Changes

Landscapes that use native plants; including trees, graminoids, shrubs/bushes, tall grasses and perennials to aid is both capturing and 'soaking up' rainwater can help reduce flood risk, build climate resilience, improve water quality and provide habitat for pollinators. There are 3 major types of 'rain-ready landscapes' to choose from when adopting the use of plants in LID practices:

Landscapes that use native plants; including trees, graminoids, shrubs/bushes, tall grasses and perennials to aid is both capturing and 'soaking up' rainwater can help reduce flood risk, build climate resilience, improve water quality and provide habitat for pollinators. There are 3 major types of 'rain-ready landscapes' to choose from when adopting the use of plants in LID practices:

[[File:CVC Plant list.PNG|365px|thumb|link=https://cvc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/com_lo_rain-ready-guide_20220328-FINAL3.pdf|CVC's recent 'Rain-ready' guide for native plants in Ontario that can be selected for a variety of LID features to help both reduce flood risk occurrences and improve stormwater quality. <ref>CVC. 2022. Native Plants for Rain-ready Landscapes. Plant these native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs and groundcovers to help manage stormwater – beautifully. cvc.ca/GreenYourProperty. https://cvc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/com_lo_rain-ready-guide_20220328-FINAL3.pdf.</ref>]]

[[File:CVC Plant list.PNG|365px|thumb|link=https://cvc.ca/document/plant-list-native-plants-for-rain-ready-landscapes/?access=0fa290a78fd5934ad7848f934da7322d|CVC's recent 'Rain-ready' guide for native plants in Ontario that can be selected for a variety of LID features to help both reduce flood risk occurrences and improve stormwater quality. <ref>CVC. 2022. Native Plants for Rain-ready Landscapes. Plant these native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs and groundcovers to help manage stormwater – beautifully. cvc.ca/GreenYourProperty. https://cvc.ca/document/plant-list-native-plants-for-rain-ready-landscapes/?access=0fa290a78fd5934ad7848f934da7322da</ref>]]

#[[Rain Gardens]] - planted shallow depression with rainwater collected from roofs, rain barrel overflows/[[rainwater harvesting]] devices and allows water to drain into the surrounding ground within 24 hrs. Generally landscaped with a variety of suitable native plants, that can also benefit pollinator species.  

#[[Rain Gardens]] - planted shallow depression with rainwater collected from roofs, rain barrel overflows/[[rainwater harvesting]] devices and allows water to drain into the surrounding ground within 24 hrs. Generally landscaped with a variety of suitable native plants, that can also benefit pollinator species.  

#[[Infiltration trenches |Infiltration Trenches and Soakaways]] - Gravel filled pit in this case to collect and transport water from a downspout or [[rainwater harvesting]] practice to fit lot-level properties and generally landscaped with river [[stone]], native plants and other decorative rocks or sod. Allows water to drain into the surrounding ground within 24 hrs.

#[[Infiltration trenches |Infiltration Trenches and Soakaways]] - Gravel filled pit in this case to collect and transport water from a downspout or [[rainwater harvesting]] practice to fit lot-level properties and generally landscaped with river [[stone]], native plants and other decorative rocks or sod. Allows water to drain into the surrounding ground within 24 hrs.

#[[Bioretention]] and [[Bioswales]] - long trench with gently sloping sides that collects rainwater from impermeable surfaces generally parking lots, boulevards, right-of-ways, etc.) and drains water within 24 hrs. Generally [[Graminoids: List| tall grasses]] and long grasses are planted in the middle and along the bottom part of the [[swale]] to aid in reducing the velocity of water entering the practice and to help filter out pollutants.

#[[Bioretention]] and [[Bioswales]] - long trench with gently sloping sides that collects rainwater from impermeable surfaces generally parking lots, boulevards, right-of-ways, etc.) and drains water within 24 hrs. Generally [[Graminoids: List| tall grasses]] and long grasses are planted in the middle and along the bottom part of the [[swale]] to aid in reducing the velocity of water entering the practice and to help filter out pollutants.

#[[Stormwater Tree Trenches]] - linear tree planting structures that feature supported impermeable or [[Permeable pavements| permeable pavements]] that promote healthy tree growth while also helping to manage runoff. They are often located behind the curb within the road right-of-way and consist of subsurface trenches filled with modular structures and growing medium, or structurally engineered soil medium, supporting overlying sidewalk pavement. Retains and filters out pollutants and [[salt]] from urban sites and then allows water to drain into the local municipal storm swear system after a major storm event to help reduce peak flow of water entering into the system and reduces the likelihood of an overwhelmed storm sewer or local surcharge.<ref>CVC. 2022. Native Plants for Rain-ready Landscapes. Plant these native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs and groundcovers to help manage stormwater – beautifully. cvc.ca/GreenYourProperty. https://cvc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/com_lo_rain-ready-guide_20220328-FINAL3.pdf.</ref>

#[[Stormwater Tree Trenches]] - linear tree planting structures that feature supported impermeable or [[Permeable pavements| permeable pavements]] that promote healthy tree growth while also helping to manage runoff. They are often located behind the curb within the road right-of-way and consist of subsurface trenches filled with modular structures and growing medium, or structurally engineered soil medium, supporting overlying sidewalk pavement. Retains and filters out pollutants and [[salt]] from urban sites and then allows water to drain into the local municipal storm swear system after a major storm event to help reduce peak flow of water entering into the system and reduces the likelihood of an overwhelmed storm sewer or local surcharge.<ref>CVC. 2022. Native Plants for Rain-ready Landscapes. Plant these native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs and groundcovers to help manage stormwater – beautifully. cvc.ca/GreenYourProperty.https://cvc.ca/document/plant-list-native-plants-for-rain-ready-landscapes/?access=8fb53274fcf90837941a9cc25086f47a.</ref>

===How to Choose the Right Plants===

===How to Choose the Right Plants===

===Salt tolerance===  

===Salt tolerance===  

The low, medium and high categories indicate the tolerance of plant species to [[salt]] exposure and/or uptake. Plant species with low salt tolerance should not be used in any LID practice receiving runoff from salted roads and parking lots. Species with medium salt tolerance can be utilized in LID practices that will be receiving road runoff but should not be in the line of salt spray or be receiving the bulk of the runoff. Species with high salt tolerance should be planted in LID practices that receive road or parking lot runoff that routinely contains road salt.  Few plants are truly halophytic or “salt-loving”.  In most cases, elevated salt levels are temporary and precipitation quickly dilutes and removes salt from the soil profile. The plant lists below include recommended species for LID practices likely to receive road or parking lot runoff.

The low, medium and high categories indicate the tolerance of plant species to [[salt]] exposure and/or uptake. Plant species with low salt tolerance should not be used in any LID practice receiving runoff from salted roads and parking lots. Species with medium salt tolerance can be utilized in LID practices that will be receiving road runoff but should not be in the line of salt spray or be receiving the bulk of the runoff. Species with high salt tolerance should be planted in LID practices that receive road or parking lot runoff that routinely contains road salt.  Few plants are truly halophytic or “salt-loving”.  In most cases, elevated salt levels are temporary and precipitation quickly dilutes and removes salt from the soil profile. The plant lists above under the [[plant lists#Plant Selection|Plant Selection]] section includes recommended species for LID practices likely to receive road or parking lot runoff.

 

===Compaction and pollution tolerance ===

===Compaction and pollution tolerance ===

Development nearly always causes compaction of on-site soil, and bioretention facilities  in road-right-of-ways should be pollution tolerant.

Development nearly always causes compaction of on-site soil, and bioretention facilities  in road-right-of-ways should be pollution tolerant.

Where conditions for growing native plants are inhospitable, diversifying the planting palate with introduced species may have a more successful result. In addition to native species, many introduced plants are grown in nurseries and garden centers and are readily available to landowners.  

Where conditions for growing native plants are inhospitable, diversifying the planting palate with introduced species may have a more successful result. In addition to native species, many introduced plants are grown in nurseries and garden centers and are readily available to landowners.  

[[File:Leucanthemum vulgare 'Filigran' Flower 2200px.jpg|thumb|400px|An example of a naturalized/introduced plant species is the Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), pictured above. The species is naturalized/introduced in the province of Québec, but are not deemed "invasive" as they do not outcompete other native species.<ref>Montréal Space for Life. n.d. The Green Pages. Native, exotic, naturalized or invasive. Accessed: April 12, 2022. https://espacepourlavie.ca/en/native-exotic-naturalized-or-invasive</ref>]]

[[File:Leucanthemum x superbum 'Becky' in NH.jpg|thumb|400px|An example of a naturalized/introduced plant species is the Shasta Daisy (''Leucanthemum x superbum''), pictured above. The species is naturalized/introduced in the provinces of Ontario, Québec and many others, but are not deemed "invasive" as they do not outcompete other native species.<ref>Montréal Space for Life. n.d. The Green Pages. Native, exotic, naturalized or invasive. Accessed: April 12, 2022. https://espacepourlavie.ca/en/native-exotic-naturalized-or-invasive</ref><ref>Webb. J. 2021. Are Shasta daisies native to Ontario? cubetoronto.com. Accessed: April 12, 2022 https://cubetoronto.com/ontario/are-shasta-daisies-native-to-ontario/</ref>]]

Some introduced species escape from gardens and other managed landscapes and begin to reproduce in the wild. Invasive plants are typically non-native plants that out-compete native species. These species lack natural predators, grow aggressively and reproduce rapidly and can be problematic in the natural environment. Invasive species have not been included on the recommended plant list for LID practices and should not be planted in any situation.

Some introduced species escape from gardens and other managed landscapes and begin to reproduce in the wild. Invasive plants are typically non-native plants that out-compete native species. These species lack natural predators, grow aggressively and reproduce rapidly and can be problematic in the natural environment. Invasive species have not been included on the recommended plant list for LID practices and should not be planted in any situation.

! Organization !! Coverage !! Types of Material  !! Website

! Organization !! Coverage !! Types of Material  !! Website

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| Credit Valley Conservation || Ontario || Native Grasses, Ferns, Shrubs, Small Trees || https://cvc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/com_lo_rain-ready-guide_20220328-FINAL3.pdf

| Credit Valley Conservation || Ontario || Native Grasses, Ferns, Shrubs, Small Trees || https://cvc.ca/document/plant-list-native-plants-for-rain-ready-landscapes/?access=8fb53274fcf90837941a9cc25086f47a

| City of Toronto || Southern Ontario - Specifically Richmond Hill ([http://planthardiness.gc.ca/?m=22&lang=en&prov=Ontario&val=R or any Municipality located in Zone 5B]) || Native and non-native Grasses, Ferns, Shrubs, Trees, Herbaceous, Graminoids, and Vines || https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/9844-2017_V-1.0_CoT-Green-Streets_Vegetation-Selection-Tool.xlsx

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| Watersheds Canada || Canada / Ontario || Native Grasses, Ferns, Shrubs, Trees, Vines  || https://watersheds.ca/plant-database/

| Watersheds Canada || Canada / Ontario || Native Grasses, Ferns, Shrubs, Trees, Vines  || https://watersheds.ca/plant-database/

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| Columbia University, University of Maryland, Smithsonian Institute¹ || North eastern USA and Canada || Native and non-native trees and shrubs || http://leafsnap.com/species/

| Columbia University, University of Maryland, Smithsonian Institute^* || North eastern USA and Canada || Native and non-native trees and shrubs || http://leafsnap.com/species/

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| Louisiana State University || USA || Grasses, Ferns, Herbaceous, Shrubs, Trees, Vines, Ornamental || http://onlineplantguide.com/Index.aspx

| Louisiana State University || USA || Grasses, Ferns, Herbaceous, Shrubs, Trees, Vines, Ornamental || http://onlineplantguide.com/Index.aspx

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1. Leafsnap is an on-line field guide, available as a free mobile app that uses visual recognition software to help identify tree species from photos of their leaves, flowers and fruits. <ref>Columbia University, University of Maryland, Smithsonian Institute. 2018. Leafsnap. http://leafsnap.com/species/</ref>

<small>*Leafsnap is an on-line field guide, available as a free mobile app that uses visual recognition software to help identify tree species from photos of their leaves, flowers and fruits. <ref>Columbia University, University of Maryland, Smithsonian Institute. 2018. Leafsnap. http://leafsnap.com/species/</ref></small>

==See Also==

==See Also==