Urban Waters and Wildlife Program: plant identification and maintenance manual

Urban Waters + Wildlife Program plant identification and maintenance manual

fall 2016

Created for the Long Tom Watershed Council’s Urban Waters + Wildlife Program by Rebecca Shepard

acknowledgements Gail Baker (President, Oregon Flora Project Advisory Board) Lynda Boyer (Heritage Seedlings) Holde Fink (Native and Urban Garden’s Inc.) Hal Hushback (Stewardship Assistant at Friends of Burford Park + Mount Pisgah) Bruce Newhouse (Salix & Associates)

photo credits: all photos were taken by Rebecca Shepard, unless otherwise noted

About the Urban Waters + Wildlife Program program summary

The goal of the Urban Waters & Wildlife (UWW) Program is habitat and water quality improvements in private lands that will in turn support native aquatic life in Amazon Creek and the Willamette River including river otter, blue heron, king fisher, and many species of trout and salmon.

The Urban Waters program is multifaceted in scope and action, and is continuing to expand in impact as a direct result of the diversity of partners and support it has garnered. This program is vitally important as much of the habitat improvement outcomes achieved by LTWC and others downstream could be eclipsed if pesticides and other toxins in the Willamette Basin are not addressed.

mountainroseblog.com

trout friendly landscapes

Commercial and industrial businesses are incentivized to alter or enhance their landscape, maintenance and business practices to reduce pesticide use, improve soil health, increase native and pollinator friendly species, and to incorporate stormwater management and other pollutant source control measures. Outreach and education is followed up with low cost technical assistance starting with Best Management Practice recommendations such as source control measures and LID. Also provided are: landscape (re)design, permitting and contractor selection assistance, construction oversight, and long term maintenance support.

This program leverages the inherent strengths of the watershed council in stakeholder diversity, collaboration, and over 17 years of experience in habitat projects and education. Significant partnerships have been built and are necessary to continue a program of this scope.

Thank you for your support and participation in the Urban Waters + Wildlife program.

table of contents Plant Key Use................................................................................... 1 Signal Icons...................................................................................... 2 Operations + Maintenance (O+M)..................................................... 3 Forbes.............................................................................................. 5 Grass-like Plants............................................................................. 12 Weeds............................................................................................ 15

longtom.org

plant key

how to use the plant manual

plant names

color key

color of flower

common + botanical

signal icons

sun, water, habitat

plant key photos

shows different stages of plants

plant information information about plant characteristics

plant maintenance

how to care for plants

1

signal icons quick signals to tell you about the plants

sun

how much sun/shade plant will need

full sun

part sun

shade

low

average

wet

habitat

flowers

water

how much water plant will need

features

types of habitat the plant will attract and if plant will bloom

maintain

how to care for plants

cut back + remove

If desired in the fall, cut back plant to evergreen basal leaves, about 6 inches from the ground. The leaves will act as a ground cover to suppress weeds and retain moisture in the soil. Plant debris should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins.

leave + tidy Do not cut plant back. To maintain aesthetic appearance of plant, tidying can be done through raking and discarding dead plant debris. Plant debris should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins.

dig

Completely remove plant from garden before it sets seeds. Dig up roots to ensure plant does not continue growing into the next season. If plant is an invasive species, discard in trash receptacle, otherwise compost green material into city yard waste bins. Never spray plants with herbicide in stormwater facility.

hand pull

If an unwanted plant is found and it can be hand-pulled, do so to ensure the plant does not set seed for the next season. If plant is an invasive species, discard in trash bin, otherwise compost green material into city yard waste bins. Never spray plants with herbicide in stormwater facility.

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LTWC Rain Garden Operation + Maintenance (O+M) Plan rain gardens

Rain Gardens are vegetated surface reservoirs used to collect and treat stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces by allowing the pollutants to settle and filter out as the water percolates through vegetation and soil mediums before infiltrating into the ground below or being piped to its downstream destination.

Rain Gardens can be used to help fulfill a site’s required landscaping area requirement and should be integrated into the overall site design. Numerous design variations of shape and planting scheme can be used to fit the character of a site.

rain garden design goals

The rain garden shall infiltrate stormwater within 24 hours. All facility components and vegetation shall be inspected for proper operations and structural stability, at a minimum, quarterly for the first 2 years from the date of installation, 2 times per year thereafter, and within 48 hours after each major storm event.

rain garden O+M goals

Logs shall be kept by the facility owner demonstrating the following items have been inspected and are being maintained properly: • Access to Rain Gardens shall be safe and efficient, allowing ease of maintenance.

• Debris and Litter shall be removed to prevent channelization, clogging, and interference with plant growth. Fallen leaves and debris from deciduous plant foliage shall be raked and removed.

• Erosion Damage shall be identified and controlled when soil is exposed or erosion channels are forming.

• Infiltration: If Rain Garden does not allow stormwater to infiltrate, remove the top 2-3 inches of mulch and soil and replace with mulch that meets original specifications. To reduce this issue in the future, install a sediment drop at the inlet. If mulch replacement does not solve the issue, gravel and soil shall be replaced to correct low infiltration rates.

• Mulch shall be removed and replenished annually to ensure pollutant removal and healthy plant growth.

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• Nuisance Vegetation (such as blackberries and English Ivy) shall be removed when discovered.

• Inlets (water flowing into facility) shall be cleared when water flow is plugged to ensure unrestricted stormwater flow to the rain garden.

• Outlets (water flowing out of facility) shall be cleared when water flow is plugged.

• Overflows (water to city pipes) shall be cleared when water flow is plugged.

• Stabilizing Rocks shall be put back into place if rocks are scattered from the force of water flow.

• Sedimentation build-up shall be hand-removed with minimum damage to vegetation.

• Slopes that have exposed soil need to be replanted to stabilize banks.

• Vegetation shall provide 90% coverage and be healthy and dense enough to provide filtering while protecting underlying soils from erosion.

• Vegetation Maintenance will be minimal. Cut back plants when they have died and remove from the facility. Grasses are not to be cut back until March, or after heavy rains have past.

Spill Prevention Measures shall be exercised on site when handling substances that contaminate stormwater. Release of pollutants shall be corrected as soon as identified.

Non-Chemical Pest Control measures shall be taken to prevent development of insects, mosquitoes, and rodents. No spraying of any herbicide, fungicide or pesticide in facility.

Fertilizers shall only be applied after March or once the heavy rains have passed. Only organic fertilizers should be used in rain gardens, and only as necessary. No chemical fertilizers.

Adapted from the Eugene Stormwater Manual 2014 4

Common Yarrow

Botanical: Achillea millefolium Family: Asteraceae

Native Plant Life Cycle: Herbaceous Perennial Characteristics: Partial evergreen plant. Several stems. Leaves are lanceolate, alternate, 3” - 5” long and have a fern-like appearance. Flowers heads are large, compact clusters of white to yellow smaller ray flowers. Usually plant has several flower heads.

Flowering Period: May - June Height: 2 - 3 feet tall Wildlife Habitat: Nectar plant for butterflies and attracts native pollinators Ecology: Open forests and grasslands Significance: Can tolerate standing water, drought tolerant, deep roots assist in erosion control, some filtration capabilities, establishes quickly (1-2 years), adds pollinator diversity, pretty.

seedling

leaf

flower

growth habit

Maintenance Needs: If desired in the fall, cut back plant to evergreen basal leaves, about 6 inches from the ground.

The leaves will act as a ground cover to suppress weeds and retain moisture in the soil. Plant debris should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins.

Popcorn Flower

Botanical: Plagiobothrys figuratus Family: Boraginaceae

seedling Native Plant Life Cycle: Annual Characteristics: Upright plant. Leaves are linear, hairy and sparse. Flowers are a coiled inflorescence. Petals are white, fused at base, with a yellow center. Fragrant and showy.

Flowering Period: May - July Height: 6 - 15 inches tall Wildlife Habitat: Possible butterfly nectar plant and beneficial to native pollinators flower growth habit Ecology: Vernal pools and moist ground Notes: P. scouleri (also occurring in plant mix) is more Maintenance Needs: horizontal and has smaller flowers If desired in the fall, cut back plant to evergreen basal leaves, about 6 inches from the ground.

Significance: Can tolerate standing water, drought The leaves will act as a ground cover to suppress tolerant, establishes quickly (1-2 years), adds pollinator weeds and retain moisture in the soil. Plant debris diversity, pretty. should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins.

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Checker Mallow

Botanical: Sidalcea campestris Family: Malvaceae

seedling leaf Native Plant Life Cycle: Herbaceous Perennial Characteristics: Large clumps of tall, upright, hollow branching spikes. Leaves alternate, hairy, round, deeply palmately divided, with pointy tips. Flowers are cup-shaped, 5 petals, white to pale-pink, cluster along showy spikes. Flowers bloom from bottom to the top.

Flowering Period: June - August Height: 1.5 - 6 feet Wildlife Habitat: Butterfly nectar and host plant. flower growth habit Attracts native bees, wasps, flies, and beetles.

Maintenance Needs: Ecology: Wet and dry prairies If desired in the fall, cut back plant to evergreen Significance: Can tolerate standing water, drought basal leaves, about 6 inches from the ground. tolerant, deep roots assist in erosion control, some The leaves will act as a ground cover to suppress filtration capabilities, establishes quickly (1-2 years), weeds and retain moisture in the soil. Plant debris should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins. adds pollinator diversity, pretty.

Densely-Flowered Willowherb Botanical: Epilobium densiflorum Family: Onagraceae

seedling

leaf Native Plant Life Cycle: Annual Characteristics: Single to branching tall spikes.

Leaves opposite, crowded and narrow, ovate to lanceolate. Flowers are small, pale pink to rose colored, 4 petals, densely clustering at terminal spikes.

Some flowers on stem.

Flowering Period: July - September Height: 6 - 40 inches tall Wildlife Habitat: Seeds provide food for goldfinches, flower growth habit butterfly nectar, native pollinator plant Maintenance Needs: Ecology: Prairie wetlands and marshes If desired in the fall, cut back plant to evergreen Significance: Can tolerate standing water, drought basal leaves, about 6 inches from the ground. tolerant, establishes quickly (1-2 years), adds pollinator The leaves will act as a ground cover to suppress diversity. weeds and retain moisture in the soil. Plant debris

should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins.

6

Farewell-To-Spring Botanical: Clarkia amoena Family: Onagraceae

seedling Native Plant leaf Life Cycle: Annual Characteristics: Branching, upright plant. Leaves are alternate, linear (1-3” long) with smooth edges. Flowers are single to dense with upright buds. Cup-shaped, pink, 4 petals, pink/red mark on each petal. Seeds are in pod-like capsules.

Flowering Period: July - August Height: Up to 3 feet tall Wildlife Habitat: Nectar source for butterflies and flower growth habit bees, attracts beneficial insects Ecology: Meadow, prairies, forest edges Maintenance Needs: Significance: Can tolerate standing water, drought If desired in the fall, cut back plant to evergreen tolerant, establishes quickly (1-2 years), adds pollinator basal leaves, about 6 inches from the ground.

The leaves will act as a ground cover to suppress diversity, pretty.

weeds and retain moisture in the soil. Plant debris should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins.

Rosy Plectritis

Botanical: Plectritis congesta Family: Valerianacea

© Gerald D. Carr

seedling Native Plant Life Cycle: Annual Characteristics: Delicate unbranched, upright, hairless stems. Leaves clasp stems, smooth to slightly toothed margins. Flowers are white to pink, and grow in dense clusters. Each individual flower has five petals which are fused at base with a tiny spur at back.

Flowering Period: March - June Height: 4 - 24 inches tall Wildlife Habitat: Nectar plant for bumblebees, other flower growth habit native bees and butterflies, including Fender’s Blue Maintenance Needs: butterfly.

If desired in the fall, cut back plant to evergreen Ecology: Wet meadows and slopes. basal leaves, about 6 inches from the ground.

Significance: Can tolerate standing water, drought The leaves will act as a ground cover to suppress tolerant, establishes quickly (1-2 years), adds pollinator weeds and retain moisture in the soil. Plant debris should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins. diversity, pretty.

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Largeleaf Lupin

Botanical: Lupinus polyphyllus Family: Fabaceae

seedling

flower

Native Plant Life Cycle: Perennial Characteristics: Stout, hollow stalks. Leaves can be hairy to smooth, are rich-green, and palmately divided into 9-17 leaflets. The spike-like racemes are 3 inch 1.5 feet tall and have showy pea-like flowers that range from blue, purple, pink to white. The brown seed pods are very hairy and contain 5-9 seeds each.

Flowering Period: May - July/August Height: Up to 5 feet tall growth habit leaf Wildlife Habitat: The nectar and pollen attracts Maintenance Needs: bumblebees and native bees, beneficial insects and If desired in the fall, cut back plant to evergreen hummingbirds. basal leaves, about 6 inches from the ground.

Ecology: Stream banks, meadows, other wet areas.

The leaves will act as a ground cover to suppress Significance: Significance: Can tolerate standing weeds and retain moisture in the soil. Plant debris should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins. water, drought tolerant, adds pollinator diversity, pretty.

Large Leaf Avens

Botanical: Geum macrophyllum Family: Rosaceae

© Gerald D. Carr

Native Plant seedling leaf Life Cycle: Perennial Characteristics: Upright hairy plant. Leaves are light green, deeply lobed, terminal leaflet is heart-shaped while other leaflets below are much smaller. Flowers are in clusters at tip of stem, 5 petals, yellow, saucershaped with many stamens.

Flowering Period: May - June Height: 1 - 3 feet tall Wildlife Habitat: Butterfly host, possible nectar plant flower growth habit for butterflies and native pollinator Ecology: Forest woodlands and marshes Maintenance Needs: Significance: Can tolerate standing water, drought If desired in the fall, cut back plant to evergreen tolerant, establishes quickly (1-2 years), adds pollinator basal leaves, about 6 inches from the ground.

The leaves will act as a ground cover to suppress diversity.

weeds and retain moisture in the soil. Plant debris should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins.

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Oregon Sunshine

Botanical: Eriophyllum lanatum Family: Asteraceae

Native Plant seedling Life Cycle: Annual/perennial (dependant on conditions) Characteristics: Low growing subshrub. Leaves are deeply lobed and covered with fine woolly white hairs, giving them a grey appearance. Flowers are bright yellow (daisy-like) on long stems.

Flowering Period: May - July Height: 4 - 24 inches tall (dependant on conditions) Wildlife Habitat: Attracts butterfly/moth species, bees and beetles flower growth habit Ecology: Dry lands, rocky areas, and meadows Significance: Can tolerate standing water, drought Maintenance Needs: tolerant, deep roots assist in erosion control, some If desired in the fall, cut back plant to evergreen filtration capabilities, establishes quickly (1-2 years), basal leaves, about 6 inches from the ground.

The leaves will act as a ground cover to suppress adds pollinator diversity, pretty.

weeds and retain moisture in the soil. Plant debris should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins.

Showy Tarweed Botanical: Madia elegans Family: Asteraceae

Native Plant seedling leaf Life Cycle: Annual Characteristics: Upright branching plant. Leaves are linear, strongly scented, hairy, and sticky. Flowers are daisy-like, yellow with red inner rings, many flower heads on a stem. Seeds are black and 3-angled.

Flowering Period: July - September Height: Up to 5 feet tall Wildlife Habitat: Nectar plant for butterflies, native pollinator, seeds for bird species + small mammals flower growth habit Ecology: Meadows and upland prairie Significance: Can tolerate standing water, drought tolerant, establishes quickly (1-2 years), adds pollinator Maintenance Needs: If desired in the fall, cut back plant to evergreen diversity, pretty. basal leaves, about 6 inches from the ground.

The leaves will act as a ground cover to suppress weeds and retain moisture in the soil. Plant debris should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins.

9

Slender Cinquefoil Botanical: Potentilla gracilis Family: Rosaceae

Native Plant seedling leaf Life Cycle: Perennial Characteristics: Upright, branching plant. Leaves are grey-green, deeply divided into 5-9 sharply toothed leaflets, white underside. Flower are yellow, 5 heartshaped petals, grow in clusters.

Flowering Period: June - September Height: 8 - 40 inches tall/reaching Wildlife Habitat: Nectar/pollinator source for bees and butterflies, butterfly host plant, native pollinator flower growth habit Ecology: Meadow, grassland, wetland-riparian Significance: Can tolerate standing water, drought Maintenance Needs: tolerant, some filtration capabilities, establishes quickly If desired in the fall, cut back plant to evergreen (1-2 years), adds pollinator diversity, pretty. basal leaves, about 6 inches from the ground.

The leaves will act as a ground cover to suppress weeds and retain moisture in the soil. Plant debris should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins.

Straightbeak Buttercup Botanical: Ranunculus orthorhyncus Family: Ranunculaceae

leaf

growth habit

© Gerald D. Carr

seedling Native Plant Life Cycle: Perennial Characteristics: Upright plant. Leaves are divided into toothed leaflets on long stems. Flowers are yellow with 5-8 shiny sepals (that look like petals), numerous stamens. Seed head clusters (ball) have straight beaks.

Flowering Period: April - June Height: 6 - 24 inches tall Wildlife Habitat: Possible native pollinator Ecology: Wet areas and meadows flower Significance: Can tolerate standing water, drought tolerant, adds pollinator diversity, pretty.

Maintenance Needs:

If desired in the fall, cut back plant to evergreen basal leaves, about 6 inches from the ground.

The leaves will act as a ground cover to suppress weeds and retain moisture in the soil. Plant debris should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins.

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Willamette Valley Gumweed © Gerald D. Carr

Botanical: Grindelia integrifolia Family: Asteraceae

© Gerald D. Carr

© Gerald D. Carr

Native Plant bracts Life Cycle: Perennial Characteristics: Semi woody, stout, upright plant.

Leaves are alternate, clasping stems, up to 3” long, smooth margins, with sticky resin. Flower buds appear white due to oozing sticky latex. Flowers are yellow, daisy-like, 1-2” across, single to several at tip of stem.

Below flower head, sticky cup of green spiky-bracts.

Flowering Period: June - November Height: Up to 3 feet tall growth habit Wildlife Habitat: Nectar plant for butterflies and native flower pollinator Maintenance Needs: Ecology: Prairie and wetlands If desired in the fall, cut back plant to evergreen Significance: Can tolerate standing water, drought basal leaves, about 6 inches from the ground. tolerant, deep roots assist in erosion control, some The leaves will act as a ground cover to suppress weeds and retain moisture in the soil. Plant debris filtration capabilities, establishes quickly (1-2 years), should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins. adds pollinator diversity.

Yellow Monkeyflower Botanical: Mimulus guttatus Family: Phrymaceae

seedling Native Plant Life Cycle: Annual/perennial (dependant on conditions) Characteristics: Upright or trailing plant. Leaves are in pairs, oval and toothed. Flowers are bright yellow, twolipped (snapdragon-like) with tiny brown spots on lower lip. Five or more flowers at tip of stem.

Flowering Period: March - August Height: 1 - 3 feet tall Wildlife Habitat: Possible butterfly nectar plant, and native pollinator flower growth habit Ecology: Wet areas Significance: Can tolerate standing water, drought Maintenance Needs: tolerant, establishes quickly (1-2 years), adds pollinator If desired in the fall, cut back plant to evergreen basal leaves, about 6 inches from the ground. diversity, pretty.

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The leaves will act as a ground cover to suppress weeds and retain moisture in the soil. Plant debris should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins.

Broom Sedge

swbiodiversity.org

Native Plant leaf Life Cycle: Perennial Characteristics: Densely clumping sedge. Leaves are green, sharp along edges, slender and stiff. Flowers cluster at tips of stem into little green spikelets (5-10) that turn tan/brown with age.

Flowering Period: Late spring - mid summer Height: 2 x 2 feet tall and wide Wildlife Habitat: Foliage food for insects, seeds are food for birds and small mammals flower growth habit Ecology: Wet Prairies and marshes Significance: Can tolerate standing water, drought Maintenance Needs: tolerant, deep roots assist in erosion control, some Do not cut plant back. To maintain aesthetic filtration capabilities. appearance of the plant, tidying can be done

heritageseedlings.com

cyperaceae.e-monocot.org

Botanical: Carex scoparia Family: Cyperaceae

through raking and discarding dead plant debris.

Plant debris should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins.

leaf + flower

calphotos.berkely.edu

Native Plant Life Cycle: Perennial Characteristics: Densely clumping sedge. Leaves are green with sharp edges. Flowers grow in dense cluster with many spiky flowers that are gold to dark brown.

Flowering Period: May - August Height: 2 feet tall Wildlife Habitat: Foliage food for insects, seeds are food for birds and small mammals Ecology: Moist prairies and forest edges Significance: Can tolerate standing water, drought tolerant, deep roots assist in erosion control, some filtration capabilities.

flower

swbiodiversity.org

Botanical: Carex pachystachya Family: Cyceraceae

growth habit

heritageseedlings.com

Chamisso Sedge

Maintenance Needs:

Do not cut plant back. To maintain aesthetic appearance of the plant, tidying can be done through raking and discarding dead plant debris.

Plant debris should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins.

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One-Sided Sedge Botanical: Carex unilateralis Family: Cyperaceae

Native Plant Life Cycle: Perennial Characteristics: Densely clumping sedge. Stems are upright, yellow to green with sharp edges.

Inflorescence is densely clustered, and green/gold/ brown. Bracts, thin, extend past florets.

Flowering Period: June - July Height: Up to 2.5 feet tall Wildlife Habitat: Foliage food for insects, seeds are food for birds and small mammals.

Ecology: Meadows and wetlands Significance: Can tolerate standing water, drought tolerant, deep roots assist in erosion control, some filtration capabilities.

flower

growth habit

Maintenance Needs:

Do not cut plant back. To maintain aesthetic appearance of the plant, tidying can be done through raking and discarding dead plant debris.

Plant debris should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins.

Poverty Rush

© Gerald D. Carr

Botanical: Juncus tenuis Family: Junaceae

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yard waste bins.

© Gerald D. Carr

© Gerald D. Carr

Native Plant leaves Life Cycle: Perennial Characteristics: Densely clumping rush. Stems are round, upright, slender, smooth and bright green.

Inconspicuous leaves occur near base of plant.

Inflorescence is umbel-like, terminal clusters of 10-50 florets at stem tips. Leafy bracts extend past florets, and turn into tiny brown seed capsules.

Flowering Period: June - September Height: 2 x 2 feet tall and wide growth habit Wildlife Habitat: Seeds and nesting materials for birds flower and small mammals.

Maintenance Needs: Ecology: Wet areas Do not cut plant back. To maintain aesthetic Significance: Can tolerate standing water, drought appearance of the plant, tidying can be done through raking and discarding dead plant debris. tolerant, deep roots assist in erosion control, some Plant debris should be composted in the city’s filtration capabilities.

Sawbeak Sedge

flower

growth habit

© Gerald D. Carr

leaf

© Gerald D. Carr

Native Plant Life Cycle: Perennial Characteristics: Densely clumping sedge. Leaves are 2 feet long, coarse, light green with sharp edges.

Flowers are brown-green, pyramidal cluster, prickly, at tip of triangular stem. Flowers mature and turn deep brown with seeds.

Flowering Period: May - August Height: 2-3 feet tall and 3 feet wide Wildlife Habitat: Caterpillars eat foliage and seeds provide food for wetland birds Ecology: Wetlands, moist meadows Significance: Can tolerate standing water, drought tolerant, deep roots assist in erosion control, some filtration capabilities.

© Gerald D. Carr

Botanical: Carex stipata Family: Cyceraceae

Maintenance Needs:

Do not cut plant back. To maintain aesthetic appearance, tidying of the plant can be done through raking and discarding dead plant debris.

Plant debris should be composted in the city’s yard waste bins.

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