Native Wetland Plants

Hippuris vulgaris, Mare's tail, has the appearance of a pleasant green bottlebrush growing in patches found primarily in the shallow areas of ponds, lakes, streams or any wet muddy shore where water levels fluctuate. The flowers of Hi...

Caltha palustris, Marsh marigold, is one of the earliest blooming spring ephemerals in a wetland. Marsh marigold's heart shaped shiny foliage emerges in March and almost overnight is topped with bright yellow buttercup li...

Ludwigia palustris, Marsh Purslane, is a creeping aquatic perennial that grows along shorelines, in shallow water, and moist soils. The leaves of Marsh Purslane are highly variable in color, from green to slightly red-tin...

Eryngium aquaticum, Marsh rattlesnake-master, is an attractive silver blue flowering perennial that is widely underused in sunny poorly drained or wetland areas. Eryngium aquaticum stands 3-4’ tall and blooms...

Mimulus ringens, Monkey Flower, produces deep to pale blue to lavender colored flowers with an attractive yellow center. It's named for the flower's resemblance to a monkey's face. The flowers of Mimulus ringens are about an inch a...

Carex muskingumensis, musk sedge, is found in moist meadows and along streams.  Decorative musk sedge resembles miniature palm trees. It spreads slowly via a short rhizome to form a fine textured c...

Typha angustifolia, Narrow Leaf Cattails, are one of the most important native wetland plants, providing wildlife habitat, improving water quality and providing food for wildlife. In fact, Euell Gibbons called Cattails the "Superma...

The Fragrant Water lily is one of the most commonly seen water plants. Its natural range is from Newfoundland to the Great lakes, south including Missouri, and Kansas and down to Florida and Texas. Nymphaea odorata is tolerant of a wide p...

Nelumbo lutea, American yellow lotus, is the only native species of the genus.  Flowers bloom after two successive months of temps  75-85 degrees.   Soft pale yellow flowers 7 - 11" surround a rich yellow center standi...

Symphotrychum novae-angliae, New england Aster, is one of the most attractive and common asters that thrives in moist full sun meadows. From mid August through October, New England Aster produces numerous flowers ranging in color from pale la...

Symphotrichum novi-belgii, New york Aster, with slightly smaller blue flowers than New England Aster, thrives in a more permanently moist habitat. Symphotrichum novi-belgii is a deer resistant PA rare plant that spreads s...

Chasmanthium latifolium, Northern sea oats.  Despite its name, Northern sea oats, has nothing to do with the sea.  Chasmanthium latifolium grows well in a variety of soils with varying moisture...

Physostegia virginiana, Obedient plant, gets its name from an unusual trait, when you turn the flowers by pushing them sideways, they stay there. Pink forms are more common, but a white form is shown here. The plant's...

Heliopsis helianthoides, Ox-eye sunflower,  blooms with a multitude of seemingly never ending yellow daisy-like blossoms.   Ox-eye sunflower is native to the Northern Plains grows 2-4' tall and blooms July through...