Campus Nursery
The Campus Nursery is a collaboration between NMU Grounds & Facilities & SHINE (Sustainability Hub for Innovation & Environment). The idea is an adaptation of multiple student-submitted Green Fund projects. Those individuals are: Annika Borovich, Jacob Fewkes, Samantha Gardener, Isabelle Honkomp, Madelyn Mays, Autumn Post, Lainey Trubiroha, and Marley Wolff. Together, they developed a plant nursery for growing native, nativar, and cultivated native species to use in future landscaping projects on campus.
The Nursery is located behind NMU's Police Department, exactly where NMU grew a tree nursery decades ago. Today, there is a 150-foot x 75-foot parcel to grow plant native trees, shrubs, and bushes. A native plant intern will help to nurture the plants until they are large enough to be used in campus landscaping projects.
Campus Nursery Grand Opening
As apart of NMU's 125th anniversary celebration, SHINE and NMU Facilities hosted a grand opening ceremony for the campus nursery on October 1, 2024. Watch to learn more about the event and the campus nursery.
Why Native Species?
Native plants are crucial to our local ecosystem; they increase biodiversity and ecological function by supporting native pollinators and insects. Native species also require less landscaping maintenance like watering. Since these plants fit our region’s specific soil conditions, they also improve soil health by preventing erosion and enhancing water retention. By planting native species, we can ensure the resilience and health of our campus environment for generations to come.
Species at the Campus Nursery
Common Ninebark
Physocarpus Opulifolius
Naturally found along streambanks, good drought tolerance once established.
Red Chokeberry
Aronia Arbutifolia
Deciduous shrub in the rose family, with white flowers and bright red berries in the fall.
Limelight Panicle Hydrangea
Hydrangea Paniculata
Deciduous shrub with large, pyramidal flower heads that open in a distinctive chartreuse-green color, mature to creamy white, and age to deep pink, red, and burgundy in the fall.
Winterberry
Llex Verticillata
Deciduous holly that drops its leaves in the fall, leaving bare branches covered in clusters of bright red or orange berries that last all winter.
Ninebark
Physocarpus Opulifolius
Deciduous shrub known for its exfoliating bark and spring flower clusters.
Northern Red Oak
Quercus Rubra
Fast-growing, deciduous shade tree that reaches mature heights of 50 to 75 feet and features russet-red fall foliage.
Red Maple
Acer Rubrum
Also a fast-growing, deciduous tree that is medium-to-large and celebrated for its brilliant red autumn foliage.
Northwood Maple
Acer Rubrum 'Northwood'
A cold-hardy cultivar of the native red maple.