Native Plants for Moist Soils

What Characterizes Moist Soils?

Moist means that the earth is regularly damp, but not total saturation.

However, moist comes in many degrees and variations, from damp to soaking and from steady moisture to fluctuating wet and dry. One person’s moist may be very different than another’s. Most plant descriptions include the species' prefered range. Moisture gradients can also vary by sun exposure. Be mindful of a plant's specific sun and moisture gradients when planning your project.

Some of these plants prefer moist, but well-draining soils. This refers to soils that do not retain much water. They dry out occasionally, especially in the summer months. Well-draining, moist soils do not stay dry for long, perhaps a few hours to a couple days maximum. Plants that require well-draining soils are noted in the Comments section of applicable descriptions. They are frequently plants listed as Moist to dry.