User’s Guide of Description, Propagation, and Establishment of Native Shrubs and Trees for Riparian Areas in the Intermountain West

Plant Materials Technical Note Number MT-36

A printer-friendly version of this technical note is available in Adobe Acrobat format.

Plant Materials Technical Note Number MT-36 (PDF; 401 KB)

February 2001.
By Daniel G. Ogle, Plant Materials Specialist, Boise, Idaho; J. Chris Hoag, Wetland Plant Ecologist, Aberdeen Plant Materials Center (PMC), Idaho; and Joseph D. Scianna, Horticulturist, Bridger PMC, Montana.

• Introduction
• Species Descriptions and Propagation Techniques
• Appendix A - Woody Plant Characteristics (General Riparian)
• Appendix B - Woody Plant Characteristics (Willow)
• References

Introduction

Establishment of riparian plant species depends on proper selection of species, plant material procurement and handling, planting location, and establishment techniques (Hoag 1993). The success of a project is dependent on the complete integration of these steps. When planning a project, it is important to observe the existing vegetation and their respective locations in relationship to the stream and water table (Figure 1). Attempt to match the potential native woody species at the project site. Note that not all riparian sites will have woody species (i.e. low gradient meadow streams). If the project area does not have woody plant species and it should, a reference site similar to the project site should be located. Attempt to match as close as possible the hydrology where the different species normally grow when planting the project site. This is the biological benchmark one is striving to create.

Plants with flexible stems and rhizomatous root systems are usually located from the top of the toe zone through the bank zone. Small to medium shrubs are found in the bank and overbank zones and beyond. Large shrub species and tree species are usually found in the transitional zone and the upland zone. They should not be planted in the other zones because of their large stems. These large stems do not give when high velocity stream flows hit them. In addition, the large stems tend to block debris and ice that can cause significant bank erosion. Wetland herbaceous species can be found throughout the streambank cross section, although most emergent aquatics will be found in the toe zone (Bentrup and Hoag, 1998). See Appendix A and B for charts that list plant characteristics for a variety of woody riparian plants from this region.

Figure 1. Riparian Planting Zones can be used to determine where riparian species should be planted in relation to the waterline. This is a general depiction of a riparian zone. Not all streams look like this one. In the real world, some of these zones may be absent.

Text description of Figure 1, Riparian Planting Zones.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Jim Jacobs, Plant Materials Specialist
Phone: (406) 587-6995
Email: Jim.Jacobs

Ronald Nadwornick, State Resource Conservationist
Phone: (406) 587-6998
Email: Ron.Nadwornick

< Back to Plant Materials Technical Notes

Last Modified: 06/24/2008