Plants for swales

The tables and content on this page have been adapted from “Plants for Stormwater Design: Species Selection for the Upper Midwest” (Daniel Shaw and Rusty Schmidt, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 2003).

The tables and content on this page have been adapted from [“Plants for Stormwater Design: Species Selection for the Upper Midwest” (Daniel Shaw and Rusty Schmidt, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 2003). To obtain a free copy of this guidebook, telephone (651) 297-8679 or write to Operations and Environmental Review Section, Regional Environmental Management Division, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 520 Lafayette Rd. N., Saint Paul, MN 55103-1402.

• Zone 1: Submergent zone; 1.5 to 6 feet of water
• Zone 2: Emergent zone; 0 to 18 inches of water
• Zone 3: Wet meadow zone; permanent moistue
• Zone 4: Floodplain zone; flooded during snowmelt and large storms
• Zone 5:Upland zone; seldom or never inundated (the upland zone includes prairie and forest plant communities)

Zone 1 (Submergent zone) – The submergent zone is found in areas of 3-6 feet of water in wet ponds. Therefore, it is an unlikely zone to include in a Swale design, though exceptions may occur. Submergent vegetation makes up this zone because emergent vegetation generally does not grow deeper than 3 feet. Submergent species may float free in the water column or may root in the pool bottom and have stems and leaves that generally stay under water. Submergent species are important for wildlife habitat and pollutant removal, especially nitrates and phosphorus. Submergent species are not readily available from native plant nurseries and can be difficult to plant. Many submergent species establish on their own (Ogle and Hoag 2000).

Zone 2 (Emergent zone) – The emergent zone of a wet pond is generally 0 to 18 inches deep. It is often designed as benches within ponds to optimize the area for emergent plants. This zone is most common to Swale designs from the center of the Swale to, typically, the water quality stage elevation. Emergent plants are important for wildlife and evapotranspiration. They also provide habitat for phytoplankton, which play an important role in nutrient removal (Ogle and Hoag 2000). A wide variety of wetland species are adapted to the emergent zone. However, large fluctuations in water level and pollutants within wet ponds may limit the number of species.

Zone 3 (Wet meadow zone) – The wet meadow zone is a constantly moist area that can become inundated. The transition area between open water and the shoreline is prone to erosion. Therefore, it is an important area for plant establishment. This zone extends from Zone 2 to the Zone 4 and is common in swale designs. In addition to wet-meadow grasses, sedges, flowers and shrubs, such as dogwoods, willows, buttonbush and chokeberry, are well suited to this zone.

Zone 4 (Floodplain zone) – The floodplain zone is normally dry but may flood during snowmelt and after large storms. This zone can occur in Swales designed with 2-stages of inundation; one for water quality storage and the second for channel protection storage. It should be noted that small depression storage can be built into this zone as wetland storage areas for additional treatment and habitat enhancement. These depressions would be considered either Zone 1-3, depending on depth and duration of inundation. Floodplain zones are generally flat terraces and are common along rivers and streams. If a wet pond has a steep side slope, it may go directly from zone 3 (wet meadow zone) to zone 5 (upland zone) without having a floodplain zone. Floodplain species must be adapted to extremes in hydrology; they may be inundated for long periods in the spring and be dry during the summer. The ability of floodplain species to handle extremes in hydrology make them well suited to the edges of wet ponds and detention ponds.

Zone 5 (Upland zone) – The upland zone is seldom or never inundated. A wide variety of species are well adapted to the upland zone and their selection will depend on the site conditions.

Zone 2 (Emergent zone)

Marsh marigold, Zone 2. From Shaw and Schmidt (2003).

Zone 2 - Emergent zone (0 - 18 inches of water)
Scientific name	Common name
Forbs and ferns
Acorus calamus	Sweet flag
Alisma trivale	Water plantain
Caltha palustris	Marsh marigold
Polygonum amphibium	Water smartweed
Pontederia cordata	Pickerelweed
Sagittaria latifolia	Broadleaved arrowhead
Sparganium eurycarpum	Giant burreed
Grasses, sedges, and rushes
Carex aquatilis	Water sedge
Carex lacustris	Lake sedge
Carex stricta	Tussock sedge
Juncus balticus	Baltic rush
Juncus effusus	Soft rush
Scirpus acutus	Hardstem bulrush
Scirpus Fluviatilis	River bulrush
Scirpus pungens	Three-square bulrush
Scirpus validus	Soft-stem bulrush
Zone 3 - Wet meadow zone; permanent moisture
Scientific name	Common name
Trees and shrubs
Amorpha fruticosa	Indigo bush
Salex nigra	Black willow
Sambucus pubens	Red-berried elder
Forbs and ferns
Thalictrum dasycarpum	Tall meadowrue
Verbena hastata	Blue vervain
Vernonia fasciculata	Ironweed
Veronicastrum virginicum	Culver's root
Grasses, sedges, and rushes
Andropogon gerardii	Big bluestem
Bromus ciliatus	Fringed brome
Calamagrostis canadensis	Canada blue-joint grass
Carex bebbii	Bebb's sedge
Carex comosa	Bottlebrush sedge
Carex crinita	Caterpillar sedge
Carex hystericina	Porcupine sedge
Carex languinosa	Wooly sedge
Carex lasiocarpa	Wooly needle sedge
Carex retrorsa	Retrorse sedge
Carex stipata	Awl-fruited sedge
Carex vulpinoidea	Fox sedge
Eleocharis obtusa	Blunt spikerush
Equisetum fluviatile	Horsetail
Glyceria grandis	Giant manna grass
Glyceria striata	Fowl manna grass
Juncus balticus	Baltic rush
Juncus effusus	Soft rush
Juncus torreyi	Torrey rush
Leersia oryzoides	Rice-cut grass
Panicum virgatum	Switchgrass
Scirpus atrovirens	Green bulrush
Scirpus cyperinus	Woolgrass
Scirpus fluviatilis	River bulrush
Scirpus pungens	Three-square bulrush
Scirpus validus	Soft-stem bulrush
Spartina pectinata	Prairie cord grass
Zone 4 - Floodplain zone; flooded during snowmelt and large storms
Scientific name	Common name
Trees and shrubs
Acer saccharinum	Silver maple
Alnus incana	Speckled alder
Amorpha fruticosa	Indigo bush
Aronia melanocarpa	Black chokecherry
Betula nigra	River birch
Celtis occidentalis	Hackberry
Cephalanthus occidentalis	Buttonbush
Cornus amomum	Silky dogwood
Cornus sericea	Red-osier dogwood
Fraxinus nigra	Black ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Green ash
Physocarpus opulifolius	Ninebark
Populus deltoides	Eastern cottonwood
Quercus bicolor	Swamp white oak
Salix discolor	Pussy willow
Salix exigua	Sandbar willow
Salix nigra	Black willow
Sambucus pubens	Red-berried elder
Spiraea alba	Meadowsweet
Viburnum lentago	Nannyberry
Viburnum trilobum	High bush cranberry
Forbs and ferns
Anemone canadensis	Canada anemone
Aster lucidulus	Swamp aster
Aster puniceus	Red-stemmed aster
Boltonia asteroides	Boltonia
Impatiens capensis	Jewelweed
Lobelia cardinalis	Cardinal flower
Lobelia siphilitica	Blue lobelia
Lysimachia thrysiflora	Tufted loosestrife
Physostegia virginiana	Obedient plant
Potentilla palustris	Marsh cinquefoil
Scutterlaria lateriflora	Mad-dog skullcap
Silphium perfoliatum	Cup plant
Symplocarpus foetidus	Skunk cabbage
Vernonia fasciculata	Ironweed
Grasses, sedges, and rushes
Carex comosa	Bottlebrush sedge
Elymus virginicus	Virginia wild rye
Leersia oryzoides	Rice-cut grass
Panicum virgatum	Switchgrass
Scirpus atrovirens	Green bulrush
Spartina pectinata	Prairie cord grass
Zone 5 - Upland zone; seldom or never inundated
Scientific name	Common name
Trees and shrubs
Cornus racemosa	Gray dogwood
Populus tremuloides	Quaking aspen
Quercus bicolor	Swamp white oak
Viburnum lentago	Nannyberry
Viburnum trilobum	High bush cranberry
Forbs and ferns
Agastache foeniculum	Giant hyssop
Allium stellatum	Prairie wild onion
Arisaema triphyllum	Jack-in-the-pulpit
Artemisia ludoviciana	Prairie sage
Asclepias tuberosa	Butterfly milkweed
Aster laevis	Smooth aster
Aster lanceolatus (simplex)	Pacicled aster
Aster macrophyllus	Bigleaf aster
Aster pilosus	Frost aster
Athyrium filix-femina	Lady fern
Boltonia asteroides	Boltonia
Epilobium angustifolium	Fireweed
Galium boreale	Northern bedstraw
Helianthus grosseserratus	Sawtooth sunflower
Heuchera richardsonii	Prairie alumroot
Monarda fistulosa	Wild bergamot
Onoclea sensibilis	Sensitive fern
Potentilla palustris	Marsh cinquefoil
Pteridium aquilinum	Bracken fern
Pycnanthemum virginianum	Mountain mint
Ratibida pinnata	Yellow coneflower
Rudbeckia subtomentosa	Brown-eyed susan
Smilacina racemosa	False Solomon's seal
Solidago flexicaulis	Zig-zag goldenrod
Solidago riddellii	Riddell's goldenrod
Solidago rigida	Stiff goldenrod
Tradescantia ohiensis	Ohio spiderwort
Veronicastrum virginicum	Culver's root
Grasses, sedges, and rushes
Andropogon gerardii	Big bluestem
Panicum virgatum	Switchgrass
Schizachyrium scoparium	Little bluestem
Sorghastrum nutans	Indian grass

River bulrush sedge, Zones 2 and 3. From Shaw and Schmidt (2003).

Awl-fruited sedge, Zone 3. From Shaw and Schmidt (2003).

The emergent zone of a wet pond is generally 0 to 18 inches deep. It is often designed as benches within ponds to optimize the area for emergent plants. This zone is most common to Swale designs from the center of the Swale to, typically, the water quality stage elevation. Emergent plants are important for wildlife and evapotranspiration. They also provide habitat for phytoplankton, which play an important role in nutrient removal (Ogle and Hoag 2000). A wide variety of wetland species are adapted to the emergent zone. However, large fluctuations in water level and pollutants within wet ponds may limit the number of species.

Zone 3 (Wet meadow zone)

The wet meadow zone is a constantly moist area that can become inundated. The transition area between open water and the shoreline is prone to erosion. Therefore, it is an important area for plant establishment. This zone extends from Zone 2 to the Zone 4 and is common in swale designs. In addition to wet-meadow grasses, sedges, flowers and shrubs, such as dogwoods, willows, buttonbush and chokeberry, are well suited to this zone.

Zone 4 (Floodplain zone)

The floodplain zone is normally dry but may flood during snowmelt and after large storms. This zone can occur in Swales designed with 2-stages of inundation; one for water quality storage and the second for channel protection storage. It should be noted that small depression storage can be built into this zone as wetland storage areas for additional treatment and habitat enhancement. These depressions would be considered either Zone 1-3, depending on depth and duration of inundation. Floodplain zones are generally flat terraces and are common along rivers and streams. If a wet pond has a steep side slope, it may go directly from zone 3 (wet meadow zone) to zone 5 (upland zone) without having a floodplain zone. Floodplain species must be adapted to extremes in hydrology; they may be inundated for long periods in the spring and be dry during the summer. The ability of floodplain species to handle extremes in hydrology make them well suited to the edges of wet ponds and detention ponds.

Zone 5 (Upland zone)

The upland zone is seldom or never inundated. A wide variety of species are well adapted to the upland zone and their selection will depend on the site conditions.

Culver's root, Zone 3. From Shaw and Schmidt (2003).

Switchgrass, Zone 3, 4. From Shaw and Schmidt (2003).

Obedient plant, Zone 4. From Shaw and Schmidt (2003).

Canada anemone, Zone 4. From Shaw and Schmidt (2003).

Black chokecherry, Zone 4. From Shaw and Schmidt (2003).

Cardinal flower, Zone 4. From Shaw and Schmidt (2003).

Smooth aster, Zone 5. From Shaw and Schmidt (2003).

Butterfly milkweed, Zone 5. From Shaw and Schmidt (2003).

Big bluestem, Zone 5. From Shaw and Schmidt (2003).

Yellow coneflower, Zone 5. From Shaw and Schmidt (2003).

Select wet swale-appropriate plants
Scientific name	Common name
Trees and shrubs
Alnus incana	Speckled alder
Amorpha fruticosa	Indigo bush
Aronia melanocarpa	Black chokecherry
Betula nigra	River birch
Cephalanthus occidentalis	Buttonbush
Cornus amomum	Silky dogwood
Cornus racemosa	Gray dogwood
Cornus sericea	Red-osier dogwood
Ilex verticillata	Winterberry
Larix laricina	Tamarck
Physocarpus opulifolius	Ninebark
Salix discolor	Pussy willow
Salix exigua	Sandbar willow
Sambucus pubens	Red-berried elder
Spiraea alba	Meadowsweet
Viburnum lentago	Nannyberry
Viburnum trilobum	High bush cranberry
Forbs and ferns
Agastache foeniculum	Giant hyssop
Alisma trivale	Water plantain
Anemone canadensis	Canada anemone
Angelica atropurpurea	Angelica
Artemisia ludoviciana	Prairie sage
Asclepias incarnata	Marsh milkweed
Aster lanceolatus (simplex)	Panicle aster
Aster lucidulus	Swamp aster
Aster novae-angliae	New England aster
Aster puniceus	Red-stemmed aster
Boltonia asteroides	Boltonia
Caltha palustris	Marsh marigold
Chelone glabra	Turtlehead
Equisetum fluviatile	Horsetail
Eryngium yuccifolium	Rattlesnake master
Eupatorium maculatum	Joe-pye-weed
Eupatorium perfoliatum	Bonset
Euthanmia graminifolia	Grass-leaved goldenrod
Gentiana andrewsii	Bottle gentian
Helenium autumnale	Sneezeweed
Helianthus grosseserratus	Sawtooth sunflower
Impatiens capensis	Jewelweed
Iris versicolor	Blueflag
Liatris ligulistylis	Meadow blazingstar
Liatris pychnostachya	Prairie blazingstar
Lilium superbum	Turks-cap lily
Lobelia cardinalis	Cardinal flower
Lobelia siphilitica	Blue lobelia
Lysimachia thrysiflora	Tufted loosestrife
Monarda fistulosa	Wild bergamot
Onoclea sensibilis	Sensitive fern
Osmunda regalis	Royal fern
Physostegia virginiana	Obedient plant
Polygonum amphibium	Water smartweed
Pontederia cordata	Pickerelweed
Potentilla palustris	Marsh cinquefoil
Pycnanthemum virginianum	Mountain mint
Rudbeckia subtomentosa	Brown-eyed Susan
Sagittaria latifolia	Broadleaved arrowhead
Scutterlaria lateriflora	Mad-dog skullcap
Silphium perfoliatum	Cup plant
Solidago rigida	Stiff goldenrod
Sparganium eurycarpum	Giant burreed
Symplocarpus foetidus	Skunk cabbage
Thalictrum dasycarpum	Tall meadowrue
Tradescantia ohiensis	Ohio spiderwort
Verbena hastata	Blue vervain
Vernonia fasciculata	Ironweed
Veronicastrum virginicum	Culver's root
Zizia aurea	Golden alexanders
Grasses, sedges, and rushes
Andropogon gerardii	Big bluestem
Bromus ciliatus	Fringed brome
Calamagrostis canadensis	Canada blue-joint grass
Carex aquatilis	Water sedge
Bebb's sedge
Carex comosa	Bottlebrush sedge
Carex crinita	Caterpillar sedge
Carex hystericina	Porcupine sedge
Carex lacustris	Lake sedge
Carex languinosa	Wooly sedge
Carex lasiocarpa	Wooly needle sedge
Carex retrorsa	Retrorse sedge
Carex stipata	Awl-fruited sedge
Carex stricta	Tussock sedge
Carex vulpinoidea	Fox sedge
Eleocharis obtusa	Blunt spikerush
Elymus virginicus	Virginia wild rye
Glyceria grandis	Giant manna grass
Glyceria striata	Fowl manna grass
Juncus balticus	Baltic rush
Juncus effusus	Soft rush
Juncus torreyi	Torrey rush
Leersia oryzoides	Rice-cut grass
Panicum virgatum	Switchgrass
Scirpus acutus	Hardstem bulrush
Scirpus atrovirens	Green bulrush
Scirpus cyperinus	Woolgrass
Scirpus fluviatilis	River bulrush
Scirpus pungens	Three-square bulrush
Scirpus validus	Soft-stem bulrush
Spartina pectinata	Prairie cord grass
Typha latifolia	Broadleaved cattail

Select dry swale-appropriate plants
Scientific name	Common name
Forbs and ferns
Anemone canadensis	Canada anemone
Artemisia ludoviciana	Prairie sage
Asclepias incarnata	Marsh milkweed
Aster puniceus	Red-stemmed aster
Euthanmia graminifolia	Flat-top goldenrod
Lobelia siphilitica	Blue lobelia
Pycnanthemum virginianum	Mountain mint
Verbena hastata	Blue vervain
Grasses, sedges, and rushes
Andropogon gerardii	Big bluestem
Bromus ciliatus	Fringed brome
Calamagrostis canadensis	Canada blue-joint grass
Carex bebbii	Bebb's sedge
Carex vulpinoidea	Fox sedge
Elymus virginicus	Virginia wild rye
Glyceria striata	Fowl manna grass
Juncus effusus	Soft rush
Panicum virgatum	Switchgrass
Scirpus atrovirens	Green bulrush
Spartina pectinata	Prairie cord grass
Useful sod-forming grasses
Agrostis palustris	Creeping bentgrass
Elymus sp.	Wheat-grass
Poa palustris	Fowl bluegrass

• 

  Flat-topped goldenrod

• 

  Creeping bentgrass. Source: The Ohio State University

• 

  Fowl meadow grass. Source: Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs

• 

  Virginia wild rye

• Wet swale appropriate plants. Click on an image for enlarged view.
• 

  Black chokecherry

• 

  Big bluestem

• 

  Culver's root

• 

  Obedient plant

• Plants appropriate for either dry or wet swales. Click on an image for enlarged view.
• 

  Canada anemone

• 

  Big bluestem

• 

  Switchgrass

• 

  Bebb's sedge

Related links

• Minnesota plant lists
  • Salt tolerant plants
• Pollinator friendly Best Management Practices for stormwater management
• Bioretention
• Trees

Additional links and information

Note that while the resources below provide extensive information on plants that can be used in swales, some of the references are for other areas of the country. If using these resources, ensure the information is applicable to Minnesota.

• Plants for Stormwater Design - Shaw and Schmidt
• StormWater Plant materials - Boise Public Works
• Vegetated swale - Spence restoration Nursery
• Plants for vegetated swales - StopWaste
• Native plant landscaping contacts - Minnesota Deoartment of Natural Resources