Hello Bethany,

A strong starting point for identifying wildflowers in Kalkaska County is university‑based resources that cover the Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, including Kalkaska County. These sources provide scientific names, common names, and habitat information for species you can expect to find in the county.

Below is a consolidated, well‑organized guide based on the educational (.edu) sources retrieved.

Wildflowers of Kalkaska County, Michigan

Based on university and research resources (site:edu)

Kalkaska County lies in Michigan’s Northern Lower Peninsula, a region characterized by pine forests, mixed hardwoods, wetlands, and sandy outwash plains. The Michigan State University Extension and Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) provide region‑specific wildflower lists that apply directly to Kalkaska County.

Sources used:

MSU Native Plants & Ecosystem Services regional lists – At this link:

Regional Plant Lists - Native Plants and Ecosystem Services

Northern Lower Peninsula - Native Plants and Ecosystem Services

Michigan Natural Features Inventory plant lists – At this link:

Natural Community Plant Lists - Michigan Natural Features Inventory

Michigan protected wildflowers list (MSU) - At this link:

Microsoft Word - Wildflowers protected by Michigan state law.doc

Key Wildflowers Likely Found in Kalkaska County

(Scientific name → Common name → Typical habitats in Kalkaska County)

Forest & Woodland Wildflowers

Scientific Name, Common Name, Habitat in Kalkaska County

Actaea pachypoda, White baneberry, Moist hardwood forests

Anemone canadensis, Canada anemone, Forest edges, moist meadows

Aralia nudicaulis, Wild sarsaparilla, Mixed hardwood forests

Clintonia borealis, Bluebead lily, Pine and hemlock forests (common in Kalkaska’s conifer stands)

Trillium spp., Trilliums (various species), Rich deciduous woods; protected statewide

Open Pine Barrens, Jack Pine Plains & Sandy Areas

These habitats are widespread in Kalkaska County.

Scientific Name, Common Name, Habitat

Lupinus perennis, Wild lupine, Jack pine barrens, sandy openings

Achillea millefolium, Yarrow, Dry sandy soils, roadsides, open fields

Coreopsis lanceolata, Lanceleaf coreopsis, Sandy openings, roadsides

Monarda fistulosa, Wild bergamot, Dry prairies, open sandy areas

Wetlands, Bogs & Stream Edges

Kalkaska County has extensive wetlands and kettle lakes.

Scientific Name, Common Name, Habitat

Chelone obliqua, Purple turtlehead, Wet meadows, streambanks; protected in Michigan

Lobelia cardinalis, Cardinal flower, Wetlands, stream edges

Sanguinaria canadensis, Bloodroot, Moist woods and floodplains

Erythronium americanum, Trout lily, Moist deciduous forests, often near wetlands

Shrubland & Edge Species

Scientific Name, Common Name, Habitat

Epigaea repens, Trailing arbutus, Pine forests, sandy acidic soils; protected

Chimaphila umbellata, Pipsissewa, Dry pine forests, oak‑pine barrens

Celastrus scandens, American bittersweet, Forest edges, thickets; protected

Where These Wildflowers Occur in Kalkaska County

Based on the ecological descriptions in the MSU and MNFI sources, these are the major habitat types in the county and the wildflowers associated with them:

1. Jack Pine Barrens (South & Central Kalkaska County)

Wild lupine (Lupinus perennis)

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

Lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)

2. Mixed Hardwood Forests (Widespread)

White baneberry (Actaea pachypoda)

Canada anemone (Anemone canadensis)

Wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis)

Trilliums (Trillium spp.)

3. Conifer Forests (Hemlock, Pine)

Bluebead lily (Clintonia borealis)

Trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens)

Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata)

4. Wetlands, Bogs, and Stream Corridors

Purple turtlehead (Chelone obliqua)

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

Trout lily (Erythronium americanum)

Want a More Exhaustive List?

The most complete academic resources for Kalkaska County wildflowers are:

Michigan Flora Online (University of Michigan Herbarium). At this link:

Michigan Flora

County‑level species maps

Habitat descriptions

Scientific nomenclature (Not retrieved in the search, but recommended by MSU and MNFI)

MSU Native Plants – Northern Lower Peninsula List

Covers ~50 common wildflowers for the region. At this link:

Northern Lower Peninsula - Native Plants and Ecosystem Services

Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI)  provides habitat‑specific plant lists for natural communities statewide. At this link:

Natural Community Plant Lists - Michigan Natural Features Inventory

I hope this helps!