Shrubs That Do Well in Wet Soil
- This shrub is as lovely as its name suggests, with medium-green foliage and delicate white or pink bloom clusters that grow up to 4 inches long. The blooms last from mid to late summer and attract both hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden. Summersweet clethra grows well in full sun or shade and tolerates almost any soil. This shrub doesn't require a lot of attention, though annual pruning is a must to maintain an attractive appearance. It also benefits from an application of controlled-release fertilizer in spring.
- Virginia sweetspire has a dainty appearance, although it grows up to 6 feet tall and is quite hardy. It has bright green foliage and a rounded growth habit. In summer 3- to 6-inch drooping white blooms adorn the shrub. Once cool weather arrives, the foliage fades to various shades of burgundy, yellow and orange. Virginia sweetspire does best in full or part sun and in soil that remains moist. This shrub doesn't require regular feeding unless the soil is extremely poor or growth slows significantly.
- Common ninebark is very tolerant of cold and is hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture Zone 2. It grows up to 10 feet tall and has medium-green, 1- to 3-inch long leaves. In late spring or early summer, clusters of delicate white blooms develop and last for about one month. Common ninebark thrives in full sun to part shade and grows in nearly any soil. Feed with general-purpose fertilizer in very early spring, before new growth develops.
- Purple osier willow, as the name suggests, is a member of the willow family and is a dense, sprawling shrub that grows up to 10 feet tall and 10 feet wide. The foliage is bluish-green in summer and fades to light yellow-green in fall. Purple osier willow prefers full sun or part shade. It is hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 6, requires very little attention and grows in practically any soil. A spring application of all-purpose fertilizer helps ensure the shrub remains healthy during harsh winter weather.