Appendix A: Plant List

1. Salt-Tolerant Plants

These plant species are suitable for planting within 80 feet of a roadside that is subject to de-icing and anti-icing application of salts.

Trees

White Oak (Quercus alba)

Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

White Poplar (Populus alba)

Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)

Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)

Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)

Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)

Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida)

Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

Shrubs

Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia)

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

Bayberry (Myrica pennsylvanica)

Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)

Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)

Marsh Elder or High Tide Bush (Iva frutescens)

Groundsel (Baccharis halimifolia)

Grasses/Herbs

Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

Cattails (Typha domingensis)

2. Native Plants/Xeriscaping

These plant species are native or adapted to Southern New England. Information on these species and others that may be suitable for xeriscaping may be found in the references at the end of this appendix, including the Connecticut Native Tree and Shrub Availability List (DEP).

Trees

Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Hawthorns (Crataegus spp.)

Hickories (Carya spp.)

Oaks (Quercus spp.)

Walnuts (Juglans spp.)

Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides)

Black Spruce (Picea mariana)

White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)

Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana)

Shrubs

For Dry, Sunny Areas

Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)

Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium augustifolium)

Ground Juniper (Juniperus communis)

New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

Sweet Fern (Comptonia peregrina)

For Shaded Areas

Hazelnut (Corylus americana, C. cornuta)

Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

Swamp Azalea (Rhododendron viscosum)

Viburnums (V. acerfolium, V. cassinoides, V. alnifolium)

For Moist Sites

Dogwoods (Cornus spp.)

Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)

Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)

Shadbush Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)

Spirea (Spirea latifolia)

Swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum)

Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)

Viburnums (Viburnum spp.)

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

Perennials

Wild red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Bearberry, kinnickinick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

Wild ginger (Asarum canadense)

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

White wood aster (Aster divaricatus)

New England aster (Aster novae-angliae)

Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)

Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

Solomon's plume (Maianthemum racemosum, syn. Smilacina racemosa)

Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens)

Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata)

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)

Grasses

Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium, syn. Andropogon scoparius)

3. Stormwater Ponds and Wetlands Plant List

This section contains planting guidance for stormwater ponds and wetlands. The following lists emphasize the use of plants native to Connecticut and southern New England and are intended as general guidance for planning purposes. Local landscape architects and nurseries may provide additional information, including plant availability, for specific applications.

Plantings for stormwater ponds and wetlands should be selected to be compatible with the various hydrologic zones (NYDEC, 2001) within these treatment practices. The hydrologic zones reflect the degree and duration of inundation by water. Plants recommended for a particular zone can generally tolerate the hydrologic conditions that typically exist within that zone. Table A-1 summarizes recommended plantings (trees/shrubs and herbaceous plants) within each hydrologic zone. This list is not intended to be exhaustive, but includes a number of recommended native species that are generally available from commercial nurseries. Other plant species may be acceptable if they can be shown to be appropriate for the intended hydrologic zone.

Table A-1. Plant List for Stormwater Ponds and Wetlands

Hydrologic Zone Zone Description Plant Name and Form
Zone 1
Deep Water Pool
  • 1 to 6 feet deep, permanent pool
  • Submergent plants (if any at all)
  • Not routinely planted due to limited availability of plants that can survive in this zone and potential clogging of outlet structure
  • Plants reduce resuspension of sediments and improve oxidation/aquatic habitat
 Trees and Shrubs

Not recommended

Herbaceous Plants

Coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum) Duckweed (Lemma sp.)

Pond Weed, Sago (Potamogeton Pectinatus)

Waterweed (Elodea canadensis)

Wild Celery (Valisneria Americana)

 

  

 

Submergent

Submergent/Emergent

Submergent

Submergent

Submergent
Zone 2

Shallow Water Bench
  • 1 foot below the normal pool (aquatic bench in stormwater ponds)
  • Plants partially submerged
  • Emergent wetland plants
  • Plants reduce resuspension of sediments, enhance pollutant removal, and provide aquatic and nonaquatic habitat
 Trees and Shrubs

Buttonbush (Cepahlanthus occidentalis)

Herbaceous Plants

Arrow arum (Peltandra virginica)

Arrowhead, Duck Potato (Saggitaria latifolia)

Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor)

Blue Joint (Calamagrotis canadensis)

Broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus)

Bushy Beardgrass (Andropogon glomeratus)

Cattail (Typha sp.)

Common Three-Square (Scirpus pungens)

Duckweed (Lemma sp.)

Giant Burreed (Sparganium eurycarpum)

Long-leaved Pond Weed (Potamogeton nodosus)

Marsh Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) 

Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) 

Rice Cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides) 

Sedges (Carex spp.) 

Soft-stem Bulrush (Scirpus validus) 

Smartweed (Polygonum spp)

Soft Rush (Juncus effusus)

Spatterdock (Nuphar luteum)

 

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus) 

Wild Rice (Zizania aquatica)

Wool Grass (Scirpus cyperinus)

 

 Deciduous shrub

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Perimeter

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Submergent/Emergent

Emergent

Rooted Submerged Aquatic

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

 

Perimeter

Herbaceous

Emergent

Emergent
Zone 3

Shoreline Fringe
  • 1 foot above the normal pool (includes safety bench of pond)
  • Frequently inundated if storm events are subject to extended detention
  • Plants must be able to withstand inundation during storms and occasional drought
  • Plants provide shoreline stabilization, shade the shoreline, enhance pollutant removal, and provide wildlife habitat (or selected to control overpopulation of waterfowl)
 Trees and Shrubs

Arrowwood Viburrium (Viburrium dentatum) 

Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra)

Black Willow (Salix nigra)  

Buttonbush (Cepahlanthus occidentalis)

Common Spice Bush (Lindera benzoin)

Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

Larch, Tamarack (Larix latricina) 

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

River Birch (Betula nigra)

Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum) 

Slippery Elm (Ulnus rubra)

Smooth Alder (Alnus serrulata) 

Speckled Alder (Alnus rugosa)

Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) 

Swamp Rose (Rosa Palustrus)

Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica vari biflora)

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) 

Herbaceous Plants

Arrow arum (Peltandra virginica) 

Arrowhead, Duck Potato (Saggitaria latifolia)

Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor)

Blue Joint (Calamagrotis canadensis)

Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)

Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)

Broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus)

Bushy Beardgrass (Andropogon glomeratus)

Cattail (Typha sp.)

Chufa (Cyperus esculentus)

Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera)

Creeping Red Fescue (Festuca rubra)

Flat-top Aster (Aster umbellatus)

Fowl Bluegrass (Poa palustris)

Giant Burreed (Sparganium eurycarpum)

Green Bulrush (Scirpus atrovirens)

Marsh Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos)

Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) 

Redtop (Agrostis alba)

Rice Cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides)

Sedges (Carex spp)

Soft-stem Bulrush (Scirpus validus)

Smartweed (Polygonum spp.) 

Soft Rush (Juncus effusus)

Spotted Joe-pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum)

Swamp Aster (Aster puniceus)

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus) 

Water Plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica)

Wild-rye (Elymus spp.)

Wool Grass (Scirpus cyperinus)

 

  

 

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous shrub

Coniferous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous tree

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous tree

Deciduous shrub

 

 

 

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Perimeter

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Perimeter

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Perimeter

Herbaceous

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent
Zone 4

Riparian Fringe
  • 1 to 4 feet above the normal pool
  • Includes nearly all of temporary extended detention volume
  • Periodically inundated after storms
  • Plants must be able to withstand inundation during storms and occasional drought
  • Plants provide shoreline stabilization, shade the shoreline, enhance pollutant removal, and provide wildlife habitat (or selected to control overpopulation of waterfowl)
 Trees and Shrubs

 

American Elm (Ulmus americana)

Arrowwood Viburrium (Viburium dentatum) 

Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) 

Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra)

Blackgum or Sourgum (Nyssa sylvatica)

Black Willow (Salix nigra) 

Buttonbush (Cepahlanthus occidentalis)

Common Spice Bush (Lindera benzoin)

Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) 

Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) 

Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

Green Ash, Red Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvania)

Larch, Tamarack (Larix latricina) 

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Red Maple (Acer rubrum) 

River Birch (Betula nigra)

Shadowbush, Serviceberry (Amelanchier Canadensis)

Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum) 

Slippery Elm (Ulnus rubra)

Smooth Alder (Alnus serrulata) 

Speckled Alder (Alnus rugosa)

Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)

Swamp Rose (Rosa Palustrus)

Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) 

Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica)

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) 

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

Herbaceous Plants

 

Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardi)

Birdfoot deervetch (Lotus Corniculatus)

Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)

Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)

Blue Joint (Calamagrotis canadensis)

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

Chufa (Cyperus esculentus)

Fowl Bluegrass (Poa palustris)

Fowl mannagrass (Glyceria striata)

Green Bulrush (Scirpus atrovirens)

Redtop (Agrostis alba)

Sedges (Carex spp)

Smartweed (Polygonum spp.) 

Soft Rush (Juncus effusus)

Spotted Joe-pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum)

Swamp Aster (Aster puniceus)

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

Water Plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica)

Wild-rye (Elymus spp.)

Wild-rye (Elymus spp.)

 

  

 

Deciduous tree

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous tree

Coniferous tree

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous tree

Coniferous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous tree

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous shrub

 

 

 

Perimeter

Perimeter

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Perimeter

Emergent

Emergent

Perimeter

Emergent

Perimeter

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent

Perimeter

Emergent

Emergent

Emergent
Zone 5

Floodplain Terrace
  • Plants provide slope stabilization, shade, and wildlife habitat
 Trees and Shrubs

 

American Elm (Ulmus americana)

Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) 

Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra)

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)

Blackgum or Sourgum (Nyssa sylvatica) 

Black Willow (Salix nigra) 

Buttonbush (Cepahlanthus occidentalis)

Common Spice Bush (Lindera benzoin)

Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) 

Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

Green Ash, Red Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvania)

Hackenberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) 

Red Maple (Acer rubrum) 

River Birch (Betula nigra) 

Shadowbush, Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)

Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum) 

Slippery Elm (Ulnus rubra)

Smooth Alder (Alnus serrulata) 

Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica)

White Ash (Fraxinus americana) 

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) 

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

 

Herbaceous Plants

 

Annual Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum)

Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardi)

Birdfoot deervetch (Lotus Corniculatus)

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

Creeping Red Fescue (Festuca rubra)

Fowl mannagrass (Glyceria striata)

Redtop (Agrostis alba)

Timothy (Phleum pratense)

White Clover (Trifolium repens)

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

 

 

  

 

Deciduous tree

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous tree

Coniferous tree

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous shrub

 

 

 

Perimeter

Perimeter

Perimeter

Perimeter

Perimeter

Perimeter

Perimeter

Perimeter

Perimeter

Perimeter

 
Zone 6

Upland Slopes
  • Above the maximum 100-year water surface elev.
  • Typically includes outer buffer of pond or wetland
  • Plants should be selected based on soil condition, light, and function (not inundation since almost never inundated)
 Trees and Shrubs

 

American Elm (Ulmus americana)

Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)

Blackgum or Sourgum (Nyssa sylvatica) 

Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

Hackenberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

Shadowbush, Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) 

Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

White Ash (Fraxinus Americana)

Herbaceous Plants

 

Birdfoot deervetch (Lotus Corniculatus)

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

 

  

 

Deciduous tree

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Coniferous tree

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous shrub

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

Deciduous tree

 

 

 

Perimeter

Perimeter

Perimeter

References

Connecticut Botanical Society Website.
URL: https://www.ct-botanical-society.org/

 

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). No date. Connecticut Native Tree and Shrub Availability List.

URL: http://www.conncoll.edu/ccrec/greennet/arbo/treeavailability.pdf.

 

Dreyer, G.D. 1990. Connecticut’s Notable Trees. Memoirs of the Connecticut Botanical Society, No. 2, 1989. 2nd ed. Available from the DEP Store, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT (860-424-3540).

 

Henderson, C.L. 1987. Landscaping for Wildlife. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Available from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Rd., Box 7, St. Paul, MN 55155-4007.

 

Hightshoe, Gary L. 1988. Native trees, shrubs, and vines for urban and rural America : a planting design manual for environmental designers. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York.

 

Mehrhoff, L.J., K.J. Metzler, and E.E. Corrigan. 2001. Non-native and Potentially Invasive Vascular Plants in Connecticut. Center for Conservation and Biodiversity, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.

 

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC). 2001. New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual. Prepared by Center for Watershed Protection. Albany, New York.

 

Picone, P. (no date) Connecticut Native Tree and Shrub Availability List. Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Bureau of Natural Resources. Wildlife Division.

 

Rhode Island Sustainable Plant List, Third Edition. 1999.

URL: http://www.uri.edu/research/sustland/spl1.html.

 

Salsedo, C.A. and H.M. Crawford. 2001. Fact Sheet 7: Going Native – Rethinking Plant Selection for the Home Landscape. URL: https://www.seagrant.uconn.edu. Available from: Connecticut Sea Grant, 1084 Shennecossett Rd., Groton, CT 06340.

 

Taylor, S.L., Dreyer, G. and William Niering. 1987. Native Shrubs for Landscaping. The Connecticut College Arboretum. New London, CT. Bulletin #30. Available from the DEP Store, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT (860-424-3540).

 

U.S. Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Service. Plants Database. URL: https://plants.usda.gov/java/.