Plants for Stormwater Design

Urban landscape designers, installation practitioners, and stormwater managers will find this a useful resource. Understanding plant species’ susceptibility to water-level fluctuations and landscape pollutants will enable better stormwater detention treatment and aesthetically pleasing systems.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency staff worked with the authors, Daniel Shaw and Rusty Schmidt, to produce this valuable reference. The goal is to improve stormwater treatment and management practices by using native plants.

Plants for Stormwater Design Book Cover

Section 1: Table of Contents; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Using the Guidebook; Environmental Influences on Plants; Plant Considerations and Species for Stormwater Management Practices; Stormwater Management Practices; Literature Cited. (File size = 1.7 MB)

Section 2: Table of Plant Species Included in the Guide; Range of Applicability Map; Plant Species Descriptions, genera A–E. (File size = 3.1 MB)

Section 3: Plant Species Descriptions, genera F-S. (File size = 3 MB)

Section 4: Plant Species Descriptions, genera T-Z; Plant Descriptions Bibliography; Appendix 1 – Planting and Maintenance Recommendations; Appendix 2 – Vegetation and Hydrology Data for Three Twin Cities Stormwater Projects. (File size = 1.8 MB)

Manual Has Many Useful Features

One hundred thirty-one plant species are described regarding their use in stormwater-management practices, including habitat and range; light exposure needs; normal water level; flooding/fluctuation tolerances; general pollution sensitivities and tolerances; design considerations; wildlife use; nursery stock and seed availability; recommended planting techniques; and a photograph.

A hydrograph is included for each species, showing the typical depth and duration of inundation that species can tolerate. Species recommendations are provided also for several stormwater best management practices, including dry detention basins or swales; rainwater gardens and similar infiltration basins; stormwater wetlands; wet swales; and filtration strips.

Information/Assistance

The book, "Plants for Stormwater Design: Species Selection for the Upper Midwest," is out of print. Hardcopies are no longer available. Consult this Web page periodically for any updates regarding future availability of hardcopies. Otherwise, request a loaned copy through your local interlibrary loan service.

Visit the Stormwater Program Web page for additional resources or questions about stormwater regulations. If you would like to order a hard copy of this manual see the online order form from the University of Minnesota . If you have questions about the manual, contact Mark Gernes at 651-297-3363.

This page was last updated May 15, 2006

If you have suggestions on how we can improve this site, or if you have questions or problems, please contact us.
If you have questions or problems with this Web site, contact webmaster@pca.state.mn.us
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 520 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4194
Phone: 651-296-6300, 800-657-3864; 24-hour emergency number: 651-649-5451 or 800-422-0798; TTY: 651-282-5332,
TTY 24-hour emergency number: 651-297-5353 or 800-627-3529
MPCA Web Site Policies