North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Douglas Woodard <dwoodard@becon.org>]

A lady in Grand Rapids, Michigan has written to a permaculture list 
inquiring about edible plants suited for an area that is subject to 
flooding in, I gather, thunderstorms, torrential rains etc.

I've thought of suggesting nannyberry, Aronia (for juice), groundnut and 
spicebush (I've heard of a gourmet chef using the fruit in a kind of 
relish).

I wonder if pawpaw and just maybe northern pecan might suit. I gather 
that they are bottomland plants. Can they tolerate occasional short-term 
flooding when in active growth? Does anyone have any suggestive experience?

Other suggestions welcome.

Doug Woodard
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

**********

Joan  wrote:
> Many residential and organizational property owners in our area are planting
> rain gardens, mainly with native ornamental plants. Can anyone recommend
> (native) edible perennials that would do well in a rain garden in Zone 5
> (hardy to -20 F)? As I understand it, rain gardens sometimes hold water for
> up to 48 hours in their deepest sections, so I'd also like to know whether
> recommended edibles can take standing water for two days or whether they
> should be planted more toward the rain garden edges.
>
> Grand Rapids, MI  USDA zone 5