Native Plants
New England Aster, Aster novae-angliae. © USDA, NRCS, 1995-Midwestern Wetland Flora @ PLANTS.
Native plants are adapted to Michigan's soils and climate, and they provide food and habitat for our native animals. Using native plants encourages a broad array of plants in the landscape, and since these plants are well-adapted to our local growing conditions, they require little or no special treatment after establishment. Check out the following pages for more information:
Landscaping
Why use native plants, wildflowers, grasses, trees & shrubs in your landscaping? Because they are adapted to Michigan's soils and climate, and they provide food and habitat for our native animals. In addition, you cultivate a greater appreciation of Michigan's natural heritage.
Using native plants encourages a broad array of plants in the landscape, and since these plants are well-adapted to our local growing conditions, they require little or no special treatment after establishment. That means you save, time, money, water and sweat, so you can sit back and enjoy your landscape.
For further details, see the following documents:
- Seeding Wildflowers
Check out these tips for growing wildflowers. - Planting Suggestions for Native Plants
Learn how to best plant native and prairie grass plants.
Using native plants around and over septic systems can be an alternative to lawn grasses. Here are two publications that can help you in planning landscaping with native plants over septic systems.
Presettlement Vegetation
Curious about what kind of plants were here in Washtenaw County before settlement took place? Look at the Presettlement Vegetation of Washtenaw County map.
Resources
Check out the following web sites for additional information:
- City of Ann Arbor, Natural Area Preservation Program.
- Ann Arbor Chapter of Wild Ones, a national non-profit organization that promotes the use of native plants in landscaping.
- USDA PLANTS Database
Contractors
Contact sources for wildflower & prairie grass seed, and prairie planting & restoration: Native Habitat & Food Plot Establishment and Management Contractors & Sources List (PDF).