When it comes to landscaping, planting trees and shrubs can be a significant investment, so it’s important to choose plants that will thrive in their new environment. Look no further than trees and shrubs that are native to your area.
Native trees and shrubs have an advantage when it comes to climate and growing conditions — they have grown in the area for millennia and can survive problems with native insects and diseases. Planting native trees and shrubs also saves water and money because these plants already know how to thrive in local rain and soil conditions. They build strong root systems that can stop erosion, filter stormwater and feed local birds, bees and butterflies better than imported plants.
Our certified arborists each have a favorite native tree or bush for you to consider:
American Plum
Trevor Roepcke
One of my favorite native plants is the American plum (Prunus americana). This versatile species is native to southwest Michigan’s oak barrens and plains where it thrives in clumps in full sun and the moist, rich soil environments near streams, ponds and lakes. The American plum can be pruned to resemble a small tree or grown into a thicket or hedge. Its sharp-tipped twigs create a natural barrier and provide shelter for small birds and animals. Its spring flowers are showy and aromatic and the late summer fruit is mostly ignored by wildlife and can be harvested for use in jams, jellies or pies.
American Beech
Breilen Maybee
A favorite tree of mine is the American beech (Fagus grandifolia), a large shade tree that has been a staple of southwest Michigan’s mesic forests for centuries. As a landscape tree, the American beech is best suited to moist, fertile soils in a sunny or shady location with room to mature into a specimen centerpiece. I love the natural year-round beauty these trees provide; the smooth pale bark and sweeping limbs provide a unique structure to a landscape. The tree’s shiny green leaves turn a dark gold in the fall and are often held by the tree through the winter months in a process called marcescence. American beech is a slow-growing tree that often lives for 200 to 300 years. While you and I may not live long enough to enjoy their full splendor, future generations will thank us for our foresight in planting these magnificent trees.
American Hazelnut
Dominic Fulton
My favorite plant is the American hazelnut (Corylus americana), a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub native to Michigan. Tolerant of clay soils, this shrub is naturally adapted to thrive in average to well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade. Prior to human settlement, this shrub would have been found sitting among white oak and hickory trees in our bur oak plains or among red maple and white ash trees in a dry mesic southern forest, both of which are natural plant communities prevalent in Kalamazoo County. If left unmanaged, this plant will spread to form a thicket, which can be perfect for natural screening. My favorite aspect of this plant is the edible nuts it produces, which can be a natural way to attract birds and other wildlife to your yard.
Chinkapin Oak
Tyler Sly
My favorite native tree species is the chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii). This majestic single-stemmed, large-crowned deciduous tree is native to the dry prairies, oak openings and black oak barrens that historically dominated southwest Michigan. This species thrives in full sun and well-drained and infertile growing environments, making it a great choice for dry, low-maintenance and open canopy planting locations. Chinkapin oak provides sweet tasting acorns for wildlife and offers beautiful scarlet leaves in the fall. A separate but closely related species, dwarf chinkapin oak (Quercus prinoides), is a low-growing, clump-forming shrub tolerant to dry soils that generally grows to be 5 to 15 feet tall.
Spicebush
Zack Dueweke
My favorite go-to shrub for our urban landscapes is spicebush (Lindera benzoin). Spicebush is naturally found within the understory of southwest Michigan’s landscapes of rich, damp deciduous woods and along stream banks. An extremely versatile landscape plant, this showy native shrub tolerates deer, clay soils and varying sunlight profiles. Its small yellow flowers are some of the earliest blooms, providing nectar sources for pollinators in the early spring. Its fall foliage is a brilliant yellow that falls away to reveal bright red berries, which are an important food source for migratory and over-wintering birds. These characteristics make spicebush a great choice when considering native plantings around your home.
