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Q: We are in Langley and have landscaped our front yard without grass. We have a wet patch in one section and are having a hard time finding plants that like it there. We had boxwoods there but eventually we had to replant them since they were not thriving. We are looking for a bush that gets about 2′ tall and has some flowers if possible. Any ideas are welcomed.
Since you are looking for something that stays below 2 feet, I’ve compiled a list of perennials as most shrubs get larger than 2 feet tall. In moist soil, all will thrive in sun or part shade, except as noted. Those with an asterisk (*) tolerate standing water.
Perennials Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’ * golden variegated sweetflag [evergreen]Adiantum aleuticum western maidenhair fern (part shade or shade)Anemone nemorosa wood anemone [dormant in summer]Astilbe (all)* astilbeBergenia species and cultivars [evergreen]Blechnum penna-marina alpine water fern [evergreen]Blechnum spicant deer fern [evergreen]Caltha palustris* marsh marigold (sun)Carex ‘Ice Dance’* variegated sedge [evergreen]Carex elata ‘Aurea’ bowles’ golden sedgeCarex oshimensis ‘Evergold’* variegated japanese sedge [evergreen]Dryopteris wallichiana wallich’s wood fernErythronium revolutum pink fawn lily [dormant in summer]Erythronium ‘Pagoda’ yellow fawn lily [dormant in summer]Gunnera manicata giant rhubarbHemerocallis daylilyHosta (all) (‘June’ and ‘Sum and Substance’ are slug resistant)Iris ensata and cultivars* Japanese irisIris laevigata and cultivars Japanese irisIris versicolor blue flagLigularia dentata* golden groundsel (morning sun, afternoon shade)Lobelia cardinalis cardinal flowerLuzula nivea snowy woodrushLuzula sylvatica greater woodrushLysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’ * golden creeping jenny [evergreen]Matteuccia struthiopteris ostrich fernMimulus cardinalis* scarlet monkey flowerOsmunda cinnamomea cinnamon fernOsmunda regalis and cultivars* royal fernPolystichum munitum western sword fern [evergreen]Polystichum polyblepharum Japanese tassel fern [evergereen]Polysticum setiferum cultivars soft shield fern [evergreen]Primula beesiana* candelabra primrosePrimula bulleyana* candelabra primrosePrimula denticulata* drumstick primrosePrimula elatior* oxlipPrimula japonica and cultivars* japanese primroseRodgersia pinnata* rodgersiaScrophularia auriculata ‘Variegata’* water figwortThalictrum delavayi ‘Hewitt’s Double’ double meadow rueViola glabella stream violetWaldsteinia ternata barren strawberry [evergreen]Zantedeschia aethiopica calla lily (sun) [evergreen in mild winters]
If you feel you have room for a larger plant, here are some shrubs.
Aronia arbutifolia red chokeberryAronia melanocarpa black chokeberryAronia × prunifolia purple chokeberryCalycanthus floridus Carolina allspiceClethra alnifolia sweet pepperbushCornus alba and cultivars* redtwig dogwoodCornus stolonifera and cultivars* red osier dogwoodLonicera involucrata black twinberryMyrica californica california wax myrtle [evergreen]Physocarpus opulifolius and cultivars ninebarkSalix discolor* pussy willowSalix purpurea* arctic willowSambucus nigra black elderberrySambucus racemosa red elderberrySorbaria sorbifolia false spireaVaccinium corymbosum high bush blueberry