Suggestions - Rainwater Level Spreader - Zone 6a - Full Sun -- Dark Granite like stone on both ends to reduce erosion - Have photos full and almost dry- Presently this years crop of Gray Tree Frogs as tadpoles occupy the water - Planted a weeping willow in the dry end -

A level spreader provides a non-erosive outlet for concentrated runoff (diversions) by dispersing flow uniformly across a stable slope.

Includes a gravel diaphragms/filter. The drop to the grass filter strip should be protected by a gravel diaphragm that is at least one foot wide and one foot deep across the entire length of the top of the filter strip

USA-Maryland - Howard County- Glenelg- Zip Code - 21737

I don't have an answer to your question but

So many knowledgeable members here. I'm sure someone will chime in with suggestions.

Hi mica, and welcome

Please would you post your pictures so we can see the situation? Also if you would fill in your personal profile with your location (city, state, country) it will appear in the upper right corner of your posts. That will tell us something about your climate conditions. It's not possible to recommend plants if you don't know whether the person lives in mountains, desert, or jungle . ..

Ah-oh, double post....

Fall and spring full level spreader images.

We still need to know where in the country you are, before we can recommend plants.

It's really pretty, and you could do a lot with it. Does it dry out in the summer, or is there always some water in there? This would determine whether you could plant true aquatics like water lily or lotus.

What direction does it run? Is it in full sun all day during the growing season?

Faces NW - Full Sun- mid afternoon to sunset - One end dries out when no additional rainwater has been provided in 3 weeks. 1/3 supports southern cattail that never drys out- One of the photos shows the LS full and running over the gravel that acts as a filter.

Frequently visited by Deer - Have seen herds as large as 27 deer leaving the area 3 days prior to deer season

Photos taken this morning. Less than 1/2 inch of rain in the last 3 weeks

One thing that would survive almost anywhere in water is the American Lotus (Nelumbo lutea). They would need to be in the bottom end that never dries out, but they would bloom all summer, they are beautiful, large and the big yellow flowers smell lovely.

I see you already have some iris, and there are many other kinds of those that love living in water, and are great for filtering the water, too. But the more tender kinds like Louisiana Iris are not hardy.

Cannas are another plant that does great in water, and blooms like crazy all summer. Again, not winter hardy though, unless you are in the South.

You still haven't told us if you live in Alaska or Georgia? Montana or Texas? Maine or California?

dyzzypyxxy said:
You still haven't told us if you live in Alaska or Georgia? Montana or Texas? Maine or California?

It was added to the original post. USA-Maryland - Howard County- Glenelg- Zip Code - 21737

Hi Mika, Japanese Iris will work as a marginal so long as they are not in water over winter. Arundo donax is another. http://garden.org/plants/searc...

Ah, thank you Jay. How did you know to go back up to the original post?

mica78 you can probably eliminate my suggestions of Cannas or Louisiana Iris, since you'd have to keep them in pots and move them into a warmer place to survive winter there.

Please, put your location into your profile (click on the little person in the blue side bar) so that it will show in every post? Then whenever you have questions or post anything it will be visible.

For large shrubs Hibiscus moscheutos and Button Bush do well in water. The both grow from the gulf coast to Canada.

Thanks for the feedback

Hardscape was thinking of building a "Carin" in the LS. Have built several smaller carins inside of bourbon barrel rings located them in several of the of the beds.. Was thinking if adding additional stone - the winters are cracking some of the Rip-Rap and if the edge of the LS was enhanced with stone might help.

Filipendula rubra, Queen of the Prairie, is something to try. And/or maybe Joe Pye weed

How low do I trim last years Southern Cattail? The new growth is 4 -12 inches tall

I have to admit I had no clue what a "level spreader" was but now I see it is an erosion control method. So basically what you have is a rain garden, sometimes full/sometimes dry.

The cairn would add visual interest.