Whole Document Navigator (Click Here)    ---------------------------------- Top of Document REFERENCES Footnotes Disclaimer Copyright Infomation

North Florida Landscape Plants for Wet Areas¹

Frank Regulski, Jr. and David Marshall²

Most areas of north Florida have soil conditions which enable many ornamental plant species to thrive. However, some sites create special planting problems if plant selection is not done carefully. One such site is the wet site.

A wet site can range from an area which is occasionally flooded to an area which is constantly wet. It is usually an area which collects and holds water longer than the areas surrounding it. These conditions may be caused by several factors:

1. The area might have a high water table beneath the soil surface. To test for this, dig a hole 2' deep. If it fills to within 1', a high water table is present.

2. The area catches runoff from other areas.

3. The area has a soil with a high clay content which impedes downward drainage.

Any of these factors can cause a wet site situation in which the soil is saturated with water. This excess soil water reduces the oxygen in the soil necessary for proper root growth. If at all possible, a wet site should be drained either by diverting runoff, regrading the area, or installing drainage tile.

If such site is not feasible or not desired, the plants used on the site should be selected according to their tolerance of wet soil conditions. The following shrubs and trees are well adapted to wetter-than normal sites in the north Florida landscape. See Table 1 .

REFERENCES

Barrick, W.E. and R.J. Black. "Landscape Trees for Energy Conservation: North Florida Trees." Florida Cooperative Extension Service Circular EES-1.

Barrick, W.E., D.L. Ingram, and J.T. Midcap. "Selected Shrubs for North Florida." Florida Cooperative Extension Service Circular 500.

Dirr, Michael A. 1977. "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification." Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation, and Uses. 2nd Ed. Stipes Publishing Co. Champaign, Illinois. 536 pp.

Foote, Leonard, E. and Jones, Samuel B. Jr. 1989. Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of the Southeast: Landscaping Uses and Identification. Timber Press. Portland, Oregon. 199 pp.

Meerow, Alan W. and Black, Robert J. "Landscaping to Conserve Energy: Ground Covers for North Florida." EES-37.

Watkins, J. and T. Sheehan. Florida Landscape Plants. University of Florida Press, Gainesville.

Whitcomb, Carl E. 1983. Know It and Grow It. II. Lacebark Publication. Stillwater, Oklahoma. 720 pp.

Wyman, D. 1971. Shrubs and Vines for American Gardens. Macmillan Company. New York. 613 pp.

Wyman, D. 1971. Trees for American Gardens. Macmillan Company. New York. 502 pp.

Tables

Table 1.

Table 1. North Florida Landscape Plants for Wet Areas.
Scientific Name	Common Name	Size	Comments
Evergreen Shrubs
1. Bambusa spp.	Bamboo	2-30'	Can be a pest, depending on species
2. Elaegnus pungens	Silverthorn	8-12'	Durable screen plant, fragrant flowers
3. Euonymus spp.	Euonymus	10-12'	Durable with variegated cultivars
4. Fatsia japonica	Japanese Fatsia	5-7'	Large, unusual leaves
5. Ilex cornuta	Chinese holly	3-20'	Dark green glossy foliage
6. Ilex glabra	Inkberry	2-8'	Good foundation plant or screen
7. Ilex opaca	American Holly	12-30'	Attractive winter fruit, numerous cultivars
8. Ilex vomitoria	Yaupon Holly	4-25'	Responds to pruning, berries for birds
9. Kalmia latifolia	Mountain Laurel	4-6'	White to rose flowers, native shrub
10. Leucothoe fontanesiana	Drooping Leucothoe	2-6'	White, fragrant flowers, lustrous green foliage
11. Ligustrum spp.	Ligustrum	6-12'	Most are durable, fast-growing
12. Myrica cerifera	Southern Wax-Myrtle	15-25'	Attractive bark, tendency to develop multiple stems
13. Nerium oleander	Oleander	6-16'	Yellow, red, pink, or white summer flowers; all parts poisonous if eaten
14. Osmanthus fragrans	Fragrant Tea Olive	15-20'	Very fragrant fall flowers
15. Prunus caroliniana	Carolina Cherry-Laurel	30-40'	Can be a pest by birds spreading seed
16. Rhapidophyllum hystrix	Needle Palm	4-8'	Small, slow-growing, landscape palm
17. Trachycarpus fortunei	Windmill Palm	6-20'	Very showy small palm
Deciduous Shrubs
18. Calycanthus floridus	Sweetshrub	6-9'	Very fragrant flowers in late spring
19. Chionanthus virginicus	Fringetree	20-25'	White, fragrant flowers in late spring
20. Clethra alnifolia	Summersweet Clethra	3-8'	White, fragrant flowers in summer
21. Hydrangea quercifolia	Oakleaf Hydrangea	6-7'	White flowers in early summer, red-orange fall foliage
22. Ilex decidua	Deciduous Holly	15-20'	Orange to scarlet berries in fall and winter
Deciduous Vines
23. Parthenocissus quinquefolia	Virginia Creeper	-	Bright red fall foliage
Evergreen Vines
24. Lonicera japonica	Japanese Honeysuckle	-	Very fragrant flowers all summer
25. Lonicera sempervirens	Trumpet Honeysuckle	-	Red or yellow flowers, no fragrant
Ground Covers
26. Dichondra carolinensis	Dichondra	2"	Small round leaves; considered a weed in lawns
27. Gelsemium sempervirens	Carolina Yellow Jessamine	3-4'	Bright yellow spring flowers; grows upward, making use as ground cover limited
28. Hedera canariensis	Algerian Ivy	6"	Larger leaves than English Ivy
29. Hedera helix	English Ivy	6"	Fast-growing ground cover
30. Liriope spp.	Liriope	1'	Lilac to white flowers; will tolerate no foot traffic
31. Ophiopogon japonicus	Mondo Grass	1'	Finer texture than liriope, but similar
32. Selaginella involvens	Erect Selaginella	1'	Good under trees; has unique, fern-like appearance
33. Trachelospermum asiaticum	Japanese Star Jasmine	1'	Non-climbing vining groundcover with fine texture
34. Trachelospermum jasminoides	Confederate Jasmine	1'	Very fragrant spring flowers; will climb
35. Vinca major	Big Leaf Periwinkle	1'	Blue Flowers; does not climb
Deciduous Trees
36. Acer negundo	Boxelder	50-80'	Weak wood, fast grower
37. Acer rubrum	Red Maple	50-80'	Good spring, Excellent fall color (orange-red), fast grower
38. Acer saccharinum	Silver Maple	60-100'	Weak wood, roots clog pipes, yellow fall color
39. Ailanthus altissima	Tree of Heaven	30-60'	Very durable tree, few pests
40. Betula nigra	River Birch	50-60'	Attractive bark, yellow fall color, fast grower
41. Carpinus caroliniana	American Hornbean or Blue Berch	20-30'	Native with smooth gray bark
42. Celtis laevigata	Sugar Hackberry	40-60'	Attractive bark, few pests
43. Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Green Ash	60-80'	Durable tree, fast grower, yellow fall color
44. Liquidambar styraciflua	Sweetgum	80-100'	Fruit is messy, red-orange fall color
45. Liriodendron tulipifera	Tulip tree	100-120'	Fast grower, weak wood, yellow fall color
46. Nyssa sylvatica	Black Gum	60-100'	Orange-red fall color
47. Platanus occidentalis	Sycamore	150'	Anthracnose and lace bug problem, fast grower, yellow fall color, messy fruits
48. Quercus alba	White Oak	80-100'	Slow grower, excellent tree, red fall color
49. Quercus bicolor	Swamp White Oak	80-100'	Slow grower, yellow fall color
50. Quercus larifolia	Laurel Oak	80-100'	Rapid growth, not durable
51. Quercus nigra	Walter Oak	60-100'	Rapid grower, not durable
52. Quercus phellos	Willow Oak	80-100'	Moderate grower, fine texture
53. Quercus shumardii	Shumard Oak	80-100'	Rapid grower, red-orange fall color
54. Salix babylonica	Weeping Willow	30-50'	Rapid grower, roots clog pipes, fine texture
55. Salix nigra	Black Willow	40-80'	Rapid grower, roots clog piepes, fine texture
56. Sophora japonica	Japanese Pagoda Tree	40-80'	Rapid grower
57. Taxodium distichum	Bald Cypress	60-100'	Orange fall color, attractive bark, fine texture
58. Tilia americana	American Linden	40-80'	Fragrant flowers, yellow fall color
59. Ulmus americana	American Elm	80-100'	Dutch elm disease not a serious problem in Florida
Broadleaf Evergreen Trees
60. Magnolia grandiflora	Southern Magnolia	60-80'	Coarse leaf texture, white flowers
61. Magnolia virginiana	Sweetbay	50-60'	White flower, silvery leaf undersides
62. Quercus virginiana	Live Oak	40-80'	Long lived, attractive form
Needle Evergreen Trees
63. Pinus elliottii	Slash Pine	80-100'	Serious pest problem (rust, pine-tip moth, pitch canker), rapid grower
64. Pinus glabra	Spruce Pine	80-100'	Grows in shade; very attractive tree
65. Pinus taeda	Loblolly Pine	80-100'	Few good landscape qualities

---

Footnotes

1. This document is ENH66, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date May 1992. Reviewed October 2003. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2. Frank Regulski, Jr., former assistant professor, ornamental horticulturist, Agricultural Research and Education Center, Monticello, FL; David Marshall, agricultural extension agent and program leader, Leon County, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611.

---

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.

---

Copyright Information

This document is copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the State of Florida. UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions, but permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of the Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State of Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials in part or in full for educational purposes, provided that full credit is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication, its source, and date of publication.