Desirable Plants
These are the most commonly used desirable, native plants for lakes, shorelines and wetland restoration plantings that we do at Aquatic Weed Control, Inc. We only plant those that are native to Florida and a benefit to waterways.
Planting desired native plants along the shoreline can help reduce the nutrients that get into the water and feed algae and other undesirable plants. They can also provide shade that slows down the growth of unwanted vegetation and provides habitat for fish and wildlife. They can add a landscaped or natural look of a waterway.
Some native plants are desirable until they over grow their area and then they become undesirable like cattail, white water lily, spatterdock and others.
Bald Cypress Tree
Cypress trees are fast growing, long-lived, native trees that grow along and in shallow water. They are one of Florida’s most lovely and majestic trees.
Beautyberry
This native plant is a round shrub that can grow in sandy, moist condition as well as open dry areas.
Blue Flag Iris
Early spring is the time of year when plants start competing for the warm sunshine. One of the first plants to make a move in the spring will be the Blue Flag Iris which can be an individual plant or a team effort where they grow in clumps.
Bulrush Soft Stem & Giant (deep water)
There are several plants in the sedge family called bulrush and over a dozen in Florida. We use the Soft and Giant bulrush varieties. These two look very similar and have a lot in common. They are wetland plants that you will see in ponds and marshes. Most of the plants love full sun and grow in clusters.
We use these plants to stabilize a shoreline to prevent erosion and add a natural look to ponds and lakefronts. They are also planted in wetlands for restoration projects.
Buttonbush
Canna
This common variety is a native, wetland shrub that is commonly found along the edges of swamps and waterways where the roots can be under water for part of the year.
The showy aspects of this shrub make it a popular choice when doing a native planting project.
Cannas are plants valued for their impressive, bright colored flowers and large tropical leaves. The Golden Canna is native to Florida and is frequently seen in clusters along the edges of marshes, ponds and lakes.
These flowering plants are easy to grow. They can be planted on the bank or the water’s edge.
You “can’na” contact Aquatic Weed Control, Inc. if you would like us to add these lovely plants to your shoreline area.
Club-rush
This plant is in the sedge family and is known as the tallest variety. It is one of over 30 varieties of spikerush and grows in fresh water marshes or shallow ponds.
Cordgrass
This native plant grows naturally in wetlands and grows best in sandy, moist soils. However, it is a drought tolerant plant and can be used in just about any planting project. This plant is often not appreciated for it talents for being able to grow in wetlands and high and dry areas. You’ll find them along the highways, used as border plants, at golf courses or to fill in large areas.
We plant Cordgrass for our customers throughout the year. Around February you will see them cut back to about 12 inches tall to encourage new growth in the spring. This is also a service we offer.
Duck Potato
Duck potato gets its name from the potato looking tubers that grow off its root system.
This emersed plant is mainly planted along shorelines. It is an attractive plant that is often planted in groups. They provide food and habitat for aquatic animals and a hiding place for fish. Muskrats and birds will eat the plant’s seeds and tubers.
This plant is pleasing to the landscape and acts as a filtering agent. Nutrients from fertilized yards can get into the water and feed unwanted weeds and algae, but with these plants in place they absorb the nutrients before they can reach the weeds.
Eelgrass
Eelgrass is a submersed plant that grows where the water is clear and there is a lot of light. This is a beneficial plant that acts as a filtration system to keep the water clean.
Fireflag
This is a large, emersed, perennial plant that grows above the water line along the banks of waterways and in marshes, swamps and wet ditches. You may know it by another name, Alligator Flag, because is it commonly found near alligator holes.
The plant is mainly used for wetland restoration projects.
Lizard Tail
This is a beneficial native plant that likes shorelines and wetland areas. It acts like a tall ground cover that can quickly fill in an area to choke out undesirable plants.
Lizard Tail gets the name from the long, slender floral spikes that turn into brown capsules and curl like a lizard’s tail.
Magnolia – Southern
The Southern and Sweetbay varieties are both evergreen trees that are native to the U.S. Both are known for their large, rich shiny green leaves and lovely white flowers. The fragrant flowers of the Sweetbay are small as are most of the aspects of this tree when compared to the Southern variety.
Magnolia – Sweetbay
The crown of this tree is rounded and spreads out and the tree can grow 50' to 90' tall in Florida. In other states this variety may only reach 30’ tall.
Maidencane
This is a grass that was “made in” Florida, it’s a native. The plants provide food and nesting materials for wildlife. It also provides a habitat and a hiding place for birds, fish and mammals like the whitetail deer.
Maidencane if often used to stabilize shorelines because of the thick root system. It can be confused with other grasses that are the invasive type and it takes an expert like we have at Aquatic Weed Control to tell the difference.
Pickerel Weed
This attractive, native, emersed plant is one of the most recognized plants in Florida’s waterways. You’ll see them planted in the marshes, ditches and shallow water along a pond’s shoreline where they add to the aquascape.
When it rains, nutrients from fertilized yards and run-off from streets get into the water where they encourage the growth of unwanted vegetation. They act as a filtering agent to keep unwanted nutrients from getting into the water. They will absorb the nutrients first, which allows them to grow and do their job better.
This is one of the most popular plants our clients ask us to plant. It’s not only attractive with the large green leaves and purple flowers but works hard to filter unwanted nutrients.
Red Maple Tree
This eye appealing hardwood tree can be found in the neighbor’s yard or in a deep wetland area. The vibrant red leaves in the fall make it easy to spot along its favorite place to grow, which is the banks of waterways, in swamps and wetland areas.
You will see these trees from Texas to Florida and up the East coast. In Florida, they spread naturally and are planted to add to an aquascape and provide color and shade.
Slash Pine Tree
Slash Pines are indigenous to Florida and are used for reforestation projects, timber plantations, parks and buffer plantings throughout the Southeast United States.
We can deliver and plant in the same day.
Softrush
There are over 20 varieties of Rush in Florida. This native plant is one of the most commonly used wetland plants. You will find this plant in many countries around the world because of its weather and soil tolerance. In the winter, you will often see it cut back to about 12 inches high to cut off the brown stems and encourage new green sprout growth in the spring.
You will see them growing as a single tall stem that will soon grow into a clump. It is often planted in areas where the clumps become colonies and spread along shorelines, ditches and wetland areas.
Spatterdock
This native plant is commonly found in Florida’s waterways and often get confused with fragrant white water lilies.
The large leaves also help control algae because they block the sun from accelerating algae growth.
Spikerush
Spikerush is commonly found in clumps in fresh water and marshes. The slender Spikerush is very common in Florida and we are always watching for new growth so we can catch hit before it gets out of control.
St. John’s Wort
This weed-like perennial plant / shrub grows fast but usually only lives for about 6 years. It spreads by seeds in the early fall and by way of underground runners in the fall.
The plant is native to Florida and often seen in upland planted areas growing wild.
Sweetgum Tree
This beautiful tree is a popular hardwood tree that has been used to make flooring, furniture and even paper pulp. Early Pioneers used to peel the bark and scrape the resin-like gum to make their version of chewing gum.
This is a beneficial, native tree used in wetland areas or near banks where it can enjoy moist soil.
Wax Myrtle
Wax Myrtle, also known as bayberry or candleberry, gets the name from early colonists. They used the fruit’s waxy covering to make fragrant bayberry candles. Crafts people are still making candles in today’s times. The tree’s fragrant aroma comes from oils in the tiny glands of the leaves.
Wildlife depends on the ever growing fruits to add fiber and fats to their diets. All kinds of birds come to the thickets to feed like bob-white quail, wild turkeys, bluebirds and more. Wildlife scatter seeds everywhere which allows this plant to grow in different areas.
This popular wetland tree is used to create a border, used for erosion control and wetland restoration projects.
Water Lily
These floating plants have large fragrant flowers and round, flat leaves.
Lilies help slow down the growth of algae because the large leaves help block the sunlight and keep the algae from growing. Too much of a good thing can take over a waterway and when that happens, just give Aquatic Weed Control a call for a free quote.
Bald Cypress Tree
Cypress trees are fast growing, long-lived, native trees that grow along and in shallow water. They are one of Florida’s most lovely and majestic trees.
Beautyberry
This native plant is a round shrub that can grow in sandy moist condition, as well as open dry areas.
Blue Flag Iris
One of the first perennial plants to appear in the spring will be the Blue Flag Iris which can be an individual plant or a cluster along the shoreline.
Bulrush Soft Stem & Giant (deep water)
We plant the Soft and Giant bulrush varieties to stabilize a shoreline to prevent erosion and add a natural look to the pond or lakefront. They are also planted in wetlands for restoration projects. Most of the plants love full sun and grow in clusters.
Buttonbush
This wetland shrub is commonly found along the edges of swamps and waterways where the roots can be under water for part of the year.
Canna
Cannas are plants valued for their impressive, bright colored flowers and large tropical leaves.
These flowering plants are easy to grow. They can be planted on the bank or in the water’s edge and in full sun.
Club-rush
This plant is in the sedge family and is known as the tallest variety. It is one of over 30 varieties of spikerush and grows in fresh water marshes or shallow ponds.
Cordgrass
This native plant grows naturally in wetlands and grows best in sandy, moist soils. However, it is a drought tolerant plant and can be used in just about any planting project. You’ll find them along the highways, used as border plants, at golf courses or to fill in large areas.
Duck Potato
This immersed plant is mainly planted along shorelines. It is pleasing to the landscape and acts as a filtering agent. Nutrients from fertilized yards can get into the water and feed unwanted weeds and algae, but with these plants in place they absorb the nutrients before they can reach the weeds.
They provide food and habitat for aquatic animals and a hiding place for fish. Muskrats and birds will eat the plant’s seeds and tubers.
Eelgrass
Eelgrass is a submersed plant that grows where the water is clear and there is a lot of light. This is a beneficial plant that acts as a filtration system to keep the water clean.
Fireflag
This is a large, emersed, perennial plant that grows above the water line along the banks of waterways and in marshes, swamps and wet ditches. You may know it by another name, Alligator Flag because is it commonly found near alligator holes.
Lizard Tail
This is a beneficial native plant that likes shorelines and wetland areas. It acts like a tall ground cover that can quickly fill in an area to choke out undesirable plants.
Magnolia – Southern
The Southern and Sweetbay varieties are both evergreen trees that are native to the U.S. Both are known for their large, rich shiny green leaves and lovely white flowers. The fragrant flowers of the Sweetbay are small as are most of the aspects of this tree when compared to the Southern variety.
Magnolia – Sweetbay
The crown of this tree is rounded and spreads out and the tree can grow 50' to 90' tall in Florida. In other states this variety may only reach 30' tall.
Maidencane
This is a grass that was “made in” Florida, it’s a native. The plants provide food and nesting materials for wildlife. It also provides a habitat and a hiding place for birds, fish and mammals like the whitetail deer. We plant it to stabilize shorelines because of the thick root system.
It can be confused with other grasses that are the invasive type and it takes an expert like we have at Aquatic Weed Control to tell the difference.
Pickerel Weed
This attractive, native, emersed plant is one of the most recognized plants in Florida’s waterways. This perennial has clusters of purple flowers that are visible from spring through the summer. You’ll see them planted along a pond’s shoreline where they add to the aquascape and act as a filtering agent to keep unwanted nutrients from getting into the waterway. When it rains, nutrients from fertilized yards and roads run off into waterways where they encourage the growth of unwanted weeds. But with these plants in place, they will absorb the nutrients first.
Red Maple Tree
This eye appealing hardwood tree can be found in the neighbor’s yard or in a deep wetland area. The vibrant red leaves in the fall make it easy to spot along its favorite place to grow, which is the banks of waterways, in swamps and wetland areas.
In Florida, they spread naturally and are planted to add to an aquascape and provide color and shade.
Slash Pine Tree
Slash Pines are indigenous to Florida and are used for reforestation projects, timber plantations, parks and buffer plantings throughout the Southeast United States.
We can deliver and plant in the same day.
Softrush
There are over 20 varieties of Rush in Florida. This native plant is one of the most commonly used wetland plants In the winter, you will often see it cut back to about 12 inches high to cut off the brown stems and encourage new green sprout growth in the spring.
You will see them growing as a single tall stem that will soon grow into a clump. It is often planted in areas where the clumps become colonies and spread along shorelines, ditches and wetland areas.
Spatterdock
This native plant is commonly found in Florida’s waterways and often get confused with fragrant white water lilies.
The large leaves also help control algae because they block the sun from accelerating algae growth.
Spikerush
Spikerush is commonly found in clumps in fresh water and marshes. The slender Spikerush is very common in Florida and we are always watching for new growth so we can catch hit before it gets out of control.
St. John’s Wort
This weed-like perennial plant / shrub grows fast but usually only lives for about 6 years. It spreads by seeds in the early fall and by way of underground runners in the fall.
The plant is native to Florida and often seen in upland planted areas growing wild.
Sweetgum Tree
This beautiful tree is a popular hardwood.
This is a beneficial, native tree used in wetland areas or near banks where it can enjoy moist soil.
Wax Myrtle
Wax Myrtle, also known as bayberry or candleberry, gets the name from early colonists. The tree’s fragrant aroma comes from oils in the tiny glands of the leaves.
Wildlife depends on the ever-growing fruits to add fiber and fats to their diets.
This popular wetland tree is used to create a border, used for erosion control and wetland restoration projects.
Water Lily
These floating plants have large fragrant flowers and round, flat leaves.
Lilies help slow down the growth of algae because the large leaves help block the sunlight and keep the algae from growing. Too much of a good thing can take over a waterway and when that happens, just give Aquatic Weed Control a call for a free quote.