There may be a difficult situation for you if your garden has many areas with poor water drainage. As most plants cannot thrive in excessive levels of moisture, this could be a difficult situation to work with. It is possible for harmful diseases to develop in soggy soils as a result of excessive moisture.
There is no doubt that plants that have not been adapted to grow in wet areas and climates will not be able to flourish in areas that are poorly drained unless they are resistant to wet conditions and climates. You can transform your underperforming garden into a vibrant landscape full of flowers and ornamental grasses by choosing the best plants for wet areas, which allows you to preserve the rugged beauty of your garden.
It has been proven that a variety of plants can tolerate soggy soil, and there are many of them to choose from. A few of them can grow directly in standing water, even at moisture levels that would be deadly to most plants. Those that can grow in standing water have an advantage over most plants. A wet yard requires a variety of plants to survive.
Below you will find a list of some of the best plants for landscaping that you should consider planting in your garden if you decide to spend some time on landscaping.
Although some of these plants may be more difficult to find at your local gardening center, it might be worth the effort to beautify your garden with some of these plants. As a bonus, many of these moisture-loving plants can also have a beneficial effect as a result of their abilities to absorb runoff water, which makes them ideal for landscaping use.
Check out these 15 Best Plants for Wet Areas
1) Elephant’s Ear
Taking its name from the shape of an elephant’s ear, this plant is shaped much like the ear of an elephant. It is an easy-to-grow plant with showy leaves that have interesting vein patterns that can draw attention regardless of the location in which it is planted.
An elephant’s ear plant is a great choice for both outdoor and indoor planting in a number of areas, both indoor and outdoor. In terms of performance, it has a good tolerance for dry soils, but it displays extremely good performance in moist soils. In extreme weather conditions, such as one with standing water, this plant is capable of growing. Stylish glossy black leaves make it a popular plant for moist areas in any garden, and they make it the perfect feature for any moist area.
This plant doesn’t require a lot of maintenance to keep its foliage looking good, as it doesn’t require much watering. As long as it is protected from extended exposure to direct sunlight for extended periods of time, you will be fine.
The leaves of the plant can be damaged by intense heat if the plant is not provided with a healthy dose of afternoon shade. This plant needs both moist soil and rich organic matter to flourish, so it is imperative for you to make sure that the soil you provide it with is consistently moist and rich in organic matter. Both are essential for its growth. There is a possibility that the elephant’s ear plant may be damaged before it has had the necessary time to establish itself properly if you disturb the roots of the plant.
2) Fiber-Optic Grass
The appearance of this ornamental grass can be compared to that of fiber optic cables, and it is well adapted for growing in moist conditions. Adding a solid textural punch to any garden is not only made easier by the graceful appearance of its arching leaves, but they are also very versatile.
As a thin perennial plant, fiber-optic grass prefers the presence of consistent moisture in the soil and prefers full sun to thrive under optimum conditions. There are a few native regions in Europe, Australia, and all over North America where there are native populations of this plant. To be able to thrive in a warm climate, the plant must be located in a USDA zone 10-11, which is generally considered to be a suitable location for the plant.
Its multiple stems of ornamental grass are complemented by little spikes of flowers that add visual interest to the scene. There is a great advantage of this plant that is one of the best aspects of it: it is an evergreen species that keeps its color for a long period of time, making it ideal for wet areas.
As a result of low temperatures, fiber-optic grass can turn yellow or brown on account of the high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Planting this type of grass strategically over the edges of garden walls is recommended for best results.
3) Winterberry
Winterberries are suitable for wet areas because of their unique adaptation to swampy surroundings as a result of their natural habitat. The plant prefers soils that are moist and medium to wet, but it is also quite resilient to poor soil conditions, so it does well even in poor soil conditions.
There are two types of winterberry plants that grow as shrubs. These shrubs produce bright red berries, provided you have an opposite-sex berry pair growing alongside them. In the name of this plant, we can see how this plant can contribute to the colorful enhancement of the bland winter landscape by adding splashes of vibrant color to an otherwise bland landscape.
4) Sweet Pepperbush
The plant, with its scientific name Clethra alnifolia, is a native of the wet wooded areas and marshes of tropical and subtropical regions. It has a fragrant flower that will attract many beneficial insects to your garden as a result of the fragrant flowers of sweet pepperbush. Despite being situated in shady situations, this plant has an advantage in that it can produce large blooms despite being in a shady environment.
A shrub that is a combination of a pepper bush and a fruit bush, sweet pepperbush can thrive in hardiness zones 3 to 9 without any problems.
In its natural environment, you can find it along the Atlantic coast of the US, where it can be seen in its natural habitat.
In addition to being tolerant of wet conditions, sweet pepperbush is also capable of resisting numerous other difficult conditions, including salty air. It should be noted that, along with their stunning white or pink flowers, the shrubs are also worth noting for their dense branches that make them stand out. It is safe to say that sweet pepperbush plants will satisfy your privacy needs and provide you with some privacy.
5) Ostrich Fern
The stately-looking ostrich fern is often found in woodland gardens in America, where it can be found in abundance. There are many large plants that grow well in moist environments and do not require a lot of sun to flourish. Their light green fronds are ideal for adding some texture to wet areas in order to give them a sense of depth and definition.
Plants such as ostrich ferns are hardy and can grow very rapidly by using underground rhizomes. Traditionally, they have been used as a backdrop for more showy flowers, so their main benefit is that they can be used to create a stunning effect.
The name ostrich fern comes from the appearance of its upright fronds that have the appearance of plumes of an ostrich, hence resulting in its name. The plants that require moist soil to survive will be of great advantage to you if you have spots in your garden with dry soil that are not easy to fill. Among the fascinating features of the ostrich fern is that the newly emerging fiddleheads of the plant are edible.
There is also the possibility that this plant can add an elegant splash of green texture to flower bouquets, as well as elegant texture. A fern such as an ostrich fern remains a key component of many shade gardens and wild woodland gardens, regardless of the type of garden you have.
6) Canna
The canna flowers can thrive even in moist soil conditions, so if you want to add some tropical vibes to your garden, they are one of the best plants to use. A bold look is showcased with this aggressive-sized plant as it stands in dense stands of vibrant colors that exude a bold look.
Despite their rapid growth, canna plants can perform admirably in soils of varying types and with varying soil conditions. Depending on the style of your garden, you can choose from a variety of varieties to suit your needs. In some kinds of canna plants, the taller types can grow up to 8 feet tall in height, whereas dwarf varieties can get no taller than 2 feet.
The canna plant has always been popular in gardeners’ collections due to its colorful flowers. However, these days, gardeners are more interested in this plant because of its leaves. Several hybrid crosses were made that allowed for the creation of many distinct foliage types that can easily catch the attention of anyone who comes across them.
7) Cardinal Flower
Having vibrant red blooms and green or dark red foliage, the cardinal flower may be an excellent pick for a wet area due to its vibrant red blooms. Essentially a lobelia variant, this plant is well-suited to living near streams and ponds because it is perfectly adapted to living there. Cardinal flowers thrive in moist soil, and they don’t just tolerate it; they actually prefer it.
Perennial lobelias are very attractive to hummingbirds, so you can also rely on these flowers to bring more life to the garden.
Providing the plant with mulch may be a good idea if you want to protect the plant from losing water as a result of evaporation. It is possible that Cardinal flowers are particularly sensitive to extended dry spells, so choosing areas with adequate water could be extremely beneficial.
8) Forget-Me-Not
In order for many delicate plants to thrive, the soil needs to be consistently moist in order for the roots to flourish. One of the best examples of this is the forget-me-not. A variety of blues and purples are the colors of the flowers that grow on this plant. The plants can be used to decorate the edge of a pond or beautify any other wet area around your home.
It is pretty common in early spring to see forget-me-not plants blooming, but they are relatively short-lived perennial plants. In spite of the fact that the forget-me-not flowers look quite pretty on their own, their dainty appearance can be enhanced by planting companion plants such as columbine, bleeding heart, and wild ginger along with them.
The forget-me-not is a fairly low-maintenance plant, but you should keep in mind that it has some weaknesses that you need to take into consideration. It is possible for them to die if they are exposed to excessive heat and humidity. When the growing conditions are ideal, these plants have a tendency to create dense mats of foliage.
9) Horsetail
In wet areas, horsetail is another excellent evergreen perennial that is excellent for planting in a wet area. In spite of the fact that it is able to handle many different types of soils, this plant is particularly resistant to very wet conditions.
Wet woodlands are the perfect habitat for horsetail plants as they thrive in moist conditions. Under optimal conditions in your yard, the plants are able to spread very quickly, which means the plants have the potential to become invasive if the conditions are right.
Horsetail spreads aggressively and is best controlled by removing rhizomes. The process of increasing the plant is incredibly simple. In most cases, limiting the spread of these diseases is often the most challenging part of the process.
10) Siberian Iris
With the combination of grassy foliage and graceful blossoms of the Siberian iris variety, it makes a good choice for those who need to grow plants in moist soil because it is particularly attractive to them. Spring is usually the best time to see this type of iris flower since it blooms at the end of the season.
When compared to the bearded iris, it is more tolerant of moist climate conditions than the bearded iris. Compared to other types of plants, the Siberian iris doesn’t have a growing requirement regarding proper water drainage, which makes it a valuable asset. In fact, many gardeners prefer to grow this plant because of its beautiful pink, blue, or purple flowers, which tend to last quite a long time, which is why it is very popular among gardeners.
11) Black Chokeberry
The black chokeberry shrub is a member of the Rosaceae family and is native to North America’s swampy regions and damp thickets. A plant with this name is also known as Aronia, which is also a common name for the plant. There are small black fruits that are rich in antioxidants that are produced by this plant.
Raw berries can have quite a strong flavor, so this is the reason why they are usually made into jams and juices, as their raw flavor can be quite overpowering. As long as sufficient moisture is provided, black chokeberry shrubs can thrive in wet areas and will deal with different types of soil provided that they are given sufficient water.
It is well known that Aronia shrubs not only produce delicious fruits but are also appreciated for their other qualities as well. Typically, this plant blooms in the spring, which has beautiful white blossoms that contrast beautifully with the dark green foliage. In the fall, the plant is at its most attractive when the color of the leaves changes from a brilliant shade of green to a brilliant shade of red.
12) Red Twig Dogwood
This plant can be found in wet areas in your yard and is also known as Tatarian dogwood. It does well in wet environments. Due to its red bark, which reaches a height and width of quite a considerable amount, this tree is capable of creating an impressive visual display with the help of its red bark.
Using red twig dogwood is often one of the best ways to brighten up the winter landscape since it is a shrub that adds interest throughout the year. They’re excellent specimen plants to have by your side during the colder months of the year. There are times when they are combined with other types of dogwood, such as yellow-twig dogwood, to create a spectacular display. As well as being a reliable erosion-control plant, the plant is an excellent choice for moist soil conditions as well as for growing in moist soils.
13) Sedge
Grass-like plants are often referred to as sedges, and they prefer moist to wet soil conditions. Despite their grainy appearance, sedge plants are a great complement to other types of plants that you may have in your yard, thanks to their texture.
There is no doubt that this hardy perennial is an excellent ground cover for any garden that has bare wet spots when it comes to taking care of them. This is a good plant for companion planting with other perennials since it can substitute mulching a companion planting. In addition to providing similar protection to pollinators, their foliage can also be beneficial to those animals.
In addition to its versatility, the main reason why the sedge is so popular is its ability to adapt to a variety of situations. In spite of the impressive number of different types there are, it’s safe to say that these plants can adapt to any kind of light condition that they are presented with. Keeping a sedge plant alive is dependent only on the presence of consistently moist soil and ensures that it thrives as an ornamental groundcover.
The rhizomes of sedge species that are native to the US are capable of spreading quite quickly through a network of the root system. Sedge varieties that grow in clumps or creepers are often preferred when you want to fill gaps between other plants, but there are varieties of sedges that grow as creepers or in clusters and are often more manageable.
14) Meadowsweet
Meadowsweet, also known as the ‘queen of the prairie,’ is a North American native plant that makes a stunning visual impression through its dainty stalks and fluffy flowers that can make a lovely visual splash on a prairie. It would not be incorrect to say that this plant appears to be quite delicate. However, it is actually quite hardy when it comes to its growing conditions.
It grows best in moist soil, but it can tolerate other types of soil conditions, so it is a plant that will work well in any scenario. The Meadowsweet is a relatively hardy perennial plant that is resistant to wind and has a reasonably wide range of growing conditions when it comes to light – it will grow in full sun as well as partial shade.
15) Ligularia
In addition to providing a splash of color to both shady and moist areas, ligularia plants can also add a touch of fragrance to the surroundings. In addition to its large foliage, this perennial can often have some eye-catching color combinations, such as a bold blue and green combination or a purple and burgundy one.
Its golden spires create a bold display anywhere it is planted, so Ligularias are also appreciated for their golden blooms. Even when the plant is not in color, it can make quite a statement when it is placed in a container. You should bear in mind that in order to grow this plant successfully, it is essential to remember that ligularias require constant moisture.
Wrap-up
Among the water-loving garden plants and groundcovers that are ideal for areas with cold and wet winters, there are chokeberries, hosta, daylilies, foamflowers, Siberian iris, and creeping jenny. Several tropical garden foliage species, such as maidenhair ferns, papyrus, Asiatic jasmines, and horsetails, enjoy having their feet wet in a tropical environment.