Native Plants for Wet Soils

From seashore to lakeshore, our water-loving native plants are workhorses! These plants filter pollution, reduce erosion, and create vital habitat for fragile and endangered species.

Most coastal Pacific Northwest species that grow in or near the water require at least a few months of drying out during the growing season. Only a few emergent species can tolerate saturation year round, and even then standing water must be shallow enough to allow some greenery above the surface.

Water levels can fluctuate widely and conditions can change unpredictably, so you should monitor water levels at the site for a year before planting if you have that luxury. Even with this information, it can be difficult to predict which species will give you the best results at the water’s edge, so we recommend selecting a mix of emergents to improve your chances of making a good match.

These species lists are not comprehensive of the incredible native diversity of our Pacific Northwest region. For fuller lists of SNP favorites, see our Species Descriptions. For more complete databases, we recommend visiting our friends at the University of Washington Burke Herbarium or Washington Native Plant Society.