First of all thank you in advance for your suggestions.
Background: I'm making over a bed in the front of a house which is extremely wet. (There are really expensive ways to fix this of course but I do not have the luxury to go that route) The bed is ~15 foot by ~8 foot and has 10 foot tree/shrubs that are limbed up and provide adequate shade to the house, a bedroom in particular. They will stay by request to keep the room shaded. I plan to raise the bed 3-4 inches in an attempt to dilute the water retention in that area.
Problem: What to plant in a semi-shaded damp area? I need perennials that are well behaved and "easy." My relative is not much of a gardener and I don't want to be called upon constantly to clean up or fix things. It just needs to look "pretty." To be honest they really don't care what goes in, but I do. I'll post a picture this afternoon of what I'm working with. Japanese Painted ferns?
Thanks.
-Paul
Project help, really wet partial shade bed
Here is what I'm working with. The pictures were taken with my laptop so excuse the quality.
I came up with a quick list already from some research in this forum:
Heucheras (heucherellas)
Japanese Painted Ferns (FERNS IN GENERAL)
Bright hostas that clump
Cardinal flower
Astilbe....
Rodgersia & ligularia would be big bold statements, if you need some size.
Both can be very pretty.
There are several pretty carex and acorus species (grasses) which can be very effective in moist shade.
Primulas offer spring color. Astilbes, as you already mentioned.
I'm sure others will have other suggestions.
Paul,
Some ferns do really well in moist shade - specific ones that I know about are the cinnamon fern and the ostrich fern. Both of these can get spectacular in a damp area compared to how they do in a dry one. Just look at this picture that Coleup/Judy posted of her ostrich fern/bleeding heart combo:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=9496580
I've also noticed that my jack-in-the pulpits, astilbes, and crested iris perform better in moist shade locations too. Years ago, I saw posts of SongsofJoy's gardens where she had hostas actually thriving in standing water! I'm guessing they would do well too, and you can't get any easier than hostas (unless there is a deer problem). I'm working on a new "turtle garden" this year, and will be experimenting with moist shade conditions there, so the suggestions you receive will come in handy for me too. One that I'm trying that is supposed to like the conditions is Chelone lyonii 'Hot Lips' (aka turtle head). Weerobin, which primulas? I've heard that primula japonica does well but not heard anything about others.
Paul, when I was doing research for my rain garden, I read that grasses should make up 25% (if sunny) to 50% (shady) of rain gardens. They said the root systems of grasses are such that they end up doing a lot of the work of water absorption.
I find sedge type of grasses to be a lot easier to maintain than miscanthus-like tall grasses. They don't need to be divided as often and I don't need to cut them down in the spring. Some online sources say that you should do an annual haircut but they still look fine in late winter.
Acorus and Carex types of grasses do well in wet soil, and they come in all different colors, textures, and variegations.
I also planted golden creeping jenny. They grow fast, so I'm hoping they'll compete with weeds until the perennials fill in. (Oh, my rain garden is 90% finished. :)
ssgardener -- congratulations on your rain garden!
terp -- will this area get supplemental water? That's always my concern. It may hold water forever during rainy months, but ligularia and most astilbe won't happily survive a dry August without rain. (OMG, I've never disagreed with weerobin before so I must be off-base!).
But it does seem to me that if your relative won't water this area, you really need plants that don't mind soggy soil but are still drought tolerant.
And do you have to worry about deer? If not, I'd go heavy on hostas. They can handle almost any moisture level. And I agree with ssgardener on grasses. And with aspen on ferns.
My favorite Heuchera of the moment is "Rave On", btw; really really nice flowers as well as leave patterning.
I've accidentally had heuchera in pots with no drainage and they did fine sitting in water, so they should be ok in a wet site like that. They seem to handle drought ok as well.
Happy, now I have a cubic yard of clay soil to dispose of. Yikes!
Ssgardener -- I'll swap for almost anything -- half dead plants, invasives, you name it. But even I know not to raise my hand for a cubic yard of clay soil! I'd drive it to the dump! Or you could go on a hike in the park to see if there is a shallow spot that doesn't have any plants in it that needs leveling.... Or you could toss it over your fence into the yard of the neighbor with the friendly dog, at the dead of the night....
japanese iris, hibiscus, hostas and impatients may do ok.
I had a hibiscus that I put in my goldfish pond and it did fine.
you might try creeping jenny. I guess it depends on how much shade/sun there is.
Thanks for all the input.
I will probably go with a mix of grasses ferns and hostas astilbes and heucheras.
Simple, easy and colorful.
We look forward to the photos, before and after!
Lots of good suggestions here. Nothing to add plant wise.
Do have concerns about drainage and house foundation as excessive moisture against foundation can cause damage to exterior and interior that can be much more expensive than correcting drainage away from house. Or is that area "extreemly wet" for another reason than rainfall ? From pic looks like downspout could be extended or rerouted.
Also, adding 3- 4 inches of soil could be problematic for the existing trees since they are important enough to home owners to want to retain them. Can't tell what kind they are from the photos , but hopefully they are as big as they will get.
Good luck in your endeavors! I'm sure it will be beautiful.