Bog Garden Plant List

Blue flag iris will thrive in a boggy garden.

You may have the perfect spot for a bog garden on your property and not even know it. Bogs are areas where water naturally accumulates. Sometimes bogs form around downspouts, patios or below hills; areas where drainage may be poor. Many plant species thrive in this environment. Although a number of bog plants are high maintenance, there are some that require little care and are excellent for the beginning "bogger." Combine rich soil, wet ground, and some easy to please plants for an instant bog garden.

Bee Balm

Bee balm (Monarda didyma) is an aromatic thyme-scented herb commonly called horsemint. The brilliant white, pink or purple flowers are an edible garnish while the leaves make an aromatic and medicinal tea which was used by the first American colonists. This easy to grow flower blooms in late summer and attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Bee balm reaches 4 feet and can quickly become invasive unless controlled. Provide a thin layer of mulch in cold, winter climates.

Blue Flag

Blue flag iris (Irisvirginica) is a perennial herb commonly found on the edges of ponds, marshes and lakes. Slender, sword-shaped leaves frame showy, deep-blue flower with yellow centers. Tolerant of partial shade, and cold hardy to zone 2, the blue flag iris fares best in rich, wet soil. Insects tend to leave the blue flag alone which makes this bog beauty remarkably low maintenance.

Joe-Pye Weed

Joe-pye weed (Eupatorium fistulosum) holds the notorious offices of wildflower, herb and butterfly plant. The plant gets its name from a Native American herbalist who used the flower to cure fevers. This hardy bloomer usually outperforms other plants by hanging on until the first hard frost. Joe-pye weed is also cold hardy to USDA zone 3 making it an excellent choice for northern bog gardens. Give this pretty pink bloomer plenty of room as under ideal conditions it can reach up to 7 feet tall and 3 feet wide.

Red Milkweed

Red milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is also known as swamp milkweed due to its fondness for soggy soil. Honeybees and butterflies enjoy this summer blooming perennial plant with rosy-red clusters of flowers on branching stems. Red milkweed will reach 4 feet in height and thrives in full sun and clay or loamy ground.

Cardinal Flower

Hummingbirds love the cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) with its brilliant, red, tubular-shaped blooms. This perennial plant, native to many regions in the United States, is commonly found in ravines, ditches, along streams and in pastures. Propagation of the cardinal flower is easily achieved by bending the stem down into the ground and securing it in place with rocks. When using the cardinal flower in a bog garden provide winter mulch and beware that this plant is toxic to humans if consumed in large quantities.

References

• North Carolina Office of Environmental Education: Bog Garden Plant List
• Mississippi State University Extension: Creating a Bog Garden
• Pondlady.com: How to Build a Bog Garden - Rain Garden
• USDA: Plants Database
• "Complete Guide to Water Gardens, Ponds & Fountains"; Kathleen Fisher; 2006

Resources

• Dog Green's Garden: Garden Plants in Wet Areas