Which shrubs grow well in wet soils?

Question:

Which shrubs grow well in wet soils?

Answer:

Deciduous shrubs tolerant of wet soils include:

• red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)*
• common sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus)*
• buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)+
• summersweet clethra (Clethra alnifolia)*
• gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa)+
• redosier dogwood (Cornus sericea)+
• winterberry (Ilex verticillata)+
• Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica)*
• northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)*
• goat willow (Salix caprea)
• purpleosier willow (Salix purpurea)
• elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)+
• witherod (Viburnum cassinoides)*
• arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)*
• American cranberrybush viburnum (Viburnum opulus var. americanum, syn. Viburnum trilobum)+

* Native to parts of North America
** Some species native to parts of North America
+ Native to North America, including parts of Iowa

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Learn more in these articles:

• Native Shrubs for Moist to Wet Locations
• Trees and Shrubs for Wet Soils