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Caring for Our Waterways with Native Plants

No matter how you measure it, there’s a lot of water in and around Connecticut. About 15 percent of the state’s surface area is under water—lakes, streams, rivers, tidal inlets, and wetlands. We are the third smallest state in land area, but among the top 20 states for coastline, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

These geographic facts are worth considering, as the rain that falls on our lawns and gardens ultimately drains to a nearby water body, either underground or on the surface.

Unless you live near water, the movement of rainfall can be hard to visualize.

I didn’t quite understand until the day I visited the headwaters of the Connecticut River, slightly this side of the Canadian border. As dark clouds poured rain onto a small lake near Pittsburg, New Hampshire, I realized I was watching the beginning of a 400-mile journey to Long Island Sound.

Since then, I’ve had the chance to observe the origination points of several rivers around the state, including the Eightmile River that begins at Lake Hayward in East Haddam and Colchester.

In nature, waterside areas nurture plants and the plants protect the water by slowing surface flow. A single mature maple or oak, for instance, can have leaf surface area close to the size of a football field—a giant umbrella that softens downpours.

Trees and shrubs also shade water, moderating temperatures and making life more comfortable for native aquatic life. Vegetation also absorbs pollutants and excess nutrients, both of which harm water quality.

Furthermore, when native plants surround water bodies, they occupy space where invasive plant species might take root. At the same time, native birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife gain food and a better habitat.

If you care for a landscape near fresh or salt water, here’s a list that will help you find native species that will thrive. Most are easy to find in garden centers. (Independent garden centers are usually happy to order special plants.)

The list is based on my personal experience, plus confirmation from expert sources such as “Connecticut Coastal Planting Guide” by Juliana Barrett, UConn, the University of Rhode Island native plant database: http://web.uri.edu/rinativeplants, and the UConn plant database, http://Hort.UConn.edu.

Kathy Connolly is a landscape designer, speaker, and garden writer from Old Saybrook. She will present “Waterside Landscaping for Healthy Waterfronts, Lakes, and Rivers” on Tuesday, June 14 at the Lyme Fire Station, 213 Hamburg Road, from 11 a.m. to noon. Visit www.SpeakingofLandscapes.com for more details.