Like the plants mentioned on Page 1, pussy willows (Salix discolor) are wetland plants in nature, making them excellent plant choices for wet areas on your landscape. Pussy willows are deciduous shrubs that can reach a height of 20', but they can be pruned back to keep them shrub-sized. Like winterberry holly, pussy willows are dioecious. But in this case, the showy gender is the male, not the female. It is the branches of the male trees that bear the fuzzy catkins we call, "pussy willows." These wetland plants do best in full sun, but pussy willow trees will tolerate shade. Salix discolor is indigenous to 27 states across the northern half of the U.S. from Maine to Montana, and as far south as North Carolina.
Sweet pepperbushes (Clethra alnifolia) are wetland plants that produce fragrant white blooms in July and August. The flowers of these wetland plants appear on 8" upright spikes. Sweet pepperbush can be grown either in sun or shade and reaches a height of 6'. The bush is indigenous to 20 states in the eastern U.S., ranging from Maine to Texas.
Red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) produces white blooms in flat clusters in May that are followed by white fruit. But these wetland plants are prized mainly for its bark, which ranges in color from red to burgundy. Its height is 6'-10', its spread 5'-10'. A patch of fiery red osier dogwood against a backdrop of pristine snow makes for an unforgettable winter scene. These wetland plants are indigenous to 31 states in the northern U.S., including Alaska.
Meadowsweet shrubs (Spiraea latifolia) are wetland plants indigenous to 18 states in northeastern U.S., ranging from Maine to Minnesota and as far south as North Carolina. Meadowsweet tolerates all soil types except heavy clay soils. Its white floral spikes waft pleasing aromas from June to September. These 4' wetland plants are members of the rose family.
On Page 3 we'll look at some wetland plants with showy blooms....
