We often take plants for granted. From the food we eat, to the clothes we wear, we heavily rely on plants to support our everyday lives. They do so much for us, and yet we rarely reciprocate. Use this page to learn about Michigan's plant species and discover how you can support your photosynthetic friends.
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Native Plants
Native Plants
National Wildlife Federation: What are native plants... and why are they important?
Michigan State University: 50 common plant species native to your region
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Michigan Recommended Special Collections
Xerces Society: Native plants for pollinators and beneficial insects in the Great Lakes Region
Homegrown National Park: Find native plant resources and plantings near you
Invasive Plants
Invasive Plants
U.S. Forest Service: What are invasive plants... and why are they a problem?
DNR: Michigan's invasive plant species
Find your local Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)
Midwest Invasive Plant Network (MIPN): Invasive Plant Control Database
Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN): Report invasive species occurrences
Woody Invasives of the Great Lakes Collaborative: Management & Control
Michigan Flora
Michigan Flora
Want to easily determine if a plant is native to Michigan?Â
Want to easily determine if a plant is native to Michigan?Â
Michigan Flora is a searchable online database that provides basic information about the native plants of Michigan based on historical record and collected specimens. It is the companion to the book Field Manual of Michigan Flora. Michigan Flora is the go-to source used for professional plant identification.
Michigan Flora is a searchable online database that provides basic information about the native plants of Michigan based on historical record and collected specimens. It is the companion to the book Field Manual of Michigan Flora. Michigan Flora is the go-to source used for professional plant identification.
On the Path to Extinction
On the Path to Extinction
Learn about Michigan's rare plants from Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI).
Report an observation of an endangered, threatened, or special concern species through MNFI.
DNR: Michigan's threatened and endangered species list
Detailed population trends for species around the globe can be found at The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species
Where to Source Local Native Plants
Where to Source Local Native Plants
It is vital to purchase native plants that have not been treated with pesticides and have, preferably, been grown from Michigan/Great Lakes' genotypes.Â
First, check you local ToolBox for seeds!
Visit your local Conservation District's website for seasonal (spring/fall) tree sales.
The Native Plant Guild has an interactive map to search for local growers, installers, designers, and educators.
Visit East Michigan Native Plants for a list of sellers and resources.
Check out the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership for an interactive map of Native Plant Nurseries.
Visit Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's Suppliers Directory for a list of seed companies, nurseries, landscape professionals, and environmental consultants.
Resources
Resources
"Take your nature knowledge up a notch with Seek! Use the power of image recognition technology to identify the plants and animals all around you. Earn badges for seeing different types of birds, amphibians, plants, and fungi and participate in monthly observation challenges." Created by iNaturalist.
Free app
"iNaturalist is a social network for sharing biodiversity information to help each other learn about nature. The primary goal is to connect people to nature, and the secondary goal is to generate scientifically valuable biodiversity data from these personal encounters."
Free app and website
"Pl@ntNet is a tool to help to identify plants with pictures. It is organized in different thematic and geographical floras."Â
Free app
"Identify any plants, flowers, herbs, shrubs, or trees by photo and get useful plant care tips."
Paid app
Produced by the Midwest Invasive Plant Network, this app provides a list of invasive species and suggests similar native plants as a replacement.
Free app
Use MISIN to report invasive species, take identification courses, and view species descriptions.
*Note: The app can be a little buggy. Use the website to make an account.
Free app and website with online courses
Suzan Campbell, Phyllis Higman, Brad Slaughter, and Ed Schools
Free PDF
Kim Borland, Suzan Campbell, Rebecca Schillo, and Phyllis Higman
Free PDF
Jerry Jenkins and Brett Engstrom
Free PDF
Jerry Jenkins and Sue Williams
Free PDF
Jerry Jenkins
Free PDF
Jerry Jenkins
Free PDF
MSU Extension
Free PDF
Use this USDA NRCS tool to see a map of the soil in your area
Free website
Field Guides
Field Guides
Burton V. Barnes and Warren H. Wagner, Jr.
Burton V. Barnes, Christopher W. Dick, and Melanie E. Gunn
Daniel D. Palmer
Joshua G. Cohen, Michael A. Kost, Bradford S. Slaughter, and Dennis A. Albert
Steve W. Chadde
Susan Borman, Robert Korth, and Jo Tente
Richard K. Rabeler
Edward G. Voss and Anton A. Reznicek
James G. Harris and Melinda W. Harris
Lauren Brown and Ted Elliman
Books
Books
Robin Wall Kimmerer
Organizations
Organizations
"Our mission is to encourage the preservation and restoration of Michigan's native plants and native plant communities."
"The Michigan Botanical Society, the native plant society of Michigan, promotes the understanding, enjoyment and preservation of our Great Lakes flora and the conservation of our natural heritage."
"The Michigan Nature Association is a nonprofit conservation organization working to protect Michigan's rare, threatened and endangered species by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive."
"Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities."
"To inspire and empower people to sustainably manage, conserve and enjoy forests through education, advocacy and fellowship."
"We help government, industry, NGOs and the public operate from a sound scientific basis when making decisions that impact our environment. We educate through outreach programs and training of volunteer community scientists...we inspire the next generation to be knowledgeable stewards of Michigan's biodiversity."
"The mission of the Michigan Prescribed Fire Council is to protect, conserve and expand the safe use of prescribed fire on the Michigan landscape. The Council is here to answer any and all questions you might have about fire - when to use it, how to use it, and why."
"Huron Pines inspires community-driven change through our grass-roots efforts. We can see the organizational vision of conservation driven by engaged, empowered communities come to life in our work to protect Northern Michigan and the Great Lakes each day."
"Headquartered in Ann Arbor, MI, The Stewardship Network (TSN) is an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a 20-year history of caring for our natural world. Through shared experiences, knowledge, and resources, we continue to build an ever larger and more impactful network of place-based collectives (TSN Member Communities) from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Ocean doing the most important work of our lifetimes."
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