Michigan Wildflowers

Small Wonders...

  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.   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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

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

     

Common Name	Scientific Name	Native?	Range
Cardinal Flower	Lobelia cardinalis	Yes	Entire LP, Isolated South UP
Indian Blanket	Gaillardia pulchella	Yes	Very Rare, Isolated spots in LP only
Indian Paintbrush	Castilleja coccinea	Yes	Northern LP, scattered throughout rest of State
Milkweed, Common	Asclepias syriaca	Yes	Entire State
Milkweed, Swamp	Asclepias incarnata	Yes	Entire State
Wild Columbine	Aquilegia canadensis	Yes	Entire State

Orange Blooms

     

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

 

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!

Images

View Michigan Wildflowers Image Gallery - 153 Images