What kind of plants thrive in a wet area?

Our back yard never completely dries out, it's always damp. In order to "fix" this problem I'm planning on planting plants that thrive in a wet area and landscaping (this spring) so that the excess water runs off in a ditch nearby. I don't want to plant a willow tree because we have a custom in ground pool and I don't want the root system to ruin the cement walls of the pool. Best suggestions will get 10 points! Thanks so much for helping out!

What kind of plants thrive in a wet area?
Redtwig and Yellowtwig Dogwoods ( shrubs) (Cornus alba, C. sericea)


Sweetshrub ( Calycanthus)


Clethra


Itea


Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)


Winterberry, - a deciduous holly (Ilex verticillata)


Some ornamental grasses, such as Miscanthus,Carex,Juncus and Molina


Lots of varieties of those .


Sweetflag (Acorus)


Daylilies (Hemerocallis sp)


Iris - Japanese (Iris ensata) , Siberian (I siberica) ,Yellowflag (I. pseudoacorus) Blue Flag (I. versicolor)


Petasites


Lobelia


Ligularia


Trees? Somewhat limited because of the pool .





River Birch (Betula nigra ) Big(50-60') , so there will be leaves.


Bald Cypress (Taxodium distictum) this is the tree with "knees", that is common to southern swamps . It's surprisingly cold hardy. No knees, unless it's submerged most of the time .





Larch (Larix sp) These are deciduous confers, that populate much of the boreal forests around the world. Weeping European Larch (Larix decidua 'Pendula') is the most commonly available .





ps I see Pampas Grass mentioned ^ . Don't do it . Even the hardier dwarf type won't survive, long-term . Tried it here (S-Central NY) , 25 of 'em , where I used to work . Every one died within two years . The first winter was mild , so some made it, but none survived the second winter .
Reply:lucky you!! our ground is so dry it shudders when you walk on it. anyway try googling for bog plants, there are just so many, and you can create an absolutely stunning garden......
Reply:Can you please let me know what part of the country you live in and it you know your zone area I can try my best to help you.
Reply:I live in Washington state west of the Cascades, where it rains ALL the time. We have lots of ferns, blackberry, trillium (in the spring), aspidistra ("cast iron plants"), blueberries, and so on. Members of the pea family (like "sweetpeas") work beautifully; also, wild violets and members of the evening primrose family do well in wet ground. Mints, and the various figworts also grow well in moist soil. Many grasses and sedges, and true aquatics will also thrive in those conditions. Be sure to make your choices based on the level of light available as well as the fact that you have wet ground. Also be sure that if the water is going to run off into a ditch that you limit the amount of fertilizer that you allow to run off; when the stuff gets into streams it does some serious damage in terms of overgrowth of aquatic plants. If you can manage it, it's best to allow water to be absorbed rather than run off; there are lots of different types of open-structure paving stones that can allow this and still look very nice.





Good luck!
Reply:Roses, Iris, lily's and some vegetables may help your are. Also a drain line or a diversion culvert may help keep the water from reaching your area.
Reply:canna bulbs. after frost cut back and dig up the bulb,





also if it is constantly wet like a puddle that doent dry out a hardy wate lily is nice.
Reply:Iris's like a wet environment, as do most lilys, pampas grass, phlox, heliotrope, periwinkle, may apples, some kinds of bamboo...but be careful of those because they can take over an area very quickly.

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