Wetlands: Plants

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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, 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.[1]

Sortable table, click on header you wish to select wetland plants by:
Scientific Name Common Name Native Soil Moisture
1=Dry
2=Med
3=Wet
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 3 1 2-3 Y Kare kaisel.JPG
Scirpus atrovirens Dark-green Bulrush Y 3 1 2 Y Scirpus atrovirens.jpeg
Scirpus cyperinus Cottongrass Bulrush Y 3 2 2 Scirpus cyperinus jheiser.jpg
Typha latifolia Broad-leaf Cattail Y 3 1 2-3 Y Typha latifolia 02 bgiu.jpg
  1. Jacques Whitford Consultants, 2008. CONSTRUCTED & ENGINEERED WETLANDS p. 1-21