Hobbies And Interests
The Pines
The Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) is the state tree of Michigan and the tallest of all evergreens. This lofty pine grows throughout the state with a definite preference for the more northern portions of the state. The jack pine (Pinus banksiana) is smaller than the white pine and can also be found in much of the state. These evergreens produce serotinous cones, which will not release their seeds unless scorched by a wildfire. The red pine (Pinus resinosa) is also naturally present in the northern Michigan forest, though it has been widely planted in other parts of the state for erosion control and windbreaks.
Eastern Hemlock
The Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is a common evergreen found all across the state of Michigan. The tree grows in groves and prefers cool, moist habitats that are found along small brooks and streams. Some hemlocks can live for more than a hundred years and reach a height that exceeds 100 feet.
Spruce Trees
Two spruces are commonly found in Michigan. The black spruce (Picea mariana) grows among the bogs and swampy heaths of the far northern reaches of the state, including much of the Upper Peninsula. On the other hand, the white spruce (Picea glauca), though still a northern tree, is more likely to found in drier places such as a beech or mixed upland forest. The two trees are distinguished by the shape of the silhouette, habitat and the coloring in the needles.
Balsam Fir
The Balsam fir (Abies balsamea) is a tree of the northern boreal and beech forests. It grows well in poor soil sites and sometimes is found among the sand dunes of the Great Lakes. This evergreen has very aromatic needles and also grows thickly on northern mountaintops.
Flowering Evergreens
Of the several flowering evergreen plants that grow in Michigan, the American holly (Ilex opaca) is the only one that is tall enough to be classified as a tree. This plant has sharp spiny leaves, bright red berries and seldom exceeds 40 feet in height. Within the state, this tree has a southern range.
Cedars
Cedar is a common name applied to many evergreen conifers, all of which resemble the true cedars, which are native to the Middle East, the Himalayas and India. Of the Michigan "cedar" trees, the eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), a true juniper, is very common, especially in the southern portion of the state. Another tree that goes by the common name of cedar is the northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis). This tree is not a juniper, but falls in the cypress family under the category of "false cedars." The northern white cedar can be found in northern Michigan, where white-tailed deer enjoy the foliage in winter.