Michigan Native Shrubs & Vines
Plants are available late May through October. Orders are filled in the order they are received. Orders placed in May may not be ready until late June. Out of stock? We are growing more. Please select the "Notify me when in stock" button on the product page to receive an email notifications.
Orders are NOT shipped. A pickup time will be arranged through email when plants are ready for pick up.
4" Pot
A deep 4x5" square pot is our standard. Well-developed roots help the plant establish quickly. All plants are in a 4" pot unless otherwise stated.
Plug Flat
A plastic tray with 38 plants. Single-species or pre-designed kits. Economically plant larger areas. 5" deep and spaced for optimal crown growth.
Gallon Pots
Large round pots filled with shrubs or mature plants for garden showpieces.
Michigan Native Shrubs & Vines
Shrubs, vines, and trees native to Michigan are important landscape features, often offering far more host plant and habitat services than many herbaceous flowers. Since they don't have to grow fresh stems each spring, woody plants are often the first thing to bloom, making nectar available to freshly hatched native bees and butterflies that overwinter in the UP. (Yes! Some butterflies overwinter in the UP as adults in brush piles, woodpiles, and leaf litter.)
Because of their size, many native trees and shrubs offer a lot of space and food for insects, making them rich host plants for a variety of insects that will be used to feed bird nestlings throughout the summer. These insects are usually not able to feed on non-native trees and shrubs, meaning such ornamentals cannot support birds and other local life. In the later season, many native shrubs offer fruits used by birds and other animals to prepare for winter. These fruits are different than those offered by non-native shrubs in the timing of fruit set and nutrition. Our birds are evolved to time their migration and other life cycles to our native plants, and non-native plants do not meet their needs as well.
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From a strictly human perspective, native shrubs offer attractive flowers, texture, height, and structure in the garden. They also provide winter interest - showcasing curly or bright red bark, or holding clusters of pink triangular seeds that tremble in the breeze above the snow. Some even have edible fruit. Vines are also a valuable landscaping plant and can be trained over a trellis or used to cover a fence or provide privacy.
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As always, we seek to offer plants adapted to the UP from UP seed sources and most of our shrubs are from UP seed. New Jersey Tea are grown by us from lower Michigan seed. Other shrubs may be sourced from a reputable Michigan nursery downstate. Please read the product description for more information.
