What Everybody Ought To Know About Choosing Moisture Loving Plants

Moisture Loving Plants & Ferns Love Boggy Areas

Moisture loving plants grow naturally in boggy ground, they are some of the most colorful plants for water garden and include many of the irises, lobelias and candelabra primulas.

Whilst the ground immediately surrounding pools found in nature is nearly always wet, this is not always the case in a backyard, particularly in the area surrounding your garden pond. If the perimeter of your pond has a tendency to dry up then a good tip would be to place a polythene liner under the ground at a depth of between 12 to 20 inches. This will hold the moisture (poke holes in the base to avoid water logging). Failing this you can always use the good old fashioned watering can to wet the area. Some plants species such as lobelia fulgens, Lysimachia nummularia and Zantedeschia aethiopica are very tolerant to water and are sold as marginal aquatic plants.

Moisture Loving Plants

Moisture Loving Plant Name Mature height in Inches Flowering period Description
Aruncus dioicus. goat's beard 47 to 71  winter Good plant for waterside. Dark divide foliage and heavy plumes of creamy-white flowers.
Aruncus diocus Kneiffii 24 to 35  winter Attractive light green deeply cut leaves. Creamy white flowers.
Astilbe 12 to 20  winter Height and flowering period depends upon variety.
Darmera peltata 24 to 35  spring Huge, peltate leaves often more than 12 inches  across and 24 inches to 39 inches high. The white or rose colored flowers appear in spring before the leaves, borne on stems 12 inches to 24 inches high.
F.palmata 24 to 35  winter Five-lobed dark green leaves and tiny rose pink flowers, fading to pale pink and white.
F.rubra Venusta 24 to 35  winter Deep pink, carmine flowers.
F. ulmaria 24 to 35  winter The pinnate, coarsely serrated leaves are dark green with white hairy underside. Cream-white fragrant flowers.
Gunnera manicata 71 to 118  summer A magnificent species with gigantic dark green kidney shaped leaves from 59 inches to 118 inches across, borne on long, stout, prickly stems. Insignificant green flowers form dense, cone shaped panicles.
Hemerrocallis 16 to 39  winter An invaluable genus for bog and water garden setting, producing a richness of color and wealth of flower unrivalled by any other class of plant.
Hosta 12 to 35  winter Height and flowering period depends on variety. An attractive species mainly grown for their wide height of foliage ranging from dark, glaucous green leaves to variegated and margined ones.
Ligularia przewalskii 31 to 47  winter Tall, bright yellow flowers spikes. Green leaves with a reddish underside.
Musk mallow 24 to 35  winter Excellent on poor soils. Abundance of 2 inch diameter rose-pink flowers.
Persicaria amphibia. willow grass 24 to 35  winter Long lanceolate leaves and pretty pink spikes of flowers.
Persicaria amplexicaulis Atrosanguinea 35 to 39  winter The attraction of this plant is its long flowering season, producing large quantities of scarlet flower spikes.
Persicaria bistorte Superba 28 to 31  winter Very deep pink flowers.
Primula beesiana 16 to 24  winter A beautiful Chinese bog primula, producing whorls of fragrant, rosy carmine flowers.
Primula Bartley strain 20 to 35  winter Many attractive colors, buff, apricot, rose, pink and salmon hues with all the intermediates.
Primula bulleyana 24 to 35  winter Candelabra group, dark green leaves are oblong and ovate, numerous stems have buff/orange flowers.
Drumstick primrose 12 to 24  summer Vigorous growth, very suitable for water side planting. Colors range from pale lilac to deep purple and carmine.
Primula denticula Alba 12 to 24  winter Common Himalayan primrose, robust growth, pure white.
Primula denticulata Rubra 12 to 16  summer Handsome variety with deep purplish red flowers and large, smooth foliage.
Primula floridae. giant cowslip 24 to 35  winter Resembles a giant cowslip, heart-shaped leaves and soft yellow bell shaped flowers.
Primula japonica 24 to 35  winter Calelabra group, waterside species with rosettes of pale green. Oblong-obovate leaves and stout stems with crimson flowers.
Primula japonica Millers Crimson 20 to 24  winter Large heads of brilliant dark crimson flowers.
Primula rosea 6 to 8  summer Tufts of pale green foliage and loose umbels of clear rose flowers.
Primula sikkimensis 16 to 24  winter One of the most beautiful of the genus. Pale green leaves, fragrant, nodding, pale yellow flowers.
Primula vialii 12 to 16  winter Pale green leaves, dense spikes of dainty lavender blue flowers. Before opening, the buds are a conspicuous shade of bright red.
Primula vulgaris 6 to 8  summer A dwarf species with a rosette of bright green corrugated leaves and yellow flowers with deeper centers.
Rheum palmatum 79 to 118  winter Slow growing plant with gigantic leaves, requiring a great deal of space. Pink or red bead-like flowers.
Rheum palmatum Atrosanguineum 79 to 118  winter Improved form with richer red leaves.
Rodgersia pinnata Elegans 39 to 59  winter Decorative, perennials plant with feathery, bronzed foliage and rich rose blooms.
Schizostylis coccinea 24 to 35  summer Mid-green, flat sword like leaves. Six to ten star-shaped red flowers on each stem.
Schizostlis coccinea Mrs Hegarty 24 to 35  summer Mid green, green, flat sword like leaves. Six to ten star-shaped pink flowers on each stem.
Scrophularia auriculata Variegata 24 to 39  winter An outstanding plant with dark green leaves and bright cream variegations. Insignificant maroon flowers.
Golden rod 12 to 24  winter Golden yellow flower bracts in many rows.
Trollius 24 to 47  winter Large round buttercup like flowers and dark green leaves.

List Of Moisture Loving Ferns

Moisture Loving Fern Name Mature height in Inches Average spread in Inches Description
Adiantum pedatum 12 to 18  12 to 20 A beautiful North American variety with purplish black stems and delicate foliage.
Adiantum venustum 12 to 18  12 to 20 A very striking outdoor species with light green, gracefully dropping fronds and glistening black stems.
A. scolopendrium Capitatum. crested 12 to 16  12 to 20 Strap shaped leaves ending in a finely chiseled crest.
A. scolopendrium Cristatum. spleen wort 12 to 18  12 to 20 Leaf divides about half away from the top, re-divides and has crests or tassels on the upper part of fronds.
A. scolopendrium Marginatum 12 to 18  12 to 12 A narrow leaf with a deeply lobed margin.
A. scolopendrium Undulatum 12 to 18  12 to 20 The leaf has a frilly, undulating edge.
A. scolopendrium Vulgare Hart's tongue fern 12 to 18  12 to 20 The common form of the hart's tongue fern having evergreen leaves which are bright green, smooth, leathery and strap-shaped.
Athyrium filix-femina. the lady fern 31 to 35  16 to 24 One of the prettiest of our native ferns, with tufts, with tufts of tall, lacy pale green arching foliage.
Athyrium filix-femina Cristatum 28 to 35  16 to 24 Prettily crested leaves.
Athyrium filix-femina Vernoniae 35 to 39  12 to 20 Delicate, pale green fronds with terminal crests and a conspicuous red mid-rib.
Athryrium filix-femina Victoriae 35 to 39  16 to 20 An outstanding variety with green fronds having criss cross patterns and crested borders.
Dryopteris affinis Cristata. crested buckler fern 12 to 20  16 to 20 Erect, deep green crested fronds.
Dryopteris erythrosora. autumn fern 18 to 24  12 to 20 Broad triangular fronds with glossy, coppery pink new growth. Matures to green.
Dryopteris filix-mass. male fern 20 to 28  16 to 24 A hardy species of the Northern Hemisphere which has feathered and crested, deep green foliage.
Dryopteris filix-mas. the king 31 to 35  16 to 24 Imposing, crested variation with arching fronds.
Dryopteris filix-mas Crispa cristata 12 to 16  8 to 12 A dwarf fern with spreading, deep green fronds.
Dryopteris filix-mas Linearis 30 to 35  16 to 24 Tall growing fern with finely cut hairy fronds.
Matteuccia struthiopteris. ostrich feather fern 35 to 47  16 to 24 A very graceful plant with pale green, dropping fronds, giving the effect of a giant shuttlecock.
Sensitive fern 12 to 24  12 to 24+ Long stemmed, pale green fronds, sensitive to frost, hence the name. If planted close to water, it has been known to ramble over the surface.
Royal fern 47 to 59  16 to 39+ Large, delicate, pale green fronds turning to deep russet hues in autumn. Requires moist or very wet conditions.
Osmunda regalis Cristata 35 to 47  16 to 24 Beautiful variety with spreading fronds, each pinna conspicuously crested.
Polystichum polyblepharum 12 to18  20 to 24 Medium -sized, deciduous, hardy fern with stout, erect fronds.
Polystichum setiferum. soft shield fern 28 to39  20 to 35  Easy growing species with lance-shaped fronds and thumb-like projections. Tolerant of deep shade but must be kept moist.
Polystichum setiferum Divisilobum 18 to 20  16 to 24 Finely divided, leathery green fronds.

Sometimes it can be difficult to find the exact plant species that you are looking for. By clicking the following link you will be able to see a comprehensive list of water garden plants showing both their English and Latin plant names to help you find exactly what you are looking for.

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