Emergent Plants
Emergent plants grow on the shoreline and can withstand fluctuations in water level.
Find plants here that are suited for rain gardens.
Asclepias incarnata
swamp milkweed
Flower Color: pink-purple
Bloom Time: Jun-Oct
Plant Height: 2’-4.5’
Water Depth: wet soil-6”
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: attracts butterflies, host plant for Danaus plexippus and Danaus gilippus caterpillars
Canna flaccida
bandanna of the Everglades
Flower Color: yellow
Bloom Time: May-Aug
Plant Height: 4’
Water Depth: wet soil-6”
Light: full sun
Benefits: erosion control, showy flower
Cephalanthus occidentalis
common buttonbush
Plant Height: generally 3'-5', can
grow up to 20'
Flower Color: white
Bloom Time: Jun - Sep
Water Depth: wet soil-12"
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: erosion control
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
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
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Equisetum hyemale
scouringrush horsetail
Plant Height: 3’
Water Depth: wet soil-6”
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: ornamental evergreen
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
Hibiscus lasiocarpos
rosemallow
Flower Color: white with magenta eye
Bloom Time: Apr-Sep
Plant Height: 3’-5’
Water Depth: wet soil- 6”
Light: full sun
Benefits: attracts butterflies, deer and quail eat seeds
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
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
Hymenocallis occidentalis
Northern spiderlily
Flower Color: white
Bloom Time: Mar-Sep
Plant Height: 1.5’-2.5’
Water Depth: wet soil-6”
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: showy and fragrant flower
Iris fulva
copper iris
Plant Height: 3’-4’
Flower Color: red/orange
Bloom Time: Mar - May
Water Depth: wet soil-6”
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: ornamental
Iris virginica
Virginia iris
Plant Height: 3’-4’
Flower Color: blue/purple
Bloom Time: May-Jun
Water Depth: wet soil-6”
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: ornamental
Juncus effusus
common rush
Plant Height: 4’-5’
Water Depth: wet soil-6”
Light: full sun
Benefits: seeds are wildlife food source
Justicia americana
American water-willow
Flower Color: white and purple
Bloom Time: Apr - Oct
Plant Height: 2’-3’
Water Depth: wet soil-36”
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: underwater structure and habitat
Kosteletzkya virginica
Virginia saltmarsh mallow
Flower Color: pink
Bloom Time: Jun - Oct
Plant Height: 3'-5'
Water Depth: moist soil-6"
Light: full sun
Benefits: buffer plant between agricultural and aquatic systems, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, seeds are a valuable food source for small mammals and migratory birds, showy flowers
Lobelia cardinalis
cardinal flower
Flower Color: red
Bloom Time: May-Oct
Plant Height: 3’-5’
Water Depth: wet soil- 6”
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: attracts butterflies and hummingbirds
Panicum hemitomon
maidencane
Flower Color: yellow
Plant Height: 2.5'
Water Depth: moist soil - 24"
Light: full sun, part shade
Benefits: erosion control, livestock forage
Peltandra virginica
arrow arum
Flower Color: green
Bloom Time: Jun-Oct
Plant Height: 2’-4’
Water Depth: wet soil-6”
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: fruit preferred food of wood ducks, cover for water fowl and wading birds
Pontederia cordata
pickerelweed
Plant Height: 2'-3'
Flower Color: purple
Bloom Time: Jun - Sep
Water Depth: wet soil-36"
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: ornamental, filter plant
Phyla nodiflora
turkey tangle frogfruit
Flower Color: white/blush
Bloom Time: May - Oct
Plant Height: 3" - 12"
Water Depth: dry soil - 6"
Light: full sun, part shade
Benefits: erosion control, nectar source, larval host plant for Phyciodes phaon, Junonia coenia and Anartia jatrophae
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Sagittaria graminee
grassy arrowhead
Flower Color: white and yellow
Bloom Time: Jun - Aug
Plant Height: 1’-3’
Water Depth: wet soil-12”
Light: full sun
Benefits: tubers provides food for ducks
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Sagittaria lancifolia
bulltongue arrowhead
Flower Color: white and yellow
Bloom Time: Jun - Aug
Plant Height: 1’-3’
Water Depth: wet soil-12”
Light: full sun
Benefits: tubers provides food for ducks
Sagittaria latifolia
broadleaf arrowhead
Flower Color: white and yellow
Bloom Time: June - Sept
Plant Height: 3’-5’
Water Depth: wet soil-24”
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: tubers provides food for ducks
Sagittaria platyphylla
delta arrowhead
Flower Color: white and yellow
Bloom Time: Jun - Aug
Plant Height: 1’-3’
Water Depth: wet soil-12”
Light: full sun
Benefits: tubers provides 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/part shade
Benefits: ornamental
Scirpus tabernaemontani
softstem bulrush
Plant Height: 4’-6’
Water Depth: wet soil-36”
Light: full sun
Benefits: buffer against wind and wave action
Sparganium americanum
American bur-reed
Flower Color: white/green
Bloom Time: May - Aug
Plant Height: 2’-3’
Water Depth: wet soil-12”
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: underwater structure and habitat
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Thalia dealbata
powdery alligator-flag
Flower Color: purple
Bloom Time: May-Oct
Plant Height: 3’-6’
Water Depth: wet soil-2’
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: ducks will eat seeds, showy flower
Tripsicum dactyloides
Eastern gamagrass
Flower Color: yellow
Bloom Time: Apr-Jun
Plant Height: 4’-6’
Water Depth: wet soil
Light: full sun/part shade
Benefits: ground cover, host plant for Problema byssus caterpillars