Wetlands: Plants

STEP stars These are species which have demonstrated good performance in projects designed, installed and monitored by the Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program.

These are not the plants recommended for bioretention cells, rain gardens etc.
Bioretention cells, bioswales and similar structures normally have dry to moderate 'soil' conditions.
If you're looking for bioretention plants, you may choose from all of these grasses, perennials, shrubs, and trees.

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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, planting a monoculture may be 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.

ALL of the plants listed above have issues associated with invasive species and/or hybridization between native and invasive species in Ontario.
If you are uncertain in making the correct selection, see the external links below for Provincial advice and specialist organisations that can help.

Sortable table, click on header you wish to select wetland plants by:

Scientific Name	Common Name	Native	Partial shade tolerance	Drought Tolerance 1=Low 2=Med 3=High	Salt Tolerance 1=Low 2=Med 3=High	Pollution tolerance	Compaction tolerance	STEP star!	Illustration
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (Scirpus validus)	Soft-stem Bulrush	Y		1	2-3	Y
Scirpus atrovirens	Dark-green Bulrush	Y		1	2	Y
Scirpus cyperinus	Cottongrass Bulrush	Y		2	2
Typha latifolia	Broad-leaf Cattail	Y		1	2-3	Y

Links

• Plants

External links

• List of invasive aquatic plants Ontario MNR (includes Glyceria maxima)
• Phalaris arundinacea BMP Ontario MNR
• Phragmites BMP Ontario MNR
• Ontario Phragmites Working Group

Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program

A shallow excavated surface depression containing prepared filter media, mulch, and planted with selected vegetation.

A shallow excavated surface depression containing prepared filter media, mulch, and planted with selected vegetation.

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