Low Oxygen Tolerant Plants

Trees

• Not many trees thrive in low oxygen conditions, but there are a few exceptions. The bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) thrives in a variety of low-oxygen soils, including poorly drained, compacted, flooded and clay. A deciduous conifer, the bald cypress grows to 100 feet tall with a narrow, 30-foot spread. Its light green foliage turns orange to brown in fall. Bald cypress trees are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 to 9 and prefer full sun exposures. The live oak (Quercus virginiana) tolerates compacted, clay and poorly-drained sites. Hardy in zones 7 to 10, this evergreen grows to 50 feet and has a wide, 80-foot spread. It has glossy, leathery foliage and produces wildlife-attracting acorns. Plant live oaks in full sun.

Shrubs

• Choose tolerant shrubs for your poorly drained, clay and compacted sites. The common or French lilac (Syringa vulgaris) grows well in a range of sites, including heavy, compacted soils. This deciduous shrub grows to 15 feet tall with a 12-foot spread and blooms with aromatic purple to white clusters of flowers in spring. Plant common lilacs in full sun to partial shade in USDA zones 3 to 7. The red and black chokeberries (Aronia arbutifolia an A. melanocarpa) grow in wet, poorly-drained, dry and clay sites. These deciduous shrubs prefer full sun to partial shade and produce spring flowers followed by long-lasting berries. Red chokeberries are hardy in zones 4 to 9 and grow to 15 feet tall, while black chokeberries grow to 5 feet tall and are hardy in zones 3 to 8.

Ground Covers

• Ground covers help stop soil erosion, which can be a problem in compacted or poorly drained sites. Crown vetch (Coronilla varia) tolerates clay, dry and poor soils, is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9 and prefers full sun to partial shade. This long-lasting ground cover grows from 1 to 3 feet tall with a 6-foot-wide spread. Crown vetch has deciduous foliage and produces fragrant white and pink flowers in summer. Bishop's or gout weed (Aegopodium podograria) grows from 6 to 12 inches wide and spreads rapidly into a dense mat of deciduous foliage. It tolerates clay, compact and poor soils, and prefers partial to full shade. Bishop's weed blooms in summer with small, white blossoms.

Perennials

• Perennials live for at least three years and while most require well-drained soil to thrive, a few tolerate clay and poorly drained sites. The blazing star or gayfeather (Liatris spp.) tolerates clay sites and prefers full sun to light shade. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9, this perennial blooms with a pink to white spike of blossoms from summer through autumn. It's native to the U.S. Stonecrop (Sedum spp.), a low-growing perennial, tolerates poorly drained sites. It grows from 3 to 12 inches tall and blooms with bright yellow flowers in summer. Stonecrop grows well in full sun to partial shade and is hardy in zones 3 to 8.