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Plants Recommended for Stormwater Ponds
Plants by
Latin Name
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Plants by
Common Name
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Acorus calamus
/ Sweet Flag
Description: Glossy green blades are sweet-scented when broken. Leaves sway gracefully in the breeze.
Zone: 4
Height: 2-3'
Depth: 0-15"
Flower: N/A
Wildlife benefits: Food & cover – muskrat & wildfowl.
Habit: Upright, spreading.
Comments: Won't spread into deep water.
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Asclepias incarnata
/ Swamp Milkweed
Description: Pink flowers attract butterflies. Seed pods are unique and unusual.
Zone: 5
Height: 3-4'
Depth: 0-15"
Flower: August
Wildlife benefits: Food & host – Monarch butterflies
Habit: Upright, showy.
Comments: Seeds germinate in moist soil. Won't spread into deep water.
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Carex vulpinoidea
/ Fox Sedge
Description: Narrow weeping green foliage forms dense uniform clumps.
Zone: 5
Height: 2'
Depth: 0-2"
Flower: N/A
Wildlife benefits: Food – various birds including songbirds.
Habit: Clump forming.
Comments: Seeds germinate in moist soil. Won't spread into deep water.
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Cephalanthes occidentalis
/ Button Bush
Description: Attractive glossy foliage on reddish-brown branches. White buttonlike flowers give way to interesting round seed heads.
Zone: 4
Height: 6-8'
Depth: 0-6"
Flower: May, June
Wildlife benefits: Food – various birds including songbirds and small mammals. Food & host for various butterflies & moths.
Habit: Shrub.
Comments: Won't spread into deep water.
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Decodon verticillatus
/ Swamp Loosestrife
Description: A woody perennial native to Eastern U.S. Arching branches hold purplish pink blooms. Brilliant Fall foliage.
Zone: 3
Height: 3-4'
Depth: 0-6"
Flower: July, August
Wildlife benefits: None.
Habit: Mounding, shrublike.
Comments: Roots freely in the water.
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Dulichium arundinaceum
/ Dwarf Bamboo
Description: Compact bamboo-like foliage. Excellent for foreground or border planting. Not a true bamboo.
Zone: 6
Height: 18"
Depth: 0-4"
Flower: July, August
Wildlife benefits: Food - muskrat & wildfowl.
Habit: Dense, spreading.
Comments: Won't spread into deep water.
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Hibiscus moschuetos
/ Swamp Hibiscus
Description: Bold colorful flowers in pink, white or red add excellent late summer color.
Zone: 6
Height: 4'
Depth: 0-4"
Flower: July, August
Wildlife benefits: Food - hummingbirds.
Habit: Upright, showy.
Comments: Woody perennial. Won't spread into deep water.
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Iris versiclor
/ Blue Flag Iris
Description: Delicate violet blossoms rise gracefully above swordlike foliage. Small stature.
Zone: 4
Height: 2'
Depth: 0-6"
Flower: April, May
Wildlife benefits: Food – birds, muskrat & wildfowl.
Habit: Clump forming.
Comments: Seeds germinate in moist soil. Won't spread into deep water.
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Justicia americana
/ Water Willow
Description: White flowers are decorated with purple and resemble miniature orchid blossoms. Foliage resembles the narrow leaves of a willow.
Zone: 4
Height: 12-18"
Depth: 0-12"
Flower: July, August
Wildlife benefits: Spawning area.
Habit: Low, spreading.
Comments: Won't spread into deep water.
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Kosteletzkya virginica
/ Seashore Mallow
Description: Soft pink flowers are produced continually during the summer months. Leaves are velvety and downy.
Zone: 5
Height: 6-9'
Depth: 0-6"
Flower: July, August, September
Wildlife benefits: None.
Habit: Upright, showy.
Comments: Woody perennial. Can handle brackish water. Won't spread into deep water.
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Menyanthes trifolia
/ Bog Bean
Description: Pink buds open to delicate fringed white flowers above soft green trifoliate leaves.
Zone: 3
Height: 8"
Depth: 0-8"
Flower: April
Wildlife benefits: Spawning area.
Habit: Low, slow spreading.
Comments: Won't spread into deep water.
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Mimulus ringens
/ Lavender Musk
Description: Lavender flowers nestled among soft green foliage. Long bloomer.
Zone: 3
Height: 2'
Depth: 0-6"
Flower: July, August
Wildlife benefits: None.
Habit: Upright.
Comments: Seeds germinate in moist soil. Won't spread into deep water.
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Nymphaea
(cultivars) / Waterlily
Description: Almost always the focal point of the pond with extraordinary blossoms. Foliage contrasts beautifully with the water's surface.
Zone: 3
Height: 6"
Depth: 18-24"
Flower: May, June, July, August, September
Wildlife benefits: Food – mammals & wildfowl.
Habit: Clump forming.
Comments: Non-seeding cultivars are recommended.
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Orontium aquaticum
/ Golden Club
Description: Unique white and gold flowers held high above waxy-green foliage. Easy to grow, consistent and uniform.
Zone: 6
Height: 1-2'
Depth: 0-10"
Flower: April, May
Wildlife benefits: None.
Habit: Clump forming.
Comments: Seeds germinate in moist soil. Won't spread into deep water. Tolerates some shade and anoxic conditions.
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Peltandra virginica
/ Arrow Arum
Description: An attractive plant with dark green glossy arrowhead-shaped foliage. Easy to grow, consistent and uniform.
Zone: 5
Height: 2-3'
Depth: 0-12"
Flower: N/A
Wildlife benefits: Food – seeds, waterfowl & various birds.
Habit: Clump forming.
Comments: Seeds germinate in moist soil. Won't spread into deep water. Tolerates some shade and anoxic conditions.
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Phyla lanceolata
/ Frog Fruit
Description: Delicate pink and white flowers float above deep green serrated-edged foliage.
Zone: 5
Height: 2-6"
Depth: 0-4"
Flower: July, August, September
Wildlife benefits: Spawning area.
Habit: Dense, spreading.
Comments: Won't spread into deep water.
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Pontederia cordata
/ Pickerel Rush
Description: Slick, broad dark green foliage. Bright lavender flowers. Easy to grow and long blooming.
Zone: 3
Height: 2-3'
Depth: 0-8"
Flower: June, July, August, September
Wildlife benefits: Food – muskrat & wildfowl.
Habit: Clump forming.
Comments: Seeds germinate in moist soil. Won't spread into deep water.
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Sagittaria latifolia
/ Arrowhead
Description: Strong, wide arrowhead-shaped foliage. Delicate white flowers with bright yellow centers.
Zone: 4
Height: 2'
Depth: 0-6"
Flower: July, August
Wildlife benefits: Food – muskrat & wildfowl.
Habit: Upright, spreading.
Comments: Seeds germinate in moist soil. Won't spread into deep water. Tolerates anoxic conditions.
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Saururus cernuus
/ Lizard Tail
Description: Delicate cream-colored blossoms give way to an unusual seed formation hence the name Lizard Tail. Triangular green foliage.
Zone: 4
Height: 1-3'
Depth: 0-6"
Flower: July
Wildlife benefits: Food – wildfowl.
Habit: Upright, spreading.
Comments: Seeds germinate in moist soil. Won't spread into deep water. Tolerates some shade and anoxic conditions.
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Solidago sempervirens
/ Seaside Goldenrod
Description: Bold golden yellow flowers stand atop rigid, lightly leaved stems. Foliage more dense at the base.<.
Zone: 4
Height: 3-8'
Depth: 0"
Flower: August, September, October
Wildlife benefits: None.
Habit: Upright, showy.
Comments: Seeds germinate in moist soil. Won't spread into deep water.
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Taxodium distichum
/ Bald Cypress
Description: Bold golden yellow flowers stand atop rigid, lightly leaved stems. Foliage more dense at the base.
Zone: 4
Height: 80-100'
Depth: 0-10"
Flower: N/A
Wildlife benefits: Food & nesting – various birds.
Habit: Tree.
Comments: Won't spread into deep water.
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Thalia dealbata
/ Water Canna
Description: Bold dramatic foliage. Rich purple flowers on tall narrow spikes are held high above the foliage and sway gracefully in the breeze.
Zone: 7
Height: 6-8'
Depth: 0-12"
Flower: July, August, September
Wildlife benefits: Upright, clump forming.
Habit: Tree.
Comments: Won't spread into deep water.
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