What to plant, wet and shady area

15 years ago

I have a large area that is wet and shady, and would like to have something useful growing there. I put a sminole pumpkin there, and it seems to be doing well, so far. Maybe mushrooms? A fish farm?

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Comments (8)

kgardens
15 years ago
I have just this same situation in one part of my backyard. I received some wonderful suggestions from other GW folks to plant ferns and alocasias and colocasias. They have worked out well even with the rainy season we have experienced lately. I have alocasia Polly and Aurora as well as some hedychiums and costus gingers and several different varieties of ferns. They were just planted this spring and are all growing well but I am hoping for more filling in next year. Oh yeah, caladiums and coleus are also doing great in that environment. I even have standing water for several hours after some of these heavy downpours we've been having this month. I'm in the Tampa Bay area so Fay didn't really dump rain on me here until today :) Kay
the_musicman
15 years ago
I will have to second the suggestion for Colocasia. Not only for the site-appropriateness, but also for the usefulness!
These plants have a long history as a food source. Check the link...

Here is a link that might be useful: Potato of the Tropics - Taro
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I've quite enjoyed a patch of golden creeping Jenny, or Lysimachia nummelaria 'Aurea', in a dark, boggy corner near my fence. It's really bright, which might look nice with the white wall. Another plant that might serve is one I use as a hanging basket plant in central Ohio, but is apparently popular as a groundcover farther south -- Tradescantia spathacea. Moses-in-a-basket, boat lily, oyster plant are some of the common names. Mine is a dark purple with lavendar stripes, and I take cuttings every fall to plant it out in the summer, because I have trouble keeping it watered enough all summer here. Good luck -- it sounds like a very tricky spot!
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The first year I planted there, I planted the following : sage, thyme, summer savory, parsley, 3 different basils, oregano, chives, marjoram, cilantro, all from seed. Sage come up, but was nothing to write home about, thyme did ok, everything else either did not come up or come up one stem here, one stem there. I still find skraggly cilantro stems coming up each year, but thats it. The sage is on its third year, a healthy robust plant, and I'm looking for ppl who want some of the thyme because its expanded so much I need to split it, I simply can't use and dry so much now. I tried spinach back there last year from seedlings started indoor, but it didn't do well, same with swiss chard, but I did leave both in the ground to see if the chard comes up this year. A mix of salad greens last year come up but did not at all look appetizing. I may try again this year, as we did get an unexpected late June frost that left many replanting gardens, and I did think the greens would do ok back there. I've got half a mind just to put in a bee garden at this point lol
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ariel73
15 years ago
What zone do you live in? Or around what city?
This will help us in suggesting specific plants.
dghays
15 years ago
Whenever you say wet, you should think Florida natives. I can't remember which like shade though. Google "the natives" Davenport and they have some great selections, a few like shade. Save their plant list, then google some of their hydric shrubs. They produce flowers which attract pollinators. I recently planted about 6 shrubs which love flooding, and they are currently being tested via Fay. Biosphere nursery also would have some.

Gary
zenzilla
15 years ago
Cardinal flowers, Dog hobble (Pipestem), false nettle (Larval food for red admiral butterflies)and Rouge Plant all do well in shady wet areas.
Zen
tropicalfreak
15 years ago
Hedychium (Butterfly Ginger)
johnny_blackthumb
Original Author
15 years ago
You guys are great. I really appreciate the info.
I'm in Tarpon Springs. I was ready to order some colocacia, when I came across a warning that it is an invasive, and could escape and take over some natural habitat next door (and down to the river). Don't want to take a chance on that. Darn.
scott7876
15 years ago
If you plant the Hedychium:

Hedychium spicatum -- This is a smaller plant than those above, staying under 3', and rare in the US. Its pendant, white, lightly fragrant flowers have dark orange bases and are followed by green, orange, and red opened seed capsules. Various parts of the plants are used for incense, perfume, and (NB) in love spells

Woo Hoo, "love spells!"

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What to plant, wet and shady area

Comments (8)

kgardens

the_musicman

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ariel73

dghays

zenzilla

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johnny_blackthumb
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scott7876

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What to plant, wet and shady area

Comments (8)

kgardens

the_musicman

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ariel73

dghays

zenzilla

tropicalfreak

johnny_blackthumbOriginal Author

scott7876

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johnny_blackthumb
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