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Bog Garden Plants: Colorful Perennials

Japanese Irises, Siberian Irises, Water Irises, Primroses, Astilbes, Leopard Plants, Monkey Flowers

Bog Garden Plants, Bog Plants, Bog Perennials, Japanese Irises, Siberian Irises, Water Irises, Primroses, Astilbes, Leopard Plants, Monkey Flowers

Creating a bog garden is a terrific project that allows you to turn a slow-draining, waterlogged spot into a beautiful attraction, discover exciting plant species and attract wildlife to your garden.

Typically a bog garden consists of a shallow area adjoining a pond or other water feature. It may exploit existing poor drainage in the garden, can be created at the edge of a pond or water garden, or as a standalone feature. Permanently damp, it creates an area where moisture-loving plants will thrive and attract frogs, toads, dragonflies, damselflies while bees and butterflies will flit around the flowers.

  • Bog plants love wet soil, but they do not tolerate standing water, particularly in the winter. Naturally damp clay soils are ideal, but you can create wet habitat in free-draining soil if you use a liner and introduce topsoil. You can even make a mini-bog in a container.
  • Bog plants thrive in soil with high nutrient levels and that contain lots of organic matter.
  • Select a combination of short and tall plants for cover and perches.
  • Choose plants so that there is a range of flowers throughout the year, from spring to fall.

Spring is the best time to choose plants and plant a bog garden, as the plants will have enough time to root during the warmer months.

There are many beautiful perennial plants that will thrive in the moist environment provided by bog gardens. Here are excellent choices that will turn a slow-draining, waterlogged spot into a beautiful attraction.

Guide Information

Plant Type Perennials
Landscaping Ideas Bog Gardens

Bog Garden Plants: Colorful Perennials

Actaea racemosa (Black Cohosh)
Anemopsis californica (Yerba Mansa)
Aruncus dioicus (Goat’s Beard)
Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed)
Astilboides tabularis (Common Astilboides)
Butomus umbellatus (Flowering Rush)
Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold)
Darmera peltata (Umbrella Plant)
Eupatorium maculatum (Spotted Joe-Pye Weed)
Euphorbia palustris (Marsh Spurge)
Eutrochium fistulosum (Joe-Pye Weed)
Filipendula rubra ‘Venusta’ (Queen of the Prairie)
Geum rivale ‘Leonard’s Variety’ (Water Avens)
Gunnera manicata (Giant Rhubarb)
Iris laevigata (Water Iris)
Iris pseudacorus (Yellow Iris)
Iris versicolor ‘Kermesina’ (Blue Flag)
Iris x robusta ‘Gerald Darby’
Leucanthemella serotina (Autumn Ox-Eye Daisy)
Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower)
Lysichiton camtschatcensis (Asian Skunk Cabbage)
Menyanthes trifoliata (Bog Bean)
Mimulus cardinalis (Scarlet Monkey Flower)
Mimulus guttatus (Yellow Monkey Flower)
Myosotis scorpioides (Water Forget-Me-Not)
Persicaria bistorta ‘Superba’ (Bistort)
Potentilla palustris (Marsh Cinquefoil)
Primula capitata (Round-Headed Himalayan Primrose)
Primula denticulata (Drumstick Primula)
Primula japonica (Japanese Primrose)
Primula vialii (Orchid Primrose)
Rheum palmatum (Chinese Rhubarb)
Saururus cernuus (Lizard Tail)
Trollius x cultorum ‘Superbus’ (Globe Flower)
Candelabra Primulas (Primroses)
Iris ensata (Japanese Iris)
Iris sibirica (Siberian Iris)
Persicaria amplexicaulis (Mountain Fleece)

Discover more beautiful perennial plants for your bog garden

Plant Finder

You may want to review these useful guides too

Bog Garden Plants
Bog Garden Plants: Elegant Grasses
Bog Garden Plants: Graceful Ferns
Bog Garden Plants: Great Looking Shrubs
Pretty Hardy Orchids for the Garden
Pretty Hardy Orchids for the Bog Garden
Sarracenia (Pitcher Plant)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Plant Type Perennials
Landscaping Ideas Bog Gardens

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