan native at 3–5 ft tall that blooms Jun through Aug, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Part shade
- Average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
Native to Michigan and hardy in zones 3–8; it flowers in Apr and May and reaches 6–12 in.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Winterberry
Ilex verticillata
5–10 ft tall and it flowers in Jun and Jul — an easy fit for Michigan, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
6–16 in tall and it flowers in Apr and May — an easy fit for Michigan, hardy in zones 3–7 here.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
A Michigan native at 2–3 ft tall that blooms Jul through Sep, comfortable in zones 4–8.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Sourcing
Where to buy Michigan natives
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.