Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - July 03, 2013

From: Paris, MI
Region: Midwest
Topic: Pollinators, Wildlife Gardens
Title: A list of bloom times for wildflowers in Michigan
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Hello, I am new to bee keeping and live in central Michigan. Can you tell me or do you know where I could find a list of the Michigan wild flower bloom times? This would be very helpful to me. Thanks.

ANSWER:

Here's how to find what native wildflowers are blooming at any particular time in Michigan.  Go to our Native Plant Database and do a COMBINATION SEARCH by choosing "Michigan" from the Select State or Province slot, "Herb" from Habit (general appearance) and the month (or months) you are interested in under Bloom Characteristics: Bloom Time.  You can see that there are lots of other characteristics you can choose on that page.   You might want to do another COMBINATION SEARCH using "Shrub", "Tree", or "Vine" as well.

You might like to visit our Recommended Species page to see the lists under VALUE TO BENEFICIAL INSECTS.   In particular, there is a list with the title, Special Value to Honey Bees.  Not all the plants on the list will be native to Michigan, but you can check the DISTRIBUTION list for each species to see if your state is on it.   Or, even more simply, you can use the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option to the right of the list and choose "Michigan" from the Select State or Province area and then choose the month or months you are interested in from Bloom Characteristics: Bloom Time.

 

More Pollinators Questions

Moving wildflowers into a pollinator garden in Webster NY
July 27, 2009 - I live in the Western New York area and would like to utilize unwanted wildflowers near our roadside and woodland area into a large pollinator garden I am creating. What is a safe way to move an enti...
view the full question and answer

Cenizo for border of school garden from Cedar Park TX
January 27, 2014 - Hi. We're starting a school garden in Central Texas, and instead of building a fence along one side, we'd like to plant a hedge. Ideally, it would grow tall enough to deter deer from jumping over, b...
view the full question and answer

California native plants for a steep slope
May 29, 2010 - We are looking for California native plants for a steep south facing slope that do not attract bees. Can you please provide a list?
view the full question and answer

Pollinators of Bauhinia lunarioides (Anacacho orchid tree)
March 19, 2015 - What are the pollinators of Bauhinia lunarioides? Also, is it a host plant for any butterfly or moth caterpillars?
view the full question and answer

Is Franklinia alatamaha (Franklin tree) a major honeybee nectar source?
January 31, 2015 - Is the Franklinia tree a major nectar source for honeybees?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.