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Saturday - October 03, 2009
From: Mooresville, NC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Water Gardens, Groundcovers, Shrubs
Title: Plants for wet soils in North Carolina
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I'm looking for evergreen plants (shrubs or ground cover)that will tolerate wet conditions for the zone 8 area of North Carolina. The local garden centers here do not stock these types of plants, even though much of the soil around here is prone to wetness from overflowing streams, lots of rain, topography, etc! Thank you.ANSWER:
Here are various evergreen plants that tolerate, or require, wet soils in North Carolina:
TREES/SHRUBS:
Chamaedaphne calyculata (leatherleaf)
Chamaecyparis thyoides (Atlantic white cedar)
Rhododendron maximum (great laurel)
Vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry)
VARIOUS HERBACEOUS PLANTS:
Adiantum capillus-veneris (common maidenhair) is evergreen in mild winters.
Carex cherokeensis (Cherokee sedge)
Eleocharis montevidensis (sand spikerush)
Equisetum hyemale (scouringrush horsetail)
Gelsemium rankinii (Rankin's trumpetflower) and here are photos and more information.
Hydrocotyle umbellata (manyflower marshpennywort)
Maianthemum canadense (Canada mayflower)
Rhynchospora colorata (starrush whitetop)
You can search for nurseries that specialize in native plants in your area in our National Suppliers Directory.
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