Waterlogged Soil Plantings: Flora That Prosper in Overly Wet Environments

Waterlogged Soil Plantings: Flora That Prosper in Overly Wet Environments

Transform soggy patches in your backyard into captivating landscapes with these moisture-loving plants. Here's a list of vibrant perennials and striking shrubs that flourish in wet soil, serving as perfect focal points for your garden.

• Japanese iris, sporting striking blossoms, and swamp milkweed, offering clouds of pink blooms, are water-loving perennials.
• For taller options, opt for Arrowwood Viburnum, Redtwig Dogwood, Elderberry, or Witchhazel—all exceptional shrubs that thrive in wet soil.

If you're searching for a more extensive list of wet soil dwellers, here are some recommendations:

| Plant Category | Plant List || --- | --- || Perennials | Actaea, Astilbe, Hosta, Iris ensata, I. laevigata, I. pseudacorus, I. sibirica, Zantedeschia aethiopica || Shrubs | Cornus alba, C. stolonifera 'Flaviramea' AGM, Hydrangea macrophylla, H. paniculata, Kerria japonica AGM, Leycesteria formosa, Weigela || Perennials that like wet or moist soil | Canna, Turtlehead, Joe Pye Weed, Siberian Iris, Fiber-optic Grass, Ligularia, Cardinal Flower, Creeping Jenny, Forget-me-not, Japanese Primrose, Spiderwort, Callas, Papyrus, Meadowsweet, Swamp Milkweed, Pickerel Weed, Corkscrew Rush, Swamp Sunflower, Horsetail || Plants for wet soil | Ferns, Arrowwood Viburnum, Redtwig Dogwood, Elderberry, Witchhazel, Bee Balm, False Spirea, Solomon's Seal, Goatsbeard, Button Bush, Summer Sweet, Sweet Spire, Sedges, Pussywillows, Water Iris, Red Cardinal Lobelia, Primrose, Bleeding Heart, Carex, Willow, Sweet Woodruff, Birch, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Clethra, Itea viginica, Acorus Ogon, Actea racemosa |

Key Learnings

• Discover various ornamental grasses, like Carex and Switchgrass, which can thrive in consistently wet conditions and add unique texture and color to your waterlogged spots.
• Expand your gardening knowledge by learning about perennials, shrubs, annuals, and bulbs that can tolerate wet soil.
• Sedge grass varieties such as Carex frankii, muskingumensis, stricta, and vulpinoidea are excellent wet soil options, while species like Thundercloud Switch Grass, Purple Tears Switch Grass, and Totem Pole Switch Grass offer upright appeal and color variations.
• Enhance your shade areas with popular moisture-loving plants such as Hostas, Astilbes, and Daylilies.
• Water-friendly shrubs, like Japanese Iris, Cardinal Flower, and Siberian Iris, can create a stunning showcase for wet garden spaces.

Perennials for wet soils

Source | Source

Actaea, Astilbe, Hosta, Iris ensata, I. laevigata, I. pseudacorus, I. sibirica, Zantedeschia aethiopica

Ornamental Grasses

Shrubs for wet soils

Carex - these sedge grasses are widespread in North America and can thrive in constantly wet conditions. Common varieties include:

Cornus alba, C. stolonifera 'Flaviramea' AGM, Hydrangea macrophylla, H. paniculata, Kerria japonica AGM, Leycesteria formosa, Weigela

• Frank's Sedge (Carex frankii) - grows in moist to wet conditions and forms a mound with strappy, green foliage and spiky seed heads.
• Palm Sedge (Carex muskingumensis) - showcases palm-like foliage that forms attractive, shaded masses, growing in shaded, wet sites.
• Tussock Sedge (Carex stricta) - tends to form large tussocks, especially in areas with seasonal flooding and prefers sun to partial shade.
• Fox Sedge (Carex vulpinoidea) - a widespread and competitive species that grows in seasonally wet or flooded soils, common in eastern regions.

Switch Grass - this type of ornamental grass includes several species that can tolerate moist to wet soil conditions, such as:

Perennials that like wet or moist soil

• Thundercloud Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum) - thrives in moist soil and adds unique texture and color to your garden.
• Purple Tears Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum) - boasts purple foliage and thrives in moist soil.
• Totem Pole Switch Grass (Panicum) - an upright variety ideal for adding height to narrow spots in your garden.

Canna, Turtlehead, Joe Pye Weed, Siberian Iris, Fiber-optic Grass, Ligularia, Cardinal Flower, Creeping Jenny, Forget-me-not, Japanese Primrose, Spiderwort, Callas, Papyrus, Meadowsweet, Swamp Milkweed, Pickerel Weed, Corkscrew Rush, Swamp Sunflower, Horsetail

Other suggestions for wet soil orognamental grasses include Blue Zinger Sedge Grass (Carex flacca), Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra), and Horsetail Reed Grass (Equisetum hyemale).

Plants for wet soil

Perennials

Ferns, Arrowwood Viburnum, Redtwig Dogwood, Elderberry, Witchhazel, Bee Balm, False Spirea, Solomon's Seal, Goatsbeard, Button Bush, Summer Sweet, Sweet Spire, Sedges, Pussywillows, Water Iris, Red Cardinal Lobelia, Primrose, Bleeding Heart, Carex, Willow, Sweet Woodruff, Birch, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Clethra, Itea viginica, Acorus Ogon, Actea racemosa

• Hostas - large, variegated leaves come in a multitude of colors, perfect for adding interest to shady spots in your garden and can tolerate damp soil conditions.
• Astilbes - known for their feathery plumes of flowers, which come in hues of pink, purple, white, and red. They thrive in partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.
• Daylilies - hardy perennials with trumpet-shaped blooms in various colors that can tolerate damp soil conditions but prefer well-drained soil.
• Japanese Iris - produce elegant flowers in shades of purple, blue, white, and pink, preferring shallow water or consistently moist soil.
• Cardinal Flower - native wildflower with vibrant red blooms that attract hummingbirds. Can tolerate wet soil conditions.
• Siberian Iris - delicate blue or purple flowers and slender, grassy foliage, capable of growing in shallow standing water or poorly drained soil.

Annuals

• Mandevilla 'Bluephoria' - exotic annual with unique blue flowers, great choice for waterlogged soils in full sun.
• Colocasia 'Distant Memory Elephant Ears' - jet-black leaves, sun-loving annual that can be grown in containers and waterlogged soil.
• Colocasia 'Pharaoh's Mask Elephant Ears' - create a tropical escape with this exotic variety featuring large leaves.
• Colocasia 'Redemption Elephant Ears' - combination of purple and cream foliage, thrives in waterlogged soil.
• Colocasia 'Thailand Giant Elephant Ears' - giant leaves capable of growing almost car-sized, sun-loving annual that can be grown in well-drained soil or waterlogged areas.

Bulbs

• Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris) - blooms in mid-spring, nodding purple and white flowers, thrives in damp meadows or lawns.
• Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye Giant' - large, elegant pinkish-white flowers that appear in late winter or spring, thriving in dank bogs and shade but also growing in better-drained clay soil.
• Narcissus pseudonarcissus (wild daffodils) - moisture-loving variety that thrives in damp meadows, clearings, and woodlands. Flowers profusely and tolerates dry summers.
• Japanese Iris (Iris sibirica) - rhizomatous perennials capable of growing in shallow standing water or poorly drained soil, producing slender, graceful blooms in shades of blue and yellow.

Japanese iris, sporting striking blossoms, can be grown in your home-and-garden's wet, waterlogged spots, serving as an excellent moisture-loving perennial. For those seeking tall, wet soil-friendly shrubs, Arrowwood Viburnum, Redtwig Dogwood, Elderberry, or Witchhazel are exceptional choices, creating a stunning showcase for your home-and-garden's wet areas.

Read also: