Best Moisture Loving Plants for Soggy & Wet Soil

1. Iris

Botanical Name: Iris spp.

The erect grassy foliage plant produces blue six-lobed flower heads on tall green stalks. The Siberian and Japanese varieties thrive in wet soil with partial and direct sunlight.

Check out the best Iris companion plants here

2. Turtlehead

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Botanical Name: Chelone

Turtlehead is a clump-forming perennial that blooms two-lipped flowers on lance-shaped toothed foliage. This dense herbaceous plant has varieties that love to stand in damp soil with shallow water.

3. Ligularia

Botanical Name: Ligularia

Ligularia is a hedge-forming plant boasting yellow to orange blooms with black centers. Grow the plant in a shady place with constant moisture for the best flowers.

4. Golden Creeping Jenny

Botanical Name: Lysimachia nummularia

This ornamental variety is the best choice for gardeners having a marshy or very damp patch. The evergreen groundcover features cup-shaped yellow flowers from late spring to summer.

Check out more groundcovers for your garden here

5. Japanese Primrose

Botanical Name: Primula japonica

A deciduous perennial, Japanese Primrose bears pretty clusters of white, pink, purple, and red flowers on tall upright stems. It does best in moist soil under partial shade.

6. Calla Lily

Botanical Name: Zantedeschia

This elegant herbaceous perennial shows off tubular flowers with pointed tips in the exotic shades of white, maroon, orange, pink, purple, red, and black. The plant loves to stand in consistently moist soil.

Find out the best Lily types here

7. Canna

Botanical Name: Canna

Cannas have large emerald leaves with some varieties featuring variegated foliage. Grow this plant in moist soil that receives at least 5-6 hours of direct sunlight to enjoy the bright red, yellow, pink, and orange flowers.

Discover the best canna lily varieties here

8. Cardinal Flower

Botanical Name: Lobelia cardinalis

The tall, dark green stalks hold clusters of tubular flowers in red, pink, and white hues from summer to early fall. It prefers soggy land and partial sun.

9. Forget-Me-Not

Botanical Name: Myosotis

A spring delight, Forget-Me-Not blooms clusters of five-petalled delicate blue flowers with yellow centers. The plant can tolerate evenly moist soil.

10. Spiderwort

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Botanical Name: Tradescantia ‘Blue Stone’

This non-demanding perennial features three-petalled purplish-blue flowers on grass-like foliage. It grows up to 3 feet tall and thrives in challenging conditions like too much moisture.

11. Sedge

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Botanical Name: Carex

One of the most popular ornamental groundcovers, this low-lying variety shows off long lance-shaped grassy green leaves margined in white and loves wet, soggy soil.

12. Marsh Marigold

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Botanical Name: Caltha palustris

Marsh Marigolds need evenly wet soil to produce clusters of glossy yellow blooms on dark green foliage. The plant grows up to 3 feet tall and thrives in partial shade, you can even grow it in the container water garden.

Learn about the best Marigold types here

13. Swamp Milkweed

Botanical Name: Asclepias incarnata

As the name suggests, this sun-loving perennial thrives in swampy soil and bears clusters of tiny deep pink to purple flowers on narrow lance-shaped foliage, which attract butterflies.

14. Swamp Sunflower

Botanical Name: Helianthus angustifolius

This hardy perennial covers itself with several bright yellow daisy-like flowers with black centers from late summer to fall. The plant constantly needs wet soil to grow well.

15. Horsetail

Botanical Name: Equisetum hyemale

This unique-looking non-flowering perennial is noted for its stiff bamboo-like stems that grow best in soggy soil and shallow water, and it loves partial shade. Also, it is one of the best architectural plants–the list of more such plants is here.

16. Fiber-Optic Grass

Botanical Name: Isolepis cernua

A member of the ‘Sedge’ family, this ornamental grass features bright green arching stems with tiny flower tips. The Fiber-Optic Grass also goes well in containers as a houseplant.

It is one of the best ornamental grasses; find more names here

17. Hosta

Botanical Name: Hosta

Hosta features large ruffled dark green leaves with prominent veins and yellow borders. The plant loves to sit in damp soil and partially sunny spots.

Find out the best Hosta varieties here

18. Bleeding Heart

Botanical Name: Dicentra

Bleeding Heart boasts lovely heart-shaped flowers in vibrant pink, white, red, and yellow shades hanging from the arching stems. Grow the plant in moist soil for the best display.

19. Bistorta

Botanical Name: Bistorta

This mat-forming perennial features short flower spikes in the warm shades of white, pink, and red on lance-shaped green foliage. The plant does best as ground covers on boggy patches.

20. Candelabra Primula

Botanical Name: Primula sect. Proliferae

This striking perennial features upright flower spikes in deep pink to purple hues while the robust stems thrive in boggy areas under partial shade.

Check out the best ornamental plants that love shade here

21. Common Buttonbush

Botanical Name: Cephalanthus occidentalis

A multi-stemmed shrub with dark green glossy leaves bears unusual blossom heads with white fringes protruding out of a white oval structure. Common Buttonbush grows best in wet marshy lands by ponds and streams.

22. Green Arrow Arum

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Botanical Name: Peltandra virginica

This North American native has arrow-shaped leaves like syngoniums, and it produces modified leaves in violet, white, yellow, and brown shades that emit a subtle scent in moist soil. It is a true wetland plant and perfect for growing in overly wet soil.

23. Cattail

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Botanical Name: Typha spp.

Cattail features a unique candlewick-shaped brown flowerhead consisting of several tiny seeds on linear grayish-green foliage. This upright perennial is common in swampy and wet ditches, and it is super easy to grow.

24. Winterberry

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Botanical Name: Ilex verticillata

Winterberry reverberates its name and boasts a striking sheath of vibrant red, orange, and bronze berries in the leaf-less shrub during winter. Provide the plant with 4-5 hours of direct sunlight and moist soil, and it will grow.

25. Red Osier Dogwood

Botanical Name: Cornus sericea

Red Osier Dogwood is a flowering shrub boasting a striking appearance with clustered white flowers on red twigs. Grow the plant in soggy soil to meet its high moisture needs.

26. Elephant Ear

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Botanical Name: Colocasia

Elephant ears don’t mind staying in wet soil from time to time. If you have a damp patch in your garden, these plants would be more than happy to thrive there while providing an alluring tropical vibe. You can see more big leaf outdoor plants here!

26. Alocasia Polly

Botanical Name: Alocasia amazonica

If you like large foliage plants, then alocasia makes a perfect choice for a damp garden setting. It doesn’t mind overwatering too.

Learn about growing Alocasia in the water here

27. Leopard Plant

Botanical Name: Farfugium japonicum

This plant’s bright, daisy-like yellow flowers contrast really well with the large circular leaves that have a dark green hue. It does remarkably well in damp spots.

28. Bee Balm

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Botanical Name: Monarda (Bergamot)

This beautiful herb is from the mint family and would be more than happy to flower on the wet side of your garden. All of the bee balm varieties attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.

29. Pink Muhly Grass

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Botanical Name: Muhlenbergia capillaris

If you want to cover your garden’s open damp patch, this plant is the best pick. The purple spikelets of this grass have a brilliant deep pink hue.

30. Ferns

Botanical Name: Tracheophyta

Ferns earned their spot on this list because they are one of the most versatile plants that don’t mind neglect and evenly moist soil. They will thrive happily in the damp or soggy patch of your yard.