When it comes to native plants, you’ll find plenty of good choices in Michigan. This article will discuss the best plants for Michigan landscaping. This list includes the Dogwood, Honeysuckle Bush, and Spirea shrub. If you’d like to try something new, consider adding a native shrub to your property. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to consider Actaea racemosa!
Dogwoods
One of the first trees to bloom in spring, dogwoods are a popular choice for any landscape. This flowering tree prefers full sun or partial shade and will attract birds and butterflies, as well as other wildlife. The dogwood’s red berries are an important food source for many different species, including deer and foxes. These trees will thrive in areas that receive little to no winter chill, and they are ideal for understory planting. Dogwoods also provide year-round interest in any landscape. These trees are native to North America, Asia, and Europe, but there are dozens of cultivars for different purposes.
While dogwoods can be grown anywhere, they do not do well in poor soils or clay. They do well in rich, loamy soils. However, they are vulnerable to anthracnose, so proper soil care is essential. Watering dogwood trees regularly will ensure their long-term health and beauty. They require regular watering, so be sure to do so every week or two weeks during the first growing season.
During the spring or early fall, the best time to plant dogwood trees is in the early fall. Then, you can plant shrubs and trees close together and space them farther apart if you want a specimen planting. Once planted, dogwoods are low-maintenance plants, but you need to keep them well-watered. The shrubs can live for 80 years or more if given proper care.
Although dogwoods are hardy, they do need a moderate amount of water to thrive. Part shade will help conserve moisture on hot days. Don’t overwater your dogwood, as this will cause the roots to rot and weaken their structure. Soggy roots will prevent the tree from absorbing nutrients, and it’s easy to topple over. In addition, they need nearby trees and structures for protection from high winds.
Honeysuckle Bush
This flowering shrub grows in Michigan, where it is native to forests and open fields. This plant has a unique appearance due to its surprising flowers and its ability to attract feeding bumblebees to the shrub. The bush honeysuckle grows in the shade of mountain maples and combines well with tall meadow-rue, white meadowsweet, and spiraea alba. The blooms are long-lasting, surrounded by beautiful leaves.
A dwarf variety of Honeysuckle is available. This plant is a good choice if you want to add some ornamental value to your yard without the hassle of thinning it. Its foliage grows in all directions. Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle can be cut back in early spring to re-shape it, but you can also leave it for another year.
A bush-honeysuckle responds well to pruning. It will respond well to pruning, and it responds well to thinning out older stems to promote new growth. It is also good for wildlife and will grow to a height of 12 feet or more. If you are unsure of how much honeysuckle you should prune, make sure to cut off the oldest stems. The stumps should be treated with a glyphosate-based herbicide.
The season of the honeysuckle bush in Michigan is typically mid-summer, though some varieties bloom into fall. These flowers are tubular and appear in clusters on the branches and are highly fragrant. These flowers are also highly scented and produce sweet nectar. The flowers of the honeysuckle bush last for several months before they are followed by red berries. The foliage is green with purple tones.
Spirea shrub
Whether you’re creating an eye-catching hedge or planting a low-maintenance accent plant, the spirea shrub is sure to impress. This plant is known for its lush, dense growth habit and colorful, three-season flowering display. The foliage emerges in spring and matures into yellow and gold hues in summer and fall. In early spring, the spirea’s flower buds are tinged with red. The flowers, which continue into fall, contrast brilliantly against the gold-leaf foliage.
It is a hardy shrub that thrives in zones four through eight. Some varieties are heat-tolerant, making them a great plant choice if you live in an area where summers can be stifling. Spirea bushes can grow up to 6 feet in diameter and eight feet tall, depending on the variety. It grows best in full sun but will tolerate light shade if necessary. All spirea varieties lose their leaves during winter, but if you prefer a smaller shrub, you can prune spireas after the flowers have faded to encourage colorful new growth in spring and summer.
While spireas are generally not suited for gardens, this medium-sized shrub can grow in a variety of sites, including open and shrubby landscapes. Despite its low-maintenance requirements, this plant is known for its prolific red stems. Red stems are produced with greater exposure to sunlight, so prune older stems to keep them red. Its foliage is dark green in summer and yellow-green in fall.
A beautiful native to southern Michigan, the spirian azalea is hardy and easy to care for. Its flowers are small, pink-white, and elongated, and its leaves and stems are covered in dense hair. The stems and flowers of the Spirea shrub have a pleasant aroma when crushed. In the early summer, it also produces beautiful yellow fruit capsules that persist through winter.
Actaea racemosa
This plant thrives in full or partial shade. It needs between two and three hours of morning sunlight. Its leaves are deep green and deeply lobed. It grows to be two to four feet tall and wide. It has long blooming periods. In optimum growing conditions, it may self-seed. You can divide the plant in early spring to propagate it. Actaea racemosa is a native of the eastern United States.
Native Americans used black cohosh to treat respiratory ailments. Native to eastern North America, it grows in most regions except the outer coastal plain. It grows in diverse woodland habitats, often in small clearings. It adds a dramatic flair to a shade garden. It is also used as an herbal remedy. Wild populations of this plant are endangered because of illegal harvesting for the botanic market.
If you’re looking for a unique flower to accent your yard or garden, try Aquilegia canadensis, a native perennial with red petals and yellow centers. It also blooms in late winter and into summer. It likes moist to dry soil and tolerates relatively poor soil. Listed below are three plants that grow well in Michigan and their benefits. There’s a wide variety of plants to choose from for your landscape.
Actaea racemosa is an elegant, large plant with bold leaves that looks good alongside a water feature. It grows best in part shade and blooms early in the spring, but may go dormant later. Its fine foliage is reminiscent of grass. There are cultivars of Actaea racemosa such as Caesar’s Brother, Little White, and ‘Brunette’.
Rudbeckia hirta
The best rudbeckias to grow in Michigan are black-eyed susans, ‘Envy,’ ‘Irish Eyes,’ and ‘Teddy Bear’. These colorful plants are native to Michigan and require regular garden loam and full sunlight. This plant is a favorite for wildflower and cutting gardens, and is somewhat salt tolerant.
Rudbeckia hirta ‘Maya’ is a gorgeous variety with layers of frilly petals and is excellent for a flower border or container. This rudbeckia is also deer-resistant and attracts pollinating insects. This perennial can be divided after blooming to increase the number of plants. Rudbeckia hirta ‘Maya’ has the added benefit of being drought-resistant and deer-resistant, as well as having a long blooming period.
A variety of fall colors is also available for this plant. The flowers are red and orange with a brown eye and are produced singly on strong stems. It begins blooming in late June and lasts until frost. Divide mature clumps in early spring and plant them in a sunny area. They will attract birds and butterflies to your yard. Alternatively, you can divide mature clumps and plant them in the spring.
Another native plant that can be grown in Michigan is the white yarrow. This plant is also known as the Common Yarrow, and is one of the best plants for michigan landscaping. It produces lovely white flowers in tiny clusters and emits pleasant scents. Its foliage is made up of alternate fern-like leaves. Despite its tiny size, this plant is one of the best plants for Michigan landscaping.