|« Back to Article| What will take water and shade well? By
Kathy Huber | October 22, 2007 Q. Our yard is graded so that we
have terrible drainage and soggy conditions along one bed that
only gets direct sunlight for a few hours a day. We'd like to
plant something that loves water and doesn't mind the shade. A.
Could you create a rock-lined swale? This can be an attractive,
functional means to carry and slow runoff water, improving its
absorption into the soil. The swale also can become a garden in
itself, with ornamentals that tolerate wet or drier conditions,
depending on rainfall. Plants that tolerate poorly draining,
partially shady sites include variegated sweetflag (Acorus
calamus `Variegatus'), creeping jenny, lady fern (Athyrium
filix-femina), chain fern (Woodwardia areolata), obedient plant
(Physotegia virginiana), and bog sage.