Five Native Shrubs for Moist Spots in the Southeast

Fill wet and muddy spots with these select plants that are perfectly adapted to our region

In the Southeast , we can sometimes have cockeyed year . The long springs of those class tempt me into imbed “ just one more flora ! ” while I brush off the specter of summer droughts past . But those pelting also unwrap more than one low spot in my landscape that stay mucky for a few day after a honorable soaker . In fact , I latterly watch in grief as a paperbush ( Edgeworthia chrysantha , Zones 7–9 ) succumbed to root moulder in one such area . This got me thinking that you may always tally water , but you ca n’t take it away . It makes sense to take plants with the wet years in mind when you ’re faced with areas that do n’t drain so well . Here are five of my favorite shrubs that can take it wet for a while and hang tough when it ’s not . As a incentive , these species are all aboriginal to the Southeast .

Swamp azalea

Rhododendron viscosum , Zones 4–9

If you ’ve produce a sozzled area in fond shade , add up swamp azalea to your wish list . Like many other aboriginal azaleas , it has clump of flaring , fragrant flush that attract butterfly . But the livid or pink - tinged bloom of swamp azalea appear after the leaves , between June and July ( depending on where you are in the Southeast ) , and their fragrance is spicy than that of their high - spring cousins . If you sweep a efflorescence when you move in end for a sniff , you may end up with a sticky rest or a flower itself stuck to your nose . count closely , and you will see sticky glands covering the blossom tubes and infer why this species is sometimes called clammy azalea . swampland azalea is modest growing at just 3 to 5 understructure marvelous , and it displays some downfall colouring material of gold , orange , and burgundy tones .

‘Burgundy Spice’ sweetshrub

Calycanthus floridusvar.purpureus‘Burgundy Spice ’ , zona 4–9

A new addition to the sweetshrub gang of selections and hybrids , ‘ Burgundy Spice ’ is a real looker . Sweetshrub is best known for the unique , fruity fragrance of its spring flowers — a favorite natural perfume of Southern ladies of eras past . The Bourgogne - color leaves of this selection cover the slow suckering bush , make its flowers a distant memory board and bringing contrast in spades to smirch that are sunny to fond shade . While it can touch 6 to 8 feet tall and 8 feet wide finally , it respond well to pruning to keep it at a more manageable sizing . Like other sweetshrubs , it can have adorable golden - yellowish fall color . Keep your eye out for this one , as it ’s likely to sell out .

Sugar Shack®buttonbush

Cephalanthus occidentalis‘SMCOSS ’ , Zones 5–9

If you ’re looking at a full sun but peculiarly wet area in an average - sized nursing home landscape painting , Sugar Shack ® buttonbush is my top option for you . Sugar Shack ® has the same out - of - this - world , perfectly orotund blank flower clusters in midsummer as the full-strength species , but on a shrub half the elevation . A slowly suckering shrub , average 4 infantry tall and 4 feet encompassing , this buttonbush has the right amount of substance without take over a bed . Buttonbush brings all the pollinators to the yard . When it ’s blooming , bees , butterfly , and hoverflies are buzzing all around . Its fall colouring seldom wow , but this selection promises crimson fruits to fall out flowers , so you ’re begin more than one season of show .

‘Cayenne’ silky dogwood

Cornus amomum‘Cayenne ’ , Zones 4–9

If you ’re see for a little wintertime interest in your low daub , be on the lookout for ‘ Cayenne ’ redtwig silky dogwood . We Southeasterners are delinquent for a redtwig cornel that can actually thrive in our summertime . This young selection of a seldom used species holds keen hope . Silky cornel are not tree but rather suckering bush that bear clusters of small white bloom ( not the magnanimous bracts of flowering cornel ) that are subtle but pleasing . The berry that stick with are striking shade of blue and would append to the shrub ’s ornamental appeal if the bird did n’t bolt them up like free candy . The stem of the straight coinage sometimes have a dull ruddy coloration , but ‘ Cayenne ’ lights up like red neon once the farewell have spend and the winter sun turns it on . ‘ cayenne pepper ’ can reach 6 to 8 feet grandiloquent and 8 to 10 feet wide , but since the best colour will develop on one - to - two - class - old stalk , I recommend pruning it for raw growth every year or so .

‘Don’s Dwarf’ wax myrtle

Morella cerifera‘Don ’s Dwarf ’ , Zones 7–10

Finally , if some evergreen plant complex body part is what you thirst in that low spot , attempt out this midget wax myrtle . Wax myrtle is so tough and so pruneable that it can sometimes be overuse or crammed into spaces too small for its potential difference . That ’s why I hump this selection ; it ’s the right size for understructure and shrub grouping . lead the screening to the straight species . Not only is its ultimate size of 3 to 4 feet marvellous and 4 to 5 animal foot blanket more manageable , but its foliage texture is fine and denser . ‘ Don ’s Dwarf ’ has the distinctive spicy , energize scent of wax myrtle and berries for the hiss to boot .

— Paula Gross is the former assistant director of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Botanical Gardens .

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