Michigan Recommended

Commercially available native plant species suitable for planned landscapes in Michigan. Visit our Suppliers Directory to locate businesses that sell native plants or seeds or provide professional landscape or consulting services in this state. Visit the Organizations Directory to locate native plant societies, conservation groups, governmental agencies, botanical gardens, arboreta, and other plant-related organizations in this state.


Scientific Name Common Name Duration Habit Sun Water
Acer rubrum Red maple, Scarlet maple Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Moist
Acer saccharinum Silver maple, Soft maple, White maple Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Acer saccharum Sugar maple, Northern sugar maple Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Actaea pachypoda White baneberry, Dolls eyes Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Actaea rubra Red baneberry Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Adiantum pedatum Northern maidenhair, Maidenhair Fern Perennial Fern Shade, Part-shade Moist
Allium canadense Meadow garlic, Wild garlic, Wild onion Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Moist
Amelanchier arborea Common serviceberry, Downy serviceberry, Shadbush, Juneberry Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Dry
Amorpha canescens Leadplant, Leadplant amorpha, Prairie shoestring Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Dry
Andropogon gerardii Big bluestem, Turkeyfoot Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Moist
Anemone canadensis Canadian anemone, Round-leaf thimbleweed, Canada anemone, Windflower, Meadow anemone Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Moist
Anemone cylindrica Candle anemone, Long-head thimbleweed, Thimbleweed Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Aquilegia canadensis Eastern red columbine, Wild red columbine Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Kinnikinnick, Red bearberry, Kinnikinnik Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Arisaema triphyllum Jack in the pulpit, Indian jack in the pulpit, Jack-in-the-pulpit Perennial Herb Sun, Shade Wet, Moist
Asarum canadense Canadian wild ginger, Wild ginger Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Moist
Asclepias incarnata Swamp milkweed, Pink Milkweed Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Asclepias tuberosa Butterflyweed, Butterfly milkweed, Orange milkweed, Pleurisy root Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Asclepias verticillata Whorled milkweed, Eastern whorled milkweed Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Athyrium filix-femina Common ladyfern, Lady fern, Ladyfern, Subarctic lady fern Perennial Herb, Fern Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Betula nigra River birch, Red birch Perennial Tree Part-shade Moist
Betula papyrifera Paper birch, Canoe birch, White birch Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Bromus kalmii Arctic brome, Prairie brome, Wild chess Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Dry
Calamagrostis canadensis Bluejoint Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Caltha palustris Yellow marsh marigold, Yellow marsh-marigold, Cowslip Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Campanula rotundifolia Bluebell bellflower, Bluebell-of-Scotland, Harebell Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Dry
Carex pensylvanica Pennsylvania sedge Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Shade, Part-shade Dry
Carex stipata Owlfruit sedge, Stalk-grain sedge, Awl-fruited sedge Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Wet, Moist
Carpinus caroliniana American hornbeam, Blue beech, Musclewood, Ironwood Perennial Tree Shade, Part-shade Moist
Carya ovata Shagbark hickory Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Ceanothus americanus New Jersey tea, Redroot Perennial Shrub Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Celastrus scandens American bittersweet Perennial Vine Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Celtis occidentalis Common hackberry, Nettle tree Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Cephalanthus occidentalis Common buttonbush, Buttonbush, Button willow Perennial Shrub Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Cercis canadensis Eastern redbud, Redbud Perennial Tree Shade, Part-shade Moist
Chamerion angustifolium ssp. angustifolium Fireweed, Narrow-leaf fireweed, Willow herb Perennial Herb Sun Moist
Chelone glabra White turtlehead Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Coreopsis lanceolata Lanceleaf coreopsis, Lanceleaf tickseed, Lance-leaved coreopsis, Sand coreopsis Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Dry
Cornus alternifolia Alternateleaf dogwood, Alternate-leaf dogwood, Pagoda dogwood Perennial Shrub Shade, Part-shade Moist
Cornus canadensis Bunchberry dogwood, Canadian bunchberry Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Cornus obliqua Silky dogwood, Pale dogwood, Swamp dogwood, Kinnikinnik Perennial Shrub Shade, Part-shade Moist
Cornus racemosa Gray dogwood Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Cornus sericea Redosier dogwood, Redosier, Red-twig dogwood, Red-osier dogwood Perennial Shrub Part-shade Moist
Corylus americana American hazelnut, American filbert Perennial Shrub Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Crataegus crus-galli Cockspur hawthorn, Cockspur thorn, Newcastle hawthorn, Newcastle thorn Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Crataegus mollis Downy hawthorn, White thorn, Whitethorn, Scarlet hawthorn, Scarlet haw Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden-hardhack Perennial Shrub Sun Dry
Desmodium canadense Showy tick trefoil Perennial Herb Sun Moist, Dry
Dicentra cucullaria Dutchman's breeches Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Diervilla lonicera Northern bush honeysuckle, Northern bush-honeysuckle, Diervilla Perennial Shrub Shade, Part-shade Dry
Dryopteris cristata Crested woodfern, Crested wood fern, Buckler fern Perennial Herb, Fern Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Elymus canadensis Canada wild rye, Canadian wildrye, Prairie wildrye, Nodding wildrye Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Moist
Eupatorium perfoliatum Common boneset Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Euphorbia corollata Flowering spurge Perennial Herb Sun Dry
Euthamia graminifolia Flat-top goldentop, Grass-leaved goldenrod Perennial Herb Sun Moist
Fragaria virginiana Virginia strawberry, Wild strawberry Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Fraxinus americana White ash Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green ash, Red ash Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Gentiana andrewsii Closed bottle gentian, Closed gentian, Bottle gentian Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Geranium maculatum Spotted geranium, Wild geranium, Cranesbill Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Moist
Gymnocladus dioicus Kentucky coffeetree, Stump tree Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Hamamelis virginiana Witch hazel, American witch hazel Perennial Tree Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Helenium autumnale Common sneezeweed, Fall sneezeweed, Autumn sneezeweed Perennial Herb Sun Moist
Helianthus strumosus Paleleaf woodland sunflower, Paleleaf sunflower, Woodland sunflower Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Dry
Heliopsis helianthoides Smooth oxeye, Oxeye sunflower, False sunflower Perennial Herb Sun Moist
Heuchera richardsonii Richardson's alumroot, Prairie alumroot Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Hydrophyllum virginianum Eastern waterleaf, Shawnee salad, Virginia waterleaf Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Moist
Hypericum prolificum Shrubby St. Johnswort Perennial Shrub Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Ilex verticillata Common winterberry, Michigan holly, Black alder Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Iris virginica var. shrevei Shreve's iris, Virginia iris, Southern blue flag, Blue flag Perennial Herb Sun Wet
Juglans nigra Black walnut, Eastern black walnut Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Moist
Juniperus communis var. depressa Common juniper, Old field juniper, Prostrate juniper Perennial Shrub Sun Dry
Juniperus horizontalis Creeping juniper, Creeping savin Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Dry
Juniperus virginiana Eastern red cedar, Eastern redcedar, Virginia juniper Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Dry
Koeleria macrantha Prairie Junegrass, Junegrass, Prairie Koeler's grass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Dry
Larix laricina Tamarack, American larch, Hacmatack Perennial Tree Sun, Shade Wet, Moist
Lespedeza capitata Roundhead lespedeza, Roundhead bush-clover Perennial Herb Sun Dry
Liatris aspera Tall blazing star, Tall gayfeather, Rough blazing star, Button snakeroot Perennial Herb Sun Dry
Liatris cylindracea Ontario blazing star, Ontario gayfeather, Dwarf blazing star Perennial Herb Sun Dry
Lilium michiganense Michigan lily, Turk's cap lily Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Lilium philadelphicum Wood lily Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Dry
Lobelia siphilitica Great blue lobelia Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Lupinus perennis Sundial lupine, Wild lupine Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum Feathery false lily of the valley, False spikenard, False Solomon's seal, Solomon's plume, Smilacina Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Moist
Malus ioensis Prairie crabapple, Iowa crabapple Perennial Tree Sun Moist
Mitchella repens Partridgeberry, Twinberry, Running box Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Monarda fistulosa Wild bergamot, Beebalm Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Oenothera biennis Common evening-primrose, King's cure-all Biennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Dry
Opuntia humifusa Devil's-tongue, Low prickly pear, Smooth prickly pear, Prickly pear Perennial Cactus/Succulent Sun Dry
Osmorhiza claytonii Clayton's sweetroot, Hairy sweet-cicely, Sweet jarvil Perennial Herb Shade Moist
Osmunda cinnamomea Cinnamon fern Perennial Herb, Fern Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Osmunda claytoniana Interrupted fern Perennial Herb, Fern Shade Moist
Ostrya virginiana Eastern hop-hornbeam, Hophornbeam, Ironwood Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Panicum virgatum Switchgrass, Wand panic grass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia creeper Perennial Vine Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Pascopyrum smithii Western wheatgrass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Moist
Penstemon digitalis Mississippi penstemon, Smooth white beardtongue, Talus slope penstemon, Foxglove beardtongue Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Penstemon grandiflorus Large beardtongue, Large-flower beardtongue, Large-flowered penstemon Perennial Herb Sun
Phlox pilosa Downy phlox, Prairie phlox, Fragrant phlox Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Physocarpus opulifolius Atlantic ninebark, Common ninebark Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Physostegia virginiana Fall obedient plant, Obedient plant, False dragonhead Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Pinus resinosa Red pine, Norway pine, Canadian pine Perennial Tree Sun Moist, Dry
Pinus strobus Eastern white pine, Weymouth pine Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Platanus occidentalis American sycamore, Buttonwood, Plane-tree, Sycamore Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Podophyllum peltatum Mayapple, Indian apple, Wild mandrake, Pomme de mai, Podophylle pelt Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Moist
Polygonatum biflorum Smooth Solomon's seal, Great Solomon’s-seal, Sealwort Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Polystichum acrostichoides Christmas fern Perennial Fern Shade, Part-shade Moist
Populus deltoides Eastern cottonwood, Alamo, Carolina poplar, Necklace Poplar Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Populus tremuloides Quaking aspen, Aspen Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Prunus americana American plum, Wild plum Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Prunus serotina Black cherry, Rum cherry Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Prunus virginiana Chokecherry, Common chokecherry, Choke cherry Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Pycnanthemum virginianum Virginia mountain mint Perennial Herb Part-shade Moist
Quercus alba White oak, Northern white oak, Stave Oak, Ridge White Oak, Forked-leaf White Oak Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Quercus bicolor Swamp white oak Perennial Tree Part-shade Moist
Quercus macrocarpa Bur oak, Burr oak, Savannah oak, Overcup oak, Prairie oak, Mossy-cup oak, Mossy-overcup oak, Blue oak Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Quercus palustris Pin oak, Swamp Spanish oak Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Quercus rubra Northern red oak Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Ratibida pinnata Pinnate prairie coneflower, Grayhead Mexican hat, Yellow coneflower, Grayhead coneflower Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Rhus aromatica Fragrant sumac, Aromatic sumac, Lemon sumac, Polecat bush Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Rhus glabra Smooth sumac Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Dry
Rhus typhina Staghorn sumac, Velvet sumac Perennial Shrub, Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Dry
Rosa blanda Smooth rose, Early wild rose Perennial Shrub Sun Dry
Rosa setigera var. tomentosa Climbing rose, Illinois rose Perennial Shrub Sun
Rudbeckia hirta Black-eyed Susan, Common black-eyed Susan, Brown-eyed Susan Annual Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Rudbeckia subtomentosa Sweet coneflower, Sweet black-eyed Susan Perennial Herb Part-shade Moist
Salix discolor Pussy willow, Glaucous willow Perennial Shrub Sun Moist
Sanguinaria canadensis Bloodroot Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Schizachyrium scoparium Little bluestem Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Dry
Solidago nemoralis Gray goldenrod, Prairie goldenrod, Old field goldenrod Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Dry
Solidago speciosa Showy goldenrod Perennial Herb Part-shade Moist
Solidago ulmifolia Elmleaf goldenrod, Elm-leaf goldenrod Perennial Herb Sun Dry
Sorghastrum nutans Indiangrass, Yellow indian grass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Spartina pectinata Prairie cordgrass, Freshwater cordgrass, Sloughgrass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Wet
Spiraea alba White meadowsweet Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Staphylea trifolia American bladdernut Perennial Shrub Shade Moist
Symphyotrichum ericoides White heath aster, Heath Aster Perennial Herb Sun Dry
Thalictrum dasycarpum Purple meadow-rue, Meadow rue, Tall meadow-rue Perennial Herb Part-shade Wet, Moist
Thalictrum dioicum Early meadow-rue Perennial Herb Part-shade Moist
Thuja occidentalis Arborvitae, Eastern arborvitae, Northern white cedar Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Tilia americana American basswood, American linden, Lime tree, Bee tree Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Tradescantia ohiensis Bluejacket, Ohio spiderwort Perennial Herb Part-shade Dry
Tsuga canadensis Eastern hemlock Perennial Tree Shade, Part-shade Moist
Typha latifolia Broadleaf cattail, Common cat-tail, Broad-leaf cat-tail Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Wet
Uvularia grandiflora Largeflower bellwort, Large-flower bellwort, Merrybells Perennial Herb Shade Moist
Uvularia sessilifolia Spreading bellwort, Straw lily, Wild oats, Merrybells, Sessile-leaf bellwort Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Vaccinium angustifolium Late lowbush blueberry, Lowbush blueberry Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Verbena hastata Swamp verbena, Blue verbena, Blue vervain, Simpler's joy Biennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Vernonia fasciculata Prairie ironweed, Common ironweed Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Veronicastrum virginicum Culver's root Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist
Viburnum lentago Nannyberry, Blackhaw, Sweet viburnum, Sheepberry Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Viburnum opulus var. americanum American cranberry bush, Highbush-cranberry, American cranberrybush viburnum, Cranberry viburnum Perennial Shrub Part-shade Wet, Moist
Viburnum prunifolium Blackhaw, Smooth blackhaw, Blackhaw viburnum, Smooth blackhaw viburnum, Stagbush Perennial Shrub Part-shade Moist
Viola pedata Birdfoot violet, Bird’s-foot violet, Bird-foot violet Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Dry
Viola sororia Missouri violet, Common blue violet, Hooded blue violet, Florida violet, Meadow violet Annual Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist
Zizia aurea Golden zizia, Golden Alexanders Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist