THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, October 9, 1994                TAG: 9410070120
SECTION: HOME                     PAGE: G5   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY ROBERT STIFFLER, GARDEN COLUMNIST 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   51 lines

SOME PLANTS DON'T MIND GETTING THEIR ROOTS WET

ONE OF THE questions gardeners most frequently ask is, ``What can I plant in a wet place in my yard?'' They've usually learned the hard way that many plants cannot stand wet feet. They slowly die.

Most plants do best in rich, moist but well-drained soil. To correct a wet area, the problem can be attacked by attempts at surface ditching or underground tiling to provide drainage. An alternative is to add soil to fill the low places.

It may be more practical to replant with plants suited for wet areas. The Dawes Arboretum in Ohio says there are many web-footed plants that will grow in soggy spots. Here is their list.

Trees: Red maple (Acer rubrum), alder (Alnus spp.), serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.), river birch (Betula nigra), sugar hackberry (Celtis laevigata), sweet gum (Liquidambar styracifula), sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana), London plane tree (Platanus acerifolia), sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum) and all the willow trees (Salix spp.)

Shrubs: Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia), strawberry bush (Calycanthus floridus), fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus), summersweet (Clethra alnifolia), Siberian dogwood (Cornus alba `Sibirica'), bloodtwig and redosier dogwood (Cornus sanguinea and stolifera), inkberry (Ilex glabra), winterberry (Ilex verticillata), spice bush (Lindera benzoin), bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica), eastern arborvitea (Thusa occidentalis), blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum), nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) and cranberry viburnum (V. trilbobum).

Perennials: Giant reed (Arundo donox), calico aster (Aster lateriflorus), astilbe (Astilbe spp.), marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos), iris (Iris spp.), Canada lily (Lilum canadense), Turkscap lily (L. superbum), cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), bee-balm (Monarda didyma), true forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides), sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea), royal fern (Osmunda regalis), Japanese primrose (Primula japonica), common arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia), globeflower (Trollius spp.) and violets (Viola spp.).

Remember that wet spots refers to areas where freshwater accumulates. Most plants will not survive in brackish or saltwater. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

The cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is one plant that will

survive in wet soil.

by CNB