Dealing with wet swampy areas or poor drainage in a yard can be frustrating. Puddles muddy spots, and soggy soil prevent grass from thriving and make landscapes messy. Fortunately, certain plants are adept at soaking up excess moisture. Strategically placing water-loving plants in problem areas can absorb runoff and provide natural drainage solutions.

Keep reading to discover 8 of the top plants to absorb standing water and improve drainage in your yard.

1. Daylily

Daylilies are tough perennials that thrive in damp conditions. Their dense clumps of arching grass-like foliage soak up moisture. Daylily varieties come in a rainbow of colors like melon-hued ‘Primal Scream’ and lemony ‘Lemon Beauty’. Plant daylilies en masse in areas prone to puddles or saturated soil. Their bright blooms will disappear the wetness while attracting pollinators.

2. Purple Coneflower

Also called echinacea, these cheerful daisy-like perennials are native to the Midwestern prairies. Their long taproots draw water from deep in the soil. The cone-shaped purple flowers bloom all summer atop sturdy 2-3 foot stems. They tolerate both drought and flooded soils quite well. Effective drainage-friendly options include the compact ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ or tall ‘PowWow Wild Berry’.

3. Bee Balm

With its shaggy flower heads in shades of red, pink, and purple, bee balm is another moisture-loving native perennial. It thrives along streambanks and ditches across North America. Also called monarda, its dense clumping growth and hearty root system help dry out soggy spots. ‘Jacob Cline’ has vibrant red blooms and impressive mildew resistance.

4. Globeflower

Globeflowers offer sunny yellow perennial color in boggy areas where little else grows This member of the buttercup family forms tidy clumps of cut-leaf foliage topped with spherical yellow blooms. The common orange variety (Trollius europaeus) grows 18-24 inches tall There’s also a shorter, more compact cultivar called ‘Moonlight’ that’s well-suited for smaller spaces.

5. Golden Club

For bright color in shady, excessively damp locations, you can’t go wrong with golden club (Orontium aquaticum). This hardy water garden plant hasfoliage topped with a dense spike of tiny golden-yellow flowers in spring. It spreads slowly via rhizomes to form a colony that thrives in standing water. Golden club grows 18-24 inches tall and adds a pop of cheerful color to rain gardens, pond edges or other perpetually wet spots.

6. Japanese Iris

Sometimes called flag iris, these beautiful bearded irises thrive in soggy soils and shallow standing water. They come in a range of colors and patterns that brighten up marshy areas. Plant them along ponds, streams, or in the shallow parts of rain gardens. Some top varieties include ‘Variegata’ with purple and white bi-color blooms and the double blue ‘Rose Queen’. Give them full sun for the most prolific flowering.

7. Primrose

Another stellar plant for problem wet areas, primroses form pretty clusters of flowers in a range of cheery colors. Both the Candelabra primrose (Primula japonica) and English primrose (Primula vulgaris) relish moist soils. They spread gently by rhizomes or self-seeding to create attractive drifts of color where drainage is poor. Try ‘Pacific Giant Mix’ for dramatic blooms on 12-inch stems.

8. Iris versicolor

Also called blue flag iris, this is one of the most water-tolerant irises for landscaping. It thrives along pond edges and in rain gardens. Violet-blue blooms appear in late spring, contrasting nicely with its sword-shaped green leaves. It spreads readily to form dense clumps that absorb excess moisture. For best flowering, provide at least 6 hours of sunlight daily.

Design Tips for Using Water-Loving Plants

Strategically place moisture-absorbing plants in your landscape to naturally improve drainage:

• Use water-loving perennials like daylilies, bee balm and coneflowers in areas that get muddy or puddle easily when it rains. Their deep root systems will soak up standing water.

• Plant clumping bloomers like primroses and globeflowers in low-lying sections of rain gardens that remain wet between rainfalls.

• Edge ponds, fountains and other water features with irises, golden club and other moisture-tolerant beauties.

• Select a combination of plants with different heights, foliage textures and bloom times for visual interest.

• Mass plant groups of the same variety together for maximum impact rather than dotting singly.

• For boggy areas, use native plants like coneflowers and bee balm that are adapted to regional wet soils.

Caring for Water-Loving Plants

• Give plants a good start by amending soil with compost to improve drainage. Mound soil to increase elevation.

• Water consistently, especially during the first year, until plants become established. Most can tolerate both standing water and brief dry periods once mature.

• Stake tall perennials like coneflowers before they begin blooming to prevent flopping in soggy soils.

• Remove spent blooms to encourage reblooming. Cut back plants in fall to make room for new spring growth.

• Divide overcrowded plants in early spring or fall and replant divisions to expand drainage coverage.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Improve drainage by installing gravel trenches, rain barrels, or dry stream beds to divert excess water away from planting areas.

• For overly wet soils, amend with compost, sand or small gravel to improve drainage.

• Rotate moisture lovers with drier plants in the same area over successive seasons to allow the soil to dry out fully.

• Prevent fungal diseases and root rot by increasing spacing between plants to promote airflow.

• Interplant moisture lovers with plants like astilbe and lavender that tolerate drier conditions for well-balanced drainage.

Benefits of Moisture-Absorbing Plants

• Soak up standing water, runoff and saturated soils

• Provide natural drainage solutions without pipes or gravel

• Brighten up and add color to wet spots where grass won’t grow

• Attract beneficial wildlife like birds, bees and butterflies

• Require less watering and irrigation once established

• Help filter and slowly release excess water from the landscape

The right water-loving plants can make a world of difference in battling wet areas, drainage and runoff problems. Select varieties that suit your landscape needs and environmental conditions for a naturally drier, vibrant yard.