Emergent Plants
Emergent plants grow on the shoreline and can withstand fluctuations in water level.
Acmella oppositifolia
oppositeleaf spotflower
Flower Color: yellow
Bloom Time: May-Aug
Plant Height: 6-12"
Water Depth: wet soil-3”
Light: full sun/shade
Benefits: ground cover, flowers
Bacopa monnieri
water hyssop
Flower Color: white
Bloom Time: May-September
Plant Height: 6"
Water Depth: wet soil-6”
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: ground cover
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Crinum americanum
seven sisters
Flower Color: white, blush
Bloom Time: Jun-Nov
Plant Height: 2’-3’
Water Depth: wet soil-6”
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: showy and fragrant flower
Hibiscus moscheutos
crimsoneyed rosemallow
Flower Color: white
Bloom Time: Jul - Sep
Plant Height: 3’-7’
Water Depth: moist soil- 6”
Light: full sun, part shade
Benefits: attracts hummingbirds
Iris fulva
copper iris
Flower Color: red/orange
Bloom Time: Mar-May
Plant Height: 3'-4'
Water Depth: wet soil-6”
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: ornamental
Justicia americana
American water-willow
Flower Color: white and purple
Bloom Time: Apr-Oct
Plant Height: 2'-4'
Water Depth: wet soil-36”
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: erosion control, underwater structure and habitat
Panicum hemitomon
maidencane
Flower Color: yellow
Bloom Time: May-Aug
Plant Height: 2'-3'
Water Depth: wet soil-24”
Light: full sun/shade
Benefits: erosion control, livestock forage
Sagittaria lancifolia
bulltongue arrowhead
Flower Color: white and yellow
Bloom Time: Jun-Oct
Plant Height: 2'-3'
Water Depth: wet soil-12”
Light: full sun
Benefits: tubers provide food for ducks
Saururus cernuus
lizard's tail
Flower Color: white
Bloom Time: May-Aug
Plant Height: 2'-4'
Water Depth: wet soil-6”
Light: full sun/shade
Benefits: ornamental
Tripsicum dactyloides
Eastern gamagrass
Flower Color: yellow
Bloom Time: Apr-Aug
Plant Height: 4'-7'
Water Depth: dry - wet soil
Light: full sun/ partshade
Benefits: erosion control, ground cover, host plant for Problema byssus caterpillars
Asclepias incarnata
swamp milkweed
Flower Color: pink-purple
Bloom Time: Jun-Oct
Plant Height: 2’-4.5’
Water Depth: wet soil-3”
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: attracts butterflies, host plant for Danaus plexippus and Danaus gilippus caterpillars
Cephalanthus occidentalis
buttonbush
Flower Color: white
Bloom Time: Jun-Sep
Plant Height: generally 3'-6' can grow up to 15'
Water Depth: wet soil-12”
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: erosion control pollinator plant​​
Equisetum hyemale
scouringrush horsetail
Plant Height: 3’
Water Depth: wet soil-6”
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: ornamental evergreen
Hydrolea ovata
blue waterleaf
Flower Color: blue
Bloom Time: Jun - Sep
Plant Height: 1'-2'
Water Depth: moist soil - 6"
Light: full sun, part shade
Benefits: showy flowers, erosion control
Iris virginica
Virginia iris
Flower Color: blue/purple
Bloom Time: Mar-Jun
Plant Height: 4'-5'
Water Depth: wet soil-3”
Light: full sun/ part shade
Benefits: ornamental
Kosteletzkya virginica
Virginia saltmarsh mallow
Flower Color: pink
Bloom Time: Jun - October
Plant Height: 3'-5'
Water Depth: moist soil-6”
Light: full sun/ part shade
Benefits: buffer plant, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, seeds are a food source for small mammals and migratory birds
Pontederia cordata
pickerelweed
Flower Color: purple
Bloom Time: Apr - Oct
Plant Height: 3'-4'
Water Depth: wet soil-36”
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: ornamental, filter plant, pollinator plant
Sagittaria latifolia
broadleaf arrowhead
Flower Color: white and yellow
Bloom Time: Jun-Sep
Plant Height: 3'-5'
Water Depth: wet soil-24”
Light: full sun/ part shade
Benefits: underwater habitat, tubers provide food for ducks
Scirpus tabernaemontani
softstem bulrush
Plant Height: 4'-6'"
Water Depth: wet soil-36”
Light: full sun
Benefits: erosion control, buffer against wind and wave action
Asclepias perennis
aquatic milkweed
Flower Color: white
Bloom Time: Jun-Oct
Plant Height: 2’-4.5’
Water Depth: wet soil-3”
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: attracts butterflies, host plant for Danaus plexippus and Danaus gilippus caterpillars
Chasmanthium latifolium
inland sea oats
Flower Color: green
Bloom Time: Jun-Oct
Plant Height: 2’-4’
Water Depth: wet soil-6”
Light: part shade/shade
Benefits: erosion control, seeds are food for wildlife
​Helianthus angustifolius
swamp sunflower
Flower Color: yellow
Bloom Time: Aug - Oct
Plant Height: 2' - 4'
Water Depth: moist soil-6"
Light: full sun, part shade
Benefits: showy flowers, attracts birds
Hymenocallis liriosme
Texas spiderlily
Flower Color: white
Bloom Time: Apr-Jun
Plant Height: 6-12"
Water Depth: wet soil - 3"
Light: full sun/shade
Benefits: fragrant and showy flowers
Juncus effusus
common rush
Plant Height: 4'-5'
Water Depth: wet soil-6”
Light: full sun
Benefits: seeds are a wildlife food source
Lobelia cardinalis
cardinal flower
Flower Color: red
Bloom Time: Jun - Nov
Plant Height: 2'-4'
Water Depth: wet soil-3”
Light: part shade
Benefits: attracts butterflies and hummingbirds
Sagittaria graminae
grassy arrowhead
Flower Color: white and yellow
Bloom Time: Apr-Sep
Plant Height: 1'-2'
Water Depth: wet soil-12”
Light: full sun
Benefits: tubers provides food for ducks
Sagittaria platyphylla
delta arrowhead
Flower Color: white and yellow
Bloom Time: Apr-Oct
Plant Height: 1'-3'
Water Depth: wet soil-12”
Light: full sun
Benefits: tubers provide food for ducks, underwater habitat
Thalia dealbata
powdery alligator-flag
Flower Color: purple
Bloom Time: May-Oct
Plant Height: 3'-6'
Water Depth: wet soil-24”
Light: full sun/ part shade
Benefits: erosion control, showy flowers, ducks will eat seeds