Statewide freshwater aquatic plant monitoring data from 1994 to present. The main advantage of planting shoreline plants is that they provide other services such as filtering pollutants in runoff, absorbing nutrients that grow algae, trapping sediment and yard debris, deter nuisance wildlife, provide cover and forage for fish and invertebrates, and dampen wind and wave energy. Generally rigid, these plants do not need water for support. Macrophytic algae, such as chara and nitella, are larger, multi-branched algae mimicking underwater weeds. Many are not considered truly aquatic, but they can survive submerged in water or in saturated soils for extended periods of time. There are many trees, shrubs, and perennials that are especially adapted to living along lakeshores. Joe Pye Weed and Swamp Milkweed are two perennials that belong along lakeshores. They grow in shallow areas and banks of lakes, ponds, rivers, and ditches. The algae are separated into several groups: planktonic algae is composed of single cells or small colonies and are usually free-floating or suspended in the water column, giving a green, brown, or even red color to the water. - Medium height shrubs may include vine maple, Pacific ninebark, swamp rose, and red twig dogwood. "Native" describes a species living in the area where it is found naturally. Selecting Native Plants. For more great information on naturalizing and improving your lakeshore with great landscaping, check out the Minnesota DNR website on shoreline restoration. Lakeshores always pose an interesting scenario for the landscaper and gardener. All plants are in 3” pots. Data from each field season are updated in the fall. - Low growing shoreline plants include small fruited bulrush, slough sedge, and yellow monkey flower. Aquatic plants are an important component of lake systems. Children wading along the shore. They quickly stop erosion along the lakeshore and naturally thrive there. Arrowhead is an emergent plant grows up to 2 feet tall. It is important for shoreline owners to understand the role of native plants and the difference between native, non-native, and invasive non-native species. A littoral plant can be defined as any aquatic plant along a lake shoreline. Beautiful and fast growing willows, especially romantic weeping willow trees like this amazing Niobe Gold Weeping Willow Tree, are ideal lakeshore trees. Native plant communities are groupings of many plant species that occur naturally in a given environment. The roots of plants stop erosion and the natural life replaces the soil around the lake naturally as plants die. The purpose of this section is to help you identify aquatic plants that may be growing in your lake or pond. Examples include the following: These plants have most or all of their vegetative and flowering parts above the surface of the water or on the shoreline. 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