Midwest River & Stream Warrior Plants
Native Plants for Streambank Stabilization, Erosion Control & Aquatic Buffers
Looking to restore your riverbanks, creeks, or riparian corridors with native plants that thrive in moving water and fluctuating moisture levels? Our Midwest River & Stream Warrior Plants are specifically selected for their resilience in high-flow stream environments. These native grasses, sedges, rushes, and wildflowers stabilize soil, filter runoff, and support biodiversity—making them ideal for ecological restoration, stormwater management, and erosion control.
Whether you’re planting on cut banks, toe slopes, or deposition zones, we’ve categorized species by slope position and soil preference to simplify your planning process. Many of these species also offer seasonal beauty and critical habitat for pollinators, amphibians, and aquatic life.
You also many be interested in this presentation we gave on integrated pest management with a focus on wetland and streams.
Cut Bank Side Of River/Stream
Toe Slope (very tough zone area in high flow / scour streams)
Schoenoplectus pungens or Schoenoplectus americanus (Chairmaker's Bulrush) does well in silty, clayey, rocky
Justicia americana (AmericanWater Willow) does well in rock and gravel only
Leersia oryzoides (Rice Cut Grass)
Cut Bank Low to Mid Slope
Leersia oryzoides (Rice Cut Grass)
Spartina pectinata (Prairie Cordgrass)
Carex lacustris (Common Lake Sedge)
Carex atherodes (Hairy-leaved Lake Sedge)
Hibiscus laevis / Hibiscus militaris (Halberdleaf Rosemallow)
Iris virginica var. shrevei (Southern Blue Flag)
Acorus americanus (Sweet Flag)
Carex emoryi (Riverbank Sedge / Emory's Sedge)
Cut Bank High Slope
Leersia oryzoides (Rice Cut Grass)
Spartina pectinata (Prairie Cordgrass)
Carex trichocarpa (Hairy-fruited Lake Sedge)
Deposition Side & Straight Sections of River/Stream
Toe Slope
Schoenoplectus pungens or Schoenoplectus americanus (Chairmaker's Bulrush) does well in silty, clayey, rocky
Justicia americana (AmericanWater Willow) does well in rock and gravel only
Leersia oryzoides (Rice Cut Grass)
Hibiscus laevis / Hibiscus militaris (Halberdleaf Rosemallow)
Cut Bank Low To Mid Slope
Leersia oryzoides (Rice Cut Grass)
Spartina pectinata (Prairie Cordgrass)
Carex lacustris (Common Lake Sedge)
Carex emoryi (Riverbank Sedge / Emory's Sedge)
Hibiscus laevis / Hibiscus militaris (Halberdleaf Rosemallow)
Iris virginica var. shrevei (Southern Blue Flag)
Acorus americanus (Sweet Flag)
Schoenoplectus acutus (Hardstem Bulrush)
Schoenoplectus fluviatilis or Bolboschoenus fluviatilis (River Bulrush)
Cut Bank High Slope
Spartina pectinata (Prairie Cordgrass)