Sun-Loving, Water-Tolerant Bushes

Uses

• A sunny site with moist or soggy soils mimics a natural habitat such as a bog or swamp, or along the edges of a shallow pond, stream or in a ditch. Plants native to these ecosystems typically transition well into any garden landscape with similar conditions. Sun-loving, water-tolerant shrubs are good choices for a low area in a garden where water accumulates after a rain, or where water runoff from the house roof or driveway persists for several days. These shrubs also make effective plantings for screening along ponds or riverbanks where vegetation is needed to help stop erosion or limit pedestrian access to the water's edge.

Species

• Choose bushes that are known to survive in your climate, naming the amount of subfreezing temperatures in winter and the extend of heat in summertime. Often U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones are most widely used on plant labels and literature to help gardeners select plants. Examples of shrubs that grow well in sunny exposures and moist to wet soils include shrub dogwoods (Cornus spp.); winterberry (Ilex verticillata); inkberry (Ilex glabra); yellowroot (Xanthorhiza simplicissima); doghobble (Leucothoe spp.); shrub willows (Salix spp.); elderberry (Sambucus canadensis); highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum); Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica); and dusty zenobia (Zenobia pulverulenta). In milder winter regions, also try yaupon (Ilex vomitoria); wax myrtle (Myrica spp.); needle palm (Rhaphidiophyllum hystrix); and smooth witherod (Viburnum nudum).

Regional Variations

• A full-sun garden -- more than eight hours of direct sun rays daily -- creates a different growing environment depending on your region's latitude and climate. While lots of sunlight in summer in the Northern United States doesn't create overly hot or dry soil conditions, the opposite may be try in the Southern states. Therefore, a shrub that grows in full sun and wet soils in Oregon or Michigan may not fare as well compared to the same shrub grown in Texas, Florida or Southern California. Contact your county cooperative extension office to learn of hardy, recommended shrubs for full sun and wet soils for your area.

Insight

• Within the horticultural community, gardeners often colloquially refer to shrubs that tolerate moist to wet soils as tolerating "wet feet." While you may select bushes that grow well in full sun and wet soils, these shrubs do not prosper forever, especially if the soil is constantly inundated. These plants are not negatively affected by a couple weeks or a month of being in a soil that is covered by 1/2 to 2 inches of water. However, prolonged flooded ground does cause roots to die from lack of oxygenated soil. It's best to plant "wet feet" shrubs where water is available, but eventually water drains away to leave moist to slightly dry soils for much of the year.