No edit summary
(Removed labels for each of the individual depth boxes. Put ranges in notes section.)
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!Recommended Species
!Recommended Species
!Scientific Name
!Scientific Name
!Maximum Water Depth*
!Maximum Water Depth* (Inches)
!Notes
!Notes
|-
|-
|Arrow arum
|Arrow arum
|''Peltandra virginica''{{wp sup|Peltandra}}
|''Peltandra virginica''{{wp sup|Peltandra}}
|12 inches
|12
|Full sun to partial shade. High wildlife value. Foliage and rootstocks are not eaten by geese or muskrats. Slow grower. pH: 5.0-6.5.
|Full sun to partial shade. High wildlife value. Foliage and rootstocks are not eaten by geese or muskrats. Slow grower. pH: 5.0-6.5.
|-
|-
|Arrowhead/duck potato
|Arrowhead/duck potato
|''{{wp|Sagittaria latifolia}}''
|''{{wp|Sagittaria latifolia}}''
|12 inches
|12
|Aggressive colonizer. Mallards and muskrats can rapidly consume tubers. Loses much water through transpiration.
|Aggressive colonizer. Mallards and muskrats can rapidly consume tubers. Loses much water through transpiration.
|-
|-
|Common three-square bulrush
|Common three-square bulrush
|''Scirpus pungens''{{wp sup|Scirpus}}
|''Scirpus pungens''{{wp sup|Scirpus}}
|6 inches
|6
|Fast colonizer. Can tolerate periods of dryness. High metal removal. High waterfowl and songbird value.
|Fast colonizer. Can tolerate periods of dryness. High metal removal. High waterfowl and songbird value.
|-
|-
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|Blue flag iris
|Blue flag iris
|''{{wp|Iris versicolor}}''
|''{{wp|Iris versicolor}}''
|3 - 6 inches
|6
|Attractive flowers. Can tolerate partial shade but requires full sun to flower. Prefers acidic soil. Tolerant of high nutrient levels.
|Attractive flowers. Can tolerate partial shade but requires full sun to flower. Prefers acidic soil. Tolerant of high nutrient levels. Maximum water depth varies from 3 to 6 inches.
|-
|-
|Broad-leaved cattail**
|Broad-leaved cattail**
|''{{wp|Typha latifolia}}''
|''{{wp|Typha latifolia}}''
|12-18 inches
|18
|Aggressive. Tubers eaten by muskrat and beaver. High pollutant treatment, pH: 3.0-8.5.
|Aggressive. Tubers eaten by muskrat and beaver. High pollutant treatment, pH: 3.0-8.5. Maximum water depth varies from 12 to 18 inches.
|-
|-
|Narrow-leaved cattail**
|Narrow-leaved cattail**
|''{{wp|Typha angustifolia}}''
|''{{wp|Typha angustifolia}}''
|12 inches
|12
|Aggressive. Tubers eaten by muskrat and beaver. Tolerates brackish water. pH : 3.7-8.5.
|Aggressive. Tubers eaten by muskrat and beaver. Tolerates brackish water. pH : 3.7-8.5.
|-
|-
|Reed canary grass
|Reed canary grass
|''Phalaris arundinocea''{{wp sup|Reed canary grass}}
|''Phalaris arundinocea''{{wp sup|Reed canary grass}}
|6 inches
|6
|Grows on exposed areas and in shallow water. Good ground cover for berms.
|Grows on exposed areas and in shallow water. Good ground cover for berms.
|-
|-
|Lizard's tail
|Lizard's tail
|''{{wp|Saururus cernuus}}''
|''{{wp|Saururus cernuus}}''
|6 inches
|6
|Rapid grower. Shade tolerant. Low wildlife value except for wood ducks.
|Rapid grower. Shade tolerant. Low wildlife value except for wood ducks.
|-
|-
|Pickerelweed
|Pickerelweed
|''Pontedaria cordata''{{wp sup|Pontederia}}
|''Pontedaria cordata''{{wp sup|Pontederia}}
|12 inches
|12
|Full sun to partial shade. Moderate wildlife value. Nectar for butterflies. pH: 6.0-8.0.
|Full sun to partial shade. Moderate wildlife value. Nectar for butterflies. pH: 6.0-8.0.
|-
|-
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|Soft rush
|Soft rush
|''{{wp|Juncus effusus}}''
|''{{wp|Juncus effusus}}''
|3 inches
|3
|Tolerates wet or dry conditions. Food for birds. Often grows in tussocks or hummocks.
|Tolerates wet or dry conditions. Food for birds. Often grows in tussocks or hummocks.
|-
|-
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|Sedges
|Sedges
|''Carex spp.''{{wp sup|Cyperaceae}}
|''Carex spp.''{{wp sup|Cyperaceae}}
|3 inches
|3
|Many wetland and several upland species. High wildlife value for waterfowl and songbirds.
|Many wetland and several upland species. High wildlife value for waterfowl and songbirds.
|-
|-
|Spatterdock
|Spatterdock
|''{{wp|Nuphar luteum}}''
|''{{wp|Nuphar luteum}}''
|5 ft, 2 ft minimum
|60
|Tolerant of fluctuating water levels. Moderate food value for wildlife, high cover value. Tolerates acidic water (to pH 5.0).
|Tolerant of fluctuating water levels. Moderate food value for wildlife, high cover value. Tolerates acidic water (to pH 5.0). Maximum water depth varies from 24 inches to 60 inches.
|-
|-
|Sweet flag
|Sweet flag
|''{{wp|Acorus calamus}}''
|''{{wp|Acorus calamus}}''
|3 inches
|3
|Produces distinctive flowers. Not a rapid colonizer. Tolerates acidic conditions. Tolerant of dry periods and partial shade. Low wildlife value.
|Produces distinctive flowers. Not a rapid colonizer. Tolerates acidic conditions. Tolerant of dry periods and partial shade. Low wildlife value.
|-
|-
|Wild rice
|Wild rice
|''{{wp|Zizania aquatica}}''
|''{{wp|Zizania aquatica}}''
|12 inches
|12
|Requires full sun. High wildlife value (seeds, plant parts, and rootstocks are food for birds). Eaten by muskrats. Annual, nonpersistent. Does not reproduce vegetatively.
|Requires full sun. High wildlife value (seeds, plant parts, and rootstocks are food for birds). Eaten by muskrats. Annual, nonpersistent. Does not reproduce vegetatively.
|-
|-

Revision as of 09:25, 7 May 2009

Table 1. Emergent plants for constructed wetlands (adapted from Schueler 1992 and Thunhorst 1993).

Recommended Species Scientific Name Maximum Water Depth* (Inches) Notes
Arrow arum Peltandra virginicaW 12 Full sun to partial shade. High wildlife value. Foliage and rootstocks are not eaten by geese or muskrats. Slow grower. pH: 5.0-6.5.
Arrowhead/duck potato W 12 Aggressive colonizer. Mallards and muskrats can rapidly consume tubers. Loses much water through transpiration.
Common three-square bulrush Scirpus pungensW 6 Fast colonizer. Can tolerate periods of dryness. High metal removal. High waterfowl and songbird value.
Softstem bulrush Scirpus validusW 12 inches Aggressive colonizer. Full sun. High pollutant removal. Provides food and cover for many species. of birds. pH: 6.5-8.5.
Blue flag iris W 6 Attractive flowers. Can tolerate partial shade but requires full sun to flower. Prefers acidic soil. Tolerant of high nutrient levels. Maximum water depth varies from 3 to 6 inches.
Broad-leaved cattail** W 18 Aggressive. Tubers eaten by muskrat and beaver. High pollutant treatment, pH: 3.0-8.5. Maximum water depth varies from 12 to 18 inches.
Narrow-leaved cattail** W 12 Aggressive. Tubers eaten by muskrat and beaver. Tolerates brackish water. pH : 3.7-8.5.
Reed canary grass Phalaris arundinoceaW 6 Grows on exposed areas and in shallow water. Good ground cover for berms.
Lizard's tail W 6 Rapid grower. Shade tolerant. Low wildlife value except for wood ducks.
Pickerelweed Pontedaria cordataW 12 Full sun to partial shade. Moderate wildlife value. Nectar for butterflies. pH: 6.0-8.0.
Common reed** W 3 inches Highly invasive; considered a pest species in many states. Poor wildlife value. pH: 3.7-8.0.
Soft rush W 3 Tolerates wet or dry conditions. Food for birds. Often grows in tussocks or hummocks.
Spikerush W 3 inches Tolerates partial shade.
Sedges Carex spp.W 3 Many wetland and several upland species. High wildlife value for waterfowl and songbirds.
Spatterdock W 60 Tolerant of fluctuating water levels. Moderate food value for wildlife, high cover value. Tolerates acidic water (to pH 5.0). Maximum water depth varies from 24 inches to 60 inches.
Sweet flag W 3 Produces distinctive flowers. Not a rapid colonizer. Tolerates acidic conditions. Tolerant of dry periods and partial shade. Low wildlife value.
Wild rice W 12 Requires full sun. High wildlife value (seeds, plant parts, and rootstocks are food for birds). Eaten by muskrats. Annual, nonpersistent. Does not reproduce vegetatively.

*These depths can be tolerated, but plant growth and survival may decline under permanent inundation at these depths.

**Not recommended for stormwater wetlands because they are highly invasive, but can be used in treatment wetlands if approved by regulatory agencies.


This data adapted from: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/pdf/hand.pdf

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