Plant ID Cards Here is your handy collection of the most commonly used raingarden plants in the Northwest Region. Cut along dashed line and laminate for your own set of plant indentification cards to take outside. Plant ID Cards s e s ci e s pe g ent x S d merg e e E r a s C s e s ci e e s p h nt S ge s s er u u m c E n r u J E m e rg e should be used only with salvaged plants or plants already in salvage sites. Plants can be multiplied by division, though this cuttings are effective, but should only be taken from appropriate fall, either on-site or in trays, and allowed to over-winter. Rhizome Propagation: Can be grown from seed, by sowing in the small mammals.by ducks and numerous other birds, and by deer, beavers, and resistance, are quite attractive, and need little care. Used for food easily propagated, provide excellent soil- binding and erosion Advantages/ Disadvantages: Sedges are stoloned sedge), prefer moist to well-drained soil.as C. hendersonii (Henderson sedge) or C. pensylvanica (long-in areas that are seasonally saturated or inundated. Others, such (slough sedge) and Carex aquatilis var. dives (Sitka sedge), grow areas of Western Washington. Many, such as Carex obnupta Habitat: Over 100 different sedges grow in moist and dry a membranous sac.clusters, usually at the ends of long stems. Fruits are enclosed in and have parallel veins. Flowers are arranged in several, dense have grass-like leaf blades. Leaves are arranged in sets of three, with solid, triangular stems and fibrous roots or rhizomes. Most Description: Sedges are grass-like, herbaceous plants ntsSedges Carex Species E m e rg plants already in your yard.are effective. Division can be used to multiply salvaged plants or on soil surface, barely cover, and keep moist. Rhizome cuttings Propagation: Seeds are tiny, but germinate easily. Sow variations will prevent it from taking over.hilly wetland areas with both shallow and deep water, as these with uniform water depths. However, it can be a good choice for push out other native plants, especially in level wetland areas species in our area is Juncus effusus, but it can be invasive and persons should consult other references. The most common numerous rushes native to Western Washington, and interested marsh birds, who probably also eat the seed heads. There are value for wildlife, they provide cover for small mammals and additions to gardens. Although rushes are believed to have low excellent soil-binding and erosion resistance, and are attractive Advantages/Disadvantages: Rushes provide there are more than 20 rush species in Western Washington.or shallow, standing water. Rushes are widely-distributed, and Habitat: Generally found growing in clumps in wet soils in clusters near or at the ends of small flower stems.Flowers are small, greenish-brown to purplish-brown, and borne absent or little more than bladeless sheaths on green stems. are tightly sheathed around the stem, and leaves are sometimes with cylindrical or flattened, solid stems. At their bases, leaves Description: Rushes are grass-like herbaceous plants entsRushes Juncus Species d a a e oli h tif w a r. l o a r v atifolia af ar mergents l E a e ari l t d t gi a a S o r b h s u r l u b s u d t u s c e nt a e m g s er u m p m E r ci S e t s - d r a h E m e rg e and tubers can be divided.Propagation: Can be grown from seeds planted in mud, insects and amphibians use the plant.plant. Numerous species of birds eat the seeds, and numerous humans, and muskrats, beavers, and porcupines eat the entire erosion might be a problem. Tubers are eaten by waterfowl and choice for shoreline areas and shallow water, especially where shallow areas), and usefulness to wildlife make this an excellent leaves and flowers, non-aggressive growth (plants will remain in Advantages/ Disadvantages: Its attractive Habitat: Shorelines, in mud and to depths of one foot. ally three) flowers on a separate flower stalk.white petals with a yellow center, and are in whorls of 2-8 (usu-often arrowhead-shaped at maturity. Flowers consist of three water from tubers. Leaves are quite variable in shape, but are Description: This native grows up to three feet above the ntsbroadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia var. latifolia E m e rg divided during winter and spring. fall (seeds should germinate in about 3-4 weeks). Plants can be of organic soil and sand, and plant out seedlings the following the fall or spring. If sown in containers, use a water-saturated mixately, or stored in damp sand at about 40° F and sown in pots in gathered in mid-summer (July) and scattered on- site immedi-plants or plants already established in your yard. Seed should berhizome cuttings, by salvaging clumps, or by dividing salvaged Propagation: Can be propagated from seed, from Muskrats eat the rhizomes and use the stems to build dens. destroy pathogenic bacteria in soil or water near the root zone. Stems help reduce shoreline erosion from wave action. Plants restoring marshes and the edges of streams, ponds, or lakes. life and excellent soil-binding qualities make it an ideal plant for Advantages/Disadvantages: Its value to wild- water up to three feet deep. Full sun.Habitat: Periodically or permanently-flooded marshes, in offshoots from the main stem.compact, grayish-brown spikelets clustered at the ends of short Flowers appear near the tops of stems, and are contained in with small, poorly-developed leaves clasped around the stem. bright green, cylindrical, erect, often ½ inch wide at the base, from rhizomes, and reaches a height of 4-8 feet. Stems are Description: This emergent perennial grows in a clump entshard-stemmed bulrush Scirpus acutus si r s u al a- ni v k en . u c Per sp i us s n o e ursi n bac - i er a k H s uv ni vers, o o phyl in und c a k o st Gr o s, rct ern A F s al ni n r ere m e P u g s dat n ceou cau gi erba m d- s, H aru l ver o s i c A w d n u o Gr s, n er F G be multiplied by layering. grow enough roots to plant out. Plants already in your yard can fore planting in a container. Cuttings may take up to two years to four inches long, and the lower leaves should be removed be-be taken August to November. Each cutting should be about to produce blooms. Cuttings of the current year’s growth should Seeds may take two years to germinate, and another 2-3 years soon as the fruit ripens, separated from the pulp, and planted. though both methods are slow. Seed should be collected as Propagation: Can be grown from seeds or cuttings, eaten by birds, small mammals, deer, elk, and bears.for stabilizing steep banks. Hosts butterfly caterpillars. Fruits are soils. Its wide-spreading rooting stems make it especially useful of native ground covers that will grow in full sun and tolerate dry Advantages/ Disadvantages: One of a handful Prefers low summer moisture.sun to partial shade, though it grows and flowers best in full sun. ington. In well-drained soils, especially sandy to rocky ones. Full Habitat: Fairly common and widespread in Western Wash- remain on the plant into the winter.April to June. Fruits are small (¼ inch) bright-red berries that and appear in few- flowered clusters at the ends of branches are small (about ¼ inch across), drooping pinkish-white bells, are alternate, dark-green, oval, and about one inch long. Flowers thin, gray bark that flakes off to reveal smooth, red bark. Leaves the ground. It can be identified by its small, evergreen leaves and 12 feet long, though it rarely gets more than eight inches above Description: This trailing ground cover can grow to be PerennialskinnikinnickHerbaceous round Covers, Ferns, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ssp. uva-ursi G tions.grown from rhizome cuttings and by transplanting rooted sec-Propagation: Easily grown from seed. Can also be a popular choice for gardens.leaves and willingness to spread by extensive rhizomes makes it Advantages/ Disadvantages: Its beautiful full shade.coniferous forests, in soils with a high organic content. Partial to Habitat: Common at low to middle elevations in moist, and produce a fleshy capsule.reddish-brown flowers are rarely seen due to concealing leaves, are in pairs from each of the rhizome’s nodes. The solitary, Each leaf is attached to a hairy, 2-8 inch-tall stalk, and the stalks leaves, and the lemony-ginger smell of its leaves when bruised. be identified by its large (2-5 inches across), shiny, heart-shaped Description: This low-growing evergreen perennial can Perennialswild-gingerHerbaceous round Covers, Ferns, Asarum caudatum m s u al or ni n s e o er cl P cy n us o r. r e a c v e ba a f er n H mi y s, e d er v x-f a co fili l nd u m o u Gr yri ns, h er At F s al ni n e nt n Per a s c r u pi e eo s c f a um r Herb hn e s, c e er e d v Bl co d n u o Gr s, n er F G ment, it spreads readily from spores. Salvaged plants or plants locate individual plants. Once established in a favorable environ-son (November to March), when the dead fronds can be used to Propagation: Easily salvaged during the dormant sea- wildlife.be used as an ornamental plant in a wet site. Provides cover for adaptability to a variety of environmental conditions. It can also dition to wetland restoration projects due to its rapid growth and Advantages/ Disadvantages: An excellent ad- shade.any damp area. In moist to wet, organic soils. Full sun to full Habitat: Wet meadows, forested wetlands, bogs, and nearly serrated).2-3 times pinnate (though the smallest leaflets are just coarsely bright yellow-green, lance-shaped, tapered at both ends, and fronds growing from a central clump. Fronds are deciduous, Description: This large (2-5 feet tall) fern has multiple Perennialslady fernHerbaceous round Covers, Ferns, Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum G Propagation: Can be salvaged. tant winter food for deer and elk.dition to appropriate landscapes. In some areas, it is an impor-Advantages/ Disadvantages: An attractive ad areas) to full shade; prefers shade, and takes dry shade well.Habitat: In moist, coniferous forests. Full sun (in moister up leaflets.are deciduous and erect, with much narrower and often rolled-and frequently lie on the ground, while the central fertile fronds toward either end. The surrounding sterile fronds are evergreengressively smaller as one moves from the middle of the frond fronds have widely-spaced, oblong leaflets that become pro-fronds encircling a central clump of fertile fronds. Both types of Description: This 1-3 foot tall fern consists of sterile Perennialsdeer fernHerbaceous round Covers, Ferns, Blechnum spicant - t r a s sa e nial o h n e m - er r P . fo ng ous p e a ss di erbac s e H mo e s, or bl over a f d c r c n nt fi ou e Gr c Di ci s, n a er F P s al ni n e er m n P u s unit er ceou m f ba m d Her chu or ers, ti ov s w c y d ol s un P o Gr s, n er F