If you have a spot in your yard with consistently wet soil, don’t despair! You have several options for plants that will tolerate or even prefer consistently moist conditions. This is by no means an exhaustive list of plants for wet soil, so feel free to ask us for more recommendations if you need some ideas for trees or other plants that will survive and thrive in wet soil!

Clethra Summersweet ‘Hummingbird’ is a dwarf flowering shrub that prefers consistently moist soil and part to full sun. Summersweet is a deciduous perennial that produces long white flower stalks in the summer. It is a favorite of pollinators, and has a lovely sweet floral scent!

The Siberian Iris is a hardy bulb flower that thrives in zones 3-8 and a wide range of conditions. Siberian Irises are beloved by bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. They will naturalize and spread over time, so be sure to plant them in an area where you would want them to spread or plan to thin them out as they grow. 

Little Henry Sweetspire (itea virginica) is a native shrub that will thrive in a variety of conditions, from full shade to full sun. It prefers moist soil and will tolerate wet conditions. Little Henry has lightly scented white flower spikes that shoot up in the early summer.

Bee balm (monarda) is a native perennial herb in the mint family that is excellent for attracting pollinators. It has fragrant foliage and colorful blooms, and thrives in moist soil and part to full sun. It has a long flowering season, from late spring to late summer, making it an excellent addition to your pollinator garden.

Sugar Shack Buttonbush is a native dwarf shrub with fragrant white flowers. It loves moist soil and will attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Buttonbush does well in part to full sun and flowers in the summer.

Canna lilies need full sun and consistently moist soil, making them excellent candidates for the wet area of your yard. Hardy in zones 8-11, they are grown as annuals in our area, but can reach over 6 feet tall and wide in one growing season. They come in a variety of colors and provide a beautiful showy flower for your garden.

Lobelia cardinalis is best cared for in sun to part shade, and very moist, fertile soil. It prefers not to dry out, making it an excellent flower for wet soil.

Creeping Jenny, or Lysimachia, is a fast-growing perennial ground cover plant that will spread over time and form a dense carpet. Hardy in zones 5-9. Lysimachia tolerates a range of growing conditions and is an easy-care plant, making it a great choice for spots in your garden that are hard to grow in. 

Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is a perennial plant native to North America that can grow up to five feet tall. It has fragrant pink flowers that bloom in the summer in large clusters, and can be found in sunny areas of swamps, marshes, and bogs. It is an attractive plant to pollinators, and a welcome native addition to any garden.