Plants for wet area

Discussion in 'Garden Design and Plant Suggestions' started by ChrisStg, Aug 20, 2007.

  1. ChrisStg

    ChrisStg Member

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    Location:
    Port Coquitlam BC
    I have just moved to a house that faces north and we have constant run off from the area behind us (Mary Hill Port Coquitlam Area) This is creating a constant wet area in my lawn with standing water in some areas, we have decided to remove the grass and us river rock to create a dry river bed effect but i would like to have some plants in the mix. Any suggestions for what will withstand sitting in water constantly would be appreciated

    Chris.
     
  2. Debby

    Debby Active Member 10 Years

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    Location:
    Vancouver, Canada
    Ligularia dentata, Petasites japonica, and Iris pseudoacorus come to mind as perennials suitable for a wet area. You could google bog plants or pond marginals for more ideas...
     
  3. joclyn

    joclyn Rising Contributor

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    Location:
    philly, pa, usa 6b
    hydrangea if you're in a zone that they will be hardy in...and if the area is pretty shaded.

    many ferns need that type of moisture too...japanese painted is particularly lovely. cinnamon fern also.
     
  4. unther

    unther Active Member

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    Location:
    Newberg, Oregon, USA
    Here, in no particular order, is a plethora of choices for moist areas:
    Iris missouriensis, Petasites frigidus, Darmera peltata, Dodecatheon jeffreyi, Castilleja miniata, Sysirinchium californicum, Gentiana sceptrum, Sarracenia, Allium validum, Mimulus cardinalis, M. lewisii, M. guttatus, Athyrium felix-femina, Adiantum aleuticum, Lysichiton americanus, Saggitaria latifolia, Corydalis scouleri, Dicentra formosa, Aquilegia formosa, Veratrum californicum, V. viride, Epipactis gigantea, Camassia leitchlinii, C. quamash,Saxifraga mertensiana, S. occidentalis, S. oregana, S. odontoloma, Tofielda glutinosa, Ledum glandulosum, L. groenlandicum, Caltha leptosepala, Stachys cooleyae, Darlingtonia californica, Pinguicula macroceras, Drosera rotundifolia.
    Have fun!
    Oh, and I'd avoid Iris pseudoacorus--it's pretty weedy here on the west coast, in some places noxiously so.
     
  5. Peter333

    Peter333 Member

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    Location:
    Surrey bc
    Many thanks to Chris and Unther. I have a very small yard similar to Chris's in Surrey. No lawn grass will grow there - it's very wet, and also very shady. I planted a cedar hedge that is thriving however the 'lawn' area (mud) will soon be covered over with two inch river gravel. After that I will try experimenting with the species listed by Unther. Two questions:

    1. Do you recommend any specific species from the list for rocky, wet and shady?
    2. Can you recommend sources for the plants themselves (purchase?)

    Thanks

    Peter
     
  6. lorax

    lorax Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    Personally, I love Darmera peltata (indian rhubarb) and anything from Sarracenia (pitcher plants) that you can get your hands on will both do well and be a conversation piece. But that whole list is amazing.

    Any of the ferns will of course do just fine, and you should also have a look at the New Zealand species of tree-ferns (like Dicksonia antarctica), which are perfect for this type of garden as well as being fairly unusual to look at.

    You can also check out your local orchids, which are generally shade plants as well.
     
  7. Peter333

    Peter333 Member

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    Location:
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    Thanks very much for the extra information, lorax! I will try these species and let you know how it works out. That will take some time of course, however I truly appreciate your reply. I'm on the learning curve with plants.........

    Sincerely

    Peter
     
  8. lorax

    lorax Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    So am I - I'm a transplanted Northern Canadian in the Tropics...
     
  9. Peter333

    Peter333 Member

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    Location:
    Surrey bc
    Thanks Joclyn for your reply. I have so many choices now I'm amazed. I just have to spend time thinking about locations and design.

    Lorax, can you recommend purchase (or natural) sources for any of your species? So lorax you moved to the tropics?

    Peter
     
  10. lorax

    lorax Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    Shoot... in BC there are a lot of reliable greenhouses, and you may also be able to buy plants from the UBC Botanical Garden. Beyond that, I'd have to hand you over to the many BC dwellers on the boards.

    Yes, I moved to the tropics. I like it a whole lot better here - yesterday it was 28 degrees and sunny! Buh-bye snow! However, this means that I'm dealing with plant species I didn't even know existed. That's mainly why I'm keeping a blog on what I encounter - they're notes to myself.
     
  11. KarinL

    KarinL Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Location:
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    Hostas should take lots of moisture. Almost all ferns you find in nurseries should work quite well.

    Do you want shrubbery, trees, groundcover, grasses, perennials... or what?

    Sources... if you're in Surrey, the world's your oyster. We should start a thread on great local nurseries. General garden centres like David Hunter, Port Kells, Art's, or Art Knapp's should have enough, and if you want to get into esoteric specialty stuff there are (in Langley) Free Spirit, Rain Forest, and I might include Cedar Rim here too, though it's more generalist really. Just ask for help with plant selection for your conditions at any of these places, and you will be able to get a lot of plants... and perhaps be relieved of quite a bit of money :-)
     
  12. Creeping Jenny

    Creeping Jenny Active Member

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    It sounds like you are going to have a beautiful yard!
     
  13. Peter333

    Peter333 Member

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    Location:
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    Thanks Karin and Jenny. I'll let you know how it works out.

    Peter
     

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