Trees That Love Wet, Shady Yards

Up To 20 Feet Tall

• The northern bayberry's (Myrica pensylvanica) native habitat stretches across eastern North America. This evergreen grows to 20 feet tall and tolerates wet soil and full shade, as long as it's planted in a well-draining site. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 6, northern bayberry prefers an acidic pH. River birch (Betula occidentalis) prefers wet soil and also grows well in shade. A deciduous tree, the river birch grows to 20 feet tall with an equal spread and has showy, exfoliating bark in shades of white and orange. It's hardy in USDA zones 5 to 10 and turns golden in autumn.

20 to 40 Feet Tall

• The Rocky Mountain maple (Acer glabrum) grows well in wet, well-draining soil and tolerates full shade exposures. This North American native reaches heights of 25 feet and has light green foliage that turns yellow and red in autumn. It's hardy in USDA zones 5 to 7 and prefers acidic, loamy soil. A native of the western U.S., the cascara sagrada (Frangula purshiana) grows to 35 feet tall and grows best in wet to moist soils. Its dark, lustrous foliage turns golden in autumn, and wildlife feast on this deciduous tree's black berries. Cascara sagradas are hardy in USDA zones 5 to 10 and can grow in full shade.

40 To 50 Feet Tall

• The tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) thrives in wet, fully shaded sites. A native of China, this fast-growing deciduous tree reaches heights to 50 feet and produces red or yellow seeds in autumn. It's hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8 and tolerates a variety of soil types and pH levels. The Norfolk Island palm (Rhopalostylis baueri) is named for its native habitat, Australia's Norfolk Island. This evergreen palm is a good choice for wet, shaded sites with alkaline soil. It grows to 50 feet tall and has wide, feathery fronds, offset by cascades of tiny red fruits. Norfolk palms are hardy in USDA zones 9 to 10.

More Than 50 Feet Tall

• For a splash of color in a dark, narrow site, plant a variegated loblolly bay (Gordonia lasianthus "Variegata"). This columnar tree grows to 60 feet tall and has green foliage with white margins and gray undersides. The loblolly bay blooms in spring and summer with showy white flowers. Plant this evergreen in USDA zones 7 to 9. To fill a large space in a shady, wet landscape, plant a strangler fig (Ficus aurea). This Florida native gets its name from its tendency to start life as a vine that eventually takes over its host plant, growing into a 60-foot tall and wide tree. Hardy in USDA zones 10 and 11, this evergreen has glossy, dense leaves and tolerates a range of site conditions. In its natural habitat, the red alder (Alnus rubra) grows in wet sites near the ocean, making a good choice for saline planting sites. This west coast native grows to 80 feet tall and has dark foliage. It's hardy in USDA zones 6 to 8 and prefers acidic soil.