Wet Tolerant Plants
Poor drainage in low areas, areas with a high water table, or heavy clay soils can be one of the most challenging aspects of gardening. You may choose to “fix” your drainage problem by amending the soil, grading the soil to divert water, or raising the overall level of the soil. You can also select plants that will tolerate wet conditions. If plants experience standing water for extended periods of time, you will still lose even the most tolerant of plants.
Our nursery manager has created a list of plants that are tolerant of wet conditions.
Trees
| Common Name | Botanical Name |
| Freeman Maple | Acer freemanii |
| Red Maple | Acer rubrum |
| River Birch | Betula nigra |
| Honeylocust | Gleditsia triacanthos |
| Tulip Tree | Liriodendron tulipifera |
| Dawn Redwood | Metasequoia glyptostroboides |
| Black Gum | Nyssa sylvatica |
| Pear species | Pyrus |
| Pin Oak | Quercus palustris |
| Willow species | Salix |
| Baldcypress | Taxodium distichum |
| American Arborvitae | Thuja occidentalis |
Shrubs
| Common Name | Botanical Name |
| Serviceberry species | Amelanchier |
| Red Chokeberry | Aronia arbutifolia |
| Black Chokeberry | Aronia melanocarpa |
| Sweetshrub | Calycanthus floridus |
| Buttonbush | Cephalanthus occidentalis |
| Summersweet | Clethra alnifolia |
| Dogwood species | Cornus |
| Wintercreeper | Euonymus fortunei |
| Inkberry | Ilex glabra |
| Winterberry | Ilex verticillata |
| Virginia sweetspire | Itea virginica |
| Willow species | Salix |
| Blueberry species | Vaccinium |
Perennials
| Common Name | Botanical Name |
| Monkshood species | Aconitum |
| Japanese sweet flag | Acorus gramineus |
| Lady’s Mantle | Alchemilla mollis |
| Astilbe species | Astilbe |
| Siberian Bugloss | Brunnera macrophylla |
| Turtlehead | Chelone lyonii |
| Black Snake Root | Cimicifuga racemosa |
| Bleeding Heart | Dicentra spectabilis |
| Joe Pye Weed | Eupatorium maculatum |
| Daylily species | Hemerocallis |
| Rose Mallow | Hibiscus moscheutos |
| Hosta species | Hosta |
| Iris species | Iris |
| Deadnettle | Lamium maculatum |
| Ligularia species | Ligularia |
| Lilyturf | Liriope |
| Cardinal Flower | Lobelia cardinalis |
| Ostrich Fern | Matteuccia struthiopteris |
| Bee Balm | Monarda didyma |
| Royal Fern species | Osmunda |
| Primrose species | Primula |
| Lungwort species | Pulmonaria |
| Foam Flower | Tiarella cordifolia |
| Spiderwort species | Tradescantia |
| Violet species | Viola |
Vines
| Trumpet Vine | Campsis |
*This is a list of suggestions, not a complete compilation
Not all varieties are available throughout the season so please call ahead to check current availability with our nursery.
For a copy of this guide to download and keep please click here.