GROWING WETLAND PLANTS
GROWING WETLAND PLANTS
Wetland plants should receive full sun or at least 1/2 day full sun for marsh/wet meadow plants. Light shade for swamp/wet woods plants is recommended. Soil requirements for wetland plants include at least 2 inches of humus needed on the surface of the soil. Wet soils can be compacted if worked while wet, to allow rain and soil organisms to work the humus into the soil. The soil should be kept very moist; it should be totally saturated in early spring and never allowed to dry out for more than 3 to 4 days the rest of the year. However, the plant tops shouldn't be immersed in water, however. The pH level required is between 6.5 and 7.0.
Wetland plants also have specific requirements for optimal growth:
Blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica), requires: Light: Sun to medium shade Soil/Moisture: Wet woods, swamps PH: Average Height: 1-3' Flowering Time: August-September Propagation: Stratification not needed; stem cuttings in summer; division in spring.
Blue vervain (Verbena hastata), requires: Light: Sun Soil/Moisture: Wet meadows PH: Moderately acid Height: 1-3' Flowering Time: August-September Propagation: Stratification not needed.
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), requires: Light: Sun to medium shade Soil/Moisture: Swamps, wet woods PH: Moderately acid Height: 2-4' Flowering Time: July-August Stratification not needed; stem cuttings in summer; division in spring.
Iris, blue (Iris spp.), requires: Light: Sun to light shade Soil/Moisture: Marshes, wet meadows PH: Average Height: 1-3' Flowering Time: May-July Propagation: Stratification not needed; division in spring. Rhizome is poisonous
Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) requires: Light: Sun to medium shade PH: Not specific Height: 8-24" Flowering Time: April-May Propagation: Seeds planted immediately in wet soil; division in spring.
Mints (Mentha spp.), require: Light: Sun Soil/Moisture: Marshes, wet meadows PH: Average Height: 1-3' Flowering Time: June-September Propagation: Stratification not needed; division in spring. Should be controlled; it may spread,
Monkey flower (Mimulus ringens) requires: Light: Sun Soil/Moisture: Marshes, wet meadows Height: 1-3' Flowering Time: June-September Propagation: Stratification not needed; division in spring; stem cuttings in summer.
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) requires: Light: Sun Soil/Moisture: Marshes PH: Average Height: 2-4' Flowering Time: June-August Propagation: Stratification not needed; division in spring. All parts poisonous.
Turtlehead (Chelone glabra), requires: Light: Light to medium shade Soil/Moisture: Swamps, wet woods PH: Average Height: 1-3' Flowering Time: July-September Propagation: Seeds stratified; division in spring; stem cuttings in summer.
