Plants most successfully used in shoreline restorations

Habitat Key:
d = Deepwater, s = shallow water, w = wet, ud = upland dry

 
Scientific Name Common Name Habitat Exposure Spacing feet Height Flower Color Bloom-Time Wildlife Comments
Acorus calamus sweet flag s,w Full Sun 2.5' 2-3.5 Yellow-green May-July Waterfowl, muskrat, birds Erosion control; establishes quickly ;calm, shallow water
Anemone canadensis Canada anemone w,um Full Sun to Part Shade 2' 1-2' White May -July Waterfowl and Muskrat spreading ground cover in moist soil
Aquilegia canadensis columbine um,ud Full Sun to Full Shade 1.5' 2-3' Greenish white May-June Songbirds, chipmunk, skunk Common woodland herb: Beautiful foliage
Asclepias incarnata Marsh milkweed w,um Full Sun 2-3' 3-4' White June-August Butterflies Good erosion control plant in full sun
Aster macrophyllus large-leaf aster um,ud, Full Sun to Full Shade 2-3' 1-2' Lilac August-October Birds Butterflies, mice, chipmunk, rabbit, deer Great ground cover for shadier slopes
Aster novae-angliae new england aster w,um Full Sun to Part Shade 2-3' 3-5' Red-violet August -October Birds Butterflies, mice, chipmunk, rabbit, deer Can be aggressive: spread by seed
Aster puniceus red-stemmed aster w,um Full Sun to Part Shade 2-3' 1.5-5' Blue-violet August -October Birds Butterflies, mice, chipmunk, rabbit, deer Calcareous: aggressive
Epilobium angustifolium fireweed w,um Full Sun to Part Shade 3' 2-6' Magenta June-August Mice, deer, moose Forest edge: grows to form a large mass
Eupatorium maculatum joe-pye-weed w,um Full Sun to Part Shade 3' 3-6' Pink July- Sept Butterflies, moths, bees Soil stabilizer: great all-around lakeshore plant
Iris versicolor blue flag iris s,w Full Sun to Part Shade 2' 1.5-3.5' Blue-violet June-July Fish, frogs, birds, butterlies,muskrat Bank stabilizer: wonderful early summer show
Liatris ligulistylis meadow blazing star w,um Full Sun to Part Shade 1.5' 1.5-4' Rose,Lavender August -Sept Butterflies, birds Great late -season color
Liatris pycnostachya prairie blazing star w,um Full Sun to Part Shade 1.5' 2-5' Rose, lavender July-August Hummingbirds, butterflies Desirable, showy wildflowers
Sagittaria latifolia arrowhead s Full Sun to Part Shade 3' 2-3.5' White July -Aug Waterfowl , beaver, muskrat,turtles, porcupine Tolerates fluctuating water levels, very showy
Rudbeckia hirta Black Eyed Susan um, dm Full Sun Part Shade 1.5' 1-3' Golden July-August birds, butterflies Establishes readily from seed: short-lived perennial: self sows
Geranium maculatum Wild Germanium um Part Shade to Full Shade 1-2' 1-2' Pink or Violet May -June Songbird, chipmunk Good ground cover under tree canopy
Hydrophyllum virginianum Virginia Waterleaf um Part Shade to Full Shade              
Carex comosa Bottle brush sedge s,w Full Sun to Part Shade 2-3' 2-4' Nodding bottlebrush-shaped seed head     forms large clumps: easily grown from seed
Carex pensylvanica Pennsylvania sedge um,ud Full Sun to Full Shade 1.5' .5' Tufted, fine textured foliage     Excellent ground cover for day areas
Carex pseudocyperus Cyprus sedge s Full Sun to Part Shade 2' 1.5-2' Coarse textured     Clump forming
Elymus virginicus Virginia wild rye w,um Full Sun 1' 2-4' Showy nodding spikes     Short-lived native nurse crop
Glyceria striata fowl manna grass w Full Sun to Part Shade 1' 1-3' Purple flower     Grows in clumps
Scirpus cyperinus wool grass s,w,um Full Sun 2-3' 3-5' Cinnamin-brown seed head     Spread by rhizones:establishes readily from seed
Scirpus fluviatilis river bulrush s,w Full Sun to Part Shade 1-3' 4-8' Glossy green foliage on strongly triangular stems     Spreads by rhizones: erosion control at the waters edge
Scirpus pungens three square bulrush s,w Full Sun 2-4' 2-4' Striking vertical stems     Erosion control: spreads by rhizomes.
Spartina pectinata prairie cord grass s,w,um Full Sun 2-3' 3-6' Bronze fall color: graceful fountainlike clumps     Forms fine textured small clumps
Dierivilla Lonicera Bush Honeysuckel   Full Sun to Part Shade   3-4' Small yellow flower Bronze Fall color     Moist soils Good eroison control
Cornus sericea Red Osier Dogwood w,um,ud Full Sun to Full Shade 6-12'   White flowers, May-June naroon fall color   game birds, song birds, deer, beaver rabbit Plant in masses for winter interest
Spiraea alba Meadow Sweet s,w Full Sun to Part Shade     White flowers, July-Sept. orange fall color   Deer, songbirds, butterflies, moths, insects Fragrant; use to prevent erosion at the waters edge
Alnus rugosa Speckled Alder w Full Sun to Part Shade 15-30'   Yellow fall color; marron bark in winter   rabbit moose muskrat grouse beaver soil stabilizer; neutral to acid conditions fixes nitrogen
Saliz exigua Sand Bar Willow s,w Full Sun 4.5-0'   Narrow leaves,deep green   Muskrat, porcupine, beaver, deer, squirrel Spreads by rhizomes; easily transplanted
Amorpha fruiticosa false indigo w,um Full Sun to Full Shade 6-12'   Violet flowers, May-June   birds and small mammals best grown in a thicker with other species: not very showy
Larix Laricina Tamarack                  
Picea mariana Black Spruce                  
Salix discolor Pussy Willow