from shore to shore » Blog Archive » Shoreland Plant Selection for Non-Botanists, Part 3

Shoreland Plant Selection for Non-Botanists, Part 3 - Upland Plants

May 2006

Black-eyed Susan

Mary Blickenderfer, University of Minnesota Extension Service, 888-241-0885

Just in time for the planting season, shoreland specialists share their “short list” of native species for the upland area of your shoreland – plants that have performed the best in restorations statewide.

Before selecting plants for the upland area of your shoreline property, you will need to determine the general type of soil(s) you have: coarse, medium, or fine. For best plant survival it is recommended that you choose species that were part of the pre-disturbance native plant community. You can do this by identifying the plants growing on an undisturbed piece of shoreline with soil and sun exposure similar to your site (called a reference site). This may require assistance of a botanist.

You also need to consider your objectives for this portion of your shoreland: erosion control, showy garden, shade, wildlife habitat, etc. Use the table below to assist you in selecting plants that meet your objectives. Select the row in the table that corresponds to your soil type and use the groupings to help further narrow your species list. For erosion control, choose grasses that have a deep, fibrous network of roots (see Grasses column of the table). If on a slope, rapidly spreading shrubs and flowers will provide additional structure (see Rapid Colonizers column). If you’re looking for a showy planting and erosion isn’t an issue, flowers can provide color throughout the summer (see Accent Flowers column). For shade and additional wildlife habitat, select trees and shrubs (see Woody Plants column).

For flowers and grasses plan to sow seed at the rate of 8 oz. and 2 oz., respectively, for each 1,000 square feet of planting area. Small containerized plants (plugs) spaced 1-2 feet apart also work well, or use a combination of seeds and plants. For shrubs and trees use bare-root or larger containerized plants spaced 3-20 feet apart, as recommended.

Upland: soil type	Coarse: sand to loamy sand	Medium: sandy loam, loam, silty loam	Fine: silt, clay
Grasses	Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Blue gramma Bouteloua gracilis Big bluestem Andropogon gerardii Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis	Big bluestem Andropogon gerardii Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans Switchgrass Panicum virgatum Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis	Canada bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis Cord grass Spartina pectinata Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis
Rapid Colonizers (flowers and shrubs)	Wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa Asters Aster laevis, A. ericoides Maximilian sunflower Helianthus maximiliani Common yarrow Achillea millefolium Pin cherry Prunus pensylvanica Smooth sumac Rhus glabra	Wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa Asters Aster lateriflorus, Aster laevis, A. ericoides Goldenrods Solidago speciosa, S. missouriensis Stiff sunflower Helianthus rigidus	Common yarrow Achillea millefolium Wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa Canada anemone Anemone canadensis Red-osier dogwood Cornus stolonifera Smooth sumac Rhus glabra
Accent Flowers	Goldenrods Solidago nemoralis, S. rigida Black-eyed susan Rudbeckia hirta Rough blazing star Liatris aspera Butterfly weed Asclepias tuberosa Purple prairie clover Dalea purpurea	Black-eyed susan Rudbeckia hirta Giant hyssop Agastache foeniculum Tall blazing star Liatris pycnostaschya Golden alexander Zizia aurea Common ox-eye Heliopsis helianthoides	Ox-eye Heliopsis helianthoides Swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum Prairie blazing star Liatris pychnostachya Culiver’s root Veronicastrum virginicum
Woody Plants (trees and shrubs)	Bur oak Quercus macrocarpa Jack pine Pinus banksiana Red pine Pinus resinosa Smooth Juneberry Amelanchier laevis Bush honeysuckle Diervilla lonicera	Sugar maple Acer saccharum White spruce Picea glauca White pine Pinus strobus Smooth Juneberry Amelanchier laevis Common elderberry Sambucus canadensis	Red maple Acer rubrum Paper birch Betula papyrifera Tamarack Larix laricina Highbush-cranberry Viburnum trilobum Meadowsweet Spiraea alba

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:

Ownbey, G. and T. Morley. 1991. Vascular Plants of Minnesota – A Checklist and Atlas. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. 306 pp.
Gleason, H. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeast United States and Adjacent Canada, 2nd edition. NY: The New York Botanical Garden. 910 pp.

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