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ProblemSolver Plants: Plants for Wet Shade


The following plants are suggestions for trying in shady conditions which experience periodic flooding or standing water for short periods. Typically, these locations may be low area under trees or in the shade of buildings. The denseness of the shade, soil type, soil pH and duration of flooding will affect plant performance. It is best to try a variety of plants to see which perform best in your specific conditions.

Habit Scientific Name Common Name
Annuals Carex phyllocephala 'Sparkler' sedge
  Colocasia esculenta taro
  Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic' taro
  Cyperus alternifolius 'Variegatus' umbrella plant
  Cyperus papyrus KING TUT papyrus
  Impatiens capensis impatiens
  Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' creeping Jenny
  Mirabilis jalapa marvel of Peru
  Myosotis sylvatica forget-me-not
  Ruellia brittoniana 'Purple Showers' Mexican petunia
  Strobilanthes dyerianus Persian shield
Deciduous shrubs Aesculus parviflora bottlebrush buckeye
  Clethra alnifolia sweet pepperbush
  Cornus sericea 'Allemans' red twig dogwood
  Cornus sericea 'Baileyi' red twig dogwood
  Cornus sericea 'Budd's Yellow' yellowtwig dogwood
  Cornus sericea 'Cardinal' red twig dogwood
  Cornus sericea 'Farrow' ARCTIC FIRE red twig dogwood
  Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea' yellow twig dogwood
  Cornus sericea 'Isanti' red twig dogwood
  Cornus sericea 'Silver and Gold' yellow twig dogwood
  Hydrangea arborescens smooth hydrangea
  Ilex glabra inkberry
  Ilex glabra 'Compacta' inkberry
  Ilex glabra 'Shamrock' inkberry
  Ilex verticillata winterberry
  Ilex verticillata 'Cacapon' winterberry
  Ilex verticillata 'Jim Dandy' winterberry
  Ilex verticillata 'Nana' RED SPRITE winterberry
  Ilex verticillata 'Spriber' BERRY NICE winterberry
  Ilex verticillata 'Winter Red' winterberry
  Kerria japonica 'Simplex' Japanese rose
Ferns Matteuccia struthiopteris ostrich fern
  Osmunda regalis royal fern
  Osmunda regalis 'Cristata' royal fern
  Osmunda regalis 'Purpurascens' royal fern
  Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis royal fern
Herbaceous perennials Acorus calamus 'Variegatus' sweet flag
  Acorus gramineus 'Ogon' grassy-leaved sweet flag
  Arisaema dracontium dragon root
  Arisaema triphyllum jack-in-the-pulpit
  Arum italicum Italian arum
  Asarum canadense wild ginger
  Astrantia major greater masterwort
  Chelone glabra turtlehead
  Chelone lyonii shellflower
  Darmera peltata umbrella plant
  Hydrocotyle vulgaris pennywort
  Ligularia dentata leopard plant
  Ligularia dentata 'Desdemona' leopard plant
  Ligularia dentata 'Othello' leopard plant
  Ligularia 'The Rocket' leopard plant
  Lobelia cardinalis 'Queen Victoria' cardinal flower
  Lobelia 'Cotton Candy' cardinal flower
  Lobelia 'Purple Towers' lobelia
  Lobelia 'Rose Beacon' lobelia
  Lobelia 'Ruby Slippers' lobelia
  Lobelia siphilitica blue cardinal flower
  Lobelia siphilitica 'Lilac Candles' great blue cardinal flower
  Lobelia 'Sparkle DeVine' lobelia
  Lobelia 'Tania' lobelia
  Lobelia x speciosa 'Wildwood Splendor' lobelia
  Lysimachia japonica var. minutissima loosestrife
  Medeola virginiana Indian cucumber root
  Oenanthe javanica 'Flamingo' water celery
  Petasites japonicus butterbur
  Polygonatum biflorum Solomon's seal
  Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum giant Solomon's seal
  Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum 'Variegatum' Solomon's seal
  Stylophorum diphyllum celandine poppy
Rushes or Sedges Carex dolichostachya 'Kaga-nishiki' GOLD FOUNTAINS sedge
  Carex elata 'Aurea' Bowles' golden sedge
  Carex 'Ice Dance' Japanese grass sedge
  Carex morrowii Japanese grass sedge
  Carex morrowii var. temnolepis 'Silk Tassel' Japanese grass sedge
  Carex morrowii 'Variegata' Japanese grass sedge
  Carex nigra black sedge
  Carex nigra 'Variegata' black sedge

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