Small Wonders...
Dwarf Lake Iris
Now that I am living back in the Midwest I have been forced to appreciate the simple things in nature. Without stunning summit vistas or 100' waterfalls to reward me on my hikes I grew concerned that my camera was going to quickly start gathering dust. While in the southeast I developed a minor interest in the beautiful flora that accompanied me on my hikes. I decided to check it out, though the North Woods isn't exactly known for its exotic wildflowers (I mean, how can you compete with the Rhododendron bloom in the Appalachains?). I bought a book by the name
Wildflowers of Michigan and was astounded at the variety of flora that call the North Woods home. In fact Michigan's State Wildflower, the delicate
Dwarf Lake Iris, is found nowhere else in the world except select locations along the north shores of Lakes Michigan & Huron! Like the Dwarf Lake Iris, most are tiny flowers (the seasons at this latitude are just too short) so many of these tiny wonders are passed unnoticed as you tramp through the pines....unless you slow down and take time to look.
Large-flowered Trillium
So, with my guidebooks in tow I've set out on a few local trails. Keeping my pace in low gear has allowed the variety of the woodlands around me to reveal itself. Needless to say, I'm hooked. As the seasons come and go the collection continues to grow. Please bear with me as this is a relatively new hobby. I apologize ahead of time for any incorrect info that may be displayed with my pictures (aka. names). Please don't go to your friends and tell them about the idiot on summitpost who labeled a
Yellow Downy Violet as a
Prairie Sunflower, just let me know so I can change it and save face with the next person who visits. This is very much a learning experience for me so if you have any tips, information, or wildflower hotspots please share....and above all ENJOY THE PHOTOS!!!!
Here's a list of the flowers I have so far, by color...
Yellow Blooms
Woodland Sunflower
Yellow Lady's Slipper
Golden Ragwort
Common
Name | Scientific
Name | Native? | Range |
Betony, Wood | Pedicularis canadensis | Yes | Entire LP, Scattered UP |
Black-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta | Yes | Entire State |
Butter-and-eggs | Linaria vulgaris | No | Scattered Throughout |
Buttercup, Swamp | Ranunculus septentrionalis | Yes | Entire State |
Canada Hawkweed | Hieracium canadense | Yes | Scattered in LP, Entire UP |
Cinquefoil, Canadian Dwarf | Potentilla canadensis | Yes | Widely Scattered Throughout |
Coreopsis, Lance-leaved | Heliopsis helianthoides | Yes | Northern Tip & Southwest LP, Entire UP |
Dandelion, Common | Taraxacum officinale | No | Entire State |
Frostweed | Helianthemum canadense | Yes | Entire LP, South-central UP |
Goldenrod, Houghton's | Oligoneuron houghtonii | Yes | Extreme Northern LP, Eastern UP |
Goldenrod, Ohio | Oligoneuron ohioense | Yes | Southeast & Extreme Northern LP, Scattered in UP |
Goldenrod, Showy | Solidago speciosa | Yes | Scattered in Southern & Northern LP, Western UP |
Hoary Puccoon | Lithospermum canescens | Yes | Southern LP, isolated Northwest LP, Menominee County |
Iris, Yellow Flag | Iris pseudacorus | No | Very Isolated NW & Southern LP |
Lady's Slipper, Yellow | Cypripedium parviflorum | Yes | Entire State |
Lakeside Daisy | Tetraneuris herbacea | Yes | Isolated lakeshore areas |
Lily, Bluebead (Clintonia) | Clintonia borealis | Yes | Entire North 2/3 LP, Entire UP |
Lily, Yellow Pond | Nuphar lutea | Yes | Entire State |
Marsh Marigold | Caltha palustris | Yes | Entire State |
Mullien, Common | Verbascum thapsus | No | Entire State |
Parsnip, Wild | Pastinaca sativa | No | Scattered LP, Widespread UP |
Primrose, Evening | Oenothera biennis | Yes | Entire State |
Ragwort, Golden | Senecio aureus | Yes | Entire State |
St. Johnswort, Common | Hypericum perforatum | No | Entire State |
Silverweed | Argentina anserina | Yes | Lakeshore counties in LP, Eastern UP, scattered Western UP |
Spurge, Cypress | Euphorbia cyparissias | No | Scatterd LP, Isolated UP |
Tansy, Huron | Tanacetum huronense | Yes | Widely Scattered LP, Entire UP |
Trefoil, Birdfoot | Lotus corniculatus | No | Widely Scattered Throughout State |
Violet, Downy Yellow | Viola pubescens | Yes | Entire State |
Winter Cress | Barbarea vulgaris | No | Entire State, except north-central LP |
Yellow Trout Lily | Erythronium rostratum | Yes | Entire State |
White Blooms
Indian Pipe
Dutchman's Breeches
Bloodroot
Common
Name | Scientific
Name | Native? | Range |
Anemone, Canada | Anemone canadensis | Yes | Entire State, more Scattered South 1/2 |
Aster, Bushy | Aster dumosus | No | Scattered throughout State |
Baneberry, Red | Actaea rubra | Yes | Scattered LP, Entire UP |
Baneberry, White | Actaea pachypoda | Yes | Entire State |
Beardtongue, White | Penstemon digitalis | Yes | Scattered in Southern & extreme Northern LP, South-central UP |
Bindweed, Field | Convolvulus arvensis | No | Scattered Entire State |
Bloodroot | Sanguinaria canadensis | Yes | Entire State except areas of Northeast Lower |
Bunchberry | Cornus canadensis | Yes | Northern LP, scattered in southern LP, Entire UP |
Canada Anemone | Anemone canadensis | Yes | Northern LP & entire UP, scattered in southern LP |
Canada Mayflower | Maianthemum canadense | Yes | Entire State |
Chickweed | Stellaria media | No | Scattered Entire State |
Cress, Lyre-leaved Rock | Arabis lyrata | Yes | Common shoreline counties of Entire State |
Cress, Spring | Cardamine bulbosa | Yes | Common Southern Half LP |
Daisy, Ox-eye | Leucanthemum vulgare | No | Entire State |
Dutchman's Breeches | Dicentra cucullaria | Yes | Entire State except the Thumb |
Everlasting, Pearly | Anaphalis margaritacea | Yes | Common North 1/2, Isolated South |
Field Bindweed | Convolvulus arvensis | No | Scattered throughout State |
Fleabane, Daisy | Erigeron philadelphicus | Yes | Entire State |
Indian Pipe | Monotropa uniflora | Yes | Entire State, more Scattered to South |
Ginseng, Dwarf | Panax trifolius | Yes | Entire State, more scattered in northern LP |
Goldthread | Coptis trifolia | Yes | Entire State, scattered in Southeast LP |
Hepatica, Sharp-lobed | Hepatica nobilis | Yes | Entire LP, Scattered UP |
Labrador Tea | Ledum groenlandicum | Yes | Northern LP & Entire UP |
Leatherleaf | Chamaedaphne calyculata | Yes | Entire State, more Scattered to South |
Lily-of-the-Valley | Convallaria majalis | No | Scattered in Southern LP, Isolated in UP, Emmet County |
Meadowsweet | Spiraea latifolia | Yes | Scattered in Northern 1/2 of State |
Mustard, Garlic | Alliaria petiolata | No | Isolated Throughout State |
Night-flowering Catchfly | Silene noctiflora | No | Scattered in extreme northern LP, southern LP, & UP |
Partridgeberry | Mitchella repens | Yes | Entire State except Saginaw Valley |
Pussytoes, Plantain-leaved | Antennaria plantaginifolia | Yes | Entire State |
Queen Anne's Lace | Daucus carota | No | Entire State |
Shinleaf | Pyrola elliptica | Yes | Entire State |
Spring Beauty | Claytonia caroliniana | Yes | Northern LP & Thumb, Entire UP |
Starflower | Trientalis borealis | Yes | Northern LP & Entire UP, scattered Southern LP |
Strawberry, Wild | Fragaria virginiana | Yes | Entire State |
Toothwort, Two-leaved | Cardamine diphylla | Yes | Entire State, more scattered in interior locations |
Trillium, Large-flowered | Trillium grandiflorum | Yes | Entire State |
Trillium, Large-flowered
(Double morph) | Trillium grandiflorum f. polymerum | Yes | Entire State |
Trillium, Nodding | Trillium cernuum | Yes | Scattered LP, Entire UP |
Turtlehead, White | Chelone glabra | Yes | Entire State |
Violet, Sweet White | Viola blanda | Yes | Entire State, except near Ohio border |
Watercress | Nasturtium officinale | Yes | Scattered LP, isolated in UP |
Water Hemlock | Cicuta maculata | Yes | Scattered throughout LP, isolated in UP |
White Water Lily | Nymphaea odorata | Yes | Entire State except Thumb area |
Wild Sasparilla | Aralia nudicaulis | Yes | Entire State |
Yarrow | Achillea millefolium | No | Entire State |
Purple Blooms
Birds-eye Primrose
Purple Coneflower
New England Aster
Common
Name | Scientific
Name | Native? | Range |
Aster, Late Purple | Symphyotrichum patens | Yes | Entire State |
Aster, New England | Aster novae-angliae | Yes | Entire South 1/2 LP, Scattered North LP & Central UP |
Bergamot, Wild | Monarda fistulosa | Yes | Entire State |
Bird's-eye Primrose | Primula mistassinica | Yes | North 1/3 LP, East 2/3 UP |
Bittersweet Nightshade | Solanum dulcamara | No | Entire LP, scattered in UP |
Coneflower, Purple | Echinacea pallida | Yes | Extremely Rare; Only on extreme S & Northern Tip LP, Mackinac & Keweenaw Counties in UP |
Daisy Fleabane | Erigeron annuus | Yes | Entire State |
Dame's Rocket | Hesperis matronalis | No | Scattered throughout state |
Heal-all | Prunella vulgaris | Yes | Entire State |
Hepatica, Sharp-lobed | Hepatica acutiloba | Yes | Entire LP & Central UP |
Knapweed, Spotted | Centaurea stoebe | No | Entire State |
Loosestrife, Purple | Lythrum salicaria | No | Widely Scattered throughout State |
Lupine, Wild | Lupinus perennis | Yes | Isolated areas throughout state |
Periwinkle | Vinca minor | No | Scattered throughout state |
Speedwell, Common | Veronica anagallis-aquatica | Yes | Scattered Lakeshores Throughout State |
Thistle, Bull | Cirsium vulgare | No | Scattered throughout State |
Thistle, Canada | Cirsium arvense | No | Scattered Throughout State |
Vervian, Blue | Verbena hastata | Yes | Entire State |
Vetch, Hairy | Vicia villosa | No | Entire State |
Blue Blooms
Blue Flag Iris
Indian Tobacco
Grape Hyacinth
Common
Name | Scientific
Name | Native? | Range |
Blue-eyed Grass | Sisyrinchium montanum | Yes | Scattered throughout northern LP, the Thumb, & the UP |
Chicory | Cichorium | No | Scattered throughout state |
Forget-Me-Not | Myosotis scorpioides | No | Scattered throughout state |
Grape Hyacinth | Muscari botryoides | No | Northwest LP, southern LP, scattered in UP |
Harebell | Campanula rotundifolia | Yes | Entire State except Saginaw Valley |
Indian Tobacco | Lobelia inflata | Yes | Scattered Throughout State |
Iris, Blue Flag | Iris versicolor | Yes | Northern LP & entire UP |
Iris, Dwarf Lake | Iris lacustris | Yes | Michigan State Wildflower: Only place in world this plant is found is on extreme north shores of Lakes Huron & Michigan |
Violet, Common Blue | Viola sororia | Yes | Entire State, scattered Northeast LP |
Violet, Dog | Viola canina | Yes | Entire State |
Violet, Marsh Blue | Viola cucullata | Yes | Entire State, scattered south-central LP & Thumb |
Viper's Bugloss | Echium vulgare | No | Scattered Throughout State |
Pink Blooms
Fireweed
Showy Lady's Slipper
Trailing Arbutus
Common
Name | Scientific
Name | Native? | Range |
Basil | Satureja vulgaris | Yes | Entire State, Except Southern Interior LP |
Bearberry | Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Yes | Entire State, Except South & West LP |
Clover, Red | Trifolium pratense | Yes | Entire State |
Corydalis, Pale | Corydalis sempervirens | Yes | Scattered North & West LP, Entire UP |
Fireweed | Chamerion angustifolium | Yes | Scattered South, Common North |
Fringed Polygala | Polygala paucifolia | Yes | Northern 2/3 of LP & entire UP |
Geranium, Wild | Geranium maculatum | Yes | Common Southern 1/2 of LP, Isolated UP |
Grass Pink | Calopogon tuberosus | Yes | Scattered throughout State |
Herb-Robert | Geranium robertianum | Yes | Western LP & Thumb area, Eastern UP |
Lady's Slipper, Pink | Cypripedium acaule | Yes | Entire State, more Scattered South & West LP |
Lady's Slipper, Showy | Cypripedium reginae | Yes | Scattered throughout State |
Maiden Pink | Dianthus deltoides | Yes | Very Rare, Isolated throughout state |
Milkweed, Common | Asclepias syriaca | Yes | Entire State |
Pea, Beach | Lathyrus japonicus | Yes | West & NE coast of LP, coastal UP |
Pea, Everlasting (or Sweet) | Lathyrus latifolius | No | Widely Scattered Entire State |
Rose, Wild (or Smooth) | Rosa blanda | Yes | Entire State, Scattered South LP |
Thistle, Swamp | Cirsium muticum | Yes | Scattered throughout State |
Trailing Arbutus | Epigaea repens | Yes | Entire State except SW LP |
Twinflower | Linnaea borealis | Yes | Isolated South 1/2, Common North |
Twisted-stalk, Rosy | Streptopus roseus | Yes | Northern tip & Thumb LP, Entire UP |
Willow-herb, Hairy | Epilobium hirsutum | No | Isolated South & North Tip LP |
Windflower | Anemone multifida | Yes | North shore of LP, Eastern UP |
Red Blooms
Wild Columbine
Cardinal Flower
Indian Paintbrush
Orange Blooms
Butterfly Milkweed
Spotted Touch-me-not
Orange Hawkweed
Common
Name | Scientific
Name | Native? | Range |
Lily, Michigan | Lilium michiganense | Yes | Southern LP & Western UP |
Lily, Wood | Lilium philadelphicum | Yes | Northern LP & Eastern UP, scattered in Southern LP |
Milkweed, Butterfly | Asclepias tuberosa | Yes | Entire LP except North-central & extreme NW, Dickinson County |
Orange Hawkweed | Hieracium aurantiacum | No | Entire State |
Touch-Me-Not, Spotted | Impatiens capensis | Yes | Entire State |
Green & Brown Blooms
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Common
Name | Scientific
Name | Native? | Range |
Cattail | Typha latifolia | Yes | Entire State |
Jack-in-the-Pulpit | Arisaema triphyllum | Yes | Entire State |
Leafy Spurge | Euphorbia esula | No | Northern LP, scattered in Southern LP, Scattered in UP |
Pitcher Plant | Sarracenia purpurea | Yes | Entire State, except scattered in Southeast LP |
Resources...
Here's a few of my most useful tools for wildflower hunting in Michigan...
Wildflowers of Michigan -
Stan Tekiela
Michigan Wildflowers in Color -
Harry C. Lund
Guide to Great Lakes Coastal Plants -
Ellen Elliott Weatherbee
Michigan Wildflowers - The most complete online resource (or print for that matter!) I've found.
USDA Plants Database - Everything Plants!
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