Plants That Repel Water

Flowering Vegetables

• This member of the Brassicaceae plant family is a cool season vegetable with hydrophobic leaves. Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) is a dark green plant high in vitamin C that consists of an edible large flowering head, thick stalk and leaves. Propagated through direct seeding or transplants, broccoli thrives in well-draining sandy to clay loamy soils with pH levels ranging between 5.8 and 6.5. Mustard greens (Brassica juncea) are an annual vegetable belonging to the Brassicaceae family. This cool season plant reaches heights of 6 to 24 inches with a spread of 1 to 2 feet. A low maintenance plant, mustard greens have edible leaves, flowers and seedpods.

Cabbage Vegetables

• Cole crops belonging to the Brassicaceae family include kale and Chinese cabbage. Leafy kale (Brassica oleracea) is a native plant from regions in the Mediterranean and Asia. This hydrophobic plant came to America via Europe during the 17th century. A cool season crop, leafy kale has a coarse textured fleshy stem and ruffled leaves. Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa) is a spring or fall annual crop grown in sandy to loamy soils. This leafy cool season vegetable develops thick, dense heads in an erect, tall formation or a rounded to barrel-like shape, depending upon the cultivar. Chinese cabbage has water-repelling leaves that vary in color.

Flowers

• Aquilegia is a genus of hydrophobic species that come from the family Ranunculaceae. Columbine species are 2- to 4-foot tall perennial herbaceous plants with a spread of 18 inches. These meadow flowers bloom spring until early summer and like well-draining soils with full sun to partial shade. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum minor) is an ornamental flowering plant endemic to Mexico and South America. From the hydrophobic plant genus Tropaeolum, nasturtium has many landscaping uses, including as a hanging, edging and container plant. This vine plant has several forms, such as semi-trailing, climbing and dwarf.

Aquatics

• Found growing throughout many parts of the world, the broad-leafed cattail is an indigenous plant to five continents, including North America. Broad-leafed cattail (Typha latifolia) is an herbaceous perennial aquatic plant with hydrophobic leaves. This Typhaceae family member is a wetland plant that grows near bodies of water. America lotus (Nelumbo lutea) is an emergent aquatic plant, meaning it floats directly on the water or parts of the plant rise above the water. This hydrophobic species has rounded leaves and originates from North America, located in shallow muddy lakes and deeper waters. American lotus has large, showy yellow blossoms with multiple petals and stamens.