Moisture-Loving Plants

Click here for a printable version of this handout

Perennials, Bulbs,and Ground Covers

Amsonia - Blue star

Arisaema triphyllum - Jack in the Pulpit

Arum italicum                                                                      

Aruncus - Goatsbeard

Asclepias incarnata, A. syriaca - Swamp Milkweed, Common milkweed

Aster novae-angliae - New England Asters

Astilbe

Astilboides tabularis

Boltonia

Caltha palustris - Marsh Marigold

Camassia (hardy bulbs) - Camash Root

Chelone - Turtlehead

Cimicifuga (not standing water or will rot) - Snakeroot

Echinacea

Eupatoriums - Joe Pye Weed, Ageratum, Boneset

Ferns - many ferns prefer or tolerate moist soils

Filipendula - Meadowsweet

Gentiana andrewsii; G. septemfida - Bottle Gentian, Crested Gentian

Helianthus - Perennial sunflower

Hemerocallis - Daylily

Hibiscus moscheutos hybrids - Hibiscus

Hosta, Plantain Lily - Hosta sp.

Iris ensata - Japanese Iris

Iris siberica - Siberian Iris

Iris versicolor - Swamp Iris, Blue Flag

Lathyrus vernus - Spring Vetchling

Ligularia

Limonium - Sea Lavender (tolerates salt)

Lobelia

Lysimachia - Circle flower

Mertensia virginica - Virginia bluebells

Mints - Mentha spp.

Monarda didyma, M. fisutlosa - Bee Balm

Myosotis (biennial) - Forget-me-not

Packeria - Golden groundsel

Penstemon calycosus, digitalis - *(note others prefer dry, well drained soil)

Persicaria amplexicaulis - Smartweed

Phlox paniculata - Garden Phlox

Physostegia - Obedient Plant

Polygonatum - Solomon's Seal

Primula - Primroses, esp. Japanese primroses

Pycnanthemum muticum - Mountain mint

Rhexia virginica - Meadow beauty

Rodgersia spp. - Rodgersia

Rudbeckia - Black eyed Susan

Sagina subulata - Irish Moss

Sanguisorba - Burnet

Sisyrinchium - Blue eyed grass

Symphytum - Comfrey

Thalictrum spp. - Meadow Rue

Tiarella - Foamflower

Tradescantia - Spiderwort

Trollius - Globeflower

Verbena hastata - Vervain

Vernonia - Ironweed

Zizia - Golden Alexanders

 

Annuals

Alocasia

Caladium   (tender bulb) - Caladium

Canna (tender bulb)

Colocasia  (tender bulb) - Elephant Ears

Impatiens - Touch me Not

Salvia uliguinosa - Willow Salvia

Grasses

Acorus - Sweet Flag Grass

Carex (many varieties) - Sedge Grass

Deschampsia - Tufted Hair Grass

Imperata cylindrica `Red Baron' - Japanese Blood Grass

Panicum virgatum - Switch grass

Luzula sylvatica - Wood rush

Miscanthus grasses  (will not tolerate sitting in water)

Spartina pectinata `Aureo marginata' - Cord Grass

 

Trees and Shrubs

Amelanchier canadensis - Shadbush

Andromeda polifolia - Bog Rosemary

Aronia - Chokeberry

Azalea viscosum - Swamp Azalea

Baccharis halmifolia - Salt bush

Betula - Birch

Callicarpa - Beautyberry

Calycanthus floridus - Carolina Allspice

Cephalanthus occidentalis - Buttonbush

Chamaecyparis thyoides - Atlantic White Cedar

Chamaedaphne calyculata - Leatherleaf

Clethra alnifolia - Summersweet

Cornus alba, sericea, racemosa - Twiggy Dogwoods

Hydrangeas - do well in moist, not wet soil

Ilex verticillata - Winterberry

Itea virginica - Virginia Sweetspire

Leucothoe

Lindera benzoin - Spicebush

Magnolia virginiana - Sweetbay magnolia

Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Dawn Redwood

Nyssa sylvatica - Sweetgum

Oxydendrum arboreum - Sourwood

Pinus (certain varieties do fine in wet soil) - Pines

Pinus strobus, parviflora ‘Glauca’

Rosa palustris - Swamp rose

Salix spp. - Willow (all kinds)

Sambucus canadensis - American Elder

Spirea alba, Spirea tomentosa  - Meadowsweet, Steeplebush

Vaccinium - Blueberry, Cranberry

Viburnum cassinoides - Wild raisin

Viburnum dentatum - Arrowwood Viburnum

Viburnum setigerum - Tea Viburnum

Viburnum trilobum `Wentworth' - American Cranberrybush