Native plants · Michigan

Native plants of Leelanau County

607 plant species are recorded as native to Michigan in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Leelanau County by USDA PLANTS. 265 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 4 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Leelanau County, Michigan

Native species
607 Typical Michigan county: 495 (median of 83 counties)
Garden-ready natives
265 Typical Michigan county: 227
Share by type (all 607 native species)
Percent of the 607 native species in each growth type
Tree 11% (64)
Shrub 9% (57)
Wildflower (forb) 56% (339)
Grass or grass-like 22% (135)
Vine 2% (12)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (56%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (22%).

Recorded native ranges can include long-established populations that spread from gardens; check your state’s native plant society list for local guidance. How native status is decided.

ZIP codes mainly in this county fall in USDA hardiness zones 6a to 6b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Cold hardiness is estimated from each plant’s PLANTS minimum temperature. How we estimate it.

Garden-ready natives 265

Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.

Garden-ready native plants of Leelanau County, Michigan
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
alderleaf buckthorn Rhamnus alnifolia Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
Allegheny blackberry Rubus allegheniensis Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
Allegheny serviceberry Amelanchier laevis Tree 35 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
alternateleaf dogwood Cornus alternifolia Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
American basswood Tilia americana Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
American beachgrass Ammophila breviligulata Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
American beech Fagus grandifolia Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
American bittersweet Celastrus scandens Vine 15 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
American black currant Ribes americanum Shrub 3 ft — — Zone 2b
American chestnut Castanea dentata Tree 115 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
American elm Ulmus americana Tree 120 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 2b
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana Wildflower (forb) 7.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
American red raspberry Rubus idaeus Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 1a
American water horehound Lycopus americanus Wildflower (forb) 1.8 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana Tree 20 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
annual wildrice Zizania aquatica Grass or grass-like 9.8 ft Sun High Zone 10b
arborvitae Thuja occidentalis Tree 50 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
arumleaf arrowhead Sagittaria cuneata Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
balsam fir Abies balsamea Tree 60 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
balsam poplar Populus balsamifera Tree 80 ft Sun High Zone 1a
beach pea Lathyrus japonicus Vine 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
beaked hazelnut Corylus cornuta Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
beaked sedge Carex rostrata Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
beaked spikerush Eleocharis rostellata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun High Zone 4b
Bebb's sedge Carex bebbii Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii Grass or grass-like 6 ft Sun Low Zone 2b
bigleaf aster Eurybia macrophylla Wildflower (forb) 4.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
bigtooth aspen Populus grandidentata Tree 65 ft Sun High Zone 3a
black ash Fraxinus nigra Tree 65 ft Sun High Zone 2b
black cherry Prunus serotina Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata Shrub 4 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
black spruce Picea mariana Tree 65 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 1a
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
blue cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
bluebead Clintonia borealis Wildflower (forb) 1.1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
blunt broom sedge Carex tribuloides Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
bog birch Betula pumila Shrub 20 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
bog goldenrod Solidago uliginosa Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
bog Labrador tea Ledum groenlandicum Shrub 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
bog laurel Kalmia polifolia Shrub 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
bog willowherb Epilobium leptophyllum Wildflower (forb) 3.6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
boxelder Acer negundo Tree 60 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
broadfruit bur-reed Sparganium eurycarpum Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 4a
broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
broadlipped twayblade Listera convallarioides Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
broom sedge Carex scoparia Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
buckbean Menyanthes trifoliata Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
bunchberry dogwood Cornus canadensis Shrub 6 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
Canada goldenrod Solidago altissima Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
Canada yew Taxus canadensis Shrub 5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 12b
Canadian lousewort Pedicularis canadensis Wildflower (forb) 1.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
Canadian rush Juncus canadensis Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Canadian waterweed Elodea canadensis Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
chokecherry Prunus virginiana Tree 25 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
closed bottle gentian Gentiana andrewsii Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
common blue violet Viola sororia Wildflower (forb) 4 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
common blue wood aster Symphyotrichum cordifolium Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
common cowparsnip Heracleum maximum Wildflower (forb) 8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
common duckweed Lemna minor Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
common juniper Juniperus communis Tree 10 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
common mare's-tail Hippuris vulgaris Wildflower (forb) 2.8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius Shrub 10 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
common rush Juncus effusus Grass or grass-like 6.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
common selfheal Prunella vulgaris Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
common serviceberry Amelanchier arborea Tree 36 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus Shrub 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
common winterberry Ilex verticillata Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum Wildflower (forb) — Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
creeping juniper Juniperus horizontalis Shrub 4 ft Sun High Zone 3a
creeping snowberry Gaultheria hispidula Shrub 6 in Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
cursed buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 12b
cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata Wildflower (forb) 8.2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12a
devil's darning needles Clematis virginiana Vine 15 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
Dewey sedge Carex deweyana Grass or grass-like 3.8 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
downy yellow violet Viola pubescens Wildflower (forb) 1.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
drooping woodreed Cinna latifolia Grass or grass-like 4.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
Drummond's rockcress Arabis drummondii Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides Tree 190 ft Sun High Zone 3a
eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis Tree 105 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
eastern rough sedge Carex scabrata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
eastern teaberry Gaultheria procumbens Shrub 6 in Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
eastern white pine Pinus strobus Tree 150 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
fineleaf pondweed Stuckenia filiformis Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
fireweed Chamerion angustifolium Wildflower (forb) 5.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
flatstem pondweed Potamogeton zosteriformis Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
floating pondweed Potamogeton natans Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
fowl bluegrass Poa palustris Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata Grass or grass-like 5.7 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
foxglove beardtongue Penstemon digitalis Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
fringed sedge Carex crinita Grass or grass-like 5.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea Wildflower (forb) 8.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
golden currant Ribes aureum Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
golden sedge Carex aurea Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
graceful sedge Carex gracillima Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
gray alder Alnus incana Tree 25 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
greater creeping spearwort Ranunculus flammula Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens Grass or grass-like 5.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 2a
hair-like sedge Carex capillaris Grass or grass-like 1.7 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
hairy white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum pilosum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
hardstem bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus Grass or grass-like 9.8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
hooded lady's tresses Spiranthes romanzoffiana Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
hop sedge Carex lupulina Grass or grass-like 4.3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana Tree 45 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
inland sedge Carex interior Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
jack pine Pinus banksiana Tree 80 ft Sun Low Zone 2a
jewelweed Impatiens capensis Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 10b
jointleaf rush Juncus articulatus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
kinnikinnick Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Shrub 6 in Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
knotted rush Juncus nodosus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
lanceleaf tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 6b
largeleaf pondweed Potamogeton amplifolius Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
leatherleaf Chamaedaphne calyculata Shrub 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
lesser bladderwort Utricularia minor Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 3a
limestone meadow sedge Carex granularis Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
little green sedge Carex viridula Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun High Zone 3b
littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus Wildflower (forb) 2.8 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
longhair sedge Carex comosa Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
lowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium Shrub 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
marsh bellflower Campanula aparinoides Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun High Zone 3b
marsh grass of Parnassus Parnassia palustris Wildflower (forb) 2.2 ft Sun High Zone 3b
meadow evening primrose Oenothera pilosella Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
Mexican muhly Muhlenbergia mexicana Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
moss phlox Phlox subulata Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
mountain maple Acer spicatum Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
mud sedge Carex limosa Grass or grass-like 1.8 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
nannyberry Viburnum lentago Tree 28 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
necklace sedge Carex projecta Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
nerveless woodland sedge Carex leptonervia Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
nodding beggartick Bidens cernua Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
nodding fescue Festuca subverticillata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
nodding waternymph Najas flexilis Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
northern bush honeysuckle Diervilla lonicera Shrub 2.4 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 5a
northern mountain ash Sorbus decora Tree 40 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 2a
northern red oak Quercus rubra Tree 81 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
northern spicebush Lindera benzoin Tree 12 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
Pacific anemone Anemone multifida Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
paper birch Betula papyrifera Tree 70 ft Sun High Zone 1a
peachleaf willow Salix amygdaloides Tree 60 ft Sun High Zone 4a
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
Pennsylvania buttercup Ranunculus pensylvanicus Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus Wildflower (forb) 2.8 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
pin cherry Prunus pensylvanica Tree 30 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata Shrub 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
poverty rush Juncus tenuis Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
prairie cordgrass Spartina pectinata Grass or grass-like 8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
prairie sandreed Calamovilfa longifolia Grass or grass-like 4.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
prairie willow Salix humilis Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
prickly currant Ribes lacustre Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 1a
prickly rose Rosa acicularis Shrub 4 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
purple avens Geum rivale Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun High Zone 4a
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis Grass or grass-like 11 in Sun Low Zone 3a
purpleflowering raspberry Rubus odoratus Shrub 5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
purpleleaf willowherb Epilobium coloratum Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
purplestem aster Symphyotrichum puniceum Wildflower (forb) 8.1 ft Sun High Zone 3b
purplestem beggarticks Bidens connata Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
pussy willow Salix discolor Tree 40 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
quaking aspen Populus tremuloides Tree 65 ft Sun High Zone 1a
red elderberry Sambucus racemosa Tree 18 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
red maple Acer rubrum Tree 68 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 2b
red pine Pinus resinosa Tree 80 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
redosier dogwood Cornus sericea Tree 12 ft Sun High Zone 3b
reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun High Zone 3b
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 4a
riverbank grape Vitis riparia Vine 45 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
rough bedstraw Galium asprellum Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
roundleaf dogwood Cornus rugosa Tree 10 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
roundleaf goldenrod Solidago patula Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
roundleaf serviceberry Amelanchier sanguinea Tree 10 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
russet buffaloberry Shepherdia canadensis Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 1a
sageleaf willow Salix candida Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
sand dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
sandbar willow Salix interior Tree 30 ft Sun — Zone 1a
sandcherry Prunus pumila Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
scarlet Indian paintbrush Castilleja coccinea Wildflower (forb) 1.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
shining willow Salix lucida Tree 13 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
shrubby cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa Shrub 2.5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
shrubby St. Johnswort Hypericum prolificum Shrub 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
silky dogwood Cornus amomum Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
silver maple Acer saccharinum Tree 90 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 2b
silverweed cinquefoil Argentina anserina Wildflower (forb) 6 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
silvery sedge Carex canescens Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
skunk cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
slender flatsedge Cyperus bipartitus Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
slimstem reedgrass Calamagrostis stricta Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
slippery elm Ulmus rubra Tree 85 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3a
small enchanter's nightshade Circaea alpina Wildflower (forb) 11 in Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
small white violet Viola macloskeyi Wildflower (forb) 6 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
smallhead rush Juncus brachycephalus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
smooth blue aster Symphyotrichum laeve Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
smooth sumac Rhus glabra Tree 12 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
softleaf sedge Carex disperma Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Grass or grass-like 9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
spotted joe pye weed Eutrochium maculatum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
staghorn sumac Rhus typhina Tree 30 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
star duckweed Lemna trisulca Wildflower (forb) 4 in Sun High Zone 3b
stiff marsh bedstraw Galium tinctorium Wildflower (forb) 10 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
striped maple Acer pensylvanicum Tree 35 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 2b
sugar maple Acer saccharum Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
swamp loosestrife Decodon verticillatus Shrub 8 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
swamp rose Rosa palustris Shrub 8.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
sweetgale Myrica gale Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
switchgrass Panicum virgatum Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
tall hairy agrimony Agrimonia gryposepala Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
tamarack Larix laricina Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 1a
tawny cottongrass Eriophorum virginicum Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
thickspike wheatgrass Elymus lanceolatus Grass or grass-like 2.3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus Shrub 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
three-way sedge Dulichium arundinaceum Grass or grass-like 2.6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
threepetal bedstraw Galium trifidum Vine 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
threeseeded sedge Carex trisperma Grass or grass-like 1.9 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
toad rush Juncus bufonius Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 12a
Torrey's rush Juncus torreyi Grass or grass-like 3.1 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
tufted loosestrife Lysimachia thyrsiflora Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
upright sedge Carex stricta Grass or grass-like 4.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
variableleaf pondweed Potamogeton gramineus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia Vine 1 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
Virginia iris Iris virginica Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8b
water knotweed Polygonum amphibium Wildflower (forb) 1 in Sun High Zone 5a
water sedge Carex aquatilis Grass or grass-like 2.9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
wavy hairgrass Deschampsia flexuosa Grass or grass-like 2.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
western pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
white ash Fraxinus americana Tree 90 ft Sun High Zone 4a
white avens Geum canadense Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
white edge sedge Carex debilis Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6a
white meadowsweet Spiraea alba Shrub 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
white oak Quercus alba Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
white panicle aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
white spruce Picea glauca Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 1a
wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
wild blue phlox Phlox divaricata Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
wild sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
woolly beachheather Hudsonia tomentosa Shrub 1 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
wreath goldenrod Solidago caesia Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
wrinkleleaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
yellow birch Betula alleghaniensis Tree 75 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 2b
yellow marsh marigold Caltha palustris Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun High Zone 3b
zigzag goldenrod Solidago flexicaulis Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b

Other native species recorded here 342

PLANTS has no growing records for these, so light, moisture, height and zone filters cannot include them. Many are wild species seldom sold by nurseries.

  • Adam and Eve Aplectrum hyemale
  • Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
  • alpine bulrush Trichophorum alpinum
  • alpine pondweed Potamogeton alpinus
  • alpine violet Viola labradorica
  • American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
  • American cancer-root Conopholis americana
  • American fly honeysuckle Lonicera canadensis
  • American ginseng Panax quinquefolius
  • American golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium americanum
  • American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
  • American milletgrass Milium effusum
  • American searocket Cakile edentula
  • American spikenard Aralia racemosa
  • American spurred gentian Halenia deflexa
  • American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
  • American wintergreen Pyrola americana
  • bald spikerush Eleocharis erythropoda
  • balsam groundsel Packera paupercula
  • bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
  • bay forget-me-not Myosotis laxa
  • bayberry willow Salix myricoides
  • Bebb willow Salix bebbiana
  • beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
  • beggarslice Hackelia virginiana
  • bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
  • bigfruit hawthorn Crataegus macrosperma
  • blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
  • blackseed ricegrass Patis racemosa
  • blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
  • blite goosefoot Chenopodium capitatum
  • bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
  • blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
  • bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
  • bluntleaved orchid Platanthera obtusata
  • bog rosemary Andromeda polifolia
  • bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
  • boreal bog sedge Carex magellanica
  • boreal starwort Stellaria borealis
  • bottlebrush sedge Carex hystericina
  • bristleleaf sedge Carex eburnea
  • bristly sarsaparilla Aralia hispida
  • broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
  • brownish sedge Carex brunnescens
  • bulblet-bearing water hemlock Cicuta bulbifera
  • Buxbaum's sedge Carex buxbaumii
  • Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
  • Canada mayflower Maianthemum canadense
  • Canadian anemone Anemone canadensis
  • Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
  • Canadian white violet Viola canadensis
  • Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
  • candle anemone Anemone cylindrica
  • Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
  • Carolina puccoon Lithospermum caroliniense
  • Carolina springbeauty Claytonia caroliniana
  • catberry Ilex mucronata
  • chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
  • checkered rattlesnake plantain Goodyera tesselata
  • clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
  • claspleaf twistedstalk Streptopus amplexifolius
  • Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
  • Cleland's evening primrose Oenothera clelandii
  • clustered broomrape Orobanche fasciculata
  • clustered sedge Carex cumulata
  • coastal jointweed Polygonella articulata
  • common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
  • common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
  • common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
  • common marsh bedstraw Galium palustre
  • common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
  • common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
  • cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon
  • Crawe's sedge Carex crawei
  • Crawford's sedge Carex crawfordii
  • cream pea Lathyrus ochroleucus
  • crinkleroot Cardamine diphylla
  • cuckoo flower Cardamine pratensis
  • Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
  • curlycup gumweed Grindelia squarrosa
  • curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
  • cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
  • cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
  • cypress-like sedge Carex pseudocyperus
  • dioecious sedge Carex sterilis
  • dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
  • dotted hawthorn Crataegus punctata
  • Douglas' knotweed Polygonum douglasii
  • downy willowherb Epilobium strictum
  • drooping woodland sedge Carex arctata
  • Dudley's rush Juncus dudleyi
  • dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
  • dwarf ginseng Panax trifolius
  • dwarf red blackberry Rubus pubescens
  • early goldenrod Solidago juncea
  • early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
  • earth loosestrife Lysimachia terrestris
  • eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
  • eastern daisy fleabane Erigeron annuus
  • eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
  • eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
  • eastern prickly gooseberry Ribes cynosbati
  • eastern waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum
  • elk sedge Carex garberi
  • elliptic spikerush Eleocharis elliptica
  • fall phlox Phlox paniculata
  • fall witchgrass Digitaria cognata
  • false melic Schizachne purpurascens
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • fen grass of Parnassus Parnassia glauca
  • fewflower sedge Carex pauciflora
  • fewflower spikerush Eleocharis quinqueflora
  • fewseed sedge Carex oligosperma
  • fibrousroot sedge Carex communis
  • flat-top goldentop Euthamia graminifolia
  • flatleaf bladderwort Utricularia intermedia
  • forked threeawn Aristida basiramea
  • fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
  • Fraser's marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum fraseri
  • Fries' pondweed Potamogeton friesii
  • fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
  • fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
  • gaywings Polygala paucifolia
  • giant sunflower Helianthus giganteus
  • grassleaf mudplantain Heteranthera dubia
  • great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
  • Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
  • great waterleaf Hydrophyllum appendiculatum
  • green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
  • green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
  • green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
  • green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
  • greenflowered wintergreen Pyrola chlorantha
  • grooved flax Linum sulcatum
  • grove bluegrass Poa alsodes
  • hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
  • hairy four o'clock Mirabilis hirsuta
  • hairy goldenrod Solidago hispida
  • hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
  • hay sedge Carex argyrantha
  • hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
  • hiddenfruit bladderwort Utricularia geminiscapa
  • Hitchcock's sedge Carex hitchcockiana
  • hoary verbena Verbena stricta
  • hooded coralroot Corallorhiza striata
  • hookedspur violet Viola adunca
  • Hooker's orchid Platanthera hookeri
  • horned bladderwort Utricularia cornuta
  • horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
  • Howell's pussytoes Antennaria howellii
  • humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
  • Illinois pondweed Potamogeton illinoensis
  • Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
  • Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
  • Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
  • Jersey tea Ceanothus herbaceus
  • Kalm's hawkweed Hieracium kalmii
  • knotsheath sedge Carex retrorsa
  • lanceleaf figwort Scrophularia lanceolata
  • lanceleaf wild licorice Galium lanceolatum
  • large St. Johnswort Hypericum majus
  • largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
  • largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
  • largefruit blacksnakeroot Sanicula trifoliata
  • lesser clearweed Pilea fontana
  • lesser rattlesnake plantain Goodyera repens
  • lesser roundleaved orchid Platanthera orbiculata
  • lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
  • licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
  • limber honeysuckle Lonicera dioica
  • limestone calamint Clinopodium arkansanum
  • Lindley's aster Symphyotrichum ciliolatum
  • liverleaf wintergreen Pyrola asarifolia
  • longbract frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis
  • longbranch frostweed Helianthemum canadense
  • longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
  • longspur violet Viola rostrata
  • longstalk sedge Carex pedunculata
  • lyrate rockcress Arabis lyrata
  • Macoun's cudweed Pseudognaphalium macounii
  • mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
  • marsh arrowgrass Triglochin palustris
  • marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
  • marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
  • marsh pea Lathyrus palustris
  • marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
  • Maryland sanicle Sanicula marilandica
  • mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
  • Maximilian sunflower Helianthus maximiliani
  • meadow willow Salix petiolaris
  • Michaux's stitchwort Minuartia michauxii
  • moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
  • mountain deathcamas Zigadenus elegans
  • Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
  • naked miterwort Mitella nuda
  • narrowleaf bur-reed Sparganium angustifolium
  • narrowleaf cowwheat Melampyrum lineare
  • narrowleaf hawkweed Hieracium umbellatum
  • narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
  • narrowleaf vervain Verbena simplex
  • narrowpanicle rush Juncus brevicaudatus
  • needle beaksedge Rhynchospora capillacea
  • New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
  • nodding onion Allium cernuum
  • nodding stickseed Hackelia deflexa
  • northeastern sedge Carex cryptolepis
  • northern bog violet Viola nephrophylla
  • northern bugleweed Lycopus uniflorus
  • northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
  • northern evening primrose Oenothera parviflora
  • northern green rush Juncus alpinoarticulatus
  • northern long sedge Carex folliculata
  • northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
  • northern sweetgrass Hierochloe hirta
  • Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
  • Oakes' evening primrose Oenothera oakesiana
  • obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
  • oneflowered broomrape Orobanche uniflora
  • Ontario lobelia Lobelia kalmii
  • orangefruit horse-gentian Triosteum aurantiacum
  • palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
  • palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
  • Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
  • partridgeberry Mitchella repens
  • Peck's sedge Carex peckii
  • Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
  • pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
  • plantainleaf sedge Carex plantaginea
  • poison sumac Toxicodendron vernix
  • poverty dropseed Sporobolus vaginiflorus
  • poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
  • prairie sedge Carex prairea
  • purple chokeberry Aronia ×prunifolia
  • purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
  • purple marshlocks Comarum palustre
  • purple meadow-rue Thalictrum dasycarpum
  • purple pitcherplant Sarracenia purpurea
  • rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
  • ramp Allium tricoccum
  • rannoch-rush Scheuchzeria palustris
  • rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
  • red baneberry Actaea rubra
  • red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
  • red trillium Trillium erectum
  • ribseed sandmat Chamaesyce glyptosperma
  • Richardson's pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii
  • Robert geranium Geranium robertianum
  • rock harlequin Corydalis sempervirens
  • rosy sedge Carex rosea
  • rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
  • rough false pennyroyal Hedeoma hispida
  • rough hawkweed Hieracium scabrum
  • roughleaf ricegrass Oryzopsis asperifolia
  • roundleaf sundew Drosera rotundifolia
  • running serviceberry Amelanchier stolonifera
  • scarlet hawthorn Crataegus pedicellata
  • scentbottle Platanthera dilatata
  • Schweinitz's flatsedge Cyperus schweinitzii
  • Schweinitz's sedge Carex schweinitzii
  • scrambled eggs Corydalis aurea
  • seaside arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
  • seaside sandmat Chamaesyce polygonifolia
  • Selkirk's violet Viola selkirkii
  • shaved sedge Carex tonsa
  • shortspike watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum
  • showy lady's slipper Cypripedium reginae
  • sicklepod Arabis canadensis
  • sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
  • single delight Moneses uniflora
  • sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
  • slender rosette grass Dichanthelium xanthophysum
  • slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
  • slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
  • small cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos
  • small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
  • small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
  • smooth rose Rosa blanda
  • smooth sawgrass Cladium mariscoides
  • smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
  • snakemouth orchid Pogonia ophioglossoides
  • spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
  • spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
  • spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
  • squirrel corn Dicentra canadensis
  • starflower Trientalis borealis
  • starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
  • strict blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium montanum
  • striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
  • summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
  • swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
  • swamp verbena Verbena hastata
  • sweet white violet Viola blanda
  • sweetcicely Osmorhiza berteroi
  • tall blue lettuce Lactuca biennis
  • tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
  • thinleaf cottonsedge Eriophorum viridicarinatum
  • threeleaf false lily of the valley Maianthemum trifolium
  • threeleaf goldthread Coptis trifolia
  • tower rockcress Arabis glabra
  • trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
  • tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
  • Tuckerman's sedge Carex tuckermanii
  • tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
  • tussock cottongrass Eriophorum vaginatum
  • twinflower Linnaea borealis
  • twistedstalk Streptopus lanceolatus
  • twoleaf miterwort Mitella diphylla
  • Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
  • Virginia mountainmint Pycnanthemum virginianum
  • Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
  • water arum Calla palustris
  • waxflower shinleaf Pyrola elliptica
  • western rattlesnake plantain Goodyera oblongifolia
  • whip-poor-will flower Trillium cernuum
  • white adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis brachypoda
  • white baneberry Actaea pachypoda
  • white beaksedge Rhynchospora alba
  • white bear sedge Carex albursina
  • white blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium albidum
  • white fringed orchid Platanthera blephariglottis
  • white rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes alba
  • white trillium Trillium grandiflorum
  • white turtlehead Chelone glabra
  • white vervain Verbena urticifolia
  • white violet Viola renifolia
  • whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
  • wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
  • wild cucumber Echinocystis lobata
  • winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
  • witchgrass Panicum capillare
  • wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
  • wood lily Lilium philadelphicum
  • woodland pinedrops Pterospora andromedea
  • woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
  • woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
  • woolly sedge Carex pellita
  • yellow avens Geum aleppicum
  • yellow coralroot Corallorhiza trifida
  • yellow pimpernel Taenidia integerrima
  • yellow screwstem Bartonia virginica
  • yellow sedge Carex flava
  • yellow widelip orchid Liparis loeselii
Also listed as native and introduced here 4

PLANTS labels these species both native and introduced in this state: some forms are native and others were brought in from elsewhere. Most gardeners should choose plants from the main list.

  • annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia
  • climbing false buckwheatPolygonum scandens
  • common reedPhragmites australis
  • hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium

Compared with Michigan

The typical county is the median of the 83 Michigan counties with PLANTS county records; the statewide figure counts every species native anywhere in the state. More species is not better or worse: counties differ in size, habitat and how thoroughly they have been surveyed.

Native species counts, Leelanau County and Michigan
MeasureLeelanau CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 607 495 1,641
Garden-ready natives 265 227 595
Tree 64 — 136
Shrub 57 — 104
Wildflower (forb) 339 — 870
Grass or grass-like 135 — 398
Vine 12 — 48
Fern 0 — 85

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Leelanau County.

Look up another ZIP

Matches your ZIP to the county it mostly lies in, then lists the plants recorded as native to your state (Kew’s World Checklist and USDA PLANTS) and recorded in that county by USDA PLANTS.

Source & data date

Source
USDA NRCS PLANTS Database: county distribution records, native status and plant characteristics. CC0 (public domain dedication, per the data.gov catalog record).
Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): native or introduced status by state. CC BY 3.0.
USGS US-RIIS (ver. 2.0): species listed as introduced are excluded. CC0.
Citation
USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (https://plants.usda.gov, 11/04/2026). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA.
Govaerts R. (ed.) (2026). WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Data file dated 2026-06-04, http://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/ (retrieved 2026-11-04). Paper: Govaerts R. et al. (2021) The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity. Scientific Data 8, 215.
Data date
Retrieved from PLANTS on November 4, 2026; WCVP data file dated June 4, 2026.
Zones
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) ZIP table: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 3, 2026. Plant zones on this site are our estimate, not the official map.
Scope
Leelanau County (county FIPS 26089), Michigan. 607 native species from PLANTS county distribution records; garden-ready = species with a PLANTS characteristics record.
Method
A species is listed when it is recorded as native to the state in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in the county by USDA PLANTS. Species PLANTS labels both native and introduced are listed separately. Full method · All sources

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