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Waterside and Riparian Zone Plants

Acute Willow

SAVE UP TO 57%

Acute Willow is a very fast growing small tree that can reach growth rates of up to 6 feet per year. It's a great choice for developing a quick, hardy shelterbelt, windbreak, or privacy screen. Acute Willow will grow multi-stemmed but can be pruned to a single...

Zone 2a partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Black Elderberry

SAVE UP TO 46%

Black Elderberry is a deciduous shrub native to eastern North America. You can plant this shrub in moist areas and it will help stabilize your soil. You can also use it on rural properties anywhere you'd use a lilac. Black Elderberries are considered to be...

Zone 3a any normal, wet

Black Spruce

SAVE UP TO 57%

Black Spruce is a medium-sized coniferous tree that tolerates wet ground better than most spruces. It has a characteristic straight trunk and a narrow crown...

Zone 1a any normal, wet

Canadian Buffaloberry

SAVE UP TO 39%

Canadian Buffalo Berry is a native deciduous shrub found throughout North America. This hardy, medium-sized shrub will tolerate poor soil conditions and produces attractive, edible–though very bitter–red fruit...

Zone 1a partial shade, full sun dry, normal

Common Wild Rose

SAVE UP TO 44%

Common Wild Rose produces attractive pink roses and edible bright red rosehips. This tough, native shrub is a beautiful, low-maintenance addition to any garden. Common Wild Rose is very similar to Alberta (Prickly) Wild Rose but with fewer thorns...

Zone 1a partial shade, full sun dry, normal

Golden Willow

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Golden Willow is an attractive accent tree that's perfectly suited for those moist or wet areas on your property. This fast growing tree has glossy narrow leaves that turn gold in fall, furrowed brown bark and showy gold branches that especially stand out in...

Zone 2a full sun normal, wet

Green Alder

SAVE UP TO 42%

Green Alder is a native, cold-hardy shrub found in boreal forests, along slopes, and in open upland habitats. It fixes nitrogen in the soil, improving fertility and helping other plants grow, while its roots help stabilize slopes and disturbed ground. Fast to...

Zone 1a partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Laurel Leaf Willow

SAVE UP TO 57%

Laurel Leaf Willow is a round-shaped tree with attractive dark green leaves. This cold hardy tree can withstand bitter winters and still put on lots of growth every summer. Laurel Leaf Willow prefers moist to wet ground and full sun, though it can tolerate...

Zone 2b partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Lewis Mock Orange

SAVE UP TO 50%

Lewis Mock Orange is a flowering ornamental shrub that produces an abundance of white, fragrant blooms. The flowers have a sweet scent similar to orange blossoms, with a hint of pineapple. They bloom for several weeks from late spring to early summer, attracting...

Zone 4a partial shade, full sun dry, normal

Manitoba Maple

SAVE UP TO 43%

Manitoba Maple is a fast growing tree with great fall color. These trees are typically grown as feature or shade trees on larger properties and acreages. Manitoba maples are cold hardy and tolerant of a wide range of soil moisture conditions. Note that Manitoba...

Zone 2a any any

Pussy Willow

SAVE UP TO 38%

Pussy Willow is a large shrub or small tree that produces catkins that are soft, silky, and silvery before leaves appear in the spring. This native willow prefers moist to wet soil. Pussy Willow makes a beautiful accent tree, and its bright branches can be used...

Zone 2a partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Red Osier Dogwood

SAVE UP TO 58%

Red Osier Dogwood is a small deciduous shrub that features deep red stems and twigs year-round, with creamy white flowers in the spring. This shrub will add a nice pop of color to your yard. Red Osier Dogwood is an excellent soil stabilizer. It is fast growing...

Zone 2a partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Silver Leaf Willow

SAVE UP TO 73%

Silver Leaf Willow has orangish bark and long, silvery grey leaves. Bees and other insects are attracted to its flowers. Popular as an ornamental tree for parks, it is also used as a shelterbelt species. It may not be as cold hardy as some of the other willow...

Zone 2a partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Trembling Aspen

SAVE UP TO 52%

Trembling Aspen is a hardy, fast-growing tree. It is known for its unique "trembling" leaf movement and beautiful bark that whitens with age. This native shade tree tolerates a range of growing conditions and requires little maintenance...

Zone 1a full sun dry, normal

Western Chokecherry

SAVE UP TO 31%

Western Chokecherry is a shrub or small tree commonly used for farmstead and field windbreaks. It produces white flowers in the spring and edible dark purple fruit that matures between September and October. Its cherries are great for making for making jams...

Zone 2a full sun dry, normal

White Birch (Paper Birch)

SAVE UP TO 50%

White Birch is a large, attractive deciduous tree. This fast-growing, cold hardy species has distinctive white papery bark that peels in layers, making it a beautiful ornamental or accent tree. White Birch also makes great firewood...

Zone 2a full sun normal, wet

American Sweet Flag

CUSTOM GROW

American Sweet Flag is a native perennial wetland plant found along shorelines, streams, wet meadows, and marshes. Its extensive rhizome system allows it to spread and stabilise soil, helping maintain the edges of ponds and streams. This dense growth provides cover...

Zone 3a partial shade, full sun wet

Baltic Rush

CUSTOM GROW

Baltic Rush is a widespread native perennial rush that forms dense clumps of upright, cylindrical stems. Well adapted to saturated soils, it is common in wetlands, streambanks, and riparian zones, and is tolerant of both fresh and saline conditions. Hardy and...

Zone 2a partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Beaked Sedge

CUSTOM GROW

Beaked Sedge is a native perennial wetland plant that forms dense clumps of tall, grass-like stems. It produces distinctive beaked seed heads that mature from late spring into summer. The plant provides food for waterfowl, muskrats, and other wildlife, while its...

Zone 1b partial shade, full sun wet

Bebbs Sedge

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Bebb’s Sedge is a native perennial wetland plant that forms dense clumps of grass-like stems. It grows in a variety of wetland habitats, from marshes and wet meadows to lakeshores and stream banks. Ideal for rain gardens, riparian restoration, soil stabilization...

Zone 2a partial shade, full sun wet

Bluejoint

CUSTOM GROW

Bluejoint is a native perennial grass that forms tall, dense colonies. It is one of the most abundant grasses found in Canada and the United States. The extensive shallow root system and spreading rhizomes help stabilise soils, especially in wet meadows, marshes...

Zone 2a partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Bog Birch

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Bog Birch is a hardy, deciduous shrub native to North America. It thrives in wetlands, riparian zones, and boreal forests, and can be found as far north as the Arctic Circle—making it one of the few woody plants to grow in such extreme climates. In Western...

Zone 2a full sun normal, wet

Bristly Black Currant

CUSTOM GROW

Bristly Black Currant is a native deciduous shrub that grows in moist forests, swamps, and riparian areas. In summer, it produces clusters of dark purple to black berries that provide food for wildlife, while its reddish-purple flowers attract pollinators. The...

Zone 3a partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Canada Anemone

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Canada Anemone is a native perennial wildflower known for its white, buttercup-like flowers. Blooming from mid-spring to early summer, it attracts a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Its deep green foliage...

Zone 3a partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Canada Mint

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Canada Mint is a native perennial plant known for its fragrant edible leaves. It produces small white to purple flowers in clusters around the stem and is commonly found in wet areas, including ditches and along wetlands, lakes, and rivers. The leaves can be eaten...

Zone 1a partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Common Cattail

CUSTOM GROW

Cattail is found all across North America, growing next to water. Like other waterside plants, Cattail provides erosion control and forage for animals. It is suitable for land reclamation. Cattail is able to tolerate cold weather and occasional flooding...

Zone 1a partial shade, full sun wet

Common Snowberry

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Common Snowberry is a small deciduous shrub with characteristic white to pink flowers and clusters of white fruit. This North American native species is very adaptable, and can be used for erosion control in riparian and restoration areas. Snowberry's fruit...

Zone 1a full sun dry, normal

Cyperus-like Sedge

CUSTOM GROW

Cyperus-like Sedge is a native perennial sedge found in wetlands, marshes, swamps, and along shorelines. Classified as an obligate wetland species, it grows in dense clumps that thrive in saturated soils, helping stabilize wet ground and protect shorelines. These...

Zone 3a partial shade, full sun wet

Diamond-Leaf Willow

CUSTOM GROW

Diamond-Leaf Willow is a native deciduous shrub known for its glossy diamond-shaped leaves, which give the shrub its name. Its catkins emerge in spring, providing an important early source of pollen for pollinators. The shrub’s dense growth also offers valuable...

Zone 1a full sun wet

Dwarf Arctic Willow

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Dwarf Arctic Willow is a beautiful ornamental shrub that attracts butterflies. It grows into a low dense, rounded shrub with slender purple stems. The Dwarf Arctic Willow has bluish-green foliage throughout the season and stunning when planted as an artistic hedge...

Zone 4a full sun normal, wet

Dwarf-Bog Birch

CUSTOM GROW

Dwarf-Bog Birch is a native, cold-hardy shrub that can be found across most of Canada. Its preference for moist soils and the extensive root system make it well-suited for riparian zone plantings, soil stabilization, and erosion control projects. It features...

Zone 2a partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Golden Weeping Willow

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

The Golden Weeping Willow is a cultivar with bright yellow twigs and an attractive weeping shape. It is one of the most popular willows, with high ornamental value. The Golden Weeping Willow has glossy green foliage during the spring and summer months, then the...

Zone 4a full sun normal, wet

Gray Dogwood

CUSTOM GROW

Gray dogwood is a thicket-forming, deciduous shrub with greenish-white blossoms in open, terminal clusters. Young twigs are red and the fruit pedicels remain conspicuously red into late fall and early winter. Fruit itself is a white, 1/4 in. drupe that usually...

Zone 4a any any

Green Bulrush

CUSTOM GROW

Green Bulrush is a common waterside plant, suitable for erosion control and land reclamation. Despite this, Green Bulrush is very drought resistant once established. Bulrushes can cool nearby areas on hot days. Unlike many of the other waterside plants...

Zone 1a full sun wet

Grey Alder

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

River Alder is a large shrub or small tree with a multi-stemmed, spreading habit. It is an excellent tree to plant if you want to stabilize the soil near rivers and creeks. Unlike the other alder varieties, River Alder is attractive enough to be included in...

Zone 1a full sun normal, wet

Hardstem Bulrush

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Hardstem Bulrush is a tall, native perennial wetland plant that thrives in shallow water and saturated soils, often forming extensive stands in wetland and shoreline habitats. Well suited to riparian restoration, bank stabilization, shoreline protection, and...

Zone 2a full sun wet

Joe-Pye Weed

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Joe-Pye Weed is a tall native perennial wildflower known for its clusters of fragrant pink flowers. Blooming from mid-summer to early fall, its long-lasting blooms attract a wide range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, and other beneficial...

Zone 3a partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Knotted Rush

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Knotted Rush is a native perennial wetland plant found growing in marshes, swamps, wet meadows, and along shorelines. It spreads by underground rhizomes to form colonies, which can also help stabilize soils and shorelines. Its upright, slender stems and small...

Zone 1b full sun wet

Marsh Cinquefoil

CUSTOM GROW

Marsh Cinquefoil is a native perennial wetland plant with striking reddish-purple, star-shaped flowers. They bloom in early to mid-summer, providing nectar for bees, flies, and other pollinators. Beyond its summer blooms, the foliage turns red in autumn, adding...

Zone 1b partial shade, full sun wet

Mock Orange

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Mock Orange is an ornamental shrub known for its fragrant, white flowers. The scent is often described as orange-like with a hint of jasmine. Attractive to pollinators, hummingbirds, and humans alike. Mock Orange is highly versatile, and can be used as an...

Zone 4a partial shade, full sun any

Mountain Alder

CUSTOM GROW

Mountain Alder is a native cold-hardy shrub or small tree often found along streams and in moist forested habitats. Its nitrogen-fixing ability enriches soils and supports surrounding vegetation, while its extensive root system helps stabilize streambanks and...

Zone 1a partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Nuttalls Sunflower

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Nuttall’s Sunflower is a native perennial wildflower known for its bright, golden-yellow blooms. Flowering from mid to late summer, it offers a late-season nectar source for various bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, while the seeds provide a fall food...

Zone 2b full sun normal, wet

Panicled Bulrush

CUSTOM GROW

Panicled Bulrush is a native perennial sedge that thrives in saturated soils and shallow water. Spreading readily by rhizomes, it quickly forms tall clumps that make it especially valuable for riparian plantings, erosion control, ecological restoration, and...

Zone 3a partial shade, full sun wet

Peachleaf Willow

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

The Peachleaf Willow is often a multi-stemmed willow that generally grows into a tall shrub. This versatile and useful small tree is often seen in riparian zones and erosion control projects. Wildlife rely on the twigs, foliage and bark for food. A widely...

Zone 2b partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Pin Cherry

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Pin Cherry is a small tree that produces clusters of white blossoms in spring followed by bright red berries that ripen through the summer. The attractive red color of the leaves in the fall is an added bonus. The fruit is quite sour when eaten fresh but is...

Zone 2a full sun normal

Ranch Elderberry

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Ranch Elderberry is a vigorous and high-yielding Black Elderberry cultivar. It ripens earlier than other varieties and is smaller and more compact making berry harvest easier. The berries are well-suited for baked goods, jams, jellies, and syrups. They are high in...

Zone 3a full sun normal, wet

Red Sunset Maple

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Red Sunset Maple is named for its stunning orange and red leaves in the fall. It is a fast growing cultivar of the Red Maple that is native to Eastern North America. The winter stems and spring flowers are also tinged with red color, making this tree attractive...

Zone 4a partial shade, full sun wet

River Birch

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

River Birch has beautiful, peeling, brown bark that reveals camel-colored and pink beneath. It is more borer resistant than white bark birches, which makes it a much longer-lived landscape tree...

Zone 3a full sun normal, wet

Sandbar Willow

CUSTOM GROW

Sandbar Willow is a deciduous species native to much of North America. This mid-sized, fast-growing shrub can be found in very wet areas, making it an ideal plan to use in a wet area with erosion risk. Sandbar Willow has long, narrow green leaves, and its...

Zone 2a partial shade, full sun any

Schuettes Oak

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Schuettes Oak is a naturally occurring hybrid of Swamp White Oak and Bur Oak. With a faster growth than both parent species, it is one of the fastest growing Oak trees. They are known for growing very large and wide, so space them appropriately. It is considered...

Zone 4a partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Seaside Arrowgrass

CUSTOM GROW

Seaside Arrowgrass is a native perennial commonly found in wetlands, salt marshes, and moist meadows. It is especially suitable for difficult growing sites. Its dense root system helps stabilize soil, while also providing food, cover, and habitat for small animals...

Zone 1b full sun wet

Sitka Alder

CUSTOM GROW

Sitka Alder is a native deciduous shrub or small tree that often forms dense thickets. Its extensive root system stabilizes slopes and streambanks. Nitrogen-fixing capabilities and nutrient-rich leaf litter improve soil fertility, creating better growing conditions...

Zone 2a partial shade, full sun wet

Slimstem Reedgrass

CUSTOM GROW

Slimstem Reedgrass is a native perennial bunchgrass commonly found in damp meadows, wetlands, and along streams and lakeshores. It thrives in wet, nutrient-poor soils and shows some tolerance to saline conditions. Typically a bunchgrass, it can also spread by...

Zone 2a partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Slough Grass

CUSTOM GROW

Slough Grass is a hardy grass that will happily grow in any wet soil. It is usually found near water and is common haymaking material or forage. Slough Grass is also useful for erosion control and land reclamation...

Zone 1a full sun wet

Softstem Bulrush

CUSTOM GROW

Softstem Bulrush is a native perennial sedge that forms dense colonies of tall, upright stems. Thriving in saturated soils and shallow water, it spreads vigorously by rhizomes, creating large colonies that stabilize shorelines, control erosion, and strengthen...

Zone 3a partial shade, full sun wet

Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus) has large white-pink showy flowers which attract hummingbirds and pollinators to your yard. It is a tall, fast growing perennial shrub. The flowers typically only last 1-2 days, but the plant will continue to rebloom throughout the...

Zone 5a full sun normal, wet

Swamp White Oak

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

The Swamp White Oak is a medium-sized deciduous tree native to North America. It is commonly found in swamps, lowlands, floodplains, and near streams and lakes. The leaves are two-toned, green on top and silvery-white on the undersides, adding to the visual appeal...

Zone 4a partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Sweet Gale

CUSTOM GROW

Sweet Gale is a native, nitrogen-fixing shrub known for its aromatic foliage. Tiny glands on the leaves release a balmy, bay leaf-like scent with floral and citrus notes. In spring, the yellowish male catkins provide one of the earliest sources of pollen for bees...

Zone 1b partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Sweetgrass

CUSTOM GROW

Sweetgrass is a cool-season perennial grass best known for its sweet, vanilla-like fragrance. The scent comes from coumarin in the leaves, which is pleasant to humans but has a bitter taste that makes the plant less appealing to deer and other herbivores. As a...

Zone 1a partial shade, full sun normal, wet

Tall Manna Grass

CUSTOM GROW

Manna Grass and other waterside plants are an excellent way to prevent erosion and provide habitat and forage for animals. The difference is that Manna Grass looks better doing it! With distinctive purple grains at the top of its stalks, Manna Grass adds a splash...

Zone 1a full sun wet

Variegated Dogwood

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Variegated Dogwood is a small shrub that is often used in the first row of a shelterbelt, as a hedge, or for soil stabilization projects. It has the same distinctive red bark, white flowers, and berries as Red Osier Dogwood. The key difference between the two is...

Zone 3a partial shade, full sun any

Water Arum

CUSTOM GROW

Water Arum is a native perennial wetland plant known for its showy white oval sheaths (spathe) that surround a yellow-green, cylindrical flower spike (spadix). It has large, oblong, heart-shaped leaves on stems that rise above the water from shallow, spreading...

Zone 1b shade, partial shade wet

Water Sedge

CUSTOM GROW

Water Sedge is a waterside grass which grows an extensive horizontal root system. This prevents erosion and allows it to grow back after being eaten. Water sedge is grazed by many animals including cattle, sheep, horses and waterfowl. Animals choose Water Sedge...

Zone 1a full sun wet

Western Snowberry

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Like the Common Snowberry, the Western Snowberry is a small shrub with pink flowers useful for feeding livestock and preventing erosion. Unlike the common species, however, the Western Snowberry is much more suited to wet conditions, capable of persevering through...

Zone 1a partial shade, full sun any

Wheat Sedge

CUSTOM GROW

Wheat Sedge is a native perennial sedge commonly found in wetlands, ditches, and along shorelines. It thrives in saturated soils, spreading by rhizomes to form large colonies that stabilize both soils and shorelines. This makes it valuable for wetland and riparian...

Zone 2a partial shade, full sun wet

Woolgrass

CUSTOM GROW

Woolgrass is a native perennial sedge that forms dense clumps in wetlands, ditches, and along shorelines. Its ability to thrive in saturated soils and shallow water, combined with its spreading growth habit, makes it especially valuable for waterside & riparian...

Zone 3a partial shade, full sun wet

Yellow Twig Dogwood

CUSTOM GROW

Yellow Twig Dogwood is a small deciduous shrub with attractive, bright yellow bark. It features delicate white, star-shaped flowers and white fruit. It is often used as a screen, and its wide-spreading roots help stabilize areas experiencing soil erosion...

Zone 2a partial shade, full sun normal, wet

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