Re: flood-tolerant plants

Thanks all for your great suggestions. I'm relieved to hear that hostas will
probably stand up to this tough situation--I'd already put a few blue ones
near the run-off sources.
Gene, can you tell me more about blue cohosh? I see from one of my books
that it's from the eastern woodlands, which is perfect for me, and that it's
from the barberry family, which always works well here. Can't find a photo,
though. How conspicuous are the blue berries in the fall? Sounds like they'd
go great with cimicifugas.
And also, Gene, which are the monarda for woodland edge? Is it fistula? The
monarda I have is a new cultivar from Piet Oudolfs, the Dutch guy (I'd kill
to see his gardens, but that's another story) I got from White Flower. Not
so floriferous for me, in the shade, and they do flop over, but they are
tall and bloomed twice and have only just now been touched with mildew. I do
so love monarda and wish I could get it to work well for me.
Nancy

>Hello Nancy,
>    A few plants that come to mind for this habitat, based upon what you
already
>describe as doing well for you, would be the Goats Beard. There is the large
>species A. dioicus and then the dwarf species. I think they are more
tolerant than
>Astilbe and the dwarf from very much resemble Astilbe. Try the Blue Cohosh
>(Caulophyllum thalictroides) among the ferns. The shooting stars would like
this
>one, but go dormant by July. I think you would have good luck with Hosta. There
>are native Iris that will handle the outside edge where you can get a bit more
>light such as I. fulva and virginica. Both species of the Lobelia, Obedient
Plant,
>Solomon's Seals, False Solomon's seal, Spigelia. Man of the ephemeral would
handle
>this one as they enjoy extra spring moisture then drying off for the summer.
>    Incidentally, there are native Monarda that grow in the woodland edge.
>    Gene Bush     Southern Indiana    Zone 6a     Munchkin Nursery
>          around the woods - around the world
>genebush@otherside.com     http://www.munchkinnursery.com
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Nancy Stedman <stedman@INTERPORT.NET>
>Sent: Friday, September 17, 1999 1:49 PM
>Subject: [SG] flood-tolerant plants
>
>
>> How's this for a tall order? I'm looking for recommendations for
>> shade-loving plants that can stand periodic flooding in a bed that would be
>> dry if I didn't water it in the summer (i.e., it is by no means a "moist"
>> area).  The water comes from a construction site uphill from me (long, dull,
>> annoying story), and since the situation is in court it won't be resolved
>> for a long time. Oh yes, the plants also should be able to tolerate clay
>> since my much-amended soil gets washed out and is replaced by globs of the
>> sticky stuff. So far I've discovered that pink turtlehead and Joe Pye weed
>> stand up, but the eupatorium really is an unattractive washed out brown/pink
>> in the shade rather than the lovely burgundy I had in mind (and that I see
>> when the plant is placed in more sun). I've already seen one astilbe die,
>> and a few look ill, which kind of surprised me. If I hadn't already invested
>> in so many perennials for this bed I'd be tempted to replace everything with
>> black chokeberry, which is doing fine in another flooded area. The shade is
>> pretty serious--there's only light in the mid- to late afternoon (which
>> makes a lot of plants wilt)--and the bed is in front of a tall brick
>> retaining water which, I assume, radiates a lot of heat. In less flooded
>> parts of the bed cimicifugas are doing well. Do you think they'd stand up to
>> a lot of water? How about monarda?
>> By the way, thanks to everyone for the Sluggo information.
>> All ideas appreciated,
>> Nancy S. (NYC, zone 6B)
>
>
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