I Received Native Seeds from ISN... Now What?
Congratulations! You're holding a tiny bit of habitat in your hands, just bursting with the potential to support bees, butterflies, birds, and breathtaking beauty.
About the Plants
We picked these plant species specifically for northwest lower Michigan. They're beautiful, hardy, and native! Plus, by planting these vigorous natives instead of using invasive ornamentals, you're protecting existing habitats in natural areas all around the region.
Please note that these native plants often take a year (or even two) before they start blooming; be patient! Please note your packet will contain a selection of the following species:
Please note that these native plants often take a year (or even two) before they start blooming; be patient! Please note your packet will contain a selection of the following species:
Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) is also known by names like bee balm and monarda. It is a medium-height, hardy, easy-to-grow plant that prefers sun, but can handle a bit of shade. It positively thrives in the sandy soils northwest lower Michigan is known for, but can shine in a rain garden too. Pale purple flowers start in midsummer and last until fall, and support lots of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds. Deer and other herbivores usually avoid eating bergamot, but several caterpillars need it as a host. This plant tends to self-seed, helping to fill in bare areas, and will be the first to sprout. It may even bloom in the first year!
Photo by R. Koteskey
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Photo by R. Koteskey
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Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is truly our most common milkweed, but its populations have decreased since WWII, when it was so common, the seed fluff was used to make life preservers! Today, we think about it preserving life too--but most of the time we're thinking about it hosting monarch butterfly caterpillars. Unpalatable to most other herbivores, milkweed supports many pollinators, especially butterflies and bees, with its fragrant midsummer flowers. The plant is hardy and vigorous, growing in wet and dry areas alike, so long as it has lots of bright sunshine.
Photo by K. Grzesiak
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Photo by K. Grzesiak
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Lance-leaf/sand coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) is the perfect colonizer for bare sandy soils--it sprouts quickly after winter and is hardy through droughts. A fantastic resource for pollinators, its prolific golden blooms lasts for weeks and can be renewed with dead-heading or even high-deck mowing! It spreads by roots and seeds but is easy to keep in check, making an easy groundcover in dry, sunny areas. It pairs well with taller plants, including grasses, to fill in an area and prevent weeds.
Photo by T. Forgrave
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Photo by T. Forgrave
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Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea) has bright purple blooms that pollinators absolutely love! The cone-like flowers that bloom all summer long are backed by intriguing leaves split into three thin lobes, giving the plant a ferny, frothy appearance. In addition to being beautiful, purple prairie clover supports a lot of insect life, including the caterpillar of Reakirt's blue butterfly. This plant thrives in full sun and dry soils.
Photo by: Shihmei Barger
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Photo by: Shihmei Barger
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Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) likes a little more shade and moisture than bergamot, and takes about a year to mature and flower, but it's worth the wait! Its unique red and yellow blooms last all summer (especially when trimmed back), attracting hummingbirds and many other pollinators. Once established, columbine will self-seed to make new plants, or you can collect the shiny black seeds and scatter them in new places. This hardy plant also supports the caterpillars and other insects that songbirds need to feed their nestlings. The unique, delicate leaves make a pretty mound when the plant isn't flowering; deer and rabbits don't often enjoy eating it.
Photo by William Cullina
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Photo by William Cullina
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How to Plant
First, choose your site. We picked plants that grow best in sun to part-shade, so the spot should get sunshine for at least half the day. These plants are colonizers, so make sure there's bare dirt for them to put their roots down in. Depending on how cozy you want it, this garden can be anywhere from 2 x 5 feet (you'll want to dig some plants up to share with friends!) to 10 x 10 feet. Just about any soil will be suitable for these hardy native plants.
Next, plant your seeds. It's best to plant in spring (April or May) or fall (September-November) rather than midsummer. Make sure you've removed any straggling weeds, and wet the soil a little. Then, sprinkle your seeds (aka habitat starters) over the whole area. Be careful! Some of the seeds are tiny; you want an even spread, not a pile of seeds all in one spot. Top the seeds with a bit of dirt and maybe some compost or mulch to help keep them safe from the critters that might want to munch on them.
Now, nurture the habitat. In the first year especially, give your seeds and sprouts a drink of water when the soil is getting dry, and pull up any grass or dandelions that crop up. Watch for seedlings! Bergamot especially can sprout very quickly. If you plant your seeds in fall, cover with leaves to keep them safe over the winter.
Finally, enjoy the habitat! As the plants get bigger, there will be more and more visitors to explore. Native bees come in many shapes and sizes, and get very busy on warm summer days! Songbird parents will visit the plants to find caterpillars for their babies. Hummingbirds and butterflies will come to nectar. Because these plants self-seed, in a few years you'll have extra plants; dig them up in early spring or late fall and move them to other garden beds, or give them to friends!
No garden? No problem! These plants can be grown in pots as well--just don't plant too many! 3 or 4 seeds per 6" pot is enough. They can be overwintered in a garage or cuddled up next to the side of a building.
Next, plant your seeds. It's best to plant in spring (April or May) or fall (September-November) rather than midsummer. Make sure you've removed any straggling weeds, and wet the soil a little. Then, sprinkle your seeds (aka habitat starters) over the whole area. Be careful! Some of the seeds are tiny; you want an even spread, not a pile of seeds all in one spot. Top the seeds with a bit of dirt and maybe some compost or mulch to help keep them safe from the critters that might want to munch on them.
Now, nurture the habitat. In the first year especially, give your seeds and sprouts a drink of water when the soil is getting dry, and pull up any grass or dandelions that crop up. Watch for seedlings! Bergamot especially can sprout very quickly. If you plant your seeds in fall, cover with leaves to keep them safe over the winter.
Finally, enjoy the habitat! As the plants get bigger, there will be more and more visitors to explore. Native bees come in many shapes and sizes, and get very busy on warm summer days! Songbird parents will visit the plants to find caterpillars for their babies. Hummingbirds and butterflies will come to nectar. Because these plants self-seed, in a few years you'll have extra plants; dig them up in early spring or late fall and move them to other garden beds, or give them to friends!
No garden? No problem! These plants can be grown in pots as well--just don't plant too many! 3 or 4 seeds per 6" pot is enough. They can be overwintered in a garage or cuddled up next to the side of a building.
Want More Native Plants?
These are just three of the thousands of plant species native to northwest lower Michigan. Use more of them in your garden to see (and support) even more of the wildlife that makes this area so special!
Check out the nurseries and landscapers participating in Go Beyond Beauty
For bulk orders, look at this list of Michigan's native plant nurseries,
compiled by the Wildflower Association of Michigan
For bulk orders, look at this list of Michigan's native plant nurseries,
compiled by the Wildflower Association of Michigan
