Many native and naturalized plants have evolved to grow in wet soil, so they are effective landscaping solutions for areas with drainage issues. Here are 16 attractive landscape plants that enjoy having “wet feet.”
Water Loving Plants List
This plant is native to swamps, bogs, and damp thickets. It can adapt to various types of soil, as long as you keep it evenly moist. Also, be sure to promptly remove root suckers to prevent unwanted spreading.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8Flower Color Varieties: White, followed by black berriesLight: Full sun to partial shadeSoil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-drainingMature Size: 3-6 ft. tall and wideDeer Resistant: No
Winterberry is dioecious, meaning you need a corresponding plant of the opposite sex growing nearby for the plants to bear fruit. Prune your plants to shape them in the early spring before new growth starts.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9Flower Color Varieties: Greenish whiteLight: Full sun, partial shadeSoil Needs: Average, acidic, medium to wetMature Size: 3–12 feet tall, wideDeer Resistant: No
These shrubs generally need minimal pruning, but any shaping should be done in the early spring before seasonal growth begins.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–9Flower Color Varieties: Greenish white (not showy)Light: Full sun, partial shadeSoil Needs: Average, medium to wetMature Size: 5–8 ft. tall, wideDeer Resistant: Yes
Under the right conditions, these shrubs can reach around 6 to 15 feet tall with a 4- to 12-foot spread. Prune them in the late winter or early spring as needed.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8Flower Color Varieties: YellowLight: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Average, medium to wet, well-drainingMature Size: 6–15 ft. tall, 4–12 feet wideDeer Resistant: Yes
Keep the soil around your shrub consistently moist through watering and rainfall. And prune it as needed in the late winter.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9Flower Color Varieties: WhiteLight: Full sun, partial shadeSoil Needs: Average, medium to wetMature Size: 3–8 ft. tall, 4–6 ft. wideDeer Resistant: No
To encourage new growth, prune about a quarter of the old stems in early spring each year. If you’d prefer a shrub with golden bark, consider the yellow-twig dogwood (Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’).
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–7Flower Color Varieties: WhiteLight: Full sun, partial shadeSoil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drainingMature Size: 8–10 ft. tall, wideDeer Resistant: Yes
Under the right conditions, they can be aggressive spreaders, so make sure to promptly and completely remove rhizomes (underground stems that send up new shoots) from where you don’t want them.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–9Flower Color Varieties: NonfloweringSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Average, medium to wetMature Size: 2–4 ft. tall, 1–6 ft. wideDeer Resistant: No
Water regularly and deeply, so the soil never dries out. And ensure that it has some shade, especially in hot weather.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–8Flower Color Varieties: YellowLight: Partial sun, full shadeSoil Needs: Rich, medium to wetMature Size: 2–3 ft. tall, 18–30 in. wideDeer Resistant: No
They can even grow in a bit of standing water. Marsh marigolds reach around 12 to 18 inches in height and spread. They’re generally low-maintenance, though you should make sure they have some shade during the hottest months.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–7Flower Color Varieties: YellowLight: Full sun, partial sunSoil Needs: Wet, boggyMature Size: 12–18 inches tall, wideDeer Resistant: Yes
You can grow the plant from seed, though it might take around five years to flower. Instead, many gardeners opt for offsets from mature plants.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–8Flower Color Varieties: YellowLight: Partial shade, full shadeSoil Needs: Humusy, acidic, moistMature Size: 3–6 in. tall, wideDeer Resistant: No
Make sure your plant has adequate moisture; even a bit of standing water is fine. And watch out for pests, as this plant is susceptible to several insects.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9Flower Color Varieties: Blue-violetLight: Full sun, partial shadeSoil Needs: Humusy, moistMature size: 24–30 inches tall, wideDeer Resistant: Yes
Although this plant prefers full sun, it might need some afternoon shade during hot weather. Cut your plant close to the ground in late winter to promote fresh growth.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9Flower Color Varieties: MauveLight: Full sunSoil Needs: Rich, medium to wetMature Size: 4–7 ft. tall, 2 ft. wideDeer Resistant: Yes
Give your plants some afternoon shade during the hottest part of the year. And add a layer of mulch if you need help retaining soil moisture.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9Flower Color Varieties: Red, white, roseLight: Full sun, partial shadeSoil Needs: Rich, medium to wetMature size: 2–4 ft. tall, 1–2 ft. wideDeer Resistant: Yes
Swamp hibiscus works well massed in groups to fill large moist areas.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6–9Flower Color Varieties: Deep redLight: Full sun, partial shadeSoil Needs: Average, medium-to-wetMature size: 3–6 ft. tall, 2–3 ft. wideDeer Resistant: Yes
These woody-stemmed perennials produce large, vivid pink and red blooms in midsummer into fall. They should be pruned off at ground level for the winter in colder zones.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9Flower Color Varieties: Pink with reddish eyes, redLight: Full sunSoil Needs: Average, medium-moisture to wetMature size: 3–4 ft. tall, 2–4 ft. wideDeer Resistant: Yes
They like to be constantly moist, and gardeners should be ready to feed them regularly. The yellow-white flowers that appear in spring are largely hidden by the huge leaves.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 8–11Flower Color Varieties: Yellow-white (not showy)Light: Full sun, partial shadeSoil Needs: Moist, acidicMature size: 3–8 ft. tall, wideDeer Resistant: No
