Decodon verticillatus (water willow)
 
Water willow (or swamp loosestrife...but don't be confused with the non-native invasive purple loosestrife!), is a fascinating wetland woody perennial (sometimes considered a shrub) that thrives in full sun to partial sun and requires consistently moist to saturated soils. Often found along pond margins, marshes, and slow-moving streams.
 
It can grow up to 6-8 feet tall, forming dense, arching thickets that provide excellent cover and nesting habitat for birds like the red-winged blackbird and marsh wren. Its clusters of pink to purplish flowers bloom from mid to late summer and are highly attractive to native pollinators, including bumblebees (Bombus spp.) and various butterflies. The seeds are eaten by waterfowl such as wood ducks, while the dense structure of the plant also shelters amphibians like frogs.
 
One of the most remarkable traits of Decodon verticillatus is its ability to spread by arching stems that root at the tips, allowing it to naturally stabilize shorelines and improve wetland resilience!
 
First photo by Doug McGrady
Second photo by Antepenultimate