Whether you're planning a brand-new garden or want to enhance what you've already got, using native plants used to Michigan's diverse climate can make maintenance more comfortable and save you time and money. Our REALTORS® love it when homeowners take great care of their yards with beautiful landscaping and colorful gardens. There's no doubt that curb appeal adds value to your home, and getting your hands dirty is good for the mind, body, and soul. These seven plants will make your garden an inviting, colorful oasis to enjoy for years to come.

1. Black Gum Tree (Nyssa sylvatica)
   This slow-growing tree can reach 30 to 40 feet tall, and provides gorgeous, vivid fall foliage in shades of yellow, orange, and crimson. Its dark bark and distinctive branching pattern also provide some visual interest in the winter. Squirrels and birds love its tiny, tasty fruit, and the black gum tree easily tolerates wet, clay soils and salt.
2. Common Ninebark (Physocarpos opulifolius)
   This hardy shrub grows 6 to 9 feet tall and can thrive in even the harshest conditions. Super easy to maintain, it grows in shade or sun and many different types of soil conditions. You'll enjoy pink and white flowers in the spring and summer, with red fruit birds love to eat in autumn.
3. Bearded Iris (Iris germanica)
   This colorful, hardy perennial can bloom for years and attracts vibrant wildlife like hummingbirds and butterflies. You can expect it to bloom in late spring and is available in a variety of colors, including blue, red, white, yellow, and pink. It thrives in loamy soil and grows from less than a foot to 40 inches tall.
4. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
   This classic flower is a staple in many gardens of Brighton homes for sale. It's one tough cookie and blooms from mid-summer straight through to the first hard frost in the fall. Its irresistible yellow-orange flower and brown center add a pop of beautiful brightness to any garden and can be planted in almost any type of soil, in full sun or part shade.
5. Vernal Witchhazel (Hamamelis vernalis)
   This medium-sized shrub boasts fragrant, slim golden-red, flowers along the branches from late winter to early spring. Its serrated oval foliage turns from green in early spring to burgundy to a vivid yellow in the fall. It requires occasional maintenance and upkeep, but it's not popular with deer, so you don't have to worry about your furry friends nibbling on it throughout the year.  
6. Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)
   This low-lying shrub features glossy foliage that turns from greenish-red in spring to dark greenish-blue in summer to maroon or purple in autumn. Its gorgeous bell-shaped whitish-pink flowers are followed by, of course – tasty edible blueberries that are loved by humans and wildlife alike.
7. Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)
   This hardy plant grows almost anywhere, spreads quickly, and easily tolerates poor soil and drought. You'll find it with brilliant yellow, pink, or white flowers that bloom in early summer. It grows from 6 to 36 inches and flourishes in full sun.

Want to learn more about how to make your Michigan garden pop? Whether you're selling or buying, our experienced real estate professionals can help. Contact us today to get started.