Suggestions needed for wet site

I have an area of one of my gardens that is constantly wet. Our sump drains in this particular area and over the years we have tried various things (re-routing the water, dug out 4-ft and put in gravel and backfilled) but nothing works. Since I'm in KS remember we get those down-pouring thunderstorms in Spring followed by weeks & weeks of drought in Aug/Sept.

In the Spring this spot can be like a mini-pond (stagnate though) and in summer it can dry out to be "consistently moist" soil. Even in the winter this spot has ice or "marshy" spots. It is in FULL sun and is at the edge of my property where a neighborhood walking trail runs. So I've tried wildflowers here but no luck.

This year I want to try tackling the area one more time. I'm looking for sun-loving plants that can take lots of water. Any help or ideas would be appreciated. I'm thinking something along the edges of ponds might do well, but don't want a cat-tails and reed grass look either. I'd really like to have some blooming plants here if at all possible. Brenda

I think I'd dig it out some and put a pond there.

Try doing a search for bog plants/gardens. I have a similar area and have put certain ornamental grasses, marshmallow-the herb, swamp hibiscus, ribbon grass, Jerusalem artichokes, etc. They can take standing in water and also dryer periods once established.

These are both great ground covers for areas like you describe, they wouldn't be tall, but are tenacious growers and love the wet mucky condition you describe.

Mimulus guttatus
http://plantsdatabase.com/showpicture/26373/

Moneywort
http://plantsdatabase.com/showpicture/26278/

Thanks All!!!

darius---I keep trying to get DH to dig it out again for that purpose, but since it's at the far property line we don't have any electrical out there. I'll admit I'm a bit "pond challenged" so maybe electrical isn't needed, but I thought the pumps were required to keep them aerated.

Badseed--I did search the PDB for both "bog" and consistently moist options for my zone with full sun as the other filter option. Got LOTS of water lilys but only a few other suggestions (Louisiana and Japanese Iris).

Happenstance--THANKS! I'll have to give both of these a try. As I limited my PDB search to Z5b I think I missed this, but push the zone on several other plants in my gardens so the monkey flower might actually work.

Thanks to all for your input.

Chelone (Turtlehead), Myosotis scorpioides (Water Forget-me-nots), Astilbe, Tradescantia (Spiderwort), Lobelia, Physostegia (Obedient Plant), Swamp Hibiscus and many others wil thrive in a boggy site. Here are the results I got when I searched for perennials for full to part sun, consistently moist soil, hardy to zone 5b:

http://plantsdatabase.com/advanced.php?nn%5B16%5D=10&nn%5B1%5D=0&nn%5B2%5D=0&nn%5B3%5D=9&nn%5B4%5D=2&nn%5B5%5D=0&nn%5B6%5D=0&nn%5B7%5D=0&nn%5B8%5D=0&nn%5B9%5D=7&nn%5B23%5D=0&nn%5B10%5D=0&nn%5B12%5D=0&sname=Plants&Search.x=41&Search.y=5

Go to Google and do a search. Not only will you get plant ideas, but ideas for building and maintaining a bog.

Louisiana Iris! Sounds like the perfect spot for them.

Cheri'

Might 5b be a bit cold for most Louisiana Iris? And I *thought* I read they don't like having their feet wet in the winter...maybe I read that wrong, tho....

Hmmmmm, I know that many, if not most, are very cold hardy. I never heard anything about wet feet in the winter ... it's a pond plant as well as a garden plant. But, I don't know a thing about about gardening in real cold.

anyway here is a page about growing them in the Midwest (zone 4). They make it sound more complicated than it needs to be.
http://www.louisianairis.com/irises_in_cold_midwest.htm

and here they talk about them as pond plants.

http://sliris.bizland.com/cultivars/culture_book.html

Cheri' < just falling in love with LA Irises

Ok, ladies....I think I'm on the right track, just needed a bit of confirmation.

I ordered Turtleheads in the Sunfarm COOP last week so figure that will go in this spot. Also have a trade with farmgirl21 (Nancy) for obedient plant. I didn't realize Tradescantia would do well in a boggy area (I have bunches of that to the point I was trading it off last year!). I'll move a clump to the bog area and see what happens.

I found the LA and Japanese iris as possibilities this AM with a PDB search, but Terry's search produced better results than mine (how'd you do dat?).

Cheri--I confirmed hardiness in the PDB entries and looks like LA iris can make it here in Z5 (I'm really more of a Z6 microclimate where I'm at anyways). So I'll definitely give those a try. Know any good sources??

Thanks again....keep 'em coming. I'm making a plant list for the area to work through this year. Brenda

I got mine from Iowa Daylily Patch's going out of business sale. He doesn't seem to have much left ... I don't really know that much about 'em. I just got started with them in the fall.

http://iowadaylilypatch.com/louisian.htm If you order, call and confirm availability ...

I've got a bud on my Gerry Marsteller!!! =)

Cheri'

Ordered 6 lilies from him. Thanks Cheri'

Brenda, here's a link to one of the Iris pages that explains the care and cultivation of Louisiana Irises. Maybe I haven't lost my mind afterall, (at least not on this issue, lolol!) as this is probably where I read the following "...the water levels need to be dropped in the winter because letting the plants freeze in ice during the winter is fatal." Just something to keep in mind, depending on what this site is like in the winter.

Terry---thanks....can you provide that link? I do get ice in the spot in winter.

Ooops - sorry! Here ya go: http://www.region18.com/non-bearded_&_arils.htm

I put a clump river birch in my low spot 12 years ago. It's beautiful in all seasons, grows fairly fast but is not brittle like a willow. the area is not wet anymore.