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.

• Spring and summer are the best times to plant.
• Cypress are very important to the ecosystem and landowners are increasingly interested in planting them for a number of reasons:
• They maintain and enhance the water quality by removing phosphorus and nitrogen from secondarily treated wastewater, by soil processes and plant uptake.
• Run off from storms can be stored in cypress ponds making them excellent flood control agents.   These ponds can also contribute to recharging groundwater.
• In the winter the needles turn brown and fall off which provide wildlife with cover and nesting materials.
• Canadian geese migrating to the south and feed on the seeds.  Cypress provide food for birds, ducks, cranes, storks and swamp rabbits.  An abundance of hollow trees provide homes for wildlife.

This native plant is a round shrub that can grow in sandy, moist condition as well as open dry areas.

• These plants can reach up to 8 feet tall.
• The leaves grow on opposite sides of the stem from each other and can be 3 inches wide by 7 inches long.
• The stems and leaves are covered with short hairs.
• Berry type fruit appear in summer and cluster together on the stem.
• The fruit and seeds are eaten by a wide variety of animals including birds, deer, raccoons and other small creatures.
• These plants can handle partial shade but will bare more fruit in the full sun.
• As pretty as this plant is, it has a very unpleasant aroma if the leaves are crushed.

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.

• This wetland perennial is a native to North America and is often exported to Europe.
• It has strong stems that grow from a thick cylindrical, creeping rootstock that bear sword-like long narrow leaves.
• In the spring, you will see one to 2 purple flowers on a stem about 2 feet above the waterline. They have dark green, long, graceful, arching leaves around each stem.
• To create a natural Florida habitat, this elegant native is often planted along the shoreline of small ponds. These beneficial plants help catch unwanted nutrients before they get into the waterway. They act as filtering agents to prevent unwanted weed growth.
• The foliage is rarely bothered by disease or insects.
• They also add beauty to the landscape and the root system helps hold the bank in place.

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.

• Each plant grows from rhizomes and the upward stems are sponge-like when you squeeze them. This is because there is a large air chamber in each stem. At the top of the stems you will find inflorescence, hanging clusters of seeds. The seeds are eaten by birds and animals eat the stems. Since they are planted along shorelines and in littoral zones, they provide a hiding place for fish and help to develop a natural habitat.
• SOFT – The Soft Bulrush gets its name because it is softer and more flexible than some of the other varieties. It is also brighter in color. This plant is usually planted in shallow waters and it can grow 3 -5 feet tall.
• GIANT – By its name you can guess that it is larger than other verities. This variety does better when planted in waters up to 6 feet deep and it grows up to 10 feet tall. Larger fish will hang out in these plants because they provide good cover and attract food for them to eat.

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.

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.

• Grows best in full sun but can tolerate semi-shady areas.
• Grows in clumps and can become 4 feet tall.
• Flowers are 3 inches tall and grow in clusters on each stem. To ensure continuous blooms through the summer, remove the part of the stem that held the withered flower.
• Leaves are 6 inches wide by 2 feet long and have a waxy coating that repels water. This coating protects the leaves from disease. The only real enemy is the occasional grasshopper or caterpillar.

You “can’na” contact Aquatic Weed Control, Inc. if you would like us to add these lovely plants to your shoreline area.

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.

• The stalks are 1/4 inch in diameter.
• There are no leaves but the stalks are wrapped with long sheathes from the base to the tip.
• There are spikelets at the tops and each will have up to 90 small white flowers.
• Ducks and wading birds graze on this plant.

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.

• The vase shaped plant can grow up to 4 feet tall.
• It can spread to 5 feet wide.
• Fine textured, wiry leaves in a fountain pattern.
• Evergreen color turns brown in the fall.
• Plant in full sun.
• Seed heads can be 8 inches long, but mainly reproduces through rhizomes or their root system.
• Pest and disease free.
  
  

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 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.

• Large, lance-shaped leaves grow up to 4 inches wide and up to 15 inches long.
• Unique 3 petal, white flowers on thick stalks extend above the leaves making the plant easy to identify.

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.

• It grows and spreads through a thick rhizome or root system.
• Sometimes the seeds appear in the fall and settle in moist soil and start new plants.
• Inside the leaf stalks are a lot of air holes that supply the plant with air to help keep it erect when the water levels rise.
• Extra large, lance-shaped leaves grow up to 8 inches wide and up to 30 inches long.
• Multiple small purple flowers hang from tall stalks, usually 2 clusters per stalk and 3 petals per flower.

The plant is mainly used for wetland restoration projects.

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.

• An emersed plant that spreads through underground runners.
• Grows to 1–2 feet tall in shallow wetlands and swampy areas.
• Dark green heart-shaped leaves grow 4–6 inches long.
• Leaves are attached to a long hairy stems.
• White to yellow-ish flowers bloom in May and June on long spikes that curve.
• The flowers turn into brown capsules on these curved spikes.

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.

• The Southern Magnolia usually grows from 60' to 90' tall and has a pointed and upright crown.
• Leaves – 5"– 8" long, shiny, thick green top and brown color hairs underneath.
• Bark – dark gray and smooth but scales with age.
• The Southern likes moist soil in upland areas and grow well with other hardwood trees.

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.

• Grows in shallow marshes and ponds and spreads by way of underground runners.
• Fast growing and forms dense areas up to 5 feet tall.
• Prefers shallow water or very moist soil.
• Seeds that are produced are usually sterile but provide food to wildlife.

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.

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.

• The plant has clusters of purple flowers that are visible from spring through the summer.

• Grows to 3­–5 feet tall in water not more than 12 inches deep.
• Fast grower that likes full sun.
• Green leaf blades can be 18 inches long and provide cover for birds and fish.
• Small purple flowers cluster together on spikes and the nectar attracts butterflies and bees.
• The fruit has 1 seed each and ducks enjoy eating them.
• This perennial spreads through rhizomes.

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.

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.

• Likes full sun to partial shade and wet to moist soil. If areas of the tree turn brown, that is a sign it is not getting enough water.
• This large, native tree grows to 90 feet and are slightly “A” shaped.
• The thin, smooth, gray bark gets thicker as the tree ages and develops shallow fissures.
• The three pointed leaves are green above and silverish underneath in the spring. They turn red, yellow or orange in the fall.
• In early spring small red flowers appear and then the fruit comes. These are short lived before sprouting new green leaves.

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.

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.

• Fast growing in heavy, wet acidic soil.
• Likes full sun to partial shade.
• Can be planted in 3 inches of water or dry to damp soil.
• Grows best in areas that experience temporarily flooding.
• No leaves, just bright green stems.
• Grows up to 3 feet tall.
• Greenish-brown flowers and fruit grow in tight clusters.
• Birds and wildlife eat the seeds and use the plant for nesting material.
• Spreads through underground rhizomes.

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.

This native plant is commonly found in Florida’s waterways and often get confused with fragrant white water lilies.

• Spatterdock has horizontal roots underwater that have stems that shoot up to the surface to reveal heart-shaped flat floating leaves.
• The roots can get to 6 inches in diameter with knotty scars where leaves have grown.
• During the summer bright yellow flowers appear slightly above the water.
• The flowers emit a brandy-like odor that attracts pollinating insects.
• These water plants spread by seeds and through shoots that rise from the horizontal root system.
• The seeds are eaten by waterfowl and small mammals and even the occasional deer.
• Spatterdock leaves serve as protection for fish and wildlife that use them for homes, shade and cover from predators.

The large leaves also help control algae because they block the sun from accelerating algae growth.

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.

• It can grow to 4 feet tall.
• A single spikelet can have 140 flowers.
• The seeds produced in the summer are transported from pond to pond by birds, where new colonies take root.
• They huddle together to form large beds.
• After they die, their decomposition provides food for aquatic invertebrates.

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.

• It qualifies as a large tree because it can reach 80 to 150 feet tall.
• At 2 years old, the gray bark will develop some round bumps and the bark will begin to scale.
• Star-shaped, shiny leaves appear in the spring that are dark green on top and lighter underneath. When crushed they give off an unpleasant aroma. In the fall the leaves turn yellow, orange and red.
• Fruit appears near the end of summer. Each pod contains two black seeds. In the fall, they turn into shiny balls that fall to the ground.

This is a beneficial, native tree used in wetland areas or near banks where it can enjoy moist soil.

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.

• An evergreen, v-shaped tree/shrub can reach a little over 5 feet and doesn’t like the shade.
• Oblong leaves up to 4" long give off a fragrant aroma when crushed or bruised. The greenish-yellow leaves contain dotted, orange glands underneath.
• It will grow in wet to dry soil.
• Fruit starts appearing in the fall and will last until spring. They are covered in a bluish-frosty wax and clusters of them are found on spikes on the branches.

This popular wetland tree is used to create a border, used for erosion control and wetland restoration projects.

These floating plants have large fragrant flowers and round, flat leaves.

• Flowers are 2 to 6 inches wide and they open in early morning and close by noon.
• The roots (rhizomes) are in the mud and send up new stems where the leaves can reach 10 inches across.
• They need to be planted in water that is protected from waves and wind that can cause the leaves to fold up and sink.
• They should be planted in full sun and where the water is less than 6 feet deep.

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.