CRWP’s Native Plant Short-List for Wet Banks & Flood-Prone Yards
1. General Short Summary
Chagrin River Watershed Partners (CRWP) has packed five pages with native Ohio shrubs, sedges, grasses, ferns, flowers, and trees that thrive in soggy soils and along stream edges. Each species is tagged with its height, sun tolerance, and moisture needs, plus a star (*) beside shrubs that can be planted as inexpensive live stakes. The guide finishes with a who’s-who of local nurseries and spring plant sales so you can actually find these plants. crwp.org
2. Why the Source Is Trustworthy
- Local authority. CRWP has restored miles of Northeast Ohio streams since 1996 and knows which plants survive our clay and flash floods.
- Peer input. The list was reviewed by county Soil & Water staff and the Lake Erie Basin Collaborative before release.
- Vendor neutral. Nurseries are listed for convenience; no one paid to be included.
3. How to Use the List in North Royalton
| Creek-Edge Zone | CRWP Top Picks | Action Step |
|---|---|---|
| Waterline (live-stake zone) | Red-osier dogwood, silky dogwood, pussy willow, buttonbush | Cut or buy 2-ft dormant stakes now; bury ⅔ of each stake just above normal water. |
| First 5 ft upslope | Soft rush, tussock sedge, switchgrass, riverbank wild-rye | Broadcast seed in early spring, then press mulch netting on top to hold moisture. |
| Upper bank & yard edge | Swamp milkweed, blue flag iris, cardinal flower | Plant plugs 12 in apart for pollinator color and extra water uptake. |
| Canopy layer | River birch, sycamore, swamp white oak | Space bare-root trees 10–12 ft apart; stake loosely the first year only. |
Shopping tip: The Cuyahoga SWCD spring sale and Holden Arboretum plant sale (both in May) stock many of these species.
4. Full Resource
PDF download: https://crwp.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/CRWP_Recommended_Native_Plant_Species_for_Wet_Areas_and_Along_Streams.pdf
5. Show Us Your Plantings
Finished pounding stakes or setting plugs? Snap a before-and-after photo and tag @NoRoFloods so neighbors can follow your lead.