
List of the Best Plants, Trees & Shrubs that Soak Up & Absorb LOTS of Water
- 1) Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides)
- 2) Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica)
- 3) Red maple (Acer rubrum)
- 4) River birch (Betula nigra)
- 5) French rose (Rosa gallica)
- 6) Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
- 7) Red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)
- 8) Common winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
- Daylily.
- Purple Coneflower.
- Bee balm.
- Globeflower.
- Golden club.
- Japanese iris.
- Primrose.
What Tree absorbs the most water?
Which plants absorb the most water?
- Water hyssop.
- Pickerelweed.
- Cattail.
- Iris.
- Canna.
- Elephant's ear.
- Swamp sunflower.
- Scarlet swamp hibiscus.
Which plants absorb excess water in a yard?
Which plant can absorb the most water?
- Ferns. Many different ferns can tolerate excessive moisture in the ground and they can be planted at the edge of ponds or in very wet areas. ...
- Lily of the Valley. ...
- Daylilies. ...
- Indian Grass. ...
- Cattails. ...
- Iris. ...
- Elephant Ear. ...
- Monkey Flower.
What do plants absorb lots of water?
What plants absorb a lot of water?
- Water hyssop.
- Pickerelweed.
- Cattail.
- Iris.
- Canna.
- Elephant's ear.
- Swamp sunflower.
- Scarlet swamp hibiscus.
How to water your indoor plants the right way?
Part 2 of 3: Giving Plants the Water They Need
- Pay attention to the type of water you use. You might assume that water from your faucet is just fine, but you may be wrong.
- Use room temperature water. After each watering, refill your watering container and let it sit until the next time you water.
- Pour water evenly across the surface of the soil. ...
- Correct overwatering. ...
How to help water absorbent plants?
Is a wetland plant hardy?
Is Japanese Iris a water loving plant?
Is milkweed poisonous to butterflies?
Is swamp milkweed good for rain gardens?

What soaks up the most water?
List of the Best Plants, Trees & Shrubs that Soak Up & Absorb LOTS of Water1.1 1) Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides)1.2 2) Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica)1.3 3) Red maple (Acer rubrum)1.4 4) River birch (Betula nigra)1.5 5) French rose (Rosa gallica)1.6 6) Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)More items...•
What can I put in my yard to absorb water?
Break it up. Work organic matter into your soil to make your lawn more amenable to water absorption. Garden compost, leaf mold, and manure will open the soil up and create smaller channels through which water can escape.
What plant parts soak up water and minerals?
Final answer: Roots are the part of plants that absorb water and minerals from the soil.
Do plants help keep water away from foundation?
Prevent Erosion With Native Plants Adding shrubs near your foundation is a great way to boost your curb appeal and help protect your home at the same time. The roots of these plants will help hold soil near your house in place, keeping it from washing away and ruining all your grading work when it rains.
How do you fix a swampy yard?
What to do when your Backyard is a SwampDetermine the cause for poor drainage. You need to first determine what is causing water to accumulate in your yard before looking into potential solutions. ... Till the soil. ... Install a dry well. ... Grow trees and shrubs. ... Use drainage pipe. ... Slope the yard away from your home.
How do I stop rain water from pooling in my yard?
How to get rid of standing waterWater wisely. This solution is for you if you notice puddles in your lawn or driveway even when it hasn't rained recently. ... Dethatch and aerate. ... Add compost. ... Build a rain garden. ... Add a drainage system. ... Take care of gutters and downspouts.
What absorbs water from soil?
The plants absorb water from the soil with the help of root hair through osmosis. The diffusion of water molecules through a semi-permeable membrane is called osmosis. Root hair absorbs water from soil through osmosis. Water will be absorbed by root hairs by osmosis as the environment in the soil is hypotonic.
Which part of the plant absorbs the most water?
rootsThe bulk of water uptake by most plants is via the roots.
Which part of a plant soak up water from the?
rootsThe roots absorb water and hold the plant in the soil.
How do I stop water pooling around my house?
How To Divert Water From The HomeClean Your Gutters. This task is both simple and free. ... Extend Your Downspouts. ... Create A Rain Garden. ... Install A Rain Barrel. ... Seal The Driveway. ... Install A French Drain. ... Improve The Grading. ... Install A Sump Pump.
What tree absorbs the most water?
Willows are ideal for absorbing the most water. Wet areas, such as streams, lakes, and wetlands, are where they naturally grow. These plants have thus adapted their leaves and roots to absorb all of the excess water.
How do you redirect water runoff?
Redirect Runoff. Intercepting and redirecting runoff provides an opportunity to safely discharge the volume to a place beyond the problem area. This can be done using swales, French drains, catch basins or downspout and sump pump extensions.
How can I dry my wet yard fast?
If you are wondering how to dry up a wet yard or a muddy yard, the best option is to build a French drain. A French drain is a great way how to dry up a wet yard, it is a pipe inserted into the ground to drain rainwater from your yard.
Why won't my yard soak up water?
Standing water is usually caused by two common problems: poorly draining soil and low spots in the yard. Lawn thatch, the layer of thick dead leaves, roots, and stems between soil and grass, is another culprit. Heavy foot traffic can also compact soil, leading to poor drainage.
How do you dry out a muddy yard?
The best temporary fix for drying up a muddy yard is applying straw, pine shavings, or organic mulch. These solutions can dry up the yard just enough to work on it either with a vehicle or on foot. However, you'll still need to replace them with a permanent solution as they won't serve you for long.
How do you soak up water in soil?
To dry out soil quickly, you can apply hydrated lime to the soil, add compost and then turn the soil thoroughly to aerate it. Adding hydrated lime and compost will help absorb the water in your soil, and turning it all will help distribute the water in the waterlogged soil throughout your garden.
What to do if you have a wet spot in your yard?
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you have a wet spot in your yard, you may want to add plants to absorb some of the excess water. Most plants do not do well in these conditions and wet spots can lead to rot and other diseases. If you are looking for plants that absorb a lot of water, the following ten plants are ...
Why do cattails thrive in damp areas?
Cattails thrive around ponds and damp areas because they love water. They do so well that they can be difficult to control.
Do bearded iris plants need water?
Once you have established the plant, they require very little care and they multiply easily. They also absorb a lot of water. The bearded iris is the most common variety in the United States.
Can a sage plant survive in wet conditions?
Although this plant can tolerate drought, it thrives in wet conditions. It can absorb a lot of water and will grow and spread rapidly.
Can ferns survive in damp soil?
Many different ferns can tolerate excessive moisture in the ground and they can be planted at the edge of ponds or in very wet areas. There are some ferns, such as the Christmas fern, that need dry shady areas but any of the following ferns will thrive in damp conditions: Cinnamon fern. Royal fern.
What plants can tolerate wet soil?
Low-growing plants that tolerate wet areas are obvious candidates for soaking up excess water, as are taller plants that spread quickly. Ferns are classic ground covers with copious amounts of water-filtering foliage as well as dense root systems. Choose tall specimens such as ostrich fern (Matteuccia pennsylvanica), as well as lower-growing, ornamental varieties such as painted fern (Athyrium nipponicum) and lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina). For color and scent, include lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) and at least one wet-tolerant vine. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) is one option for a suckering vine that helps curb excess water. Ornamental grasses also spread quickly and sop up excess water. Good choices include sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium), sedges (Carex spp.) and giant reeds (Arundo donax).
What to plant in a swampy area?
A single evergreen or deciduous shrub can go a long way toward filling in a low-growing, swampy area in your yard, or it can form the backdrop of other rain garden plants. For shrubs that will stay green throughout the year and help control wet areas, appropriate choices include members of the Ilex family, such as inkberry (Ilex glabra) or yapoun holly (Ilex vomitoria). Deciduous options include buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), spicebush (Lindera spp.), summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) and redtwig dogwood (Cornus sericea).
What vines can be used for suckering?
For color and scent, include lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) and at least one wet-tolerant vine. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) is one option for a suckering vine that helps curb excess water. Ornamental grasses also spread quickly and sop up excess water.
What to plant in a boggy lawn?
Rather than allowing a boggy area in your lawn to harbor nothing more than mud and mosquitoes, establish water-tolerant plants. Perennial flowers, ground covers, shrubs and even trees soak up excess water with their extensive root systems and water-diverting foliage, which prevents erosion and stream-polluting runoff. Depending on how much of an area you need to cover, you may opt for a large tree, a multi-plant rain garden or simply one or two bog-loving ground covers. If you live in a Mediterranean region, look for plants that will thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 to 10.
What plants thrive in a wet, boggy spot?
A wide range of water-loving trees, shrubs and perennials soak up the excess water and thrive in boggy conditions. From willows to sweet woodruff to iris, choose plants appropriate to your USDA zone and sun exposure to make a wet, boggy spot a focal point in the landscape.
What are water-thirsty shrubs?
Water-Thirsty Native Shrubs. Native shrub species are particularly suited to wet gardens designed to absorb yard runoff. Like trees, shrubs interrupt rainfall before it hits the ground and absorb moisture from the soil through well-developed root systems. A tall flowering shrub trimmed to a multi-stemmed tree form can become the central point ...
What is the best soil for a lily?
An abundance of flowering perennials thrive in wet soils, absorbing pooling moisture with beautiful effect. Low-growing forest species such as Jack-in-the-pulpit ( Arisaema triphyllum ), hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9 lily, and sweet woodruff ( Galium odoratum ), hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8, turn shady, wet areas into woodland gardens.
What is the best plant to plant in a boggy spot?
If your boggy spot is in full sun, consider planting swamp milkweed ( Asclepias incarnata ), which thrives in USDA zones 3 through 9. A bonus, swamp milkweed is a food source for Monarch butterfly caterpillars. Rose mallow ( Hibiscus laevis) provides beautiful white to pink flowers on 4- to 6-foot tall shrubs in USDA zones 4 through 9.
What to do with wet soil?
Nearby hardscape, such as patios, walkways and driveways, can add to the problem. Turn wet areas in your landscape from a detriment to a benefit by adding plants that flourish in wet soil. Knowing which plants absorb excess water in a yard can help you design a water-tolerant landscape that complements your home and resolves drainage issues. ...
Do trees absorb water?
Trees retain as much as half of the rain falling on their leaves, cutting down on moisture before it hits the ground. Then their extensive root systems, which can extend three times or more the height of the tree, absorb water from the soil. Excessively wet soils can be devoid of oxygen, but select trees have adapted to thrive in wet soils.
Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
Black chokeberry is a deciduous bush that grows to around 3 to 6 feet in height and spread. In the spring, it bears showy white blooms that give way to small black berries that attract birds. Its foliage turns a reddish-purple in the fall. This plant is native to swamps, bogs, and damp thickets.
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
Winterberry is native to swampy parts of eastern North America. Thus, it prefers to grow in loamy, moist, acidic soil, and it can tolerate poor drainage. This woody shrub can reach 3 to 12 feet in height and spread, depending on the variety.
Inkberry Bush (Ilex glabra)
Inkberry also is native to eastern North America, where it’s often found surrounding swamps and bogs. This evergreen shrub can reach around 5 to 8 feet in height and spread, and it produces black berries in the early fall if plants of the opposite sex are growing near one another.
Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)
Pussy willow is a wetland shrub found growing throughout North America in meadows and swamps and along streams and lakes. But it also has some tolerance for dry soil. Under the right conditions, these shrubs can reach around 6 to 15 feet tall with a 4- to 12-foot spread. Prune them in the late winter or early spring as needed.
Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)
Sweet pepperbush, also known as summersweet, grows in wet woodlands and marshes, as well as along streams and seashores. It reaches around 3 to 8 feet tall with a 4- to 6-foot spread. During summer, it produces long, fragrant flower spikes that tend to attract butterflies and bees.
Tatarian Dogwood (Cornus alba)
Tatarian dogwood, also known as red-twig dogwood, is ideal for use in a rain garden, as it prefers consistently moist soil. This shrub can reach 8 to 10 feet in both height and spread, and it's valued for its red bark. To encourage new growth, prune about a quarter of the old stems in early spring each year.
Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale)
Horsetail plants can tolerate a variety of conditions, including those where the soil is wet. In the wild, these plants grow in wet woodlands and alongside bodies of water. They grow 2 to 4 feet tall with a 1- to 6-foot spread.
What is the best shrub to plant in the water?
Determine the plant hardiness zone of your location, then pick the water-thirsty shrubs to plant in your yard. 1. American Cranberry bush. The American cranberry is a viburnum and not a part of the cranberry family. It has many features that make it a suitable edible shrub.
What to do with standing water in yard?
If you have an area in your yard that always has standing water, perhaps from rain runoff, plant some scrubs that can enhance the spot and soak up the excess water. A single deciduous or evergreen shrub can perfectly fill in a swampy area in your garden.
What is the best shrub to grow in wet areas?
The leaves have short stems and are green on both sides. The swamp azalea has sweet-scented white flowers. Hardiness Zones: 3 – 9. 4. Button Bush. The buttonbush is a fantastic shrub that can adapt well to wet areas. It comes with white, round, and fragrant clusters of flowers in mid-summer and glossy green leaves.
Where is wet soil located?
Many people need to deal with wet soil in their yards most of the year. Wet soil is often located at the low point of yards. These locations more often have heavy clay and catch basins of rainwater. They do not dry out unless there is a long dry spell.
Can a flowering shrub be used as a rain garden?
Similar to trees, shrubs interfere with rainfall before it hits the ground. The well-developed root systems of shrubs absorb moisture from the soil. A flowering shrub can, therefore, become the focal point of your rain garden .
Do shrubs grow well in wet areas?
Some plants grow well in wet areas, and therefore doing your homework and choosing what shrubs soak up the most water will allow you to have an attractive and exciting garden.
What are some plants that are easy to care for?
Herbaceous plants add color and texture to your landscaping while drawing moisture away from your home. Native perennial wildflowers and grasses are easy to care for and provide season-long color. Depending on your location, native perennials can include coneflower, cinnamon fern, phlox, aster, black-eyed susan, columbine, lobelia, ...
What to plant in a rain garden?
Native shrubs and trees add height and volume to your rain garden. If space and budget allow, incorporate some larger, woody plants into your landscape design such as native azalea, buttonbush, spicebush or winterberry. Native trees suited to rain gardens include sycamore, sweetgum, dogwood and river birch. The deep roots of these trees quickly drain runoff after a storm or standing water that accumulates after a long rainy period. Trees and shrubs over 6 feet tall should be planted so tips of the foliage are at least 5 feet from the house.
How to prevent water from seeping into foundation?
Rain Gardens. Rain gardens act like a sponge to absorb excess water that pools near the home, preventing it from seeping into the foundation. Plant a rain garden in a natural depression or dig a shallow depression at least 10 feet from the foundation.
How to help water absorbent plants?
Water-absorbent plants may have to be aided by a slope or drainage pipe if they are located right at the water table. Moreover, their soil should be supplemented with organic material and tilled to create channels for water escape. Keep in mind that, though they absorb lots of water, they may also be harmed by prolonged exposure to waterlogged soil. There should be a recovery period between flooding events.
Is a wetland plant hardy?
This wetland species is quite hardy as it can tolerate both cold and warm temperatures. It produces deep-growing and extensive root systems that favor consistently moist soil. The moisture, coupled with air circulation if each shoot is spaced apart, helps the plant cope with the potentially intense summer heat in southeastern US states. Hardy to USDA zones 5 – 9, this species is perfect for use in rain gardens that are exposed to moderate temperature fluctuations.
Is Japanese Iris a water loving plant?
Japanese iris is a water-loving plant with high demands for moisture all year round. Wikiodaiba, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Is milkweed poisonous to butterflies?
The blooms of this plant are irre sistible to monarch butterflies, which tend to lay their eggs on the milkweed leaves. Once hatched, the larvae then feed on the foliage. Though safe for the caterpillars, this entire plant is slightly toxic in its raw form and may irritate both the digestive and nervous systems if ingested. If you’d like your rain garden to be fairly deer resistant, you should consider cultivating this species. Do be ready to deal with the occasional appearance of aphids, however, as they favor the milky sap.
Is swamp milkweed good for rain gardens?
Swamp milkweed is another perfect plant for rain gardens. This flowering perennial is capable of absorbing considerable amounts of water. Its root systems are able to thrive in wet to moderately moist substrates. It favors slightly acidic soil and can tolerate poor drainage, seasonal flooding, and even packed clay. Furthermore, its roots are adapted to low-oxygen conditions. In the wild, it is often found growing along the edges of lakes and ponds, in low-lying areas, and in ditches.
