Stormwater Wetland Stormwater Wetland PlantsPlants

Dan GillDan Gill

LSU AgCenterLSU AgCenter

Wetland PlantsWetland Plants

Trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennialsTrees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials

Must be able to tolerate constantly wet Must be able to tolerate constantly wet conditionsconditions

Hydrologic ZonesHydrologic Zones

Deep Water Pool Deep Water Pool –– 1 to 6 feet depth, 1 to 6 feet depth, permanentpermanent

Shallow Water Shallow Water –– several inches to 1several inches to 1’’

Shoreline Shoreline –– regularly inundatedregularly inundated

Bald Cypress Bald Cypress –– Taxodium distichumTaxodium distichum

Large tree Large tree –– about 60about 60’’by 20by 20’’

Tolerant of standing Tolerant of standing water or dry conditionswater or dry conditions

Specimen or in groupsSpecimen or in groups

Fall color Fall color –– rusty/reddishrusty/reddish

DeciduousDeciduous

KneesKnees

Pond Cypress Pond Cypress –– Taxodium distichumTaxodium distichumvar. var. nutansnutans

Very similar to bald Very similar to bald cypresscypress

Slightly different Slightly different texturetexture

Also makes kneesAlso makes knees

DeciduousDeciduous

Black Willow Black Willow –– Salix nigraSalix nigra

Grows about 50Grows about 50’’ by by 30 feet30 feet

Tolerant of extended Tolerant of extended standing water or standing water or drier conditionsdrier conditions

DeciduousDeciduous

One of first trees to One of first trees to leaf out in springleaf out in spring

Black Gum Black Gum –– Nyssa sylvaticaNyssa sylvatica

Medium to large tree Medium to large tree 6060’’ by 30by 30’’

Adapted to standing Adapted to standing water or moist soilswater or moist soils

Attractive blue fruit Attractive blue fruit ––wildlife foodwildlife food

Deciduous Deciduous ––outstanding fall coloroutstanding fall color

ButtonbushButtonbushCephalanthus occidentalisCephalanthus occidentalis

Large shrub or small Large shrub or small tree about 10tree about 10’’ by 10by 10’’

Will grow in standing Will grow in standing waterwater

Attractive globular Attractive globular clusters of white clusters of white flowersflowers

DeciduousDeciduous

Fast growingFast growing

Groundsel BushGroundsel BushBaccharisBaccharis halimifoliahalimifolia

Large shrub to small Large shrub to small tree about 10tree about 10’’ by 5by 5’’

Adapted to standing Adapted to standing water or drier water or drier conditionsconditions

Attractive silvery fruit Attractive silvery fruit in fallin fall

Dwarf Palmetto Dwarf Palmetto –– Sabal minorSabal minor

Shrubby growth from Shrubby growth from 33’’ to 8to 8’’

EvergreenEvergreen

Excellent texture Excellent texture plantplant

Hardy throughout Hardy throughout LouisianaLouisiana

Louisiana IrisesLouisiana IrisesIrisIris spp. and hybridsspp. and hybrids

About 2About 2’’ to 5to 5’’

Very showy colorful Very showy colorful flowers March through flowers March through AprilApril

Tolerant of standing Tolerant of standing water or drier conditionswater or drier conditions

Active growth fall Active growth fall through springthrough spring

Spreads slowly by Spreads slowly by rhizomerhizome

Swamp Mallow Swamp Mallow –– Hibiscus Hibiscus moschutosmoschutos

Shrubby perennial Shrubby perennial 33’’x3x3’’ to 5to 5’’x5x5’’depending on typedepending on type

Large, very showy Large, very showy flowers in pink, white flowers in pink, white and redand red

Long blooming seasonLong blooming season

Wildlife nectar plantWildlife nectar plant

Elephant Ear Elephant Ear –– Colocasia Colocasia escluentaescluenta

Grows from 3Grows from 3’’ to 5to 5’’

Thrives in several Thrives in several inches of waterinches of water

Rapid rate of spread by Rapid rate of spread by rhizomesrhizomes

Attractive foliageAttractive foliage

Dormant in winterDormant in winter

Numerous cultivarsNumerous cultivars

Various Rushes Various Rushes –– JuncusJuncus spp.spp.Clumping, do not spread; EvergreenClumping, do not spread; Evergreen

Cattails Cattails –– TyphaTypha spp.spp.

Tall growing up to 6Tall growing up to 6’’Attractive seed headsAttractive seed headsRapid rate of spread Rapid rate of spread by rhizomesby rhizomesDormant in winterDormant in winter

Various sedges Various sedges –– CyperusCyperus, , CarexCarex