Shrubs for wet soils

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Shrubs for Moist Areas and Wet Soils

When planting grounds it is often desired to obtain shrubs for planting in wet places, some that will attract either by their flowers, berries or other features.

There is Glethra alnifolia, a shrub which always comes to mind when this subject is thought of, because of the profuseness of its flowering and the fragrance of its blooms. It blooms in Midsummer or later, the bush is usually covered with panicles of white flowers of peculiar fragrance. In its wild state it is usually found on the banks of streams, or otherwise near water, so that it is well suited when planted in similar positions.

There is another native Glethra, the G. acuminata, but the alnifolia is the best for the purpose.

The White Fringe, Ghionanthus virginica, is at home in a wet place. It is wild in situations which are almost under water at times. This has white flowers, too, but they come early in Spring with the leaves, and because of the fringelike appearance of the flowers the shrubs are called Old Man's Beard in some portions of the South.

Another shrub of great merit is the Magnolia glauca, the one of our swamps and low grounds, which is almost evergreen, and famous everywhere for the fragrance of its flowers. It is often found side by side with the White Fringe. Both of these, though often listed as shrubs, grow to the size of a small tree in time, if kept to one shoot when young.

The Bayberry, Myrica cerifera, is good for a wet position; it delights in damp ground. When grown in groups where one plant shelters the other they are somewhat evergreen in character. The flowers are greenish white and small, making no display to attract, but the berries when ripe are covered with a white, waxy substance, making the clusters of them conspicuous and attractive.

Found in similar situations to the above mentioned shrubs is the Azalea viscosa, a species renowned for the fragrance of its blooms. The flowers are pure white, expanding in July and August. It is one of the most admired of Azaleas, yet not common in cultivation.

In Vacciniums (Blueberries) , a good one for wet ground, is V corymbosum. It delights in such situations. In Spring it presents to view beautiful clusters of white flowers. Edible, dark colored berries follow; later on, with the approach of Autumn, the foliage becomes of a lovely orange bronze color. It is then almost foremost of all the foliage trees and shrubs famous for their Autumnal display of color.

These six shrubs would give one a good start in planting a wet place, but they do not exhaust the list; many more could be added.