Perennials for Wet Areas

Joe Pye Weed

• In England, Joe Pye weed is a popular ornamental, notes Floridata; landscapers employ it in naturalized areas in the United States, where it grows native throughout much of the East. Joe Pye weed thrives in wet areas, growing naturally in ditches along roadsides, near ponds, lakes and swamps and in moist meadow settings. Joe Pye weed grows to 7 feet, with serrated, dark green foliage on its stems in a whorled pattern. The flowers occur at the top of the erect stems, emerging in July and lasting as late as September. Their color is a "dusky rose" shade, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden. Try using Joe Pye weed in cottage gardens and as a perennial border in wet locations.

Bee Balm

• Areas that retain moisture in shade or in full sun support the growth of bee balm (Monarda didyma), a herbaceous perennial of Canada and the United States. Bee balm, a type of mint plant, has aromatic foliage and it blooms during the height of summer, from July into August. This allows access from hummingbirds, butterflies and many kinds of bees. Bee balm grows to 4 feet, with the red flowers making the plant appropriate for wildflower gardens, borders, herb gardens and wild areas on your acreage where the ground is wet. Bee balm becomes very susceptible to a variety of plant diseases if the ground they are in dries out due to severe drought.

Meadowsweet

• Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), though not a native plant in North America, grows in many parts of the East after escaping from home landscapes. Meadowsweet hails from Asia and Europe, where it flourishes in wet areas. The species does not stand up to drought conditions, instead preferring a damp, alkaline environment. Meadowsweet grows to 6 feet and the plant features green compound leaves with from seven to nine leaflets on each individual leaf. Meadowsweet's flowers are creamy white and they come into bloom from June into August. The flowers are attractive and fragrant. Meadowsweet is a natural fit for the edges of ponds and swamps. Plant it in the damp sections of your naturalized areas.