Data from: Mimicry of emergent traits amplifies coastal restoration success.Nature CommunicationsIn this study, we experimentally tested how mimicking key emergent traits that locally suppress physical stress using biodegradable establishment structures can increase restoration success. Experiments across (sub)tropical and temperate seagrass and salt marsh systems demonstrate greatly enhanced yields when individuals are transplanted within structures mimicking emergent traits that suppress waves or sediment mobility. Specifically, belowground mimics of dense root mats most facilitated seagrasses via sediment stabilization, while mimics of aboveground plant structures most facilitated marsh grasses by reducing stem movement.This dataset contains data of plant performance of the experimental plots, sediment movement data of seagrass plots, and stem movement data of the flume experiment.