Wetlands: Plants

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, monocultures are 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.

A vegetated area such as a bog, fen, marsh, or swamp, where the soil or root zone is saturated for part of the year.