Wet and poorly drained soils can make it difficult for plants to grow well. Extreme moisture in the soil removes the oxygen necessary for plant roots which can cause them to suffocate.
The following plants are suggested choices for wet sites. Plants native to wetland areas will thrive, but they will need to acclimate to wet conditions.
Please look at a ‘List for Bog and Aquatic Plants’ for areas that remain wet and or damp most of the time.
To successfully introduce container grown plants to a wet site you must plant them in a mounded technique that elevates half of the root ball above the surface of the ground. Bring the dirt up to the top edges of the root ball and slope soil gradually down to ground level. It should resemble an upside-down bowl. Never put soil on top of the root ball.
Names that end with an asterisk mark (*) are species known to tolerate flooded conditions for extended period of time.
TREES
| Bald Cypress* | Black Gum | Cabbage Palmetto |
| Dahoon Holly | Laurel Oak | Live Oak |
| Loblolly Pine | Pin Oak* | Pond Cypress |
| Red Maple* | River Birch* | Shumard Oak |
| Sweet Gum | Sweetbay Magnolia* | Sycamore |
| Wax Myrtle | Willow Oak |
SHRUBS
| Bamboo | Carolina Cherry Laurel | Oakleaf Hydrangea |
| Oleander | Reifers Viburnum/Walters Viburnum | Thorny Elaeagnus |
| Virginia Sweetspire | Yaupon Holly* |
VINES
| Carolina Jessamine | Cross Vine | Swamp Rose |
GROUND COVERS
| Asian Jasmine | Border Grass/Lily Turf | Mondo Grass | Japanese Sweetflag |
FERNS
| Japanese Painted Fern | Lady Fern | Royal Fern | Toothed Wood Fern |
SHADE PERENNIALS
| Calla Lily | Chinese Ground Orchid | Golden Lanterns |
| Northern Sea Oats | Tall Ageratum |
SUN PERENNIALS
| African Iris | Blue Salvia | Canna Lily |
| Crinum Lily | Japanese Iris* | Joe Pye Weed* |
| Leopard’s Bane | Loose Strife | Louisiana Iris |
| Mexican Petunia | Obedient | Rain Lily/ Fair Lily |
| Rose Mallow | Spider Lily | Swamp Sunflower |
| Turtlehead | Umbrella Plant |
