Michigan Native Perennials

White Baneberry

• While white baneberry (Actaea pachypoda) is common throughout the deciduous woodlands of Michigan, it will not grow where the shade is heavy, notes the City of Ann Arbor site. White baneberry grows as high as 30 inches, with the foliage remaining green through the summer. The small white flowers develop into poisonous but attractive white berries. Their toxic nature causes animals to leave them alone, so the fruits linger on the perennial through the winter. White baneberry requires moist, well-draining areas in which to grow and it works in perennial borders and shade gardens.

Foamflowers

• In areas of Michigan where the winters are mild, the foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) is evergreen. This small perennial grows only to 12 inches, with spikes of white flowers blooming over the foliage during May. Foamflowers thrive where shade is present, doing well in woodland gardens, alongside streams and ponds and in the shaded portions of a rock garden. Foamflowers planted in masses mature to form an effective ground cover.

Woodland Sunflower

• The yellow blooms of the woodland sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus) are appropriate for forest borders and in naturalized settings. The species of sunflower grows to 6 feet high in dry conditions. Woodland sunflowers occur all over Michigan, able to grow from USDA zones 3 through 8. Woodland sunflowers have a yellow center surrounded by bright yellow rays. The plant has the capacity to form colonies, spreading throughout an area by means of underground stems called stolons. The flowers are suitable as cut flowers.

Blue Vervain

• The branching, upright stems of blue vervain (Verbean hastata) grow to heights of 6 feet. The flowers bloom in long spikes from July into early autumn in Michigan, developing first at the bottom of the spike and opening in progression upwards. Blue vervain's flowers are a purple-blue combination. The plant does best where the ground is damp, since in the wild it grows near wetlands, in low-lying spots and in wet meadows. Blue vervain forms large colonies through its underground roots (Rhizomes), making it a good fit for naturalized areas on your property.