This fall planting season, consider going native. Just because a tree is native to Michigan, of course, doesn't ensure that it will thrive in your yard. As always, it's important to match the tree to the site, to know which trees best tolerate environmental stresses and which ones have been grown in climates where the weather is as demanding as it can be in the Great Lakes State. Some of these trees aren't easy to find, and ones with deep root systems are particularly challenging to transplant. But if consumers start asking for them, more nurseries may begin stocking a greater selection of Michigan native trees.
Branches form interesting layers or tiers.
Best for sites with afternoon shade, well drained soil with plenty of moisture and adequate wind protection. Blue fruits ripen in late summer. Yellow and scarlet fall color. Can tolerate dry sites, alkaline soils and some shade. Shaggy bark that, with age, develops plate-like appearance.