9 Best Flowers for Wet, Soggy Soil

Forget Me Not

Last Updated on October 31, 2021 by Phil

Do you have a backyard pond, stream or muddy section where nothing you plant there ever stays alive for long? If that’s the case, consider these best flowers for wet, soggy soil.

These are perfect for boggy, muddy or moist conditions that many plants won’t survive for long. As you probably already know, too much water is often their biggest enemy.

But, there are some beautiful flowers that actually do well in these conditions.

And, by choosing those below, you’ll be able to add wonderful color and different kinds of flowers in those parts of your yard.

 

Best Flowers for Wet, Soggy Soil

Hardy Hibiscus

Hardy Hibiscus

Hardy hibiscus are a great choice if you happen to live in an area where climate can be problematic.

These are among the few tropical flowers that can produce good sized blooms and tolerate cold winters. Thus, making them perfect if you live in the northern part of the country.

They’re likewise a good choice if you live in a locale where it can rain quite a bit then be followed by dry spells or vice versa.

That’s because it does well in wet, soggy soil but is drought tolerant as well. This dual feature makes it easy to care for when it comes to watering.

Of course, when speaking of hibiscus, it’s all about their showy flowers. And, these are fast growers with beautiful pink, blue, red and white blossoms.

They also grow to between 3 to 7 feet tall which makes them unmissable in your garden.

 

Creeping Jenny

Creeping Jenny

Image from Pinterest

Creeping Jenny is ranks among our best flowers for wet, soggy soil because it thrives in these conditions. More importantly it looks great as well.

As its name suggests, there are extend outwards by crawling. Thus, they make excellent ground cover. But, many gardeners also plant them in containers and allow them to overflow out.

Its most beautiful features are no doubt its yellow-green or even neon looking leaves as well as its flowers.

The blooms come in contrasting colors that make them easy to spot.

But, to get the best out of your creeping Jenny, it is a good idea to keep soil consistently moist. This will help them grow to about 3 feet long.

 

Forget Me Not

Forget Me Not

Forget Me Nots have one of the easiest names to remember because it just rolls off your tongue. And, they are aptly named because it is hard not to remember their beautiful flowers.

They bloom from spring until summer. And, they’re most popular in the light blue shade which is a very unique color.

However, you can likewise opt for yellow, pink and white as well.

Forget me nots can grow as perennials in zones 3 to 8 and them are drought tolerant as well. Although, they thrive in moist soil conditions.

These are great options if you’re looking for colorful groundcover or have slopes in your garden. The latter is because they help prevent erosion.

 

Canna

Canna

Canna are one of the best flowers to add to your garden if you want to add a tropical feel to it. They have uniquely gorgeous looks that you don’t normally see with most plants.

And, they’ve got the colors to back this up as well.

The best part about cannas is both its foliage and blossoms are wonderful. Often, it is just one or the other. But in this case, both will instantly catch your attention.

Because they’re hardy to zones 8 to 11, they’re often grown as annuals. And, to get the best color out of them, it is important to give them full sun combined with rich, moist soil.

Colors including pink, red, yellow and orange which are perfect for summertime.

 

Japanese Primrose

Japanese Primrose

Image from Pinterest

In contrast to the summer blooming cannas, the Japanese primrose blooms during spring. These also have a very different look as they grow in clusters.

What makes them easy to spot is are their long stalks.

As with the others in our list of best flowers for wet, soggy soil, you want to keep them in consistently moist conditions. This will allow them to keep their wonderful colors.

Also, part sun or part shade is best and avoid too much direct or intense sunlight. That said, you can keep in them full sun if the spot in your garden experiences cool summer conditions.

 

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Elephant’s Ear

Elephant’s Ear

Elephant’s ear is a term that refers to plants with oversized foliage whose shape resembles that of the animal.

But, the most prominent of these are the alocasia plants. These come in different variants so you can enjoy them in an array of shapes, colors and even variegations.

Whichever you choose, you’ll get a striking tropical plant that’s attention grabbing.

Elephant’s ear enjoy moist soil conditions. But, do make sure the soil is well-draining as well.

They can grow up to 8 feet or slightly bigger outside. And, are more manageable indoors to around 3 or so feet.

If you keep them outdoors, do note they enjoy warm conditions and cannot tolerate frost. As such, they’re best suited for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11 for growing year round outdoors.

 

Cardinal Flower

Cardinal Flower

These beautiful upright red spikes are often found near streams and swamps as they thrive in moist soil. This makes them perfect if you have backyard pond.

They’re a good option if you want some lovely red blooms that stand tall as they get to about 4 feet high.

Cardinal flowers bloom from July until September which makes them perfect for your summer garden. But, do keep them away from the harsh sun during the peak of summer.

If you live in warmer areas, do add mulch to help keep retain soil moisture.

Cardinal flowers also come in white and rose colors in addition to the very popular red. They are hardy to zones 3 to 9 and grow best in rich soil.

 

Marsh Marigold

Marsh Marigold

As its name will tell you, these beautiful yellow flowers grow in muddy and boggy conditions. As such, they’re prefect for wet, soggy soil and areas around ponds or streams.

They enjoy full sun although keep them under the shade during the warmest months of the year. They’ll do well also in part sun and shade conditions so there’s no need to worry.

Marsh Marigold are perfect if you want to add some cheery color or bright yellow. They are amazing alongside green grass which makes it easy to place them almost anywhere in your yard with wet soil.

 

Spiderwort

Spiderwort

If you want something that looks different, check out spiderwort. These are foliage plants that feature lovely clumping flowers. They are vigorous growers so they can spread.

But, this fast growth also makes them beautiful when it comes to their blooms.

That said, the first thing you’ll likely notice with this perennial are its long, green-colored arching leaves. These tend to get bushy so you may or may not want to trim them every now and then.

Spiderwort as hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9. And, they enjoy full and partial sun.

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