I guess it wouldn't hurt to try, if you want to--the price of the trees may be good. But I suspect that the trees you saw in NY were growing in a place where although the water table was high, it was not actually a bog. And the water table was probably stable, and it did not flood the trees periodically. Below is a summary from the US forest service silvice handbook of its performance on wetter and more poorly drained sites:

"White pine grows on nearly all the soils within its range (71), but generally competes best on well drained sandy soils of low to medium site quality. These soils permit fair growth of white pine but not hardwoods. On these sandy sites, white pine regenerates naturally, competes easily, and can be managed most effectively and economically (40,47). On medium-textured soils (sandy loams), it will outproduce most other native commercial species in both volume and value (47). White pine also grows on fine sandy loams and silt-loam soils with either good or impeded drainage when there is no hardwood competition during the establishment period-as on old fields and pastures, bums, and blowdowns. It has been found on clay soils and on poorly drained or very poorly drained soils with surface mounds. It can be very productive on these sites but usually occurs only as individual trees or in small groups (47). This pine should not be planted in heavy clay soils. Poorly drained bottom land sites and upland depressions are also poor choices for planting (6)."

Although the site you have is not a natural one, it sounds to me to be similar to an "upland depression," and apparently that would not be good. But 6 hours of standing water is something that most trees can tolerate. A week or two is another matter altogether. The quote also says that it does well if there are "surface mounds," so that would make those wet sites different from yours. But, as I suggest, you could try.

You could try willow or red maple, or maybe silver maple. Perhaps some of the cultivars of Freeman maple, such as autumn blaze, a hybrid with silver and red maples, would do well, but that is just a guess based on its parents. I don't know of any conifer I would recommend, but maybe someone else can help.

--Spruce

Thanks for your response. I'm interested in conifers to avoid clogging the detention drainage system. I've read that some of the deciduous conifers tolerate wet feet but I'd also like a 12 month screeen. Given the low price, I might take a chance. Thanks again for your help.
-Dave

White pine occasionally grow in very old, stable bogs(no longer floating) in MN. I agree with everything spruceman says. And you hit the nail on the head: the biggest problem will be the initial acclamation. As you already know, arborvitae grow well in wet, and if you want wide growth, try Techny arborvitae, still a tree. Mine are easily as wide as a white pine. Very dark green too. White spruce should tolerate wet feet better than any pine, but it is obviously narrow too.

I just had a lightbulb turn on in my head--what about Atlantic whitecedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides). I know almost nothing about this tree and have had no experience with it, but I know is is native to wetlands along the east coast and think you should look into it as a possibility. I have heard that is is very slow growing on its native sites, but perhaps it would grow faster on other sites. Maybe someone here can help you with this possibility.

--Spruce

I'll look into the Techny arborvitae...the Atlantic White Cedar is a great choice since there is an effort to reintroduce them to my area (the NJ Meadowlands were covered with them 100 years ago). I might try a few but they appear to be smaller than White Pines and slower growing. Anyway, thanks again for your help.
-Dave

I wouldn't plant anything except a definte aquatic where it will soon be immersed, I think you will be wasting your time. Planting near the wet area might be possible.

Wet varies, pines in peat bogs may have protection from water molds and other hazards that your situation may not offer at all. Cold water of bogs may be much cleaner. And as already mentioned, pines seen in bogs may actually be growing in dry peat.

We have western white pine growing in wetlands out here, as well as shore pines (P. contorta). I have walked by shore pines near here that had high water marks on their trunks well above my head. Associated vegetation, such as wetland indicator redtwig dogwood also had soil and debris clinging to it from last inundation. But I wouldn't go to a nursery, bring home a shore pine and plant it where it will be underwater in a few months and stay that way all winter--unless I didn't care if there was a low probability of success.

"I have walked by shore pines near here that had high water marks on their trunks well above my head"

On the shore, with high tide (seawater), or beside rivers (freshwater from floods)?

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I've seen wild Scots Pine in western Scotland with the trunk base at 50cm above the high tide line beside a sea loch.

Resin

River delta, with Sitka spruce, which is characteristic of local wetlands. Pines only found in swamps and bogs here and there, spruce in many more of them.