Rain and Forest Garden Plant Matrix - Rocky Mountain Region, Usa

RAIN AND FOREST GARDEN PLANT MATRIX - ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION, USA

This list has been compiled by Jason Gerhardt based on over a decade of species trials, observations, and tracking in the Rocky Mountain region. His experience covers a wide expanse from Northern New Mexico to the Central Arizona Highlands to the Colorado Plateau in Utah to the Front Range of Colorado. With a Southwestern focus this list will also prove useful in the Northern Rockies into Canada, extending into the Basin and Range ecosystems of the Intermountain West, well into the High Plains, and beyond.

There are many other useful species that should be trialed for this region. This chart is composed primarily of what the author has experienced to succeed repeatedly in rain garden settings without additional irrigation post-establishment, and with a focus on food production and multifunctionality. All species are perennial, with a few reseeding annuals.

The author has personally interacted with over 95% of the species listed through direct trials, wildland observations, and touring gardens. A forth-coming article will document the authors processes and practices for successful rain garden food forest establishment in the very challenging climates of the high elevation arid Western United States.

How to use this chart: Most importantly, the Rain Garden Zone column is where users can understand the water needs and placement requirements of each plant. “Top” is furthest from the water flow in both elevation and distance, indicating strong drought adaptability. “Terrace” indicates plants with some drought adaptability, as well as water lovers that can’t tolerate inundation. “Bottom” indicates plants that can grow in very moist to saturated soils with periods of inundation.

Special thanks to Shannon Brown for all her help with data entry!

Common Latin Name Edible Uses Other Uses Special Notes

Name Zone Nectary Pest Repeller Repeller Pest Native Region Native Nitrogen Fixer Nitrogen Mature Height Mature Light Condition USDA Hardiness USDA Rain Zone Garden (thorny or aromatic) (thorny or Canopy Layer (20' or Taller) Some animal toxicity has been Bee Forage, Flower clusters reported, but observations show Robinia 50- Coppice, Black Locust 4-8 ✔ ✔ ✔ raw/battered animals self-regulate pseudoacacia 75' Firewood,

Full Sun Full and fried consumption. Further research Appalachia

Top/Terrace Lumber needed for fodder uses. Bee Forage, Wind blown pollen may cause Coppice, allergies. Cultivars have been Quercus 50- Acorns ground Bur Oak 2-8 ✔ Firewood, selected for sweeter acorns. macrocarpa 100' for meal Full Sun Full America Lumber, Excellent wood for gourmet Top/Terrace Central North Central Fodder fungi. Wind blown pollen may cause Bee Forage, allergies. Has been crossed with Quercus 15- Acorns ground Gambel Oak 4-7 ✔ Firewood, Bur Oak for bigger, sweeter gambelii Top 50' for meal Full Sun Full America Fodder acorns. Excellent wood for

Western North Western gourmet fungi. Susceptible to Thousand Coppice, Canker Disease, which is 50- Juglans nigra Black Walnut 4-7 ✔ Nut meats Lumber, prevelant in the region. 100' Terrace Full Sun Full America Fodder Contains juglone and is

Eastern North Eastern allelopathic.

Species has not been observed Coppice, Carya 50- by author in the region, but Hardy Pecan 5-9 ✔ Nut meats Lumber, illinoinensis 100' could be trialed. Susceptible to Terrace

Full Sun Full Fodder Thousand Canker Disease. Southern US Southern Author knows of one mature Coppice, 30- specimen in the region that Juglans bisbyi Buartnut 4-7 ✔ Nut meats Lumber, 60' bears nuts. Contains juglone Terrace Cultivar Full Sun Full Fodder and is allelopathic. Not productive of nuts. Disease Coppice, prone. Author knows of several Castanea American 50- 4-7 ✔ Nut meats Lumber, 75+ year old specimen in dentata Chestnut 100' Terrace Full Sun Full America Fodder Boulder, CO with high lumber

Eastern North Eastern value. Improved cultivars such as Diospyros American 20- Bee Forage, those bred by Elwyn Meader 5-9 ✔ Fruit virginiana Persimmon 75' Fodder can be found for larger fruit Terrace Full Sun Full size. Southeast US Southeast An important ethnobotanical 20- species for the region. Seedset Pinus edulis Pinyon Pine 4-7 Seeds Fodder US Top 50' is best in larger plantings due to Full Sun Full Southwest wind pollination. Have only seen these in other Korean Stone 30- regions, but people are planting Pinus koraiensis 4-7 Seeds Fodder Top Pine 100' Asia them in Colorado. Harvesting Full Sun Full cones is a messy process.

Leaves can be fed to silkworms Coppice, to make silk. Has high 20- Morus alba White Mulberry 5-8 Fruit Fodder, medicinal value. One of the

50' Asia Shade Terrace Medicinal best fodder crops for poultry

Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full due to high protein content.

Leaves can be fed to silkworms to make silk. Has high 20- Coppice, Morus nigra Black Mulberry 4-8 Fruit medicinal value. One of the 50' Fodder Shade Persia Terrace best fodder crops for poultry

Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full due to high protein content. Is highly susceptible to coddling moth East of the 20- Bee Forage, Malus domestica Apple 4-9 ✔ Fruit Continental Divide. Not to 40' Fodder Terrace

Full Sun Full worry, worm riddled fruits are Central Asia Central traditionally pressed for cider.

Very susceptible to fireblight, 20- Bee Forage, Pyrus communis Pear 4-8 ✔ Fruit resistant cultivars 40' Fodder Africa Terrace

Full Sun Full recommended. Eurasia/North Eurasia/North Author has observed 40' specimens on terraces in 20- Bee Forage, Pyrus pyrifolia Asian Pear 5-9 ✔ Fruit Arizona canyons. Prefers

40' Asia Fodder Terrace

Full Sun Full slightly warmer conditions than European Pear.

One of the most reliable fruits to grow in the region. Experiment with many Prunus Bee Forage, cultivars, a wide range of fruit Plum 4-8 20' ✔ Fruit domestica Fodder uses can be had within the Terrace Eurasia Full Sun Full species. Authors favorites are Mt. Royal, Green Gage, and Stanley. One of the more drought hardy rose family fruits. Quality 15- Bee Forage, varies significantly by variety Prunus persica Peach 5-9 ✔ Fruit

30' Asia Fodder and region. Blooms very early Full Sun Full

Top/Terrace in spring, needs bloom delaying microclimate. Not well-trialed in region. Some success has been 20- Fruit (custard reported. Authors concern is Asmina triloba Paw-Paw 5-7 Fodder 35' like) that leaves are too large for the Shade America UV, hail risk, and desiccation Eastern North Eastern Part Shade/Full Shade/Full Part Terrace/Bottom common in region. Another of the more drought hardy rose family fruits. Prunus 20- Fruit, Seed Bee Forage, Blooms very early in spring, Apricot 5-9 ✔ armeniaca 35' kernals Fodder needs bloom delaying Full Sun Full Top/Terrace

Central Asia Central microclimate. Seed kernals are highly medicinal.

Bee Forage, Blooms very early in spring, 25- Lumber, needs bloom delaying Prunus avium Sweet Cherry 5-9 ✔ Fruit 35' Coppice, microclimate. Lumber is of Terrace Full Sun Full Fodder very high value. Eurasia/North Africa Eurasia/North Bee Forage, Blooms very early in spring, 25- Lumber, needs bloom delaying Prunus cerasus Sour Cherry 4-8 ✔ Fruit 35' Coppice, microclimate. Lumber is of Terrace Eurasia Full Sun Full Fodder very high value. Phenomenal tree. Needs cool microclimate in south, warm microclimate in north. Author Alnus 50- Lumber, Arizona Alder 6-10 ✔ None known knows wild patches well oblongifolia 100' Coppice Bottom integrated with blackberry,

Southwest US miner's lettuce, golden currants,

Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full and old orchard fruits.

Alnus incana 40- Lumber, A good water-loving nitrogen Grey Alder 2-6 ✔ None known var. tenuifolia 60' Coppice fixing canopy. Bottom Northern Rockies Northern Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full Bee Forage, A good specimen shade tree. Celtis 75- Wildlife Hackberry 3-7 ✔ Fruit Well-adapted to varying occidentalis 100' Habitat, Terrace

Full Sun Full conditions.

Eastern US Eastern Lumber

Very drought hardy fruit tree. 15'- Avoids all spring frosts due to Ziziphus jujuba Jujube 6-9 ✔ Fruit

30' Asia June blooming habit. Not fully Full Sun Full

Top/Terrace hardy in all areas. Xanthoceras 18- Grows at Denver Botanic Yellowhorn 5-7 ✔ Seeds Sun Full Full sorbifolia 24' Asia Gardens. Terrace Commonly planted high water user. Could be experimented Lumber, 75- with for sap production. Acer Acer saccharum Sugar Maple 3-7 Sap for syrup Coppice, 100' grandidentatum is a

America Firewood Southwestern native Eastern North Eastern Terrace/Bottom replacement. Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full

Commonly planted in drier areas. Has weak branch Lumber, Acer 75- structure, not recommended as Silver Maple 3-7 Sap for syrup Coppice, saccharinum 100' a street tree. Could be Terrace Full Sun Full America Firewood experimented with for sap Eastern North Eastern production.

Very good salad tree. Leaves Bee Forage, best when young or in spring. 30- Leaves, Lumber, Flower clusters make tasty tea Tilia cordata Linden 4-7 ✔ 75' Flowers Coppice, with medicinal properties. Terrace Eurasia Firewood Phenomenal bee forage for flavorful honey production. Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full

One of the rarest North American trees. Author knows Bee Forage, of gorgeous specimen in Cladrastis 30- Lumber, Boulder, CO. Best of fall Yellowood 5-8 ✔ None known kentukea 50' Coppice, foliage. Likely an older form of Terrace Firewood nitrogen fixer. Fixes N at a low Southeast US Southeast rate. Extremely high lumber Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full value. Likely an older form of Bee Forage, Seed pods nitrogen fixer. Fixes N at low Gleditsia 50- Lumber, Honey Locust 4-9 ✔ ✔ marginaly rate. Experimentation needed triacanthos 75' Coppice, Terrace

Full Sun Full edible for pod uses. Sweet pod Fodder Southeast US Southeast cultivars exist.

Common Latin Name Edible Uses Other Uses Special Notes

Bee Forage, Caragana Siberian Seeds, Seed Drought and cold hardy. 2-7 8-20' ✔ ✔ Coppice, aborescens Peashrub pods Common. Low food value. Siberia

Full Sun Full Fodder Top/Terrace Slow to grow, but very drought Caragana Littleleaf None worth Bee Forage, hardy. All Caragana species 2-7 4-6' ✔ ✔ microphylla Peashrub Top mentioning Fodder should be considered for soil Siberia Full Sun Full improvement.

In authors experience this species has sweet acorns that Quercus 10- Acorns ground Wavy Leaf Oak 5-8 Fodder can be eaten out of hand. Many undulata Top 15' for meal Full Sun Full America other Quercus species native to Southwest US to be considered. Southwest North

Prefers warm conditions and 10- blooms early. Due to this, Prunus dulcis Almond 6-9 ✔ Seed kernals Bee Forage 15' placement is tricky for this Full Sun Full Persia/Asia

Top/Terrace species.

Does not seem to do well in alkaline soils, but will grow. Fruit/Hips for Bee Forage, Rosa rugosa Rose 3-8 4-6' ✔ ✔ Consider cloning native roses

Asia jelly, tea Medicinal Shade Terrace with large fruits. High in

Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full Vitamin C. Invasive, but elegant. Author wouldn't recommend planting Nominal value Bee Forage, Elaeagnus 12- it, but consider keeping it (since Russian Olive 3-7 ✔ ✔ ✔ in fruit for Coppice, angustifolia Top 20' you may have it) as an N-fixing Eurasia leathers Firewood coppice. Flowers are hyper fragrant. Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full

Elaeagnus 10- Nutrient dense Very drought hardy. Northern Silverberry 2-6 ✔ ✔ Bee Forage commutata Top 12' fruit Rockies native. Shade America Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full Northern North Northern

Has not been observed to grow in the region by author, but Mespilus 10- Nominal value could be a candidate. Some Medlar 5-8 germanica 15' in fruit write very positively about this Terrace Eurasia Full Sun Full tree, which is why it made this list. Eastern deciduous relict species Coppice, in Colorado. Nuts are hard to Fodder, Corylus cornuta Beaked Hazel 3-7 6-12' Nuts come by in the wild. Has been Wildlife Terrace Full Sun Full America observed to fruit by author. Habitat Eastern North Eastern High wildlife competition. A large trial was set up at Coppice, Sunrise Ranch in Loveland, CO 12- Fodder, by the late John Cruickshank in Corylus avellana Hazelnut 4-7 Nuts 25' Wildlife the early 90's. Many cultivars, Terrace Eurasia Full Sun Full Habitat fruiting is very sporadic and unreliable.

Bee Forage, Fruit was traditionaly ground Prunus Coppice, whole with seeds and dried. Chokecherry 2-7 8-15' ✔ Fruit virginiana Wildlife Toxic cyanide compound in Shade

Top/Terrace Habitat seeds gasses off during drying. Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full North America North

One of the best berry crops for the region. High in protein. Bee Forage, Amelanchier High ethnobotanical value. Juneberry 3-7 8-15' ✔ Fruit Wildlife alnifolia Grows easily, and has many Rocky Rocky Terrace Habitat ornamental attributes. Blossoms

Mountains/North Mountains/North are frost hardy. Many cultivars. Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full

Authors favorite fruiting shrub Bee Forage, for taste and beauty. A smaller Amelanchier Running 3-7 4-7' ✔ Fruit Wildlife version of alnifolia species. stolonifera Serviceberry Shade Terrace

America Habitat 'Regent' is the most common Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full Eastern North Eastern cultivar.

A tree version of Juneberry. Bee Forage, Delicious fruit. High songbird Amelanchier Shadblow 15- 3-7 ✔ Fruit Wildlife habitat. Year round beauty. grandiflora Serviceberry 30' Shade Terrace

America Habitat 'Autumn Brilliance' is the Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full Eastern North Eastern authors favorite cultivar.

A desert version of the Bee Forage, Amelanchier. Berry size and Amelanchier Utah 5-8 3-5' ✔ Fruit Wildlife flavor is inferior to the others of utahensis Serviceberry Shade Terrace Habitat this genus. Use in areas too hot Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full Southwest US for the other species.

Curl-leaf Authors favorite drought hardy Cercocarpus Mountain 5-8 6-15' ✔ None known nitrogen fixer. Beautiful as a ledifolius Top Full Sun Full Mahogany America specimen tree. Western North Western

Beautiful native nitroen fixing Cercocarpus Mountain shrub for dry areas with poor 5-8 6-15' ✔ None known montanus Mahogany Top soil. Prefers rocky or sandy Full Sun Full America soils. Western North Western

Low growing plum. Heavily planted among early orchards Prunus insitita Damson Plum 4-7 6-12' ✔ Fruit Bee Forage on Front Range of Colorado. Shade Europe Terrace Very productive. Fruit quality

Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full not as good as regular plum.

Fairly insipid fruits, but could be prepared with other fruits. Prunus besseyi Sand Cherry 4-8 2-4' ✔ Fruit Bee Forage Dehyrdated they are delicious, Full Sun Full America as well as when planted in drier Top/Terrace Central North Central areas.

Flower clusters Robinia New Mexico Bee Forage, Beautiful shruby, pink flowered 5-8 6-15' ✔ ✔ ✔ raw/battered neomexicana Locust Coppice version of Black Locust.

Full Sun Full and fried Southwest Top/Terrace North America North

The most underutilized native Amorpha Bee Forage, nitrogen fixer. Widely False Indigo 3-9 6-15' ✔ ✔ None known ottom

fruiticosa North Coppice adaptable. Very resilient. Shade America Attractive feathery foliage. Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full Top/Terrace/B

Beautiful little shrub for dry Fragrant False Bee Forage, Amorpha nana 3-6 2-4' ✔ ✔ None known spots. Takes up little space. Indigo Coppice

Full Sun Full Highly adapted to drought. Central US Central Top/Terrace

Amorpha Bee Forage, Lead Plant 3-8 3' ✔ ✔ None known Widely adapted. canescens Coppice Full Sun Full America Top/Terrace Central North Central

Fruit quality is low. Makes a Prunus Bee Forage, very good rootstock for Wild Plum 3-8 8-15' ✔ Fruit americana Coppice cultivated stone fruits. Author Full Sun Full

Top Terrace Top recommends it for grafting. North America North Delicious fruit, easy to propagate via layering. All Bee Forage, Ribes should be considered due Ribes aureum Golden Currant 4-8 3-6' ✔ Fruit Coppice to not sharing diseases with the Shade Terrace overwhelmingly planted rose Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full North America North family. One of the authors favorite Bee Forage, berries for the cooler parts of Ribes rubrum White Currant 4-8 3-5' ✔ Fruit Coppice the region. Excellent flavor. Shade Europe Terrace Easy to propagate via layering. Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full

Aphids can be a bother in Bee Forage, shadier locations. All Ribes Ribes rubrum Red Currant 4-8 3-5' ✔ Fruit Coppice fruit best in sunnier conditions. Shade Europe Terrace Easy to propagate via layering. Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full

The best of the Ribes for the Bee Forage, region. Large fruit, sweet in Ribes odoratum Crandall Currant 4-8 3-6' ✔ Fruit Coppice flavor. Easy to propagate via Shade Terrace Cultivar layering. Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full

An excellent species to include. Bee Forage, Delicious fruit. Thorns can be a Ribes uva-crispa Gooseberry 4-6 2-5' ✔ ✔ Fruit Coppice nuisance, but useful as living Shade Terrace America fence. Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full Europe/North Europe/North

More strongly flavored than the Bee Forage, Ribes nigrum Black Currant 3-7 3-4' ✔ Fruit other Ribes. Some really like Coppice Shade Europe Terrace the flavor, others don't. Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full Highly medicinal fruits that are good as jam and wine. Can be Bee Forage, Sambucus mixed with other fruit. Flowers Blue Elderberry 3-10 8-15' ✔ Fruit, Flowers Coppice, caerulea are highly medicinal as well. Shade

America Medicinal Widely adapted plant. Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full Western North Western Terrace/Bottom Attractive. Highly medicinal fruits that are good as jam and wine. Can be Bee Forage, mixed with other fruit. Flowers Sambucus nigra Black Elderberry 5-8 8-20' ✔ Fruit, Flowers Coppice, are highly medicinal as well. Terrace

America Medicinal Widely adapted plant. Europe/North Europe/North Attractive. Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full Drought hardy nitrogen fixer. Grows fast. Author doesn't Shepherdia Nominal value recommend the quality of fruit Buffaloberry 3-10 5-15' ✔ ✔ ✔ Coppice argentea in fruit in any way. Mildly thorny. Male Full Sun Full America

Top/Terrace plants are needed to pollinate Northern North Northern female plants.

Improved cultivars are Cydonia 10- available. Author has not trialed Quince 5-9 ✔ Fruit Bee Forage oblonga 20' them enough, so please Terrace Eurasia Full Sun Full experiment.

Fruit with many uses. First thing to bloom in the spring, Prunus needs bloom delaying Nanking Cherry 3-7 5-10' ✔ Fruit Bee Forage

tomentosa Asia microclimate. The authors Full Sun Full

Top/Terrace favorite wine is made from this fruit. Various useful Opuntia species exist for different climates. All have spines on fruit and pads to Opuntia spp. Prickly Pear 5-9 2-5' ✔ Pads, Fruit Top some degree. These can be Full Sun Full removed by peeling or with North America North fire. Delicious fruit!

Plant has barbed spines. Useful Cylindropuntia as a living fence to keep Cholla 5-11 3-8' ✔ Flower buds imbricata Top wildlife at bay. Flower buds can Full Sun Full America be pickled like artichoke hearts. Southwest North

Fruits can be processed following enthnobotanical Yucca baccata Banana Yucca 5-11 3' ✔ Flowers, Fruit Top methods. Flowers can be eaten Full Sun Full Southwest raw and added to salads. North America North

Lonicera Many cultivars are available. Honeyberry 3-7 3-6' ✔ Fruit caerulea Fruit is sour, but flavorful. Terrace Eurasia Part Shade Part

Has a very high medicinal Hippophae value. Male plants are needed Sea Buckthorn 3-7 8-15' ✔ ✔ Fruit Coppice rhamnoides to pollinate female plants. Shade Eurasia

Top/Terrace Harvesting is difficult. Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full

An important ethnobotanical species. Fruit quality is Wildlife Lycium pallidum Wolfberry 6-9 5-10' ✔ Fruit excellent, superior to goji in Top Habitat Full Sun Full America authors opinion. Difficult to acquire. Likes warmth. Southwest North

Valued for erosion control. A Fallugia Erosion non-leguminous nitrogen fixer. Apache Plume 5-10 4-6' ✔ ✔ None known paradoxa Control Very attractive and useful for Full Sun Full Southwest

Top/Terrace dry locations with sandy soil. North America North

An excellent erosion control Ceanothus Mountain species with multiple functions. 4-7 1' ✔ ✔ ✔ None known Medicinal velutinus Ceanothus Top One of the best beneficial insect Shade Rocky Rocky

Mountains attractors. Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full

Beautiful and fragrant! Lavendula Minor uses of Bee Forage, Lavender 4-9 1' ✔ ✔ Excellent beneficial insect angustifolia Top leaves Medicinal Europe

Full Sun Full attractor.

Beautiful and fragrant! Hyssopus Bee Forage, Hyssop 4-9 1' ✔ ✔ None known Excellent beneficial insect officianalis Top Medicinal Europe

Full Sun Full attractor.

Cold-hardy varieties exist. 'Arp' Rosmarinus Leaves for Bee Forage, is a common one. Needs warm Rosemary 6-9 1-3' ✔ ✔ officianalis Top flavoring/spice Medicinal microclimate in most of the Europe Full Sun Full region.

Common Latin Name Edible Uses Other Uses Special Notes

Name Zone Nectary Pest Repeller Repeller Pest Native Region Native Nitrogen Fixer Nitrogen Mature Height Mature Light Condition USDA Hardiness USDA Rain Zone Garden (thorny or aromatic) (thorny or Herbaceous Layer (plants die back to ground each year) This highly useful mulch plant should be planted wherever it can grow in the region. It's deep Leaves (not Symphytum Russian Bee Forage, tap root is known to accumulate 4-8 2-4' ✔ recommended officinale Comfrey Medicinal nutrients from deep in the Europe Terrace for food) subsoil recycling them through the topsoil. Many medicinal Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full uses. Grows easily.

The smaller version of comfrey, this plant grows lower to the ground and makes a riot of Leaves (not Symphytum 8''- Bee Forage, flowers for much longer than Dwarf Comfrey 4-8 ✔ recommended grandiflorum 18'' Medicinal the bigger version. Spreads by Europe Terrace for food) seed and root, which can be minorly bothersome in this Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full region.

*A Reseeding annual. A useful Atriplex spring green before the plant *Orach * 4-6' ✔ Leaves

hortensis ottom gets over 1'. Beautiful magenta Shade Eurasia colored cultivars are available. Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full Top/Terrace/B Gorgeous low maintenance nitrogen fixer. Many different Baptisia Blue False Bee Forage, 4-8 2-4' ✔ ✔ None known species are available with australis Indigo Medicinal Full Sun Full America different flower colors, and Top/Terrace

Eastern North Eastern heights. Highly recommended!

The most consumed perennial Asparagus vegetable. Plant in narrow Asparagus 2-9 3-6' ✔ Spring shoots Bee Forage officinalis blocks so harvest is easy. Africa Terrace Full Sun Full Surprisingly drought hardy. Eurasia/North Eurasia/North Deep rooted alfalfa is an excellent soil improver. Breaks Minor uses for Bee Forage, up soil compaction. Medicinal Medicago sativa Alfalfa 3-8 1-3' ✔ ✔ leaves/flowers Medicinal uses for leaves and flowers. Europe Full Sun Full

Top/Terrace Excellent beneficial insect attractor.

All of the goldenrods are Solidago spp. Goldenrod 3-7 1-5' ✔ None known Bee Forage excellent beneficial insect

Terrace attractors. Use pletnifully. North America North Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full

Mostly used as a soil improver. Medicinal qualities not the Glycyrrhiza American 3-8 1-3' ✔ ✔ None known Medicinal same as European licorice. lepidota Licorice Shade Spreads somewhat Top/Terrace Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full

North America North uncontrollably. Licorice flavored leaves. Frank Morton of Wild Garden Seeds has bred an improved variety Agastache Leaves in tea for salad use. One of the best Anise Hyssop 3-8 2-4' ✔ ✔ Bee Forage foeniculum and salad beneficial insect attractors out Terrace there. Song birds relish the North America North seeds. Many other Agastache Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full species available.

Breadroot is a significant Roots used as ethnobotanical plant for the Psoralea vegetable or Breadroot 4-8 1' ✔ Bee Forage Eastern portions of the Rocky esculenta Top ground for Full Sun Full America Mountain region. Roots were flour Central North Central traditionally dried and braided

Mertensia Rocky Mountain Leaves in Comfrey and Borage relative. 4-6 1' ✔ Bee Forage lanceolata Bluebells salads Cucumber flavored leaves. Shade Rocky Rocky Mountains Part Shade/Full Shade/Full Part Terrace/Bottom Also called Chinese Artichoke and Crosnes. A tasty perennial Tubers raw or Stachys affinis Mint Root 4-8 6-16'' ✔ Bee Forage vegetable that attracts

Asia cooked Terrace

Full Sun Full beneficial insects. Surprisingly drought hardy.

*A reseeding annual. Grows Matricaria *German Bee Forage, * 1-2' ✔ Flowers for tea quickly in spring, flowering in chamomilla Chamomile Medicinal Europe

Full Sun Full early summer. Beautiful! Top/Terrace

A strongly aromatic plant that Allium Leaves, Chives 2-10 5-20" ✔ ✔ Bee Forage can repel pests. Beautiful

schoenoprasum North Flowers Shade Terrace flowers in spring. Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full America/Europe A strongly aromatic plant that can repel pests. Beautiful Allium Leaves, flowers in Fall. Also called Garlic Chives 3-10 1-2' ✔ ✔ Bee Forage

tuberosum Asia Flowers Chinese Leeks, the flavor is Full Sun Full

Top/Terrace closer to leek than garlic. A favorite and must have!

A rare plant in the West, the Minor Bee author has had good success Allium Ramps 4-8 6-12" ✔ Leaves, Bulbs Forage, with them in moist shade. A tricoccum Shade Terrace

America Medicinal high value plant, with gourmet

Eastern North Eastern flavor. Highly sought after.

A classic Rocky Mountain plant that adds a wild touch to the Aquilegia Rocky Mountain 3-7 1-2' ✔ None known Bee Forage garden. Aquilegia chrysantha is caerulea Columbine a taller yellow flowering Part Shade Part species. Terrace/ Bottom Terrace/ Rocky Mountains Rocky

Flowers, Hemerocallis A pretty ornamental with some Daylily 2-9 2-4' ✔ Flower buds, Bee Forage fulva minor edible uses. Shade Terrace Eurasia Tubers Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full

Favorite perennial vegetable! First thing to eat in the spring, Allium cepa Walking Onion 4-10 2-3' ✔ Leaves, Bulbs last thing to eat in the fall. proliferum Shade Eurasia Amazingly drought hardy. Top/Terrace Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full Keeps pests away. A must have!

A perennial onion, much like a shallot. Breeders are working Allium cepa Potato Onion 5-9 2' ✔ Leaves, Bulbs on this to get larger bulbs with aggregatum Terrace Eurasia

Full Sun Full great success. Kelly Winterton of Utah sells his breeding stock.

A delicious perennial leaf Rumex acetosa French Sorrel 3-9 1-3' ✔ Leaves vegetable. Attracts many Shade Terrace Eurasia beneficial insects. Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full

Armoracia Bee Forage, Medicinal roots with strong Horseradish 2-8 4' ✔ Roots rusticana Medicinal flavor, used in many foods. Terrace Eurasia Full Sun Full The best beneficial insect attractor in terms of numbers. Foeniculum Bronze Fennel 4-9 4-7' ✔ ✔ Leaves, Seeds Bee Forage Astounding! Nice feathery vulgare Terrace Eurasia

Full Sun Full foliage and flavor. Spreads aggressively by seed.

The author plants garlic in his food forests every year to keep deer away. *As a dig and Allium sativum *Garlic 4-9 1-2' ✔ Bulbs, Leaves Medicinal replant perennial, this method Terrace Eurasia Full Sun Full works great without taking up space in the vegetable garden.

Virtually everywhere in the Rocky Mountain region has Lupinus spp. Lupine 3-9 1-2' ✔ ✔ None known Bee Forage native lupine species. Find Top them and grow them for

North America North nitrogen fixation and aesthetics. Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full May not be suitable for rain gardens due to annual deep Helianthus Jerusalem Tubers for digging required. Still a useful 2-10 6-12' ✔ Bee Forage tuberosus Artichoke cooking perennial vegetable in the forest Terrace garden. Aggressively spreading, North America North plant cautiously. Full sun/Part Shade sun/Part Full

Wild growth habit, tends to fall Artemisia Leaves for Tarragon 5-9 4' ✔ Bee Forage onto surrounding plants. Give dracunculus flavoring/spice Shade Eurasia plenty of room. Drought hardy. Top/Terrace Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full These can be aggressive in Bee Forage, wetter areas. Very drought Helianthus Maximillian Young shoots 2-8 4-10' ✔ Wildlife hardy however. The author has maximiliani Sunflower in spring Shade

America Habitat not experimented with the Top/Terrace Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full Central North Central edibility of the young shoots.

Stems have been used for thousands of years. Commonly made into preserves or pie. Mix Rheum Stems before Rhubarb 3-8 2-4' ✔ with other fruits and sweetener. rhabarbarum flowering Terrace Eurasia Easy to propagate. Blanching pots increase stem length and

Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full size significantly in dry areas.

Flower shoots Another author favorite. Flower before shoots are like broccolini, but Crambe Sea Kale 4-8 2-3' ✔ blooming/ Bee Forage perennial with zero water maritima Top Europe

Full Sun Full blanched needed in most areas. Beautiful leaves in bloom, easy to propagate.

Leaves have stinging hairs that cause irritation to the skin. Cook or dehydrate to inactivate. One of the best perennial Young shoots vegetables for the region. Urtica dioica Stinging Nettle 4-8 1-5' ✔ ✔ in spring and Medicinal Nutrient dense with high

America fall

Top/Terrace mineral content. Authors favorite use is in quiche. Note Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full Rain Garden Zone suggestion Eurasia/North Africa/North Africa/North Eurasia/North as "Top" to limit its spread. An excellent insectary plant. Tasty roots in the Fall. Has been reported to spread by seed Myrrhis odorata Sweet Cicely 3-6 1-2' ✔ Roots Bee Forage aggressively, but author has not Shade Europe Terrace had that experience in the arid Part Shade/Full Shade/Full Part Western US.

The author has been experimenting with this plant far beyond it's native range. In Spring shoots Matteuccia wet, shady areas with high Ostrich Fern 2-8 2-6' known as struthiopteris organic matter content, they do fiddleheads Full Shade Full well. Still a marginal plant for Terrace/Bottom the region. Prefers a more acid

North America/Eurasia North soil than is found in the West.

Levisticum Young shoots An excellent insectary and Lovage 4-7 4-8' ✔ Bee Forage officinale in spring mulch plant. Shade Terrace Eurasisa Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full The author has only limited experience with this plant. Has not eaten roots as the plantings Sium sisarum Skirret 5-9 2-3' ✔ Roots Bee Forage

Asia seem to barely survive. Plant Bottom very close to water and where digging is acceptable. Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full A very difficult plant to establish, but supposedly worth Ipomea Bush Morning 4-7 1-3' Roots it once it's rooted. Has large leptophylla Glory Top Rocky Rocky

Full Sun Full fleshy roots. Sweet Potato Mountains relative.

Greek oregano has the best Leaves for Bee Forage, Origanum spp. Oregano 4-8 1-2' ✔ ✔ flavor combined with cold flavoring/spice Medicinal Africa

Full Sun Full hardiness. Excellent insectary. Top/Terrace Eurasia/North Eurasia/North

Leaves for Bee Forage, Thymus vulgaris Thyme 4-10 6-18" ✔ ✔ Excellent insectary. flavoring/spice Medicinal Eurasia Full Sun Full Top/Terrace Beautiful contrast in spring with pink/purple flowers and Leaves for Salvia officinalis Culinary Sage 4-8 2-3' ✔ ✔ Bee Forage grey green foliage. The author flavoring/spice Eurasia

Full Sun Full uses the variegated and purple Top/Terrace cultivars too. The author has not experimented with the edibility Heracleum Cow Parsnip 2-9 3-8' ✔ Roots Bee Forage of the roots. Worth planting for maximum insectary habitat alone. High Part Shade Part North America North

Terrace/Bottom biomass producer.

Difficult to obtain. Wildcraft Perideridia 18- seed and spread. Important Yampah 4-7 ✔ Roots Bee Forage gairdneri 36" staple food of Ute peoples of Shade Rocky Rocky Mountains

Top/Terrace Rocky Mountains. Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full High value flowers when dried for medicine. Beautiful. The Monarda Flowers, Bee Forage, Bee Balm 4-9 3-4' ✔ ✔ author recommends using fistulosa Leaves Medicinal native varietals instead of Part Shade Part Top/Terrace

North America North cultivars. Major insectary!

A strong and valuable Echincaea Purple Bee Forage, medicinal. Flowers and roots 3-8 3-4' ✔ None known purpurea Coneflower Medicinal are used. Roots should be Terrace Full Sun Full America harvested every three years. Central North Central

A strong and valuable medicinal. Flowers and roots Echincaea Narrow-Leaf Bee Forage, are used. Roots should be 3-7 2-3' ✔ None known angustifolia Echinacea Medicinal harvested every three years. A Full Sun Full America

Top/Terrace more drought hardy Western Central North Central species. A strong and valuable medicinal. Flowers and roots Echincaea Pale Purple Bee Forage, 3-10 2-3' ✔ None known are used. Roots should be pallida Coneflower Medicinal Terrace Full Sun Full America harvested every three years. An

Central North Central attractive Southeatern species.

A must have in every garden. Aesthetic variation within the Gaillardia Blanet Flower 3-8 1' ✔ None known Bee Forage species exists. Some are solid aristata

Full Sun Full gold, others are the Top/Terrace

North America North characteristic red and gold.

Wonderful tea plant. Rated as the favorite native tea plant by Thelesperma Hopi Tea several Southwestern tribes. 5-9 1-3' ✔ Flowers for tea Bee Forage megapotamicum Greenthread The author is at a little bit of a Full Sun Full

Top/Terrace loss on how to get it to grow North America North well beyond the first season. *Biennial. Superior nitrogen Bee Forage, Melilotus *Yellow Sweet fixer. Beautiful in bloom. The 4-9 2-3' ✔ ✔ None known Erosion officinalis Clover author lets the plant reseed and Terrace Eurasia

Full Sun Full Control leaves where desireable.

*Biennial. Nitrogen fixing Bee Forage, *White Sweet biomass out of this world. Melilotus albus 4-9 4-7' ✔ ✔ None known Erosion Clover Needs lots of room to grow in Terrace Eurasia

Full Sun Full Control second year.

Valeriana Bee Forage, A nice insectary. Likes cooler Valerian 4-7 3-5' ✔ None known officinalis Medicinal climates. Shade Terrace Eurasia Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full

Excellent insectary. Can spread Tanacetum Tansy 3-8 3' ✔ None known Bee Forage by seed. Supposedly has vulgare Terrace Eurasia

Full Sun Full insecticidal properties.

Lovely understory species. Can Leaves and Allium cernuum Nodding Onion 4-8 1-2' ✔ ✔ Bee Forage use like pearl onions. Bulbs Shade Ethnobotanical value. Top/Terrace Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full North America North

A useful medicinal and insectary plant. Can spread Melissa Leaves for Bee Forage, Lemon Balm 5-7 1-2' ✔ ✔ vigourously by seed. Makes an officinalis salads and tea Medicinal Shade Africa annual weeding chore, but not Top/Terrace Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full Eurasia/North Eurasia/North too bad for the benefits.

Black Eyed Beneficial insect attracting Rudbeckia hirta 3-7 2-3' ✔ None known Bee Forage

Susan North ornamental. Terrace Full Sun Full America

A water loving version of black eyed susan. Very large plants. Rudbeckia Cut Leaf Bee Forage, 3-9 2-8' ✔ None known Medicinally is an analog for laciniata Coneflower Medicinal Shade echinacea according to Michael Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full North America North

Terrace/Bottom Moore. Commonly sold as red veined Rumex Leaves for Bloody Dock 5-8 1-4' ✔ french sorrel. It is actually a sanguineus salad Terrace Cultivar Full Sun Full cultivated type of dock. Many mountain parsely species exist. This species harbors a Pseudocymoptus Mountain tremendous amount of 4-8 6-18" ✔ None known Bee Forage montanus Parsley predatory wasps. All Apiaceae Full Sun Full

Top/Terrace species are useful for this

Rocky Mountains Rocky purpose.

One of the best bee forage plants for the region. Highly Eriogonum Sulphur ornamental too! There are many 4-8 6-12" ✔ None known Bee Forage umbellatum Buckwheat Eriogonum species available Full Sun Full America

Top/Terrace for each ecoregion. Find the Western North Western native species and grow those.

An other worldly looking flower. High ethnobotanical Calochortus value. Was an important food Sego Lily 3-7 1-2' ✔ Tubers nuttallii source of the Ute peoples. Terrace Full Sun Full Would be difficult to grow in

Rocky Mountains Rocky quantity.

Common Latin Name Edible Uses Other Uses Special Notes

Bee Forage, An attractive groundcover for White Prairie Dalea candida 3-8 1-2' ✔ ✔ None known Erosion pollinators and soil Clover Top Full Sun Full America Control improvement. Central North Central

Bee Forage, An attractive groundcover for Purple Prairie Dalea purpurea 3-8 1-3' ✔ ✔ None known Erosion pollinators and soil Clover Top Full Sun Full America Control improvement. Central North Central There are many ground cherry species, some native, some not. Erosion Some are perennial, some are Physalis spp. Ground Cherry 4-9 1-3' ✔ Fruit Control reseeding annual. Delicious Full Sun Full

Top/Terrace fruit! Fruit sold as North America North "Goldenberry" for high prices. Classic Dutch White Clover. Grows in lawns everywhere. The author has had a hard time Trifolium repens White Clover 4-9 4-10" ✔ ✔ Flowers for tea Bee Forage establishing it through Shade Eurasia woodchip mulch. Prefers bare Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full Terrace/Bottom soil.

The author has had more success with red clover than Trifolium Bee Forage, Red Clover 4-9 6-16" ✔ ✔ Flowers for tea white through woodchip mulch. pratense Medicinal Eurasia

Full Sun Full Flowers are valuable as

Terrace/Bottom medicine. Very pretty!

It is very hard to get a full groundcover to establish over Lotus Bird's Foot 5-8 18'' ✔ ✔ None known Bee Forage an entire forest garden in the corniculatus Trefoil Eurasia arid regions. This species works very well in sandier soils. Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full Top/Terrace/Bottom

Beautiful living lawn! The author uses it in pathways, rock Erosion walls, and rock aprons of rain Thymus Woolly Thyme 4-8 3'' None known Control, gardens. This varietal doesn't lanuginosus Eurasia Living Lawn flower profusely like other

Terrace/Bottom creeping thymes, but is very

Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full hardy.

As with all mints, be careful where you put it, as you're likely to have it there forever. Chocolate mint is a very nice Mentha piperita Peppermint 4-10 1-2' ✔ ✔ Leaves for tea Bee Forage cultivar! I recommend putting Eurasia

Top/Terrace at the "Top" section of rain gardens to limit spreading. Will Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full form complete groundcover.

As with all mints, be careful where you put it, as you're likely to have it there forever. Mentha spicata Spearmint 4-10 1-2' ✔ ✔ Leaves for tea Bee Forage Grapefruit mint is a very nice

Eurasia cultivar! I recommend putting Top/Terrace Top/Terrace at the "Top" section of rain

Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full gardens to limit spreading.

A native mint to the Rocky Bee Forage, Mountain West. Less aggressive Mentha arvensis Poleo Mint 4-8 2-4' ✔ ✔ Leaves for tea Medicinal than the Eurasian types. Full Sun Full

Top/Terrace Attractive flowers! Rocky Mountains Rocky

A nice little perennial leaf to Sanguisorba Leaves for Bee Forage, Salad Burnett 5 1-2' ✔ add to salads. Cucumber minor salad Medicinal Terrace flavored. Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full Eurasia/North Africa Eurasia/North

The Eurasian Yarrow can spread aggresively by seed and Achillea Bee Forage, Yarrow 3-10 2-3' ✔ None known runners. The author prefers the millefolium Medicinal Eurasia following species for this Top/Terrace reason. Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full

A much preferred yarrow groundcover. This is the yarrow Achillea Bee Forage, Western Yarrow 3-10 1-2' ✔ None known you will find growing in lanulosa Medicinal Shade riparian areas all over the arid Top/Terrace Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full

North America North West. Mild mannered.

An aggressive reseeder. Will Oxalis Leaves for Wood Sorrel 3-10 2-6" ✔ not form complete groundcover. acetosella salad Terrace Eurasia Weedy. Part Shade Part Perhaps the quintessential ground cover. If only they would cover the ground and Fragaria spp. Strawberry 3-10 6-12'' ✔ Fruit fruit forever! Needs to be Terrace Cultivar thinned as they crowd each Part Shade Part other out. Prefers part shade at high elevation.

A native version of the Fragaria cultivated strawberry. Very Wild Strawberry 4-9 4-12" ✔ Fruit virginiana tasty! Can be safely propagated Terrace from the wild. North America North Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full Not the best fruit in the world, but an interesting groundcover for wet, cool, shady areas. Rubus pubescens Dewberry 5-7 4-12'' ✔ Fruit Eastern deciduous relict species Shade Terrace in the canyons of the Front North America North Part Shade/Full Shade/Full Part Range of Colorado.

The worlds most expensive spice! These grow easily. Stigmas as a Crocus sativus Saffron Crocus 6-10 6" ✔ Harvesting the stigmas in any spice Terrace Eurasia

Full Sun Full quantity is not easy. Still a fun plant for the garden tour!

A lovely ground cover! Low Medicago Erosion Black Medic 4-8 1-2' ✔ ✔ None known growing and stays out of the lupulina Top Control

Full Sun Full way. Eurasia/North Africa Eurasia/North

The author has not had success trying to grow this plant, but it Arnica montanus Arnica 3-6 1-2' ✔ None known Medicinal forms a solid groundcover in the native habitat. Valuable Top/Terrace medicinal species. Rocky Mountains Rocky Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full

Bee Forage, Thermopsis Mountain An excellent nitrogen fixing 4-9 1-2' ✔ ✔ None known Erosion montana Goldenbanner groundcover!

Full Sun Full Control Top/Terrace Rocky Mountains Rocky

The prairie version of the Bee Forage, Thermopsis mountain Thermopsis. Forms a Buffalo Bean 4-9 1-2' ✔ ✔ None known Erosion rhombifolia full and extensive groundcover. Shade Control

Top/Terrace Goregeous in full bloom. Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full

*A Reseeding annual. An excellent edible ground cover. Needs bare soil to germinate. The author has seen patches in Montia Leaves for *Miner's Lettuce * 6'' ✔ Arizona canyons that fully perfoliata salad Terrace carpet the ground for hundreds of feet. Good to seed after

Part Shade/Full Shade Shade/Full Part digging root crops in the forest Western North America North Western garden.

One of the most successful wild groundcovers in the authors Leaves and experience. Large patches in Viola canadensis Violet 4-7 6'' ✔ flowers for riparian areas in the Front

Terrace salad Range of Colorado demonstrate

North America North good suitability as a

Part Shade/Full Shade Shade/Full Part groundcover for that ecoregion.

High ethnobotanical value! Forms full groundcover in Oryzopsis Erosion desert areas with sandy/coarse Indian Ricegrass 5-8 1-2' Seeds hymenoides Control soils. Seeds were traditionally Full Sun Full America

Top/Terrace harvested and roasted with hot Western North Western coals to burn off the husks.

An excellent species to include Schizachyrium Little Bluestem Erosion 3-8 2-3' None known for beneficial insect nesting and scoparium Grass Control

Full Sun Full breeding habitat. Top/Terrace North America North

Common Latin Name Edible Uses Other Uses Special Notes

Name Zone Nectary Pest Repeller Repeller Pest Native Region Native Nitrogen Fixer Nitrogen Mature Height Mature Light Condition USDA Hardiness USDA Rain Zone Garden (thorny or aromatic) (thorny or Fungal Layer (very successful gourmet mushroom species) Inoculate hardwood logs (Cottonwood, Alder, Elm) and Decomposer of place them in the bottoms of hardwoods, Pleurotus rain gardens. They fruit when it Oyster All 6-8'' Mushrooms Bioremediator ostreatus rains. Forage style harvest. The Global Bottom of Full Shade Full best gourmet mushroom for the hydrocarbons arid West. All others are very difficult due to aridity. Inoculate all woodchips in rain Decomposer of gardens with spawn. It fruits woodchips, when it rains. Forage style Stropharia Bioremediator harvest. Stem butts can be used King Stropharia All 6-8'' Mushrooms rugosoannulata of to inoculate new woodchips. hydrocarbons, Woodchips need to be renewed Terrace/Bottom Mycorrhizal every couple years to keep the Part Shade/Full Shade Shade/Full Part North America/Europe North fungi productive.

Common Latin Name Edible Uses Other Uses Special Notes

Seems to prefer part shade in this region. Needs to be divided every two years to keep at peak productivity. Primocane fruiting Rubus idaeus Raspberry 3-9 4-6' ✔ ✔ Fruit Medicinal cultivars recommended. Leaf is Terrace Eurasia used medicinally. Spreading nature makes them less suitable Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full for rain gardens.

Delicious fruit. Spreads by tip layering and needs to be given Rubus Black Raspberry 4-7 3-6' ✔ ✔ Fruit plenty of space. Thorny to a occidentalis Terrace Full Sun Full America fault. Worth putting up with for

Eastern North Eastern the fruit quality.

Thornless varieties available. Ensure fruit quality before planting. The author has planted thornless varieites with horrible Rubus fruticosus Blackberry 5-8 4-8' ✔ ✔ Fruit fruit quality. Takes up lots of Europe Terrace room. Worth figuring out how to grow successfully.

Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full Applicable for only the largest rain gardens. Highly medicinal fruit. Fruit, Shoots Lycium Naturalized throughout Front Gojiberry 5-9 5-10' ✔ can be cooked

barbarum Asia Range of Colorado and other

Full Sun Full as well

Top/Terrace parts of region.

Seedless and seeded cultivars abound. Concord and Niagra, 12- both seeded, grow very easily Vitis vinifera Grape 5-9 Fruit 20' and well throughout the region. Terrace Full Sun Full The author has had good success with seedless varieites. Eurasia/North Africa Eurasia/North The author has yet to eat a 20- Rocky Mountain grown Hardy Actinidia arguta Hardy Kiwi 4-8 Fruit 100' Kiwi. Grows exhuberantly Terrace Eurasia Full Sun Full outside of the region.

15- Seed cones for A value crop to grow for Humulus lupulus Hops 4-8 Medicinal 30' flavoring homebrewers! Eurasia Full Sun Full Terrace/Bottom

A native version of hops. Grows as close to water as it Humulus lupulus can get, but should have more 15- Seed cones for var. Western Hops 5-8 Medicinal drought resistance. The author 30' flavoring neomexicana has seen them in high desert

Terrace/Bottom canyons with no water moving

Full Sun/Part Shade Sun/Part Full through for months. Western North America North Western One of the most important ethnobotanical plants for the Eastern parts of the region. Very difficult to grow in the authors experience. Sandy soil, just the right amount of shade, Apios americana Groundnut 3-10 4-12' ✔ Tubers and regular moisture are Terrace

Part Shade Part needed. If successful, roots are North America North harvested every other year. There are native patches just East of the cities of Boulder and Denver, CO. This species is proven to grow and survive in the warmer parts of the region, or in warm Passiflora 10- microclimates. The most Maypop 6-10 ✔ Fruit Medicinal incarnata 30' beautiful flowers around. Terrace Full Sun Full Highly valuable medicinal vine Southeast US Southeast and flowers. Fruit is a passionfruit.

Mostly a very ornamental arbor cover. Beautiful! Fixes nitrogen Wisteria Japanese 30- 4-9 ✔ Poisonous into abundant biomass. Can

floribunda Wisteria 50' Asia Terrace

Full Sun Full spread aggressively. Often planted where mown. Mostly a very ornamental arbor cover. Beautiful! Fixes nitrogen Wisteria American 15- 5-9 ✔ Poisonous into abundant biomass. Can frutescnes Wisteria 30' Terrace Full Sun Full America spread aggressively. Often

Eastern North Eastern planted where mown.

Common Latin Name Edible Uses Other Uses Special Notes

Good for ponds or very wet rain gardens. Can survive without Lemna minor Duckweed 4-10 1'' ✔ Fodder standing water, but not for long. Shade Global Bottom Excellent fish food. Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full

Also called Duck Potato, this is an important ethnobotanical Sagittaria Wapato 5-10 1-4' Tubers species. Beautiful and delicious latifolia Bottom

Full Sun Full tubers when boiled. Prefers

North America North standing water.

A useful sepcies to fill niches in the bottoms of rain gardens. Dwarf varieties are available. Typha latifolia Cattail 3-10 4-6' Shoots, Tubers Known as the liver of the plant Global Bottom Full Sun Full world for filtering toxins. Not recommended for food. Will grow without standing water. Relished as a perennial Oenanthe Water Celery 6-11 2-3' ✔ Leaves, Shoots Bee Forage vegetable in Asia. This author javanica Shade Bottom has a hard time consuming it in Full Sun/Part Sun/Part Full

Southeast Asia Southeast any quantity.

Needs standing water. Nelumbo Lotus 4-10 3-6' ✔ Seeds, Tubers Conducive to pond culture. nuciferia Bottom

Full Sun Full Absolutely beautiful! Asia/Australia Needs standing water. Yellow Pond Conducive to pond culture. Nuphar luteum 4-10 2' ✔ Tubers

Lily North North American native lotus- Bottom Full Sun Full America like pond plant. Will grow without standing Nasturtium water. Tasty salad crop. Can Watercress 3-11 1-3' ✔ Leaves Bee Forage officinale grow in frequent flood and Bottom Eurasia Full Sun Full drain basins.

Will grow without standing Mentha aquatica Water Mint 5-9 3' ✔ Leaves for tea Bee Forage water. Can grow in frequent Africa Bottom

Full Sun Full flood and drain basins. Eurasia/North Eurasia/North