Moisture-Loving Plants
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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