Mid-Michigan Plants are Bloom Calendar
Use the information below to plan beautiful companion plantings and to select plants to provide nectar and pollen throughout the season.
Information about how insects and other animals utilize these plants comes from www.illinoiswildflowers.info.
Most of our photos are from photographers who share their images under Creative Commons licenses. Click on individual photos for more details.
Mid to Late April
 Photo by "dogtooth77"Flickr.com Wood Anemone
The flowers close at night and open during the day to allow pollination by bees, wasps and flies. |
 Photo by Tom Potterfield "tgpotterfield" Flickr.com
Flowering Dogwood
Bees and flies gather nectar and pollen. Many butterfly and moth caterpillars eat the leaves including the Spring/Summer Azure and Cecropia moth. |
 Photo by "k8southern"Flickr.com Large Flowered Bellwort or Merrybells
Found blooming in shady woodlands. Bees collect the nectar and pollen, and ants distribute the seeds. |
 Photo by "dogtooth77"Flickr.com Early Meadow Rue
Male and female flowers appear on separate plants and are wind pollinated. Moth caterpillars such as the Canadian Owlet Moth eat the foliage. |
 Photo by Bob Danley "Striking" Flickr.com
Pussy Toes
The flowers aren't very showy but small bees and flies do visit them. The silvery foliage feeds the caterpillars of American Painted Lady butterflies. |
 Photo by Jay SturnerFlickr.com Spring Avens
The flowers primarily attract small bees which collect the pollen and nectar. The bristly seed heads stick to animal fur and clothing for distribution. |
 Photo by "BlueRidgeKitties" Flicker.com
Wild Ginger
These flowers are at ground level hidden under the leaves. They are most likely pollinated by beetles and flies. Ants disperse the seeds. |
 Photo by Gene WilburnFlickr.com Prairie Smoke
The pretty pink buds barely open. Bumble bees are one of the only insects strong enough to force their way in to get the nectar. The seed heads are showy too! |
 Photo by Tom Potterfield "tgpotterfield" Flickr.com
Marsh Marigolds or Cowslips
This is a circumpolar species found in Europe, Asia and North America. They grow in wet areas and attract bees and flies for their pollen & nectar. |
 Photo by Joshua Mayer "wackybadger" Flickr.com
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
The "pulpit" contains the flowers which will later develop into bright red fruit. The fruits are eaten by birds such as the Wood Thrush and Wild Turkeys. |
 Photo by Joshua Mayer "wackybadger" Flicker.com
Golden Alexanders are a nectar source for insects with short mouth parts during the spring when few other such flowers are blooming. The caterpillars of Black Swallowtail butterflies feed on the foliage.
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 Photo by Richard SkoonbergFlickr.com Foamflower
This plant forms a lovely ground cover in part shade. Insects visit the flowers for pollen and nectar. Birds eat the seeds. |
 Photo by "pverdonk"Flickr.com Wild Black Currant
The flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees, while the foliage is eaten by caterpillars of the Green Comma and Gray Comma butter-flies. Mammals and birds enjoy the fruit. |
 Photo by Fritz Flohr Reynolds Flickr.com Spring Cress
The nectar attracts bees, flies, small butterflies and skippers. It looks very similar to Purple Cress which blooms about 2 weeks earlier and has flowers with a pinkish tinge. |
 Photo by "pverdonk"Flickr.com Blue Cohosh The flowers aren't very showy but bees, flies, and beneficial wasps do visit for nectar and pollen. The blue berries are eaten by birds and small mammals.
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 Photo by Matt Lavin Flickr.com Green Ash
Many insects feed on the foliage including the caterpillars of the Tiger Swallowtail and Promethea moth. The seeds are eaten by birds and squirrels. |
 Photo by Eli Sagor "esagor" Flicker.com Hackberry
The leaves feed several caterpillars including those of the Hack-berry Emperor and the American Snout butterfly. Birds and squirrels eat the berries. |
 Photo by "JanetandPhil" Flicker.com Boxelder
The leaves feed several caterpillars including Rosy Maple and Cecropia moths. The seeds are an important food source for birds since they remain on the tree during the winter. |
 Photo by Teresa Boardman "TBoard" Flickr.com Wild Geranium
The flowers attract bees, flies & skippers. Some caterpillars feed on the leaves including the Omnivorous Leafroller moth. Chipmunks eat the seeds. |
 Photo by "RobDurfee"Flickr.com Trillium
There are several species of Trillium with flowers varying from white to red, upright to nodding, and large to small. Their seeds are distributed by ants. |
 Photo by Tom Potterfield "tgpotterfield" Flickr.com
Jacob's Ladder
Many bees, butterflies, and moths are attracted to the flowers to collect nectar or pollen. These plants will grow under Black Walnut trees. |
 Photo by Lisa Brown"Mean and Pinchy" Flickr.com Woodland Phlox
These plants have a sweet fragrance. Bees and butterflies visit to collect nectar. The leaves feed some species of moth caterpillars. |
 Photo by Tom Potterfield"tgpotterfield" Flicker.com Pawpaw
The flowers are pollinated by flies. Zebra Swallowtail and Pawpaw Sphinx caterpillars eat the leaves. The fruit is eaten by mammals and Box Turtles. |
 Photo by Michael.PortrayingLife.comFlicker.com American Bladdernut
The bell shaped flowers attract bees and small butterflies. Leaf Cutter bees use the foliage for their nests. This shrub will grow in part shade and is deer resistant. |
 Photo by Jay SturnerFlickr.com Swamp Buttercup
Bees, flies, beetles and skippers visit the flowers to collect the pollen and nectar. The seeds are eaten by turkeys and small mammals. |
 Photo by Frank Mayfield"gmayfield10" Flickr.com |
 Photo by Tom Potterfield "tgpotterfield" Flickr.com
Fragrant Sumac
The flowers attract small bees and flies. Caterpillars of several moth and butterfly species eat the foliage including the Red-banded Hairstreak and Regal Moth. |
Early May
 Photo by Franziska Geiser "franziskas garten" Flickr.com Wild American Plum
The flowers attract bees & other insects. Several moth caterpillars eat the leaves including the Twin-Spotted Sphinx. The fruits are eaten by birds & mammals. |
 Photo by James Gaither"J.G. in S.F." Flickr.com Grape Honeysuckle
The fragrant yellow flowers attract hummingbirds, moths & bees. Several moth caterpillars eat the leaves including the Snowberry Clearwing The fruits are eaten by birds. |
 Photo by Elizabeth Seagull
Limber Honeysuckle A.K.A. Red or Smooth Honey-suckle
These flowers are a food source for hummingbirds and bees. Birds eat the fruit. |
 Photo by Sage Ross "ragesoss" Flickr.com Wild Columbine
Hummingbirds visit to drink nectar, bees collect pollen as well. The leaves host caterpillars of the Columbine Duskywing butterfly. |
 Photo by "Dendroica cerulea" Flickr.com
Wild Strawberry
The flowers attract bees, flies and butterflies. Several caterpillars feed on the foliage including those of the Grizzled Skipper. Birds and mammals enjoy the fruit. |
 Nannyberry by Dan Mullen"milesizz" Flickr.com Nannyberry
Its nectar & pollen attract many kinds of bees. Moth caterpillars such as the Brown Scoop-wing & the Horrid Zale eat the foliage. Birds and mammals relish the fruit. |
 Photo by Joshua Mayer "wackybadger" Flickr.com Golden Ragwort & Round-leaf Ragwort
The flowers attract small bees, flies & beetles. The caterpillars of Northern Metalmark and the Gem moth feed on the foliage. |
 Photoby "Linda N."Flickr.com Black Chokeberry
Bees are attracted to the nectar and pollen. Caterpillars of Coral Hairstreak butterflies and Bluish Spring Moth eat the foliage. Birds and mammals enjoy the fruit. |
 Photo by "wundoroo" Flickr.com Blue-eyed Grass
The petals have dark violet nectar guides that lead visiting bees to the center of the flower. The seeds are eaten by wild turkeys and other game birds. |
Mid to Late May
 Photo by Charles Wohlers "cwohlers" Flickr.com Pagoda Dogwood
Many insects are attracted to the fragrant flowers. Several caterpillars, including those of the Cecropia moth, feed on the foliage. Birds and small mammals enjoy the fruit. |
 Photo by "pverdonk"Flickr.com Spiderwort
The blue flowers open in the morning and close by evening. They are pollinated by several types of bees. Some animals will eat the foliage such as rabbits & box turtles. |
 Photo by Peter Gorman "pchgorman" Flickr.com Virginia Waterleaf
The flowers attract many kinds of bees including Bumble Bees, Digger Bees, Cuckoo Bees, Mason Bees, Halictid Bees and Adrenid Bees. |
 Photo by Kerry Wixted Flickr.com Creeeping Strawberry Bush
The flowers attract small bees and flies and the foliage feeds caterpillars such as the American Ermine moth. The red fruit is eaten by birds. |
 Photo by Dave BontaFlickr.com Starflower
These plants are found in shady, moist areas with acid soil. Bees & flies visit for pollen but the flowers produce no nectar. Chipmunks eat the seeds. |
 Photo by Mo Barger "MoBarger" Flickr.com Blueberries
Bees visit for pollen and nectar. Many species of moth & butterfly caterpillars feed on the plant including Harris's Three-spot moth & Henry's Elfin. Birds and mammals enjoy the fruit. |
 Photo by Per "the real Kam75"Flickr.com Wild Lupine
Many types of bees visit the flowers for pollen. The leaves feed the caterpillars of several moths and butterflies including the endangered Karner Blue butterfly. |
 Photo by "mwms1916"Flickr.com Wild Blue Indigo
Bumblebees are the primary pollinators. Several moth, butterfly and skipper caterpillars feed on the foliage including the Frosted Elfin, Marine Blue and Orange Sulfur. |
 Photo by Fritz Flohr ReynoldsFlickr.com Hairy Beardtongue
The tubular flowers attract native bees. Caterpillars of the Baltimore Checker- spot butterfly feed on the foliage. Hummingbirds may also visit. |
 Photo by "Stilgherrian"Flickr.com Sand Coreopsis
Many bees, butterflies & beetles visit to collect nectar and pollen. Several moth caterpillars such as the Wavy Lined Emerald feed on the foliage and birds eat the seeds. |
 Photo by Jenny EvansFlickr.com Blue Flag Iris
The flowers attract bees and butterflies. The caterpillars of the Virginia Ctenucha and Agreeable Tiger moth feed on the foliage. This plant prefers moist soil. |
 Photo by Mary Leys
American Bittersweet
The flowers attract bees and other insects. The caterpillars of the Common Tan Wave moth eat the foliage. Birds and mammals eat the seeds. |
 Photo by Jon Sullivan"Mollivan Jon" Flickr.com Honey Locust
The fragrant flowers attract small bees. Several caterpillars eat the foliage including the Silver Spotted Skipper. The sweet seed pods may have been eaten by mastodons. |
Early June
 Photo by "beautifulcataya"Flickr.com 6-3-17 Shrubby Cinquefoil is in bloom. The flowers attract bees and other insects. Caterpillars of the Dorcas Copper butterfly and the Large Lace Border moth eat the foliage and flowers.
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 Photo by Marilylle Soveran"withrow" Flickr.com 6-2-17 Harebell is in bloom. These delicate looking flowers are actually quite easy to grow. They attract a variety of bees which pollinate them while collecting their nectar.
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