Some of the best plants for bank stabilization are native grass, and other grass varieties like vetch, wheatgrass, or rye. More examples of plants can be found at the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership Native Plants webpage. Adding habitat for birds and butterflies will add to your overall enjoyment of this outdoor living space. This plant has many brilliant red, tubular flowers in an elongated cluster on an erect stalk. Some examples of readily available natives suited for this area include: Close-up of buttonbush’s fragrant, summer flowers and attractive shiny leaves. They should be a mix of flowers, grasses, sedges and even trees and shrubs. Keep reading to find out the some of the top aquatic plants for your pond! Above the OHWM. Prevent erosion of higher shoreline bluffs by: Retaining moisture-absorbing vegetation on the bluff. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. Certain plants are suited to growing conditions below the OHWM and others are suited to growing above the OHWM. Landscape plans and plant selection ideal for wet conditions, such as shorelines, are covered in the plant topics portion of this site. All Rights Reserved. Milkweed grows in swamps, thickets and along wet shorelines and the flowers attract and provide food for butterflies, especially monarchs. The plant has strong roots and can survive through wide variations of the water level and displays an affinity for high levels of phosphates and hard waters. Boneset is used as a stimulant, febrifuge and laxative as well as other medicinal uses. Rushes and sedges are great habitat for wading birds and your shoreline will look more natural and attractive, too. Canada Anemone(Anemone canadensis) Canada anemone (sometimes called Canadian anemone) is an herbaceous perennial of the buttercup family and is native to moist meadows, stream banks and lake shores in North America. Establishing buffer zones takes minimal effort and requires little maintenance. This booklet highlights the following plants because they are well suited for Missouri ponds, lakes, and wetlands and are easy to obtain and manage. Shoreline erosion affects both the Great Lakes and inland lakes in Michigan. Mary Wilson, Michigan State University Extension - Plants that have local origins are more desirable ecologically than a plant grown from another U.S region even though they may share the same scientific name. . location Plant along lake edge. Aquatic plants are used to enhance the beauty of lakes and ponds as well as provide habitat for other forms of aquatic life. The underground tuber (duck potato) is preferred by at least 15 species of ducks, including canvasbacks, but many times the tubers are buried too deep for them to reach. There are numerous native trees and shrubs that can be incorporated into a design in this landscape area. These buffer strips or ribbons of vegetation catch sediment and other pollution before it reaches the lake. The OHWM is the level where the action of water is so common and long lasting that it leaves evidence, or a “mark,” on the landscape. Jeffrey W. Dwyer, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. Pickerelweed blooms from June through November and provides good cover for birds, fish and amphibians.Blueflag Iris (Iris versicolor). Maintaining dense beneficial vegetation around your lake or pond is extremely important for improving water quality, preventing erosion and controlling nuisance geese. Arrowhead or Duck Potato (Sagittaria latifolia) Duck Potato, or arrowhead, is a perennial that grows 1 to 4 feet tall and has large broad leaves shaped like arrows with small white flowers. It poured actually. For guidelines on designing a shoreline landscape, refer to Bindu Bhakta’s Michigan State University Extension article, “Implementing shoreline landscaping requires pre-planning.”. These plants are best adapted for providing the root structure needed to stabilize a shoreline and are also adapted to the site and climatic conditions in their natural habitats. The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707. By Jeff Forester. SHORELINE TREES AND SHRUBS These deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs are representative of plants that will generally do well in moist or wet soil conditions. Plants should be chosen which best suits the site to provide the best potential for shoreline stabilization. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464). Some do best in full sun, while others do better in partial to full shade. Native plants evolved in Wisconsin and therefore are more likely to survive the extreme weather conditions in Wisconsin. We encourage you to have beneficial plants added around your lake or pond if they aren’t already present to help improve water quality, prevent erosion among other important benefits. Diverting surface runoff away from the bluff (including rain gutter outlets). Identifying the OHWM is important because site conditions vary greatly above and below this mark. On lakes, waves can erode supporting soil at the bottom of the bluff. A successful shoreline landscape hinges on matching plants needs to site conditions. Examples of these plants are tropical water lilies, hardy water lilies, watershields and lotus. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential. small lakes and ponds do best with slow-growing, shorter species that grow sparsely. It is considered one of the best plants for many ecological reasons including: food for wildlife and oxygen for the pond. Rushes and sedges are great habitat for wading birds and your shoreline will look more natural and attractive, too. Preventing bluff erosion. It grows in damp sites, especially along streams. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This low growing perennial plant is ideal when low borders or water views are the goal. Many people ask why we always suggest native plants for a shoreline garden. Then go about choosing what plants will serve your needs and aesthetic. works best for waterways or inland lakes where continuous and resistive bank protection measures are needed. There are several beneficial plants besides the ones we highly recommended here. Upland. Just beware of certain undesirable or invasive plants such as cattails, phragmites, purple loosestrife, alligatorweed and smartweed as many of these have an explosive ability to spread and require extensive effort to manage.Contact your lake and pond management professional to help determine the best plant species for your area and look forward to those beautiful views and welcomed dragonflies, butterflies and waterfowl! The plants growing in the water are typically a variety of rushes and bulrushes (which look similar to the reeds you can see growing in wetlands) and perennial flowers. 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