Changes

The vegetation is a big opportunity to maximize the co-benefits of biodiversity and amenity. Planting plans can be formalized or naturalized to suit the surrounding style. In addition to aesthetic qualities, plants have specific functions in several LID practices. These include promotion of [[infiltration]], treatment of pollutants<ref> Hunt, W. F., Lord, B., Loh, B., & Sia, A. (2015). Plant Selection for Bioretention Systems and Stormwater Treatment Practices. Singapore: Springer Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-245-6</ref> and stabilization of soil. When selecting plants for an LID practice, aim for species with high functionality, survivability, suitability and availability. Landscape professionals should use these lists as guides, taking into consideration the appropriate planting zone, the size of the planting area versus size of the plant at maturity, tolerances to drought or periodic inundation, maintenance requirements and adaptability.  

The vegetation is a big opportunity to maximize the co-benefits of biodiversity and amenity. Planting plans can be formalized or naturalized to suit the surrounding style. In addition to aesthetic qualities, plants have specific functions in several LID practices. These include promotion of [[infiltration]], treatment of pollutants<ref> Hunt, W. F., Lord, B., Loh, B., & Sia, A. (2015). Plant Selection for Bioretention Systems and Stormwater Treatment Practices. Singapore: Springer Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-245-6</ref> and stabilization of soil. When selecting plants for an LID practice, aim for species with high functionality, survivability, suitability and availability. Landscape professionals should use these lists as guides, taking into consideration the appropriate planting zone, the size of the planting area versus size of the plant at maturity, tolerances to drought or periodic inundation, maintenance requirements and adaptability.  

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==Plant Selection==

==Plant Selection==

These pages contain a lot of images and may take a little longer to load.  

These pages contain a lot of images and may take a little longer to load.

 

{{Clickable button|[[Trees: List|Select trees]]}}  

{{Clickable button|[[Trees: List|Select trees]]}}  

{{Clickable button|[[Shrubs: List|Select shrubs]]}}  

{{Clickable button|[[Shrubs: List|Select shrubs]]}}  

{{Clickable button|[[Perennials: List|Select flowering perennials]]}}  

{{Clickable button|[[Perennials: List|Select perennials]]}}  

{{Clickable button|[[Vines: List|Select climbing plants]]}}  

{{Clickable button|[[Vines: List|Select climbing plants]]}}  

{{Clickable button|[[Graminoids: List|Select tall grasses]]}}

{{Clickable button|[[Graminoids: List|Select tall grasses]]}}

{{Clickable button|[[Green roofs: Planting|Select plants for green roofs]]}}

{{Clickable button|[[Green roofs: Planting|Select plants for green roofs]]}}

{{Clickable button|[[Wetlands: List|Select plants for wetlands]]}}

{{Clickable button|[[Wetlands: Plants|Select plants for wetlands]]}}

==Plant Characteristics==

==Plant Characteristics==

===Soil Moisture===

===Soil moisture===

Plant species are adapted to specific levels of moisture to achieve establishment and sustained growth. Soil moisture has been characterized by three categories: dry (1), moist (2) and wet (3). Some plants can tolerate a wide range of moisture regimes, whereas others perform optimally in a more narrow range of soil moisture conditions. Species ranked with a dash between two numbers can tolerate a range of conditions.

Plant species are adapted to specific levels of moisture to achieve establishment and sustained growth. Soil moisture has been characterized by three categories: dry (1), moist (2) and wet (3). Some plants can tolerate a wide range of moisture regimes, whereas others perform optimally in a more narrow range of soil moisture conditions. Species ranked with a dash between two numbers can tolerate a range of conditions.

===Partial Shade Tolerance===

 

===Shade tolerance===

Plant species react differently to varying levels of sunlight and shade.  Plant adaptations to these parameters are referred to in terms of degree of exposure. Most of the LID practices will be installed in newly developed areas, thereby providing exposure to full sun, meaning at least 6 full hours of direct sunlight for plantings. As trees develop over several years, or if an LID practice is installed in an area where there are existing trees or buildings providing partial shade, plants adapted to 3 to 6 hours of sunlight exposure should be used. Plants tolerant of full shade require less than 3 hours of direct sunlight each day. However, some shade-adapted species come into leaf early in the growing season in order to take advantage of full sunlight before tree leaves emerge and create shade.

Plant species react differently to varying levels of sunlight and shade.  Plant adaptations to these parameters are referred to in terms of degree of exposure. Most of the LID practices will be installed in newly developed areas, thereby providing exposure to full sun, meaning at least 6 full hours of direct sunlight for plantings. As trees develop over several years, or if an LID practice is installed in an area where there are existing trees or buildings providing partial shade, plants adapted to 3 to 6 hours of sunlight exposure should be used. Plants tolerant of full shade require less than 3 hours of direct sunlight each day. However, some shade-adapted species come into leaf early in the growing season in order to take advantage of full sunlight before tree leaves emerge and create shade.

===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 utilised 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 utilised 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.

===Pollution and Compaction 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.

===STEP Stars===

 

===STEP stars===

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

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

==See Also==

==See Also==

*[[Swales|Bioswales]]

*[[Swales|Bioswales]]

*[[Rain gardens]]

*[[Rain gardens]]

*[[Materials]]

*[[Materials]]

*[[Bioretention]]

*[[Bioretention]]