Trees That Can Grow in Wet Conditions
Below you will find a list of shade, evergreen and flowering shrubs from our plant database that can grow in wet climates. If you click on any of the photos, you will see a Virtual Plant Tag that may contain plant descriptions, usage suggestions and a link to where you can buy that plant for your landscaping. The concept of a tree can be difficult to define since different people might consider the same plant a broadleaf evergreen, needled evergreen, conifer, bush or shrub.
Many trees that can flourish in wet areas can also do quite well in dry areas or places in the landscape with average soil moisture.
Some of these trees are native plants and have evolved to handle a fairly wide range of weather extremes for short periods of time, have a wider tolerance for diseases, are more salt tolerant and are generally more insect resistant. Suggestions of native trees that grow well in or are tolerant of wet areas include: American Arborvitae or Thuja occidentalis, who many cultivars offer variegated needles, weeping forms and improved winter color; American Planetree, Sycamore, Buttonball-tree or Buttonwood (Platanus occidentalis) grows natively along water edges; American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) also has many interesting cultivars; Black Gum, Black Tupelo, Pepperidge, Sourgum or Nyssa sylvatica is a truly wonderful tree for multi-season interest; Bull Bay, Evergreen or Southern Magnolia (M. grandiflora) tolerates alot of water; Common Witchhazel or Hamamelis virginiana adds unusual fall and winter blooming; Devilwood Osmanthus or Wild-olive (O. americanus) is highly ornamental with summer blooming and fruit persisting through winter; Laurel, Swamp or Sweetbay Magnolia (M. virginiana) is a small, graceful summer-flowering tree; Leatherwood or Swamp Cyrilla (C. racemiflora) has fall flowers; Live Oak or Quercus virginiana is fine in wet or dry conditions; superior adaptability has Nuttall Oak (Q. nuttallii) replacing Pin and Shumard Oaks in popularity; spectacular mass plantings of Possumhaw or Ilex decidua have brilliant fruit lasting until April; Red, Scarlet, Swamp Maple or Acer rubrum and the superior selections made offer extended Autumn leaf color and have also been used in hybrids; River Birch or Betula nigra has seen improved cultivars add usefulness to this durable plant; Southern Bayberry or Waxmyrtle (Myrica cerifera) fruits in late summer; Swamp or Pin Oak (Q. palustris) can take standing water; Swamp Post Oak, Overcup Oak or Quercus lyrata can withstand considerable flooding; Willow Oak or Quercus phellos is the best oak for overall texture and form.
