J | ‘Elk Blue’ California gray rush (Juncus patens ‘Elk Blue’). Ever-green grasslike perennial. Sun to part shade. Grows 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. Spreads by rhizomes and seed.

G | Redtwig dogwood (Cornus sericea) and its cultivars, including ‘Kelseyi,’ ‘Isanti’ and ‘Flaviramea’ (yellowtwig dogwood). Deciduous shrub. Sun to part shade. Ranges from 2 to 15 feet tall and wide. Spreads by suckers. Smaller-growing cultivars, such as ‘Kelseyi,’ are generally more well-mannered than the species.

H | Common camas (Camassia quamash). Herbaceous bulb. Sun. Grows 2 to 3 feet tall and 9 to 12 inches wide.

Plants tHat tolerate moist to standinG water in winter and summer drouGHt (once established). The first three are Pacific Northwest natives.

i | Pacific rush (Juncus effusus var. pacificus). Evergreen grasslike perennial. Sun to part shade. Spreads by rhizomes and seed. Grows up to 3 feet tall and wide.

the plants

Whitworth considers rushes (Juncus), sedges (Carex) and redtwig dogwoods (Cornus sericea) the core workhorses for wet winter and dry summer situations. She also finds that many Pacific Northwest native plants work well, especially those that naturally grow along the edges of streams and wetlands. Non-native plants that grow in similar conditions are also excellent choices. Many wetland plants multiply readily from seed, rhizomes (horizontal underground stems) or suckers (new shoots produced from roots or underground stems). That’s good news if you have limited funds for plants and lots of garden space to fill but bad news if your space is small. Select plants not just by appearance and cultural requirements but with an eye toward their reproductive nature and vigor.

Photos by (a) Robert H. Mohlenbrock USDA; (B) PRovENWiNNERS.coM; (C, d, e, F, i) WiKiMEDiA coMMoNS; (G) THE oREGoNiAN; (H) courtesy of Jurgen Hess; (J) courtesy of TiMBER PRESS

The first two are drought tolerant once established but will perform better with supplemental water. The rest require supplemental water in summer.

B | ‘Ice Dance’ Japanese sedge (Carex morrowii ‘Ice Dance’). Evergreen grass-like perennial. Part to full shade. Grows 12 to 15 inches tall. Spreads by rhizomes more readily than other sedges.

e | Dinosaur food (Gunnera manicata and G. tinctoria). Herbaceous perennial. Sun to part shade. Up to 10 feet tall and wide.

F | Swamp mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos). Herbaceous perennial. Sun. Grows 6 to 8 feet tall and 3 feet wide.

a | ‘Little Jamie’ and ‘Red Star’ Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides ‘Little Jamie’ and ‘Red Star’). Evergreen conifer. Sun. Width and height range from 4 to 25 feet.

C | Farfugium japonicum ‘Aureomaculatum’ and ‘Crispatum.’ Evergreen perennial. Part to full shade. Grows 1 to 3 feet tall and wide.

d | Giant angelica (Angelica gigas). Herbaceous biennial. Sun to part shade. Grows 4 to 5 feet tall and 2

1⁄2 feet wide.

Plants For moist to wet soils (not standing water)