List of Bog or Moisture Loving Plants

Moisture loving often called bog plants grow naturally in boggy ground. Bog plants include some of the most colourful plants for water gardens and pond surrounds. These plants include irises, lobelias and candelabra primulas.

Latin & Common Name Height in cm Flowering period Interesting notes
Aruncus dioicus. goat's beard 120 to 180 winter flowers Good plant for waterside. Dark divide foliage and heavy plumes of creamy-white flowers
Astilbe 30 to 50 winter flowers Height and flowering period depends upon variety
Darmera peltata 60 to 90 spring Huge, peltate leaves often more than 30 cm  across and 60 to 90 cm high. The white or rose colored flowers appear in spring before the leaves, borne on stems 30 to 60 cm high
Filipendula,  meadow sweet     Beautiful hardy perennials. Height and flowering depend on variety.
Gunnera manicata 180 to 300 summer flowers A magnificent species with gigantic dark green kidney-shaped leaves from 150 to 300 cm across borne on long, stout, prickly stems. Insignificant green flowers form dense, cone-shape panicles.
Hemerrocallis 40 to 100 winter flowers An invaluable genus for bog and water garden setting, producing a richness of colour and wealth of flower unrivalled by any other class of plant.
Hosta 30 to 90 winter flowers Height and flowering period depends on variety. An attractive species mainly grown for their wide height of foliage ranging from dark, glaucous green leaves to variegated and margined ones.,
Ligularia przewalskii 80 to 120 winter flowers Tall, bright yellow flowers spikes. Green leaves with a reddish underside.
Musk mallow 60 to 90 winter flowers Excellent on poor soils. Abundance of 5 cm diameter rose-pink flowers.
Persicaria amphibia. willow grass 60 to 90 winter flowers Long lanceolate leaves and pretty pink spikes of flowers.
Primula Bartley strain 50 to 90 winter flowers Many attractive colors, buff, apricot, rose, pink and salmon hues with all the intermediates.
Primula floridae. giant cowslip 60 to 90 winter flowers Resembles a giant cowslip, heart-shaped leaves and soft yellow bell shaped flowers.
Primula japonica 60 to 90 winter flowers Calelabra group, waterside species with rosettes of pale green. Oblong-obovate leaves and stout stems with crimson flowers.
Rheum palmatum 200 to 300 winter flowers Slow growing plant with gigantic leaves, requiring a great deal of space. Pink or red bead-like flowers.
Rodgersia pinnata Elegans 100 to 150 winter flowers Decorative, perennials plant with feathery, bronzed foliage and rich rose blooms.
Schizostlis coccinea Mrs Hegarty 60 to 90 summer flowers Mid green, green, flat sword like leaves. Six to ten star-shaped pink flowers on each stem.
Scrophularia auriculata Variegata 60 to 100 winter flowers An outstanding plant with dark green leaves and bright cream variegations. Insignificant maroon flowers.
Golden rod 30 to 60 winter flowers Golden yellow flower bracts in many rows.
Trollius 60 to 120 winter flowers Large round buttercup like flowers and dark green leaves.

Moisture Loving Ferns

Latin & Common Name Height in cm Spread in cm Description
Adiantum pedatum 30 to 45 30 to 50 A beautiful North American variety with purplish black stems and delicate foliage.
Adiantum venustum 30 to 45 30 to 50 A very striking outdoor species with light green, gracefully dropping fronds and glistening black stems.
Athyrium filix-femina. the lady fern 80 to 90 40 to 60 One of the prettiest of our native ferns, with tufts, with tufts of tall, lacy pale green arching foliage.
Athyrium filix-femina Cristatum 70 to 90 40 to 60 Prettily crested leaves.
Athyrium filix-femina Vernoniae 90 to 100 30 to 50 Delicate, pale green fronds with terminal crests and a conspicuous red mid-rib.
Athryrium filix-femina Victoriae 90 to 100 40 to 50 An outstanding variety with green fronds having criss-cross patterns and crested borders.
Dryopteris affinis  crested buckler fern 30 to 50 40 to 50 Erect, deep green crested fronds
Dryopteris erythrosora. autumn fern 45 to 60 30 to 50 Broad triangular fronds with glossy, coppery pink new growth. Matures to green.
Matteuccia struthiopteris. ostrich feather fern 90 to 120 40 to 60 A very graceful plant with pale green, dropping fronds, giving the effect of a giant shuttlecock.
Sensitive fern 30 to 60 30 to 60 Long stemmed, pale green fronds, sensitive to frost, hence the name. If planted close to water, it has been known to ramble over the surface.
Royal fern 120 to 150 40 to 100+ Large, delicate, pale green fronds turning to deep russet hues in autumn. Requires moist or very wet conditions
Polystichum setiferum. soft shield fern 70 to100 50 to 90 Easy growing species with lance-shaped fronds and thumb-like projections. Tolerant of deep shade but must be kept moist.