Shoreland Plant Selection for Non-Botanists, Part 2 - Wet Transition Plants
March 2006Mary Blickenderfer, University of Minnesota Extension Service, 888-241-0885
Once again shoreland specialists share their “short list” of native species – plants that have performed the best in restorations statewide – this time for wet areas of your shoreline.
Wetland, wetland edge, wet transition, wet fringe and wet meadow are all names for ground that is at or near the water table and may experience seasonal flooding. This may include a narrow band along a lake or river shoreline, the low area behind an ice ridge, or a low area that captures rain and melt-water to form ephemeral shallow pools elsewhere on your property. Plants growing in these wet soils are adapted to having “wet feet” or roots in saturated or moist soil.
Most native plants along high-energy shorelines are also resistant to erosion due to their deep fibrous root systems (e.g., grasses and sedges) or stout woody roots (e.g., trees and shrubs). Diverse shoreland plant communities made up of a variety of these plants minimize shoreland erosion caused by wave and ice action, river currents, or upland run-off. If a shoreline is disturbed, many shoreland plants will readily reestablish from root and stem fragments to revegetate and stabilize the exposed soil.
To create a plant list for your site, it is best to identify the plants growing on an undisturbed piece of shoreline with soil and water regime similar to your site (called a reference site). This may require the assistance of a botanist. Select plants from the reference list that are also on the “short list” below, or use the list below as a general guide. Additional plants can be added for diversity, if desired.
Due to the likelihood of flooding, plants, rather than seeds, are usually used in these wet areas. For flowers and grasses, small containerized plants (plugs) spaced 1-2 feet apart work well. For shrubs, use bare-root or larger containerized plants spaced 3-6 feet apart. Dormant branches of willow and red-osier dogwood driven into the ground (live stakes) will also root to produce shrubs.
If your restoration site is along a lake or river, consult with the Minnesota DNR. It is likely that the area you will be planting is below the ordinary high water level and will require a no-fee permit to plant (application for this permit is available at: www.dnr.state.mn.us/shorelandmgmt/ apg/permits.html). If restoring a wetland area, consult with your local Soil and Water Conservation District.
| Plant Type |
|
Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubs |
|
6-12 feet tall; bright red stems; can be established from cut branches |
|
6-20 feet tall; an aggressive colonizer; can be established from cut branches | |
|
3-6 feet tall; showy white flowers | |
|
6-12 feet tall; showy white flowers and bright red berries | |
| Grasses and grass-like |
|
2-3 feet tall; fibrous roots that resist erosion; interesting seed heads |
|
2-4 feet tall; fibrous roots that resist erosion | |
|
3-5 feet tall; good soil stabilizer | |
| Flowers |
|
3-4 feet tall; showy pink flowers; attracts monarch butterflies |
|
2-3 feet tall; showy white flowers | |
|
3-5 feet tall; showy rose-pink flowers | |
|
2-4 feet tall; showy purple flowers; readily reseeds | |
|
1-5 feet tall; showy lavender flowers; aggressive ground cover |
- Shoreland specialists who contributed to the “short list”:
- Gregg Thompson- Asso. of Metropolitan Soil and Water Conservation Districts
- Bonnie Hiniker- Sunshine Gardens
- Mary Blickenderfer, Eleanor Burkett- U of MN Extension
References:
- Shaw,D. and R. Schmidt. 2003. Plants for Stormwater Design – Species Selection for the Upper Midwest. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
- Eggers, S. and D. Reed. 1997.Wetland Plant Communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin. US Army Corps of Engineers.
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