Embrace the Wet Spots 

While many of us might cringe at the thought of wet shoes or rained-out plans, a good downpour offers a unique opportunity. While you are watching the rain pass through the next few days, take a moment to observe. Watch how the water flows, where it pools, and which areas of your garden seem to hold onto moisture after the clouds have passed. These often-overlooked spots, that stay perpetually damp or briefly flood, actually have some value!

Wet areas can be viewed as challenging, even problematic. Many plants do not like waterlogged roots or ‘wet feet’. Their roots need oxygen to thrive, and saturated soil suffocates them. However, we have a glorious array of plants that don’t just tolerate these conditions, they thrive! These plants are perfectly adapted to soak up the excess moisture found in those challenging low spots, the bottoms of slopes, creek banks, or areas around ponds and septic drain fields.

By selecting the right plants, you can transform a difficult, soggy patch into a beautiful part of your landscape. As you observe your garden during this rainy spell, note the areas that stay wet the longest, and gauge the amount of sunlight they receive.

Let’s explore a few of our favorites, These plants are ready to take on a wet challenge:

The Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica)

This fast-growing tree does best in wet soil conditions. Its extensive root system is incredibly effective at seeking out and absorbing moisture, making it an excellent choice for consistently wet, even occasionally flooded, areas.

The Weeping Willow grows long branches that drape towards the ground, creating a curtain that sways in the breeze. It’s one of the first trees to start growing in spring, its bare branches sprout thin green leaves. In the fall, the foliage turns yellow before finally dropping, and in winter, the structure of its weeping branches provides some elements of visual interest. Planted in a prominent wet spot, a Weeping Willow becomes an immediate focal point. Give this tree plenty of space to reach its mature size.

Summersweet Clethra (Clethra alnifolia)

If you’re looking for a flowering shrub that grows in moist conditions and offers visual interest and fragrance, look no further than Summersweet Clethra. This North American native is incredibly adaptable, happily growing in challenging wet soils with light ranging from full sun to part shade. In mid to late summer Summersweet features spires of fragrant white or pink flowers. The smell attracts busy pollinators, including bees and butterflies, which adds life to your garden. The glossy, dark green foliage is attractive throughout the season, and in fall, it transforms into golden yellow. Summersweet is ideal for planting along stream banks, in rain gardens, or simply in any perpetually damp border. Plus, it’s reportedly deer-resistant, which is a welcome feature for many of us in the Piedmont Triad!

Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos, syriacus and hybrids)

Our hardy Hibiscus create dinner-plate-sized blooms in shades of white, pink, red, and bi-colors. These blooms remind me of those vintage Hawaiian island style shirts and surprisingly these plants are cold-hardy.

These grow best in average to wet soils and demand full sun to produce their spectacular floral display which lasts from mid-summer into fall. They do not appreciate drying out, making that consistently wet spot in the landscape the perfect home. They die back to the ground in winter, emerging late in the spring, but once they get going, they grow quickly into bushy plants with enormous flowers. Use them as a dramatic focal point, plant several together for a bold mass of color where they can help absorb runoff. Their cartoon-like blooms are sure to be a topic of conversation.

Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

While this is not exclusively a plant for constantly wet sites, Beautyberry is remarkably tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, including challenging damp areas, provided it doesn’t sit in standing water for extended periods. Its real interest unfolds in the fall and winter.

An easygoing shrub with an informal, arching habit, Beautyberry produces small, inconspicuous flowers in the summer. But come autumn, after the leaves begin to drop, its branches become laden with stunning, iridescent, jewel-toned purple (sometimes white) berries clustered along the stems. These vibrant berries persist well into winter, providing a crucial food source for birds and offering unparalleled visual interest against a snowy or dormant landscape. Beautyberry grows best in full sun to part shade; too much shade will result in fewer berries. Its adaptability and unique fall display make it a valuable addition to mixed borders, native gardens, or those tricky spots that are sometimes wet. 

Little Henry Sweetspire (Itea virginica ‘Little Henry’)

A smaller, more compact option that offers multiple seasons of interest and grows well in moist conditions, ‘Little Henry’ Sweetspire is a good option. This shrub genuinely dislikes dry soil, making it perfectly suited for those damp areas in your garden.

In early to mid-summer, ‘Little Henry’ creates bending spires of fragrant white flowers that can be attractive to pollinators. The dark green foliage provides a nice backdrop throughout the summer. But the real show comes in the fall when the leaves transform into brilliant shades of fiery red, orange, and burgundy. For the most intense fall color, plant it in a spot that receives plenty of sunshine, although it also performs well in part shade. Its compact size (typically 2-3 feet tall and wide) makes it versatile for mass plantings, edging borders, or incorporating into rain gardens. 

Siberian Iris (Iris sibirica)

For a touch of vertical elements in those consistently moist areas, Siberian Iris is a superb choice. Unlike many bearded iris varieties that require excellent drainage, Siberian Iris are moisture-loving plants that perform beautifully near ponds, streams, or in low-lying areas where the soil remains evenly moist but not necessarily waterlogged year-round.

Their beardless flowers appear in late spring to early summer atop stiff, upright stems. The foliage is thin and grass-like, providing strong vertical elements in the landscape even after the blooms have faded. Siberian Iris are easy to grow, form dense clumps over time, and are relatively low-maintenance. Plant them in bulk for a stunning display along a ditch, wet border or use them as striking accents within a rain garden or at the edge of a water feature.

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

No discussion of moisture-loving plants, especially native ones, would be complete without mentioning Swamp Milkweed. As its name suggests, this beautiful native perennial naturally inhabits wet sites like stream banks, bogs, and wetland meadows. However, it’s surprisingly adaptable and can perform well in average garden soil once established, as long as it receives consistent moisture.

Swamp Milkweed is essential for Monarch butterflies. Its foliage is the only food source for Monarch caterpillars, and its clusters of fragrant pink to reddish-purple flowers, blooming from mid-summer into early fall, are a rich nectar source for adult Monarchs and countless other pollinators. Growing about 3-4 feet tall, it provides a nice vertical accent while providing a vital ecological component to your garden. Planting Swamp Milkweed in a wet spot near a patio or window allows you to observe the fascinating life cycle of the Monarch up close. It’s a plant that is not only beautiful but also deeply meaningful for supporting our native wildlife.

Designing Your Wetland

Survey your landscape during the rainy period, remember these plants and their ability to face this challenge. The bottom of slopes, low spots where water collects, areas adjacent to ponds or streams, and even septic drain fields are all potential homes for these water-loving beauties.

Consider the site’s sun exposure – is it full sun (6+ hours), part sun (4-6 hours), or part shade (2-4 hours)? This will help you select the plants best suited for that specific spot. For instance, Hibiscus and Little Henry Sweetspire will offer their best performance in sunnier locations, while Summersweet is more forgiving of shade.

Don’t view wet areas as a limitation, but as an opportunity to explore and learn about the diversity of plants. With the right selections, those challenging spots can become the colorful, interesting, and ecologically beneficial areas of your garden.

Now is the perfect time to identify those damp corners. Come visit us, our knowledgeable staff can help you select the perfect plants to transform your challenging sites into beautiful landscapes. Let’s make your rainy day observations the first step towards a more beautiful, resilient landscape!