Wetlands: Plants
These are not the plants recommended for bioretention cells, rain gardens etc.
Bioretention cells, bioswales and similar structures normally have dry to moderate 'soil' conditions.
If you're looking for bioretention plants, you may choose from all of these grasses, perennials, shrubs, and trees.
The most common types of emergent vegetation used in North American wetlands are:
- cattails (Typha spp.),
- bulrushes (Scirpus spp.), and
- reeds (Phragmites spp.),
although a variety of other wetland vegetation can be used as well. In many cases, planting a monoculture may be recommended rather than attempting to support biodiverse vegetation, since the more “aggressive”, stress-resistant wetland plants (e.g., cattails) will quickly displace others if they are present. In surface flow wetlands, cattails and bulrushes are the most common types of emergent vegetation used. The most common type of plant used in sub-surface flow wetlands is reeds, but cattails, bulrushes, reed canary grass (Pharis arundinacea) and managrass (Glyceria maxima) have also been used.[1]
ALL of the plants listed above have issues associated with invasive species and/or hybridization between native and invasive species in Ontario.
If you are uncertain in making the correct selection, see the external links below for Provincial advice and specialist organisations that can help.
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Native | Partial shade tolerance | Drought Tolerance 1=Low 2=Med 3=High |
Salt Tolerance 1=Low 2=Med 3=High |
Pollution tolerance | Compaction tolerance | STEP star! | Illustration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (Scirpus validus) | Soft-stem Bulrush | Y | 1 | 2-3 | Y | 
| |||
| Scirpus atrovirens | Dark-green Bulrush | Y | 1 | 2 | Y | 
| |||
| Scirpus cyperinus | Cottongrass Bulrush | Y | 2 | 2 | 
| ||||
| Typha latifolia | Broad-leaf Cattail | Y | 1 | 2-3 | Y | 
|
Links[edit]
External links[edit]
- List of invasive aquatic plants Ontario MNR (includes Glyceria maxima)
- Phalaris arundinacea BMP Ontario MNR
- Phragmites BMP Ontario MNR
- Ontario Phragmites Working Group
- ↑ Jacques Whitford Consultants, 2008. CONSTRUCTED & ENGINEERED WETLANDS p. 1-21