Table of common emergent plants for constructed wetlands in greywater and wastewater treatment systems. [1]
| Recommended Species | Scientific Name | Max Water Depth[2] (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 | 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[3] | 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[3] | 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[3] | W | 3 | 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 | 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 is 60 inches, but must be in at least 24 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. |
Notes
- ↑ Table 1. Emergent plants for constructed wetlands (adapted from Schueler 1992 and Thunhorst 1993) from EPA Constructed Wetland Handbook Table 1
- ↑ These depths can be tolerated, but plant growth and survival may decline under permanent inundation at these depths.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Not recommended for stormwater wetlands because they are highly invasive, but can be used in treatment wetlands if approved by regulatory agencies.