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Landscaping Plants That Like Water

Consistently wet, poorly drained soils can be a major challenge for landscapers and homeowners. Even if there is no obvious standing water, minimal drainage can mean that plant roots are submerged in water much of the time. Many plants will suffer from poor growth or even death under these conditions. Although the preferred option would be to improve drainage by raising the bed or using diversion practices, a grower can more easily choose plants able to tolerate water-saturated soils.

  1. Trees

    • Cottonwood is a well-known tree that thrives in wet soil.

      Trees that can tolerate poor drainage include alders, bald cypress, willows, cottonwood, some birch species, green ash, honey locust, American sycamore, certain maple species (including red maple), western red cedar, hornbeam, sweetgum bur and willow oaks and American elm. Local extension services generally have a detailed, area-specific list of species that can tolerate wet conditions, so consult an agent or publication for additional information.

    Shrubs

    • Several shrubs can tolerate excessive soil moisture. Tartarian, red and silky dogwoods can tolerate extended periods of flooding, as can button bush, winterberry and yaupon holly. Other shrubs that can thrive in poorly drained soils include some viburnums, highbush blueberry, elderberry, certain species of azaleas, bayberry, rose-of-sharon, leatherwood, inkberry, summersweet, red chokeberry, groundsel tree and Virginia rose.

    Grass-like Plants

    • Many sedge species prefer wet conditions.

      Multiple grass-like plants, including rushes and sedges, can tolerate even constantly submerged root conditions. Many of these are native to the shallow waters of marshes or bogs. These species include the flowering rush, many species of sedge, spike rush, horsetail, rice cutgrass, bulrush, common threesquare, cordgrass and cattails.

    Herbaceous Plants

    • Astilbe is a herbaceous plant option for a wet landscape.

      Although it is a very limiting factor, many herbaceous plants can survive in wet conditions. Often annual choices are limited and a gardener is allowed many more plant choices if drainage were improved. However, many marsh-loving plants like astilbe, rose mallow, several plants in the Iris genus, some lobelias and water forget-me-nots are suitable herbaceous choices for a wet landscape.

    Altering Poorly Drained Soils

    • If the area of poor drainage is small or a landscaper or homeowner only wishes to add plants to a small area, altering the landscape to improve drainage may be feasible and will allow a much broader selection of plant species to be installed at a site. Examples of alterations include raising beds, installing vertical drains and adding organic matter.

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Overall Landscape Planning
  1. Plants That Look Like a Banana
  2. Vegetables That Animals Don't Like
  3. Landscaping Waterfalls in Water Gardens
  4. Plants & Bushes That Like Water
  5. Shrubs That Birds Like
  6. Landscaping Ideas With Little or No Water
  7. Landscaping Ideas in Phoenix
  8. Plants That Keep Water
  9. Plants That Look Like Wood Sorrel
  10. Plants That Look Like Elephant Ears
  11. Plants That Oxygenate Water
  12. Plants That Don't Like Hard Water

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