Dwarf Shrubs for Moist Soil

For Flowers

• For additional color, plant a dwarf shrub that produces attractive flowers. The "Blue Ice" bog rosemary (Andromeda polifolia "Blue Ice") grows from 2 to 3 feet tall and blooms from late spring through summer with white-pink, vase-shaped flowers. This evergreen has blue-green foliage and thrives in cool, moist soil. "Blue Ice" bog rosemary is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 to 6. For spring color, the "Hinodegiri" Hinyu azalea (Rhododendron x obtusum "Hinodegiri") grows to 3 feet tall and blooms with red flowers. It has lustrous, evergreen foliage and prefers moist, acidic soil. Plant this dwarf azalea in partial shade in USDA zones 6 to 9.

For Fruits

• Some dwarf shrubs follow up their flowering season with attractive fruits. The privet honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata) grows to 3 feet tall and 5 feet wide with glossy, dark foliage. An evergreen, this shrub blooms with aromatic flowers in early summer, then bears purple fruits. Privet honeysuckle shrubs are hardy in USDA zones 6 to 8 and grow best in well-draining, moist soil. Another evergreen, the bearberry cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri) grows to heights of 2 feet with a 5-foot spread. Bearberry cotoneasters produce bright red berries in summer or fall and prefer moist, well-drained soil. Cultivars include "Streibs Findling," which grows to 6 inches tall and 2 feet wide. Bearberry cotoneasters are hardy in USDA zones 5 to 7.

For Year-Round Color

• For foliage that lasts all year long, plant an evergreen dwarf such as the "Helleri" holly (Ilex crenata "Hellari"). This 3-foot-tall shrub has a 4-foot spread and grows in a dense mound of small, dark-green leaves. It's hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9 and prefers moist, well-draining soil. The "Rozannie" aucuba (Aucuba japonica "Rozannie") has glossy, dark foliage and grows to 3 feet tall. This evergreen grows best in partial shade and rich, moist soil. "Rozannie" is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 10.

For Fall Color

• Add bright color to the fall landscape with low-growing shrubs such as the "Dwarf Purple" glossy abelia (Abelia x grandiflora "Dwarf Purple"). A semi-evergreen, this shrub's green foliage turns purple in autumn and lasts for several months. It's hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9 and prefers moist, well-draining sites. For maroon, purple and orange fall foliage in a moist site, plant a "Morton" black chokecherry (Aronia melanocarpa "Morton"). This slow-growing deciduous cultivar reaches heights to 2 or 3 feet and has lustrous, dark leaves. "Morton" black chokecherries grow in USDA zones 3 to 8 and tolerate wet soil.