Skip to main content

Amazing plants you can grow in wet climates

Numerous plants prefer dry climates. However, several plants cannot get enough when it comes to water. Cultivating a garden in a wet climate is not difficult with the right choice of plants. You have to get the plants to suit the environment, though. Here are some amazing plants you can grow if you live in a wet climate, as they are water-loving and shade-craving plants.

Lettuce

green batch of lettuce on wood table
Jef Wright/Unsplash

Lettuce grows quickly and loves moderate temperatures and moisture. If you want a vegetable that does well in a wet climate, you can’t overlook lettuce.

Recommended Videos

Spinach

Spinach grows best in evenly-moist conditions but survives wet soil, too. It requires consistent wetting when planted in dry places. Moisture will ensure rapid growth and prevent the leaves from falling off.

Sugar snap peas

The snap peas are best grown in the spring. Sugar snap peas grow quickly in a wet climate. With moderate temperatures and moisture levels, pea plants continue to produce pods.

Hosta

Hosta thrives in a damp place. It is a large variety, with streaks of green leaves with yellow margins and purple flowers. It blooms from July to August. It is sun-tolerant and is therefore ideal for growing on a sunny or partially-shaded edge. Be sure to protect your plants from snails.

Astilbe

Astilbe plants carry a lot of fern foliage. During late spring, they’ll have elegant plumages of feathered flowers. They are best planted in shady and wooded gardens, where their pink or white flowers bring a touch of color.

Bleeding-heart flowers

Yes, there is a plant called bleeding-heart! These heart-shaped flowers have white tips hanging from curved stems, and they bloom in late spring and early summer. These plants will grow in light shade, but they do better in a sunny place, as long as the soil remains wet enough.

Hydrangea

hydrangea plant with blue, purple and pink flowers
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Many beautiful and versatile new hydrangeas have emerged in recent years, and there are beautiful varieties for all types of gardens. They thrive in the shade or the sun, but they like moist soil.

Dogwood

Dogwood has dark red and grayish-green stems with white margin leaves; small, cream-colored flowers; and clusters of white berries. It produces the brightest stems when planted in direct sunlight. Red dogwood is ideal for growing in a rainy garden, as it continually prefers a wet climate. This shrub is appreciated for its red bark. To encourage new growth, cut about a quarter of the old stems each year in early spring.

Yellow trout lily

The yellow trout lily grows naturally in moist forests and along streams of North America and thrives in the shade. Therefore, it is the perfect plant for shady gardens and around ponds. It has impressive yellow flowers in spring before falling into hibernation. You can grow the plant from seeds, although it can take about five years before they flower.

Leopard plant

The leopard plant is the right choice for growing around bodies of water and in wet climates. Its unique yellow-orange flowers, which bloom in early summer, are like daisies. And its large leaves have an attractive dark purple color with a few green hues. It requires regular irrigation so that the soil never dries. And be sure to give it shade, especially in the warm season.

Pigsqueak

older man and young boy gardening
CDC/Unsplash

Pigsqueak is a perennial plant grown mainly as a ground cover. It has this name because its leaves creak when you rub them between your fingers. It not only tolerates moist soil well, but it also grows well in the shade. Remove the dead flowers in time for spring to encourage more excellent flowering.

Sweet pepperbush

Sweet pepperbush, also known as summersweet, grows in moist forests and swamps and along streams and lakes. It reaches about 3 to 8 feet in height with an extension of 4 to 6 feet. In summer, it produces long spikes of fragrant flowers that tend to attract butterflies and bees. Keep the soil around your bush constantly moist with irrigation and rainfall. Cut it as needed at the end of winter.

Wind, rain, and a lack of sunshine are some of the things people complain about and give as excuses for not having flourishing gardens. The above selection of plants can help you have a great gardening experience in wet climates or water-logged soils. Where you live can be wet, but that shouldn’t stop you from having a beautiful garden.

Did you know that some shrubs thrive in wet soil? Read on further to learn all about it.

Zone 10a planting guide: Here’s what you need to know about what you can plant
Plants and their growing schedules for this zone
Woman reading book by plants

Consisting of the southernmost parts of the U.S., zone 10a is a rich region for a wide range of plants. While you might need to keep an eye out for your tender herbs and cold-hardy plants, many flowers, succulents, and plants can thrive in zone 10a's warm temperature outdoors. Below, we've put together a zone 10a planting guide to break down all that you need to know about this welcoming environment for nourishing foliage life.

What is a climate zone? 
With the Plant Hardiness Zone Map, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has divided the country into 13 different climate zones based on average annual minimum temperature ranges. Zone 1 has the coolest temperatures, while zone 13 has the warmest ones.

Read more
Can you grow plants in water beads? Here’s what you need to know
Find out what common houseplants you can grow this way
A tulip in a vase with water beads

Keeping your plants healthy includes keeping them hydrated, but what is the best way to do that? There’s traditional watering, automated watering systems for when you’re out of town, and even water globes. One option you may have heard about is growing plants in water beads. Is this really an effective way to keep your plants hydrated, though, or are the potential risks more troublesome than they’re worth? This guide to gardening with water beads will answer all your questions.

What are water beads?
Water beads are gel spheres that come in a variety of sizes and colors. They absorb water and slowly release it over time, which is why some gardeners use them to keep their plants watered. Water beads can be made from a variety of materials, including both naturally occurring and manufactured substances.

Read more
Where is the avocado growing zone? Here’s where avocados grow best
Do you live in a region where you can grow delicious avocados?
Hand holding avocado on a tree

The avocado tree was first grown in Mexico and Central America. One of the first records of the plant dates back to writings from the Aztecs, who described the plant's creamy, green flesh and rich, buttery taste. Avocado seeds were even discovered buried deep inside Aztec cities along with other artifacts.

Today, the plant is enjoyed all around the world, but where exactly can it be grown? Long story short, the avocado growing zone consists of hot and humid climates, so don't try to plant one in Siberia. If you want to try harvesting your own delicious avocados, here is what you need to know about where they grow best.

Read more