Huron/Erie Lake Plains is a region of broad, nearly flat plains located on the flat lake plains adjacent to Lake Huron and Lake Erie in Michigan and Ohio, characterized by a humid continental climate, historically dominant elm-ash swamp and beech forests, degraded stream habitats, and extensive highly productive farms and urban areas.
Zone
Prairie
Common Name
Huron/Erie Lake Plains
CEC Level III Code
8.2.2
CEC Level II Code
8.2 Central USA Plains
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Huron/Erie Lake Plains, Huron Erie Lake Plains, CEC 8.2.2, Huron/Erie Lake Plain |
| Geographic Range | The Huron/Erie Lake Plains region is located on the flat lake plains adjacent to Lake Huron and Lake Erie in Michigan and Ohio, with a small extension into Indiana. |
| Climate Snapshot | The Huron/Erie Lake Plains ecoregion has a severe, mid-latitude, humid continental climate with hot summers, severe winters, a mean annual temperature of approximately 8°C to 11°C, and mean annual precipitation of 824 mm. |
| Terrain Profile | The region consists of broad, nearly flat plains featuring relic sand dunes, beach ridges, and end moraines, underlain by fine lacustrine sediments and coarser moraine material. |
| Vegetation Cover | The Huron/Erie Lake Plains originally featured dominant elm-ash swamp and beech forests, though much of the natural vegetation has been cleared for agriculture, leaving some areas with red maple, white ash, American basswood, aspen, or mixed oak and hickory. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The Huron/Erie Lake Plains is home to diverse fauna including white-tailed deer, raccoons, woodchucks, various birds like the wood duck and downy woodpecker, and aquatic life such as the northern water snake, flathead catfish, and greater redhorse. |
Eco snapshot
The Huron/Erie Lake Plains originally featured dominant elm-ash swamp and beech forests, though much of the natural vegetation has been cleared for agriculture, leaving some areas with red maple, white ash, American basswood, aspen, or mixed oak and hickory.
The Huron/Erie Lake Plains is home to diverse fauna including white-tailed deer, raccoons, woodchucks, various birds like the wood duck and downy woodpecker, and aquatic life such as the northern water snake, flathead catfish, and greater redhorse.
Seasonal timing
Yearly needs
What pollinators need throughout the year, and what to do about it.
| Season | What pollinators need most | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Late winter/early spring | Early nectar/pollen; safe emergence sites | Leave stems/leaves in place a bit longer; plant early bloomers; avoid spring pesticide “cleanup” treatments |
| Spring | Steady bloom; nesting materials and sites | Plant a spring-to-summer sequence; keep some bare soil; add a small brush/leaf corner |
| Summer | Reliable nectar during heat; water access | Add mid-summer natives; water new plants; provide a shallow water dish with stones |
| Late summer/fall | High-energy nectar for migration/overwintering prep | Plant late bloomers; avoid cutting everything back; let some seedheads stand |
| Winter | Shelter for overwintering insects | Leave stems, leaf litter, and some natural debris; plan next year’s bloom calendar |
Seed mix concept
Spring starter: early flowers that help pollinators as they emerge.
Summer bridge: steady mid-season bloom so there’s no “hungry gap.”
Fall finisher: asters/goldenrods and other late bloomers that fuel end-of-season needs.
What You Can Do
Turn this knowledge into action. Whether you plant a single pot or a whole garden, you are building a vital bridge for local biodiversity.
Join the movement to restore our shared habitats.
Native plants
Asters are late-season wildflowers that bring a burst of daisy-like blooms when many gardens are winding down, making them a reliable choice for pollinator-friendly planting.
Blanketflowers (Gaillardia) are bright, long-blooming wildflowers that can bring steady color and pollinator visits to sunny gardens, schoolyards, and even containers.
Blazing stars (Liatris) are upright, purple-pink wildflowers that bloom in showy spikes and are well-loved by many pollinators. They’re a strong choice for sunny gardens, borders, and meadow-style plantings.
Clovers are small, easygoing plants in the genus Trifolium that can add nectar and pollen to gardens, lawns, and pots while helping cover bare soil.
Coneflowers (Echinacea) are tough, long-blooming wildflowers that bring steady color and reliable nectar and pollen to gardens, schoolyards, and even large containers.
Coreopsis (often called tickseed) is a cheerful, long-blooming group of wildflowers that can brighten gardens and containers while offering easy-to-find nectar and pollen for many pollinators.
Goldenrods are tough, sunny wildflowers in the genus Solidago that light up late-season gardens with golden blooms and provide reliable nectar and pollen when many other flowers are fading.
Ironweeds are tall, purple-blooming wildflowers in the genus Vernonia that bring late-season color and steady nectar to pollinator gardens.
Milkweeds are tough, nectar-rich wildflowers in the genus Asclepias that can turn a garden bed, schoolyard edge, or even a sunny pot into a pollinator stop.
Mountain mints are tough, fragrant native wildflowers that bloom in summer and are famous for drawing in a busy mix of pollinators. They’re easy to grow, handle a range of garden conditions, and make a great “plant it and watch it” choice for pollinator patches.
Prairie clovers (genus Dalea) are prairie wildflowers with tidy, clover-like leaves and bottlebrush-style blooms that are popular with many pollinators. They’re a great choice for sunny, well-drained spots where you want long-lasting summer color without fussy care.
Prairie coneflowers (Ratibida) are tough, sunny wildflowers with drooping petals and a bold cone-shaped center that pollinators can easily find. They’re a great choice for low-fuss gardens, schoolyards, and naturalized patches where you want long-lasting summer color.
Native sunflowers are bright, tough wildflowers in the genus Helianthus that feed pollinators and add cheerful color from mid-season into fall.
Wild bergamot and other bee balms (the genus Monarda) are easygoing native wildflowers known for their shaggy, pom‑pom blooms that draw in lots of pollinators. They’re a great choice when you want long-lasting summer color and a plant that feels lively with buzzing visitors.
Wild indigos (genus Baptisia) are long-lived native wildflowers known for upright flower spikes, clover-like leaves, and a tough, low-fuss nature once established. They’re a strong choice for pollinator-friendly gardens where you want reliable blooms and a plant that can hold its own without constant care.
Silphium (often called rosinweed) is a group of tall, tough native wildflowers known for sunflower-like blooms and long-lasting nectar and pollen. They’re a strong choice for pollinator gardens, schoolyards, and naturalized edges where you want big plants that can handle summer heat once established.
Pollinators
Adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms; their presence is a sign of diverse, functioning habitats.
Many brushfoots move pollen between flowers as they feed, and their caterpillars are part of healthy food webs.
Bumble bees are important pollinators of many wildflowers and garden plants, helping ecosystems and food crops reproduce.
Adults visit flowers for nectar and pollen, and many species’ larvae help keep plant-eating pests in check.
They can move pollen between flowers while feeding on nectar, especially for blooms that open or scent up in the evening.
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden plants set seed and fruit.
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden crops set seed and fruit.
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden plants set seed and fruit.
They can move pollen while drinking nectar, and they also help control many plant-eating insects.
They’re part of healthy food webs and plant communities, and their caterpillars depend on a wide range of native trees and shrubs.
Skippers visit many flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms while they feed.
Many small moths move pollen while feeding on nectar, supporting wild plants and garden blooms—especially in the evening and at night.
Many adults visit flowers and can move pollen between blooms, while also helping control some garden pests.
Adult swallowtails visit many flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
They help move pollen between flowers in gardens, parks, and natural areas, supporting seed and fruit production.
They visit a wide range of flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
