Forget about milkshakes and bringing boys to the yard. I want plants that bring all the bees to the yard. Why? Because bees make the world go round.

Bees pollinate all the flowers and plants that animals and humans consume. They are basically responsible for holding up our entire ecosystem; think of them as the bottom of the pyramid, supporting and holding everything up. That's why I want a "bee-friendly" yard, with Michigan-native plants and flowers that attract bees and help them out a little bit.

When doing my research on which Michigan-native plants would best bring all the bees to the yard, I found an article from MSU's Department of Entomology that was incredibly helpful (entomology is the study of insects, so I think it's safe to say they know what they're talking about). I did the leg work and picked out five Michigan-native plants from the list that I thought would be just stunning in a backyard. Check out the list below, and maybe get some ideas on what to plant in YOUR yard this spring!

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    1

    Culver's Root

    Culver's Root offers a nice vertical element to your garden. Particularly because it can reach heights upwards of 5 feet tall (just imagine a flower as tall as me in your backyard)! Plus, it's not really just one flower... One plant has dozens of densely packed little flowers, perfect for all those buzzing bees!

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    2

    Penstemon (Hairy Beardtongue)

    Penstemon, or Hairy Beardtongue (which is a WAY cooler name, IMO), is another great plant if you're looking to add a little height to your garden arrangement. The flowers are typically a lavender shade, but they can range from pale purples and blues to pinks, even all the way to white. BONUS: These flowers not only attract bees, they also attract butterflies and hummingbirds!

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    3

    Swamp Milkweed

    Don't let the name fool you; Swamp Milkweed is so pretty! The flowers on this plant open up into these tiny, cute little pink blossoms all bunched together. Plus, they give off a delicious vanilla scent.

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    Yellow Coneflower

    The Yellow Coneflower has a fitting name because the flower has bright yellow petals that surround a green center and they make excellent plants to attract bees and butterflies. Bu what I love the most about this plant is that it grows easily and is drought-tolerant... so even if I forget to water them once, it'll be just fine.

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    5

    Smooth Aster

    The Smooth Aster rounds out the list. I picked this plant because not only does it do a good job of bringing all the bees to the yard, it's also super pretty too! The petals are such a gorgeous shade of pale blue/purple, they'd look so lovely in a garden.

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