Marianne's Response

Wet tolerant evergreen shrub

I live in zone 6. The back corner of my yard is low, wet, and occasionally floods. It has partial sun, but is bordered to the east by deciduous shrubs and growth. I am hoping to plant some evergreen shrubs along the fence to provide some privacy throughout the winter months. I’ve been looking at swamp tolerant evergreens and have seen a few, but most seem to be better suited to southern climates (devilwood, Wax Myrtle, inkberry, leatherwood). Do you know of any evergreens that would provide decent privacy that could serve in that setting? I can also thin some of the shrubs to the east to allow for more sunlight if needed. Thanks so much for your help!

Posted by Jen Engelhard on April 15, 2022

Marianne's Response

There are plenty of plants that lose their leaves that can survive swamp like conditions but very few evergreens that can handle such wet soil. I suggest you raise the soil level even a few inches and then on the mound add yews for dense evergreen screening as these will take the shade. Sword ferns do not grow tall but like most ferns can adapt to moist soil and members of the Cornus or dogwood family do lose their leaves but offer colorful bark in the winter. Redtwig and yellow twig dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) are shrubby to about five feet and their upright branches can provide some winter screening. Of course there is always a fence to act as instant screening. Good luck and Keep growing, Marianne Binetti

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