7 Flowering Native Retention Pond Plants that grow on rip-rap embankments in Wichita Kansas

On episode 4 of ‘Big Dreams, Small Spaces’  host Monty Don jests, saying “No garden needs more than seven plants.” How could we only choose 7? Our shopping list has over 100 native retention pond plants!

There are too many good ones to choose from; why not be specific?

Here are the 7 best semi-aquatic wildflowers found in Sedgwick county. And these local beauties all thrive on rocky shorelines! Helpful, because those rocky areas are sometimes all we have to filter rainwater from lawns and roadways.  Also notice another theme: these natives all produce attractive flowers, and flowers bring nice things like birds and butterflies. Let’s re-cap what makes this list special.

• WichitAWESOME!
• Grows in moist, rocky soils
• Filters pollution to help prevent fish kills
• Did I mention very low maintenance?
• Pretty Flowers
• All the nice things that flowers invite
• 100% Tax Exempt!

Therefore, these are the 7-best native retention pond plants for Wichita.

#7 Obedient Plant

Physostegia virginiana

Pros: Showy spikes of trumpet blossoms

Cons: Can spread by stolon or seed

The Obedient Plant is an easy-to-grow showpiece! Through August and September, the Obedient Plant bears bright pastel blossoms, which attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and humans too.

This erect perennial has succulent leaves and stems. Its 10″ flower spikes ascend 4′ when in bloom- hardly described as coarse.  Dense columns of blooms burst forth from the square spikes at symmetrical angles. Each bloom is attached to the flower spike with a pedicel swivel- bend the position of the individual blooms and they will obey.

Each Obedient Plant can produce several hundred flowers. They make excellent cuttings.

Sounds like perfection, doesn’t it?

The only reason that this mint-relative is last on our list of native retention pond plants, is because it is native to parts of Eastern Kansas- its native range does not reach Wichita, and that is okay.