Perennial ornamentals for the boggy land

[bushcraftlearner83729]

I am thinking to add some at the entrance to 'tart up' the place and ingratiate myself to the locals.

I already planted the willows from my mum mostly there and thinking to add to it to make a little aesthetic area at the front.

Any good hardy suggestions?

Actually, the more I walk around it it is not that boggy. Not squelch squelch but quite a few large patches of rushes. The land feels firm on top on said patches though. More that soft woody cushion type matter under foot.

 

[TLM]

Well if you want something that stands out: magnolias, black locust, various lilacs and if you really want something rare a few wollemias and other araucarias, afew giant redwoods and maybe some dawn redwoods too.

 

[GreyCat]

Myrica pensylvanica.

Some azaleas like wet ground (all are acid-lovers).

Flag iris (and other iris).

Hydrangea (various types).

Wet soils: plants for / RHS

There are many plants which will grow successfully in soils which are permanently moist, but few will survive long spells of flooding or waterlogged conditions, especially in summer. The ones listed here are more tolerant than most.

www.rhs.org.uk

Loads of possibilities. All depends on what you want it to look like and when and the aspect/how exposed it is. (And how much time you have for maintenance. And how deep your pockets are).

Just check for invasiveness, e.g. montbretia which you see all over and likes wet ground is invasive and should not be planted (even the other crocosmia cultivars e.g. "Lucifer" can quickly become invasive).

(Magnolia: it's temperamental- doesn't always want to establish- and expensive.....).

GC

 

[TLM]

Magnolia: it's temperamental- doesn't always want to establish

Funny thing is a few magnolia species can even live here, dawn redwood should also not grow at all but there are some 10 m highs near us. Black locust is too far north here but lives happily just 150 klicks south in Estonia.

 

[GreyCat]

Funny thing is a few magnolia species can even live here, dawn redwood should also not grow at all but there are some 10 m highs near us. Black locust is too far north here but lives happily just 150 klicks south in Estonia.

Yeah, various species/cultivars of Magnolia grow all over south Wales- I've just never managed to get one established.

Admittedly they were all pot-grown rather than bare root, but still..... the conditions should have suited them....

GC

 

[Broch]

Think carefully, before you introduce alien species, about what you want your land to do. Exotics are fine in a controlled garden environment but natives are the best choice for natural habitat.

 

[bushcraftlearner83729]

Myrica pensylvanica.

Some azaleas like wet ground (all are acid-lovers).

Flag iris (and other iris).

Hydrangea (various types).

Wet soils: plants for / RHS

There are many plants which will grow successfully in soils which are permanently moist, but few will survive long spells of flooding or waterlogged conditions, especially in summer. The ones listed here are more tolerant than most.

www.rhs.org.uk

Loads of possibilities. All depends on what you want it to look like and when and the aspect/how exposed it is. (And how much time you have for maintenance. And how deep your pockets are).

Just check for invasiveness, e.g. montbretia which you see all over and likes wet ground is invasive and should not be planted (even the other crocosmia cultivars e.g. "Lucifer" can quickly become invasive).

(Magnolia: it's temperamental- doesn't always want to establish- and expensive.....).

GC

Well I did note 'hardy' in the op to indicate low maintenance.

Depends what maintenance would entail. I have time but a lot of other stuff to do on three acres.

Cheap and fast growing would be good. Well depends on price if it is just one or two very interesting plants I might be interested. I want to save most of my money for the willows though!

Space wise I would say about 20-30 foot each edge. Just a little 'showpiece' one would see when driving past the entrance.

 

[slowworm]

If this isn't classed as a garden then you may not be allowed to plant just anything. I'd also repeat the warning about invasives, not just morally but also legally as the invasive list is aptly ever growing (some azaleas are on it).

I'd stick to local natives. If it was here then hazel, hawthorne, wild crab apples, field maple etc are all ornamental as well as useful to wildlife. I also love gorse, evergreen, flowers at a good time and a nitrogen fixer.

 

[GreyCat]

If this isn't classed as a garden then you may not be allowed to plant just anything. I'd also repeat the warning about invasives, not just morally but also legally as the invasive list is aptly ever growing (some azaleas are on it).

I'd stick to local natives. If it was here then hazel, hawthorne, wild crab apples, field maple etc are all ornamental as well as useful to wildlife. I also love gorse, evergreen, flowers at a good time and a nitrogen fixer.

Indeed, which was why I mentioned checking that the specific plant was not invasive.

The place I am renovating, I have removed a HUGE rhododendron ponticum planted by the previous owner, the root ball was so enormous the builders large excavator could barely lift it..... also been dealing with montbretia.....

GC

 

[slowworm]

The list of invasives is getting quite long now. I'm still miffed that the common yellow deciduous azalea is on it. Mind you they are very easy to grow from seed so not surprising.

Unfortunately down here in Devon invasives like montbretia are still dumped in the wild by organisations that should know better. I'll not mention the swathes of Japanese Knotweed...

 

[GreyCat]

Yeah its surprising what is classified as "invasive" and folks often don't realise that if you have certain plant species on your land, you have legal obligations to prevent spread.

My day-job is in railway safety & compliance, and in the past I've had to put control measures in place for track renewals in locations with invasive species, Network Rail take the issue very seriously.

GC

 

[Tengu]

 

[Woody girl]

I'd be planting native primrose, bluebell and snowdrops on the verges, outside the gate Also sowing some packets of native wildflowers would make for an attractive approach to the gate area.
Wildflowers are very important for wildlife, especially nowadays. No maintainance needed and self propagating.
I remember some wonderful Devon lanes being a riot of colour from spring to autumn, and a complete delight to smell and look at as I passed by.

 

[Laurentius]

Well if you want something that stands out: magnolias, black locust, various lilacs and if you really want something rare a few wollemias and other araucarias, afew giant redwoods and maybe some dawn redwoods too.

No go for a swamp cypress, I find on the whole that conifers don't like to get their feet wet, but taxodium distichum is something else, if you can find one.

 

[Laurentius]

Yeah its surprising what is classified as "invasive" and folks often don't realise that if you have certain plant species on your land, you have legal obligations to prevent spread.

My day-job is in railway safety & compliance, and in the past I've had to put control measures in place for track renewals in locations with invasive species, Network Rail take the issue very seriously.

GC

Himalayan Balsam and Rosebay Willow herb is a plague on any waste land including boggy land.

 

[TLM]

I find on the whole that conifers don't like to get their feet wet

We have a wetland type named after Norway Spruce and Scots Pine is the main tree on peat bogs here.
The suggestions were based on the notice that some of the ground was not very squishy after all.