Recommended Native Plant Species for Shoreland Restoration in Marathon County

 Basic Plant Tips 

 Remove weeds & grass from site before planting  Use mulch to conserve water and inhibit weed growth  Prepare/amend & loosen soil before planting  Consider using a cage/fence to protect new plants from wildlife  Plant in a location with suitable soil type & sun requirements  Always purchase native plants according to the scientific name for the selected species  Check for plant availability with native plant nurseries or look into  Water new plants frequently until established transplanting species that are already established on your property

Common Name Features & Additional Growth Form Pictures Scientific Name Characteristics Comments

Alder Sun to shade; moist to Privacy; bank Tree / Shrub wet soils; up to 30ft tall; stabilization; nitrogen Alnus incana ssp. rugosa brown catkins. fixer.

Sun to part-shade; Fragrant flowers and Allegheny Serviceberry moderate soil moisture; berries that attract Shrub Amelanchier laevis tall shrub range from 15- birds and are edible 25ft. tall. to humans also.

American Basswood Sun to part-shade; Tall large tree; prefers Tilia americana Tree moderate soil moisture; deep moist soil but 60-80ft. tall. will grow in drier soils.

Sun to part-shade; moist American Elm Heat tolerant; attracts Tree to well-drained soils; Ulmus americana birds and butterflies. grows to 100ft.

Marathon County Conservation, Planning and Zoning Department Phone: (715) 261-6027 210 River Drive, Wausau WI 54403 5449 Fax: (715) 261-6016 Recommended Native Plant Species for Shoreland Restoration in Marathon County

Sun to part-shade; well Edible nuts; privacy American Hazelnut drained soils; 8 -15ft. Shrub barrier; fast growth Corylus americana tall; produces nuts; rate. showy fall color.

American Mountain Ash Sun to shade; dry or wet Attracts birds; can be Tree Sorbus americana soils; 12-36ft. tall. short lived.

Ground cover; slow Sun to shade; moist to American Yew growth rate; Shrub well-drained soils; 3-6 Taxus canadensis evergreen; easily ft.; evergreen. transplanted.

Balsam Fir Sun to shade; mesic to Tree moist soils; grows to Good for screening. Abies balsamifera 80ft.

Sun to shade; dry to Barren Strawberry mesic soils; 4-6in. tall; Clonal; ground cover Perennial / Wildflower Waldsteinia fragarioides yellow flower; nice fall flower; easy to grow. color.

Sun to shade; well Good understory Beaked Hazelnut drained soils; grows to shrub because of Shrub Corylus cornuta 10ft. tall; produces nuts; shade tolerance; tiny red flowers. edible nuts.

Bearberry Sun to shade; dry to Plant with no fertilizer Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Shrub moist acidic soil; 6-12in. and compact soil tall with red berries around the plant.

Sun to part-shade; Cold winter and Beardstongue average to moist soils; drought tolerant; Perennial / Wildflower Penstemon grandiflorus 1-2ft.; small white accent; attracts flowers. hummingbirds.

Big Leaved Aster Sun to shade; dry to

Aster macrophyllus Perennial / Wildflower mesic soils; 1-3ft. tall; Ground cover. pale blue flowers.

Sun to shade; dry to Black Cherry mesic soils; grows 80- Good for pollinators; Tree Prunus serotina 100ft; white flowers, Wildlife food. black cherries.

Sun to part-shade; dry to Black Chokeberry mesic soils; flowers are Shrub Wildlife food. Aronia melanocarpa white to pink, black berries.

Black Elderberry Part-shade; rich rocky Pruning is needed for Shrub Sambucus canadensis soils; 6-12ft. tall. this plant.

Poisonous to Sun to part-shade; Blue Flag Iris livestock; attracts Perennial / Wildflower moist/wet rich soil; 1-3ft. Iris versicolor hummingbirds; not a tall. demanding plant.

Full sun to part-shade; Black Willow Bank stabilization; Tree wetter soils; grows to Salix nigra reproduces quickly. 30ft.

Sun to part-shade; dry to Black-Eyed Susan Accent; looks like Perennial / Wildflower moist soils; 1-3ft tall; Rudbeckia hirta small sunflower. yellow/brown flowers.

Blue-Joint Grass Sun to part-shade; moist Calamagrostis canadensis Grass / Sedge to wet soils; grows 2-3ft. Filler. tall.

Blue Vervain Sun to shade; moist Biennial / Wildflower Filler; attracts bees. Verbena hastate soils; 3-6ft. tall.

Boneset Sun to shade; moist-wet Attracts birds and Perennial / Wildflower Eupatorium perfoliatum soil; 3-6ft. tall. butterflies.

Late summer dense Bunchberry Dogwood Sun to shade; moist Perennial / Flower clusters of berries Cornus canadensis acidic soils; 0-1ft. tall. replaced by flowers.

Very good ground Bush Honeysuckle Part-shade to shade; dry Shrub cover for stopping Diervilla lonicera soil; 1-3ft tall. erosion.

Attracts butterflies; Butterfly Weed Sun; dry soils; 1- 2ft.; Perennial / Wildflower deer resistant; Asclepias tuberosa brilliant orange color. landscape plant.

Showy and unique Part-shade to shade; Buttonbush ornamental flowers; Shrub moist wet soils; 6-12ft. Cephalanthus occidentalis attracts birds and tall; white around flowers butterflies.

Canada Goldenrod Sun to part-shade; dry to Solidago canadensis Perennial / Wildflower mesic soils; 1-3ft tall; Clonal. yellow flowers.

Part-shade; moist soils; Canada Plum grows up to 25ft.; white Landscape accent; Shrub Prunus nigra showy fragrant flowers; wildlife food. reddish fruit.

Part-shade to shade; False lily of the valley Canada Mayflower moist wet soils; <1ft. tall; Perennial / Wildflower is another name for Maianthemum canadense White star shaped this plant. flowers.

Low, colony forming Canadian Wild Ginger Part-shade to shade; Ground Cover perennial with heart Asarum canadense moist soils; <1ft. tall. shaped leaves.

Brown frond located Cinnamon Fern Sun to shade; Moist wet Ground Cover at the middle of the Osmunda cinnaomomea soils; 3-6ft. tall. fern cluster.

Columbine Sun to shade; dry to Landscape accent; Aquilegia canadensis Perennial / Wildflower mesic soils; 1-3ft. tall; very interesting red & yellow flowers. shaped blooms.

Sun to part-shade; dry to Common Milkweed mesic soils; 3-6ft. tall, Good for pollinators; Perennial / Wildflower Asclepias syriaca pink to cream flower; clonal. monarch butterfly food.

Very fast growing Cottonwood Sun to shade; dry to wet tree; releases fuzzy Tree Populus deltoides soils; 12-36ft. tall. cotton that surrounds seed capsules.

Creeping, matted, Creeping Snowberry Shade; moist soils; 1-3ft. Shrub delicate evergreen Galutheria hispidula tall; white flowers. shrub.

Sun to part-shade; moist Attracts honey bees; Culvers Root Veronicastrum virginicum Perennial / Wildflower soils; 3-6ft. tall; white was prescribed as a cone like flowers. laxative long ago.

Yellow flowers and Cup Plant Sun; dry to wet soils; 3- stout leaves that are Silphium perfoliatum Perennial / Wildflower 6ft. tall; Large yellow joined at the stem flowers. which hold water for birds. Part-shade to shade; dry Wildlife food; Downy Arrow-wood to mesic soils; 6-12ft. Shrub landscape accent; Viburnum rafinesquianum tall; great fall colors, understory plant. blue berries.

Full sun; moist soils; Easy to grow; privacy Downy Hawthorn grows to 30ft.; bronze border; wildlife food; Shrub Crataegus mollis fall color; small white red cherry-like flowers. inedible fruit.

White flowers that Downy Serviceberry Sun to shade; dry soil; Shrub appear before the Amelanchier arborea 12-36ft. tall. leaves.

Eastern Hemlock Part sun to part shade; Slow grower; does Tsuga canadensis Tree moist to well drained well on north facing soils; reaches 70ft. tall. slopes.

Eastern White Pine Sun; dry soils; grows 80- Tree Wildlife habitat. Pinus strobus 110ft.

Sun to part shade; Grows well in bog Red Elderberry prefers moist soils; 5- Shrub sites; wildlife food; Sambucus canadensis 12ft. tall; showy white fast growth rate. flowers.

Fireweed Sun; dry to mesic soils; Epilobum angustifolium Perennial / Wildflower 2-6ft. tall; pink to purple Clonal. flowers.

Sun/shade; mesic to Flat-topped Aster moist soils; 1-5ft. tall; Landscape accent; Perennial / Wildflower Aster umbellatus flat-topped head of white Rain garden. flowers.

Sun to part-shade; moist Fox Sedge to wet soils; grows 2-3ft. Grass / Sedge Clonal. Carex vulpinoidea tall; clump forming, pioneer species.

Stem, branches, and Sun; sandy soils; 1-3ft. Frost Aster leaves are often Perennial / Wildflower tall; showy white Aster pilosus covered in white flowers. hairs.

Sun; dry to moist and Grass-leaved Goldenrod sandy soils; 1-4ft. tall, Perennial / Wildflower Filler. Euthamia graminifolia flat-topped yellow flower clusters.

Sun and shade tolerant; Soil stabilization; Gray Dogwood tolerates many soil easily transplanted Shrub Cornus racemosa types; 10-15ft. tall; white and adaptable; wildlife flowers fruit. food.

Sun to shade; moist wet Great Blue Lobelia Blooms bright blue in Perennial / Wildflower soil; 1-3ft. tall; purple Lobelia siphilitica late summer. tubular flowers.

Berries attract wildlife; Ground Juniper Sun; dry sandy soil; low great cover for Shrub Juniperus communis growing shrub. squirrels and chipmunks.

Sun to part-shade; Great St. John's-Wort Accent; large star Perennial / Wildflower mesic to moist soils; 2- Hypericum pyrimidatum shaped flowers. 5ft. tall; yellow flowers.

Sun to part shade; Hackberry Wildlife habitat; Tree medium soils; grows to Celtis occidentalis windbreaks. 70ft.

Sun to partial shade; Shrub border; useful High Bush Cranberry well drained moist soils; Shrub for flowers and fruit; Viburnum trilobum 8-12ft. tall; purple fall attracts birds. color; edible

Easy to identify by the Interrupted fern Shade; moist soils; Ground Cover / Fern “interruption” mid Osmunda claytoniana grows 3ft. tall. stem.

Sun to shade; Fertile Too aggressive for Ironweed Vernonia fasciculata Perennial / Wildflower wet soils; 3-6ft. tall; small areas, must purple flowers. need competition.

Resistant to insects Ironwood Sun to shade; dry to (except gypsy moth), Ostrya virginiana Tree moist soils; grows 36- disease, wind, ice, 72ft. tall. Slow growing. and my other stresses. Sun to shade; mesic to Accent; Rain garden; Joe-Pye Weed moist soils; 2-7ft. tall; Perennial / Wildflower will grow along Eupatorium maculatum pink to purple flower shoreline. clusters.

Lady Fern Part shade to shade; Atherium felix-femina Fern mesic to moist soils; 1- Accent / Filler. 2ft. tall.

Lake Sedge Sun to partly shady; wet Grass / Sedge Clonal. Carex lacustrus soils; grows 2-3ft. tall.

Cut flower Sun to part-shade; dry arrangements; Lance Leaved Coreopsis to moderate soils; grows Perennial / Wildflower attracts birds and Coreopsis lanceolata to 2ft.; yellow daisy like butterflies; easy to flowers. grow.

Sun; wet acidic soils; 1- Leatherleaf Slow growing and Shrub 3ft. tall; white bell Chamaedaphne calyculata short lived. shaped flowers.

Full sun; moist acidic Useful in shrub Low-bush Blueberry well-drained soils; up to border; food source Shrub Vaccinium angustifolium 2ft. tall; sweet edible for humans and fruit. wildlife.

Maidenhair fern Part-shade to shade; This plant colonizes Perennial / Fern Adiantum pedatum moist soils; 1-3ft. tall. very well.

Full sun to shade; well Mapleleaf Viburnum drained soils; 4-6 ft.; Shrub borders; Shrub Viburnum acerfolium yellowish-white flowers landscape accent. and red fall foliage.

Marsh Marigold Full sun to partial shade; Does well in very wet Caltha palustris Perennial / Wildflower only wetter soils; 1-2 ft.; areas; accent on brilliant yellow blooms. shorelines.

Sun; mesic to moist Marsh/Swamp Milkweed soils; grows up to 5ft. Accent; great for rain Perennial / Wildflower Asclepias incarnata tall; deep pink to red gardens. flowers.

Mountain Holly Sun to shade; moist soil; Shrub Filler. Illex mucronata 3-6ft. tall.

Sun or shade; well Hedges; shrub Nannyberry drained to moist soils; Shrub borders; decorative Viburnum lentago grows to 15ft; showy flowers. blooms.

Sun to light shade; New England Aster average to moist soils; Accent; shrub border; Perennial / Wildflower Aster novae angliae 3-4ft., small pink vibrant color. blooms.

Sun to part-shade; well- Attracts butterflies; New Jersey Tea drained soils; grows to can be dried for a tea Shrub Ceanothus americanus 2ft.; showy-fluffy similar to black tea; flowers. landscape accent.

Full sun to part-shade; Shrub border; screen Ninebark adaptable to many soil for winter; easy to Shrub Physocarpus opulifolius types; grows 10ft.; small grow in different soil white flower clusters. conditions.

Well suited for highly Northern Pin Oak Sun; Dry soils; grows to Tree disturbed sites; Quercus ellipsoidalis 68ft. Wildlife food.

Northern Red Oak Sun; medium moisture Shade tree; Wildlife Tree Quercus rubra to dry; grows to 98ft. food.

Old Field Goldenrod Sun; dry and sandy Perennial / Wildflower soils; 1 -1.5ft. tall; yellow Accent; filler. Solidago nemoralis flowers, grey stems.

Sun to partly shady; well Landscape accent; Pagoda Dogwood drained soils; grows to Shrub valuable wildlife food Cornus alternifolia 25ft.; white fragrant and cover. flowers; black berries.

Sun to shade; mesic to Panicled Aster moist soils; 2-5ft. tall; Accent; great for rain Perennial / Wildflower Aster lanceolatus white to pale blue gardens. flowers.

Sun to part-shade; dry Paper Birch Accent; bright white Tree to mesic soils; grows to Betula papyrifera bark. 70ft.

Part-shade to shade; Good ground cover Partridgeberry dry to moist soil; 1-2in. Groundcover for shady areas; Mitchella repens tall; pinkish-white attracts birds flowers.

Pasture Rose Sun to part-shade; dry Thorny stems; grows

Rosa carolina Perennial / Shrub to wet soils; 1-3ft. tall; best in open sunny pink flowers. areas.

Sun to partial shade; Pearly Everlasting moist soils but can Dried flower Anaphalis margaritacea Perennial / Wildflower tolerate drier soils; 2ft.; arrangements; deer small showy white- resistant; accent. yellow flowers.

Pennsylvania sedge Sun to shade; dry to Groundcover / Grass Clumped grass. Carex pensylvanica moist soils; 1-3ft. tall.

Sun; dry soils; grows to Pin Cherry Good for pollinators; Tree 30ft; white flowers and Prunus pensylvanica wildlife food. red berries.

Plantain Pussytoes Sun; dry soils; Perennial / Wildflower white/pink flowers, 4-16 Ground cover. Antennaria plantaginifolia in. tall.

Short lived and Poplar/Aspen Sun to shade; dry to wet Tree usually replaced by Populus tremuloides soils; 36-72ft. tall. conifers.

Full to partial sun; mesic Attracts butterflies; Prairie Phlox to moist conditions; up transplants need to be Perennial / Wildflower Phlox pilosa to 2ft.; violet, white, or protected from pink flowers. wildlife.

Full sun; dry soils; less Rock gardens; Prairie Smoke than 1ft.; showy purple Perennial / Wildflower borders; low Geum triflorum flowers followed by maintenance plant. fruiting heads.

Sun to part-shade; well Cut flower Purple Coneflower drained soils; purple Perennial / Wildflower arrangements; Echinacea purpurea petals w/ orange center; borders; hardy. 2-3 ft.

Sun to shade; moist to Purple Stem Aster Accent; great for rain Perennial / Wildflower wet soils; 1-4ft. tall; blue Aster puniceus gardens. to purple flowers.

Rattlesnake Manna Grass Sun to part-shade; moist Glyceria canadensis Grass / Sedge to wet soils; grows 2-3ft. Filler; wildlife food. tall.

Rattlesnake Master Full sun; moist soils; 2- Deer resistant; bluish Eryngium yuccifolium Perennial / Wildflower 5ft.; spindly stem; yellow green stem color; spiky flower balls. easy to grow.

Attracts Sun to shade; moist-wet Red Elderberry hummingbirds and Tree soils; 6-12ft. tall; bright Sambucus pubens butterflies; berries are red berries. poisonous to humans.

Sun to shade; moist Red Osier Dogwood Very good for erosion Tree soils; 3-10ft. tall; white Cornus stolonifera control of banks. fruit.

Red Maple Sun to shade; dry to Acer rubrum Tree moist soils; grows to Very tolerant. 80ft.

Red Pine Sun; dry soils; grows Tree Wildlife habitat. Pinus resinosa 50-80ft.

Sun to part-shade; dry (Red) Raspberry Rubus ideaus Shrub to mesic soils; up to 6ft. Wildlife food. tall; decorative fruit.

River Birch Part shade; moist soils; Bank stabilization;

Betula nigra Tree grows 30-50ft.; well-suited to wetter satiny/silver bark. areas.

Part-shade to shade; Riverbank Grape moist to wet soils; Vine Wildlife food. Vitis riparia woody vine; dark berries.

Sun to part-shade; dry Rough Blazing Star Accent; blooms late Perennial / Wildflower to mesic soils; 1-3ft. tall; Liatris aspera summer and early fall. pink flowers.

Rough Sunflower Sun to part-sun; dry Stems and leaves are

Helianthus hirsutus Perennial / Wildflower moist soil; 6-12in. tall; bristly; attracts yellow flowers. butterflies.

Sensitive Fern Sun to shade; mesic to Fern Filler; good texture. Onoclea sensibilis moist soils; 1-2ft. tall.

Can become Showy Goldenrod Part-shade; moist soils; Perennial / Wildflower aggressive in wet Solidago speciosa 3-6ft. tall; yellow flowers. soils.

Sun to part-shade; moist Shrubby Cinquefoil Flowers are long Shrub soils; 3-4ft. tall; yellow Potentilla fruticosa blooming. flowers.

Silky Dogwood Part-shade to shade; Cornus amomum Shrub moist or wet soils; 3-5ft. Attracts birds. tall.

Silver Maple Full sun to shade; Wildlife food/cover;

Acer saccharinum Tree prefers moist acidic quick to grow; fall soils; grows to 80ft. color.

Sun to shade; dry or Sky Blue Aster Blooms late summer, Perennial / Wildflower moist soils; 1-3ft. tall; Aster azureus early fall. purple flowers.

Slippery Elm Sun to part-shade; moist Attracts birds and Tree Ulmus rubra soils; 36-72ft. tall. butterflies.

Sun to part-shade; dry Smooth Aster Accent; Rain garden Perennial / Wildflower to mesic soils; 1-3ft tall; Aster laevis plant. blue to purple flowers.

Smooth Rose Sun to part-shade; dry Rosa blanda Shrub to mesic soils; 3-4ft. tall; Accent. pink flowers.

Sun to medium shade; Useful in shrub tolerates many soil Snowberry border; easy to Shrub types; 3-6ft. tall; pinkish Symphoricarpos alba transplant; brilliant white flowers; white color. ornamental. Full sun to partial shade; Bank cover; Staghorn Sumac well-drained soils; 15- landscape accent; Rhus thypina Shrub 25ft.; very showy fall fast growth rate; color; crimson colored adaptable to multiple fruit. soil conditions.

Starflower Part-shade to shade; Trientalis borealis Perennial / Wildflower dry to mesic soils; grows Accent; filler. 4-8in. flowers are white.

Full sun to part shade; Attracts birds and Steeplebush moist to wet soils; grows butterflies; accent; Shrub Spirea tomentosa 6-12ft.; pink flower can tolerate wet clusters. conditions.

Sugar Maple Sun to Shade; mesic Produces sap; Tree Acer saccharum soils, grows 80-100ft. landscape fall color.

Swamp Rose Sun; moist to wet soils; Rosa palustris Shrub 3–7ft. tall; pink flowers; Accent. red hips.

Swamp White Oak Sun; Moist to wet acidic Shade tree; wildlife Tree Quercus bicolor soils; grows to100ft. food and cover.

Sweet Flag Sun to partial shade; Deer resistant; accent Perennial / Wildflower moist soils; 2ft.; grass- and soil stabilizer on Acorus americanus like. shorelines.

Sweet Gale Sun to shade; wet soils; Myrica gale Shrub 2-3ft tall; great leaf Accent. scent.

Sun to part-shade; dry Sweet Fern and sandy soils; 2–3ft. Shrub Clonal; nitrogen fixer. Comptonia peregrina tall; great scent; likes more sterile soils.

Sun; moist to wet soils; Tamarack 40-80ft. tall; deciduous Accent on wet Tree Larix laricinia conifer with nice spring shorelines. and fall color.

Virginia Creeper Sun to shade; dry to Parthenocissus Vine moist soils; woody vine; Accent / filler. quinquefolia dark berries; fall color.

Virgin's Bower Sun to part-shade; dry Clematis virginiana Vine to mesic soils; white Great for pollinators. flowers.

White Meadow Sweet Sun; mesic to wet soils;

Spirea alba Shrub grows 3-4ft. tall; white Accent. flowers.

White Spruce Full sun; moist acidic Commonly used for Tree Picea glauca soils; grows to 60ft. Christmas trees.

Sun to shade; moist to White Turtlehead Accent; great for rain Perennial / Wildflower wet soils; 2-3ft. tall; Chelone glabra gardens. white flowers.

Sun to part-shade; dry Wild Bergamot to moist soils; 2-4ft. tall; Clonal; filler; good for Perennial / Wildflower Monarda fistulosa pale purple to pink pollinators. flowers.

Sun to shade; dry to Wild Geranium Accent; great for rain Perennial / Wildflower mesic soils; 12-28in. tall; Geranium maculatum gardens. pink to purple flowers.

Sun to part-shade; dry to mesic and sandy Wild Lupine Karner blue butterfly Perennial / Wildflower soils; 8-24in. tall; blue to Lupinus perennis food. white flowers, early summer.

Wild Sarsaparilla Sun to shade; moist May become Shrub Aralia nudicaulis soils; 1-3 ft. tall. aggressive over time.

Wild Strawberry Sun to shade; dry to Fragaria virginiana Perennial / Wildflower mesic soils; 4-6in.; white Ground cover. flowers.

Sun to part-shade; Winterberry medium to moist soils; Accent; fragrant Shrub Ilex verticillata 6-10ft. tall; may have berries when crushed. red berries.

Wintergreen Part-shade to shade; Gaultheria procumbens Groundcover dry moist soils; <1ft tall; Aromatic leaves. red edible berries.

Sun to shade; dry to Wood Anemone mesic soils; 2-8in. tall; Perennial / Wildflower Ground cover. Anemone quincquifolia white flowers fading to pink.

Yellow Birch Sun to part shade; well

Betula alleghaniensis Tree drained soils; grows to Golden fall color. 60-75 ft.

Marathon County Conservation, Planning and Zoning Department Phone: (715) 261-6027 210 River Drive, Wausau WI 54403 5449 Fax: (715) 261-6016