Native Species

The plants and animals that are native to Kalamazoo play a vital role in keeping our ecosystems healthy. Native species have evolved alongside local soils, climate, and wildlife, which means they provide food, shelter, and resilience in ways that non-native or invasive species cannot. By choosing native plants in your yard, garden, or neighborhood, you can:

• Support pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
• Provide habitat and food for native birds and other wildlife.
• Reduce the need for watering, fertilizer, and pesticides.
• Help restore the natural balance of our environment.

Even small changes like adding a native flower patch or planting a single tree can make a difference when multiplied across the community.

What Plants Are Native?

Knowing what to plant is the first step to supporting native ecosystems. Here are a few ways to discover plants native to Kalamazoo and the surrounding region:

• Native Plant Finder - Enter your ZIP code to see plants that host the most caterpillars and support local wildlife.
• MichiganFlora.net - Looking up information and photos for particular plants
• Michigan Natural Features Inventory - Southern Lower Peninsula Native Species - Offers regional guides and data on native plants and animals.
• Kalamazoo Conservation District - Provides access to plant sales, technical support, and workshops about landscaping with natives.
• Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones - Offers plant lists, educational events, and tours of native gardens.

Examples

Native Flowers & Grasses

• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) - A favorite of butterflies and goldfinches; blooms mid-to-late summer.
• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) - Hardy, cheerful flowers that thrive in many soil types.
• Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) - Essential for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
• Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) - A bee and hummingbird magnet with fragrant purple blooms.
• Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) - A warm-season grass that adds texture and supports insects and birds.

Native Shrubs

• Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) - Beautiful spring blossoms and berries loved by cedar waxwings.
• Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) - Great for birds, striking red stems add winter interest.
• New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) - Low-growing shrub that fixes nitrogen and supports butterflies.

Native Trees

• Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) - Showy spring flowers that benefit early-season pollinators.
• White Oak (Quercus alba) - Oaks are keystone species that support hundreds of native insects and wildlife.