Itea virginica likes wet and you can get smaller cultivars ('Little Henry') if needed. Other wet loving shrubs include Ilex glabra (Inkberry), Ilex verticillata, Clethra (probably wants more sun), Viburnum cassinoides/nudum.

Plants won't really "keep the wetness down", they just tolerate it.

Chokeberry is another option...I like the Itea and Clethra suggestions though.

esh ga, do you mean Clethra wants more shade? I've see 'Ruby Spice' flowering in full shade...my yard and in the city.

Cephalanthus occidentalis--Buttonbush--is a great shrub.

I consider Clethra to be a full sun shrub. I'm sure you'll get some flowering in the shade, but I suspect if yours is flowering well than it is getting more sun that you realize - like morning sun. For some reason, some people (and I'm not saying that is you), don't consider morning sun to be part of the "full sun" equation - they feel like full sun is about the what comes at noon and beyond.

The original post says "partial shade". I also consider Buttonbush to be full sun and it is a fabulous plant when it gets enough sun to be covered with those unique flowers. Without enough sun, it is just a ho-hum plant. By the way, I define full sun as 6+ hours of good exposure and that can be from 7 am to whenever.

Clethra grows and blooms fine in part shade - it is native to moist woodlands :-)

And I wouldn't discount using shrub willows -- these do not grow to the size of willow trees nor do they share an equally aggressive root system. Salix purpurea 'Nana' (dwarf arctic willow), black pussy willow or Salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki' (dappled Japanese willow) will love part shade and moist conditions. You may also want to consider shrub (red or yellow twig) dogwoods or Leucothoe axillaris. All are very happy in consistently moist, part shade conditions.

And the comment about plants 'absorbing' the wetness is very valid -- plants (even large trees) won't reduce the amount of wetness to any significant degree.

Missed the partial shade part. How about Ostrich Ferns? I've seen them over 6 feet tall in full sun and wet soil.

I know it isn't a shrub, but Lobelia Cardinalis (Cardinal Flower) is a native perennials that will love the moisture, provide you with some beautiful flowers and attract butterflies.

Nandinas will grow just about anywhere and with moisture as will Chokeberry. Redtwig dogwood is another option but it gets big. Leucothoe (related to Pieris) is another.

As for Clethra, I just planted a Ruby Spice and the tag indicated full sun but also mentioned its shade tolerance. I have talked to several gardeners who say it will not suffer reduced bloom in partial shade.

As for light, gardeners typically consider full sun to be that which occurs between 11-5 since that is the most intense light. Morning light is much less intense, so I think it counts toward the light total, but not as much as the sun between 11-5.

I did a search for "plants for over septic tank" and many sites came up, including this one:

http://www.inspectapedia.com/septic/fieldplants.htm

Your post did not clarify how close to the septic tank you'd be planting, but I'd check out the potential septic damage angle more before choosing any plants.

Anne

I would definitely not plant trees or shrubs over the septic tank or leaching field. And, sadly, if you are having wet soil and very green grass from it, it may be in failure or on the way to it. Those are not good signs. Maybe get it checked?

For wet places, clethra grows wild here on woodland edges and blooms well in full shade--but on the edges, not actually in the woods. It seems to need bright light.

Another great native shrub for such places is swamp azalea, Rhododendron viscosum. Like clethra, it has a heavenly fragrance but earlier--late June here in eastern Massachusetts. Clethra blooms later in July here--the fragrance of high summer.

Clethra sounded good to me, until I did a search and learned that there is a suckering issue.

Anne

We planted a row of Salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki' in a wet spot the lowest area of our lawn. It's a beautiful plant with multi-season interest. Do check them out....

Max;

Is the ground around your septic system actually wet? I know the plants should be more lush looking there but if you have a damp area you may need to have the system looked at rather than covering the area with wetlands plants.