Do you like plants? Do you want to add plants that like water and soak up water to your gardens because of spring floods? Stone Solutions can help you with that.
Because of its severe spring floods and short summers, Maine can be scary for new gardeners and green thumbs moving from warmer destinations. The good thing is that gardening in Maine is no more complicated than anywhere else.
Some plants have the impressive ability to soak up a significant amount of water. Apart from moisture-sensitive species, these generally accommodate a broad range of conditions.
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:
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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.
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Plant clumping bloomers like primroses and globeflowers in low-lying sections of rain gardens that remain wet between rainfalls.
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Edge ponds, fountains and other water features with irises, golden club and other moisture-tolerant beauties.
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Select a combination of plants with different heights, foliage textures and bloom times for visual interest.
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Mass plant groups of the same variety together for maximum impact rather than dotting singly.
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For boggy areas, use native plants like coneflowers and bee balm that are adapted to regional wet soils.
Caring for Water-Loving Plants
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Give plants a good start by amending soil with compost to improve drainage. Mound soil to increase elevation.
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Water consistently, especially during the first year, until plants become established. Most can tolerate both standing water and brief dry periods once mature.
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Stake tall perennials like coneflowers before they begin blooming to prevent flopping in soggy soils.
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Remove spent blooms to encourage reblooming. Cut back plants in fall to make room for new spring growth.
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Divide overcrowded plants in early spring or fall and replant divisions to expand drainage coverage.
Troubleshooting Tips
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Improve drainage by installing gravel trenches, rain barrels, or dry stream beds to divert excess water away from planting areas.
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For overly wet soils, amend with compost, sand or small gravel to improve drainage.
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Rotate moisture lovers with drier plants in the same area over successive seasons to allow the soil to dry out fully.
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Prevent fungal diseases and root rot by increasing spacing between plants to promote airflow.
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Interplant moisture lovers with plants like astilbe and lavender that tolerate drier conditions for well-balanced drainage.
Benefits of Moisture-Absorbing Plants
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Soak up standing water, runoff and saturated soils
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Provide natural drainage solutions without pipes or gravel
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Brighten up and add color to wet spots where grass won’t grow
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Attract beneficial wildlife like birds, bees and butterflies
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Require less watering and irrigation once established
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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.
Lily of the Valley
Every year, the Lily of the Valley grows into a bush that spreads through all of its underground stems with straight shoots. You can see their flowers in the spring and early summer. They have been around since at least 1000 BCE.
These gorgeous, aromatic plants thrive in partial shade and spongy soil. They are simple to grow. Plant them in the late autumn since the weather conditions enable them to transition into winter hibernation. The plant’s single rhizomes are known as pips. After November or December, they can be split, and the new divisions planted.
People should remember that this plant can be poisonous, so keep it away from kids and pets. This plant will soak up a lot of water if wet spots are in your yard.
The iris blooms brilliantly from the late winter season to springtime. Throughout these points of time, they can add color to your garden. Once set up, they demand little to no care and multiply rapidly. They also soak up a large amount of water.
The most prevalent version in the United States is the bearded iris. Their average height ranges from 3 inches to 4 feet. They flourish in blue, purple, white, and yellow tints, blended with different types as well.
The yellow Harvest of Memories Tall Bearded Iris can make any body of water look nice. It grows to be 3 feet tall. Japanese iris grow best in shallow water, but they can also survive on higher ground if the soil stays wet. They are the best perennials for soils that stay wet and humid.
Why Should I Incorporate Plants That Soak Up Water?
Rainwater not soaked up or seized by plants in suburbs and cities becomes hazardous runoff. Runoff is water that moves faster across roads and sidewalks, causing flooding and deterioration while picking up pollution. It then washes into rivers and along the shore, where it destroys aquatic and human life by making the water dirty. When the groundwater level is high, the top of the soil may become wet. This can happen because of heavy loads or a high water table. Clay soils are soaked in the cold season and dry in the warmer months. However, if you install drains, you’ll work with your soil and pick plants that thrive in wet conditions.
Few plants can endure and sustain long stretches of waterlogging or flash floods. However, many plants can still grow well in permanently soft soils as long as there is some oxygen in the wet ground. Because clay soils have characteristics similar to moist soils, choosing plants for clay soils may also be effective. Keep reading to find out the four best plants to soak up water in Maine!.
There are many kinds of ferns that can handle areas with a lot of water on the surface and can be planted near wetlands or in areas with a lot of water.
Some ferns, like the Christmas fern, need dry, shady conditions. However, all of the other ferns listed will do well in damp conditions:
- The cinnamon fern
- Ostrich fern Royal fern
- Lady fern
- Painted fern
- Holly fern
Most ferns have dense root systems and leaves that soak up water, which lets the plants take in a lot of water. The longer the fern, the more moisture it will absorb.
The Ostrich fern can grow to be 3 to 6 feet tall, which makes it a great plant for soaking up water. They can soak up a lot of water because their roots are very big and move water up and through their thick leaves.
10 Moisture Loving Perennials That Thrive In Wet Soil Wet Garden Plants
Which plants absorb water?
Lily of the valley is another great plant that will absorb water but we should urge you to err on the side of caution as this plant is toxic to humans and pets. If you have animals or kids, be sure to keep them away from this plant to avoid accidental ingestion.
What plants grow well in wet soil?
Additionally, consider ferns, astilbes, bog sage, and Japanese iris for wet soil.These plants enhance the beauty of your garden while thriving in moist conditions.Remember to choose trees with strong root
What plants need a lot of water?
Many different types of plants require a lot of water, including some trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, tall grasses, and more. Continue reading our thirsty plant guide to learn about dozens of them. And how to select the best to drink up all that excess water on your property based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone.
Do lilies absorb water?
If you live in zones 2 through 7 then the lily of the valley is a perfect plant that absorbs water for your local climate. But more than just being ideal, they’re incredibly beautiful and their fragrances and blooms will certainly be the talking point of your yard.
