Native Trees for Wet Areas

Indiana Native Trees for Wet Areas

This list provides native tree species excellent for the purpose of naturalizing wet areas. Many people will want to plant non-natives for landscaping purposes. This is absolutely fine, so long as they are not invasive species. However, the people who are trying to naturalize a site will obviously want to use native species. This post I will list the best options for wet areas.

1. American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

This tree is common as a succession tree in disturbed sites/wet areas. Very prevalent along creeks, rivers, and general low areas prone to flooding. Grows super fast, and lives for centuries developing gorgeous bark that peels to show a glistening white. Prefers Full sun, it is adapted to partial shade due to a partial canopy.

2. Boxelder Maple (Acer negundo)

This Maple doesn't look like most Maple leaves, so it is rarely grown in the nursery trade. This Maple is often seen as weedy. It develops into a large tree given time, and even grows as a clump form (multiple trunks) is not uncommon in the wild. Great for soil stabilizing as it grows vigorously. Full Sun-partial shade

3. Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)

This Oak species, is unlike most Oaks that it tolerates wet sites. All Oaks develop deep tap roots, so they grow in dry sites. Swamp White Oak is common in nature to stabilize soils in wet areas where fewer trees can grow. Just like other Oaks, it grows very large and lives for centuries. Fantastic option to develop a real forest look, where others won't grow! Full sun-partial shade.

4. Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

While not recommended anymore for landscaping due to intolerance of drought and chlorosis from poor urban soils, this native tree is fantastic for wet areas for the purpose of naturalizing. Just like the Swamp White Oak, Pin Oak will give a forest effect to an area where other hardwoods can not grow. Full sun-partial shade

5.  River Birch (Betula nigra)

Obviously given the name, you would assume it grows near rivers or at the very least wet areas. That would be a correct assumption. They are intolerant of drought, and often suffer chlorosis in landscaping situations and have a whole sort of issues in the landscaping. However, as a naturalizer it will add some pizzazz to the ecosystem with its cinnamon peeling bark! Native to the Southern half of the state. It has been known to naturalize North of the defined native range due to planting. Full sun.

6. Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)

This tree is a famous succession tree that is one of the first to pop up in disturbed sites. Will grow in dry prairie settings, to wet soils by flood zones and creeks/rivers. Known to live for at least a couple centuries and become a very large tree with a vigorous growth rate. Full sun.

7. Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)

This tree was widely planted during the 1950s-60s as a yard tree. It is now despised by most arborists and the people in general as a weedy tree with very weak limbs and invasive roots. So it is best to avoid planting these near a foundation (just like a River Birch). However Silver Maples are excellent for restoration purposes. One of the best options for soil erosion control. Full sun.

8. Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)

This tree is only native to a sliver of far South-Western Indiana where the Ohio River is. So technically, not a native to most of the state, it can easily naturalize North of its defined native range, and absolutely will benefit an ecosystem for restoration. This is a deciduous Conifer, meaning it drops it's needles in the Autumn, and regrows them in the Spring. Grows even in standing water, and is adaptable to drought. Extremely versatile. Lives for centuries and grows vigorously. Full sun

9. Black Willow (Salix nigra)

This native Willow grows in any kind of wet soil, even near standing water. Very vigorous grower. Full sun

10. Northern Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

This tree grows in a wide variety of soils. It will tolerate even wet soils, except ones that are consistently standing water. Gorgeous bark is very unique, lives for at least a couple centuries and grows vigorously. Full sun-partial shade.

NatureMan's Top 5 Evergreen Tree Cultivars of 2022

 NatureMan's Top 5 Evergreen Tree Cultivars of 2022

01/2023

I live in Central Indiana in USDA Zone 5b. The trees I recommend are for my climate and region. There may be better options for your location, so I advise you to do research to determine if what I list are the best options for you or not.

1. Green Giant Arborvitae

This tree is increasingly popular in landscaping as a screening tree. Unlike the very common Emerald Green, Green Giant is a full size evergreen tree. Maturing to 50' tall by 25' wide. Very fast growing at 3'+ per year, especially when young. It will tolerate poor soils, except ones that are consistently wet.  Green Giant grows best in a moist but well draining soils. It has some drought tolerance once established. It grows in full sun-part shade.  Unlike Spruce or Pine, Arborvitae has soft foliage so you won't get pricked. Hardy in USDA Zones 4b-8.

Green Giant is very disease resistant, unlike the very common Leyland Cypress of the South. It has a much better growing habit than the Leyland Cypress. Green Giant is also more cold hardy than the Leyland Cypress, bringing its growing potential into the Great Lakes region.

2. 'Canaertii' Juniper

This cultivar of the native Eastern Red Cedar has been selected for its wild "artsy" growth habit. It grows outwards in all directions, while also maintaining a dense habit. Canaertii is spectacular as a stand alone accent or many together as a screen. This cultivar is a female clone, so it will produce beautiful blue berries (technically modified cones 😉) that coat the tree during Fall and Winter. The berries form on the tree during the Summer after Spring pollination. It prefers dry sites, though this Juniper is adapted to Indiana clay soils. It will grow in a wide variety of soils except ones that are consistently wet (like low-lying areas). Full sun. Matures to 25'-35' tall by 15'-20' wide. Hardy in USDA Zones 3-9.

3. 'Skylands' Oriental Spruce

Oriental Spruce is a fairly uncommon species in the nursery trade, but is becoming popular in Conifer gardens. Oriental Spruce has small needles that are not prickly like most Spruces. The 'Skylands' cultivar was selected for intense glowing yellow growth. Oriental Spruce has a sweeping habit of the branches that stand out amongst other Conifers. Skylands truly is a fantastic full Conifer with bright burning yellow needles that fade to an emerald green on the oldest (interior) growth. Retains the bright yellow needles on the newer growth all year-round. It will look best as a stand alone accent. Hardy in USDA Zones 4-7. It matures to 25' tall by 15' wide. It grow at 6"-12" per year. It prefers moist well-drained soils. It has some drought tolerance once mature. While it prefers Full sun, tbe golden needles may burn in the hot Summers of the South, so it may be best to plant in partial shade location.

4. 'Paul's Select' Norway Spruce

This is the first and only BLUE Norway Spruce that exists! A beautiful Conifer that is a great alternative to the Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) that is suffering Rhizosphaera Needlecast disease in much of the Eastern US. Needlecast is a fungus that kills many Conifers from our high humidity and wet clays. Norway Spruce is generally a great options and is very versatile in many climates and conditions. This is a dwarf selection of Norway Spruce. Only maturing to 20' tall by 10'-15' wide. Though this is a fairly new cultivar, so truly mature specimens may not exist. It is very possible it may get much larger than this over a period of many decades. The needles are much smaller than regular Norway, as is the growth rate at 6"-10" per year vs 3'-5' per year when young on a regular Norway. Definitely a must buy if you happen to find one! Hardy in USDA Zones 3-7.

5. 'Candicans' White Fir

Considered by many to be the bluest of all the Conifers, this bluer cultivar of Concolor Fir is a must have for any garden/landscape. Concolor Fir has long needles that are soft to the touch. When the needles are crushed it emits a very strong Citrus aroma. Concolor Fir is considered to be one of the most versatile of the Firs for our Indiana climate and soils. One of the only Firs to adapt to heavy clays and high heat/humidity. It will grow very large and wide given time. It will grow 1'-2' per year, and will mature to 35'-50' tall by 25'-35' wide. Hardy in USDA Zones 3-7.