North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[nottke1 <nottke1@earthlink.net>]

Here in central NC pawpaws grow in flood plains, but on high enough ground 
that they only are in water once or twice each year.  I have seen them with 
water one foot up their trunk for a day or two before the water recedes. 
Persimmons tend to grow on ground that is a little higher, where the area 
might flood less than once per year.

Jim Nottke

-----Original Message-----
>From: Douglas Woodard <dwoodard@becon.org>
>Sent: Feb 16, 2010 6:27 PM
>To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
>Subject: [NAFEX] Best edible plants in Zone 5 rain garden?
>
>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
>> 
>_______________________________________________


Jim Nottke
Pfafftown, NC