Wetlands
A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, wither permanently or seasonally, such that it takes on the characteristics of a distinct ecosystem
Estuaries
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of brackish water(water that has more salinity then fresh water, but not as much seawater) with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea
Toetoe(estuaries1)
Botanical name is austroderia
It is a large grass
Tall dense creamy gold flowering plumes. Can grow on dry disturbed sites. Tolerates drought and salt wind.
Not to be confused with the invasive pampas grass from the South America this is late flowering
Saltmarsh ribbonwood(estuaries2)
Botanical name is plagianthus divaricatus
It is a 3m shrub
Can be grown in salt marshes and along estuaries.
Also grows in dune hollows and coastal gravels
Bushy form
Coastal tree daisy(estuaries3)
Botanical name is olearia solandri
It is a 3-4m shrub
Erect shrub with tiny leaves.
Quick growing
Does well on estuarine edges
Abundant fragrant flowers (autumn)
Cabbage tree(estuaries4)
Botanical name is cordyline australis
It is a 17m tree
Erect tree with crown of narrow leaves tufted at the end of branches, white flowers in spring.
Requires some protection when young
Moderate tolerance to salt wind
Plant back from the estuarine edge and in damp dune hollows
Its fruit attracts birds
Jointed wire rush(estuaries5)
Botanical name is apodasmia similis It is a 1m rush
Distinctive grey-green, orange, purple, or rainbow coloring.
Plant in areas bordering salt marshes and estuaries, or dune hollows and in seepage areas­­­
Giant umbrella sedge(wetlands1)
Botanical name is cyperus ustulatus
It is a 0.8m sedge
Forms large dense clumps
Good in open spaces
Lowland and coastal swamps, backdune wetlands.
Sweetflag(wetlands2)
Botanical name is Acorus Americana
It is a green color
It benefits amphibiars
It has a deer and goose resistant
Sweetflag has aromatic foliage, similar to Iris shape, yet unpalatable to geese and deer. It spreads moderately from a thick rhizome forming a dense mat along pond shores and stream banks. Provides bold vertical accent in full sun to partial shade and is drought tolerant.
Horsetail(wetlands3)
Botanical name is Equisetum hyemale
Horsetail spreads from creeping rhizomes in an extremely wide range of soils from full sun to part shade. Growing 3-5’ tall in dense dark green colonies this is a great choice for moist low spots where nothing else will grow. Although lacking true leaves or flowers, the upright stems add a nice vertical accent to horizontal shoreline edges and its evergreen colors carry well into the winter. This plant